Presidents

In Spanish football it is the club’s president that wields the power, although they are generally elected by the socios (membership) and supported by a governing board. I don’t think it can be denied that from an achievement perspective Joan Laporta has been the most successful in FC Barcelona’s history, possibly in footballing history. No other can claim to have won all six available cups in one season, with the addition titles in other presiding seasons – especially in such style.

I like Laporta. He took over a club riddled with debt that threatened to drift through the decades. He and his board refinanced the club with a robust finance plan. They overhauled the merchandising element, capitalising on the many non-European markets and offering the fans plenty of opportunity to part with their cash (as I well know). On the sporting side they signed Ronaldinho as a ‘marquee’ signing, brought in Frank Rikjaard and the project took off.

I don’t believe the club would be where it is now without the involvement of Laporta and his board. He has supported the manager and staff whenever required. The reputation of FC Barcelona in both sporting terms and the way it conducts business is at a high. I expect the attempts to unsettle players (Fabregas etc) are press generated rather than by the club. The same cannot be said of ‘The Other Team’.

I am not privy to club politics, other than those promoted through the press, but I would not like to see Laporta leave under a political cloud. David Villa has been signed and the British press are also suggesting the signings of Torres and Fabregas. At the same time the prime presidential candidate, Sandro Rosell, has made comments about the affordability of such signings. I do not want Laporta’s ambition to leave FC Barcelona with a legacy turn into the ‘Other Team’ circus of last season where the team were undoubtedly improved but at extreme cost and debt.

FC Barcelona is in a healthy state. That should not be put at risk, even to sign quality good players.

Never drunk nor biased...

Never blog when drunk nor biased.....my law. Broke both...... Campiones !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


......and to think Beaker is 40 !!!!!!!!!!

Sergio Busquets

I am sure that every club has one. He's the one player in the squad that you, as a fan, would love to get hold of and shout "Sort yourself out !!"......amongst other things.

There is nothing more annoying to me than a player with all the talent in the world that falls down whenever the wind changes direction, and unfortunately Busquets falls into that category. I believe that Sergio is a decent midfielder and has the talent to become a great one. Already at the age of 22 he's won many trophies (including at Barca's junior level) and has been capped by Spain.

However, I don't think he will ever attain his potential until he cuts out the play acting. (Whilst he is not alone in the theatrics he is the one that is the most embarrassing and noticeable.) Due to the way he plays he can get caught in possession (which is dangerous in his defensive midfield position), but his normal reaction in this scenario is to go down like he's been 'capped by a mobster. Why ? He's a big lad with a turn of pace, why not hunt the ball back down rather than trying to con the ref. Better still, don't get caught and move the ball quicker (a la Xavi).

I may be biased but I think Barca, as a club, are pretty honest which may go some way to explaining why we are respected. It is the European, and especially Iberian, way to try and 'get one over the officials'. They consider it an acceptable part of the game and even admire it. Could that be why Maradona has a smile whenever asked about the 'Hand Of God'?

It's not Corinthian and I don't like it which is why I hate to see (even) opposition players being affected by such acts. In the Champions League Semi 2nd Leg I think Motta would have walked sooner or later regardless of Busquets acting but it cast a shadow over the reputation of the club and I despise that more than anything.......

Why Tinker?

Far from me to question the methods and wisdom of Mr.Guardiola but why the recent tinkering?

I can understand the desire or need to change the team around at the beginning of a season, to help find the right formula, but why do it in two of the most important games at the rear end of the season? It maybe an attempt to unnerve or outfox the opposition, but at what cost?

Against Real Madrid Dani Alves played on the right of a front three. I can understand that with Puyol at right back the defending duties are covered and with Alves further forward his pace could be used as a more attacking option......but he was too eager and caught offside too many times. Another time (early season?) and I am sure the tactic would work, but used as a one off it threatened to unbalance the team putting some players in unfamiliar positions.

Against Inter Milan, in the home leg, Maxwell was played on the left of a front three. Being the only outfield player NOT to have scored for Barca this season it hardly sends the opposition into a worrying state of mind. Would the same have been said if either Bojan or Henry started in that position. As it is, I believe Maxwell to have been one of the most consistent players this season, but it is unfair to expect him to carry that attacking threat in such a big game.

We beat Real Madrid but lost to Inter so it's 50-50 on the tinkering stakes.

Not being privy to the background to these decisions there maybe very fair reasoning for making them..........but as a fan they are bemusing when we are looking for consistency and success.