Visca Barca 1.2: A Question for Pep

For the most part after 4 years doing this and the general tone that these columns have taken over the last few years, people assume that I dislike Real Madrid and would favor Barcelona and that couldn't be farther from the truth. I dislike both actually, equally, but rather than do as most Spanish supporters do and pick one to support on top of your chosen club, Espanyol in my case, I've decided to stick in my own corner of the peninsula and throw slingshots at both sides when the mood strikes me. I've been fairly docile at the blaugrana, I must admit, anyone who knows me or has been following me knows my disdain for the "Specious One" who runs the traveling clown-show called Real Moudrid and they may have been taking up too much of my attention, but the annoyances are there at the Camp Nou. It's high time the criticisms started being hurled.

So, here's a question for Pep then in that context. When are you going to fix what's wrong with Barca? Oooh, how dare he say that. This is the guy who won the six titles in a year. There's Messi and Villa to contend with, not to mention Xavi and Iniesta, and they have schloads of titles over the last few years, plus they have owned Real Madrid, dominated them at times. How can I say anything remotely critical of Saint Pep?

Simple. Explain the manner in which Samuel Eto'o, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Yaya Toure and to a lesser extent Alex Hleb and Thierry Henry were treated at Barcelona over the last two years. He has his favorites, a group of players that both played with him and grew up idolizing him, or those that worked with him at La Masia, and know him only as el mister, but give him the opportunity to work with players that maybe have a different point of reference (non-Catalan, non-Barcelona cantera), then why does it come to something of a feeling whether or not he can work with them? That is step one for him to start working on.

Also, I realize that Pique is a monster, yes, but Puyol is not the same player he was and Gaby Milito is a year older, a step slower, and not far removed from the guy who missed the better part of two consecutive seasons with a bum leg. I realize that it is commendable to reach to the cantera for players, but there is a scarcity of riches in positions other than attacking midfield and at forward. They need to look elsewhere and bring some youth to eventually partner Pique with. They also just need players to round off their decidedly thin line-up. How many top quality squads have fewer than 20 players available for the number of important competitions that Barcelona are qualified for every single year. It is draining to their resources to have such few players at their beck and call.

Let's also not forget that while the ignorant have this idea that Barcelona are far-too Messi-dependent, this couldn't be farther from the truth. They have plenty of attacking options and players that can play on the wing and cut inside. Rather than Messi-dependent, I'd say Xavi plays an unequaled role in Barcelona's attack. Iniesta can perform there, so can Keita really, but maybe it's time to call on Thiago Alcantara to help take the pressure off until maybe Cesc comes to take that role for himself.

Lastly, something is going to have to be done about the height of this team. I know they prefer to play the ball on the carpet but, from Bojan to Messi to Alves and Mascherano, this is a club that can maybe count on Puyol and Pique to win a free header on goal or otherwise.

It's hard really to find ways to criticize them, they do so many things well, but you don't need a self-professed tactical genius like Jose Mourinho to find their weaknesses. There are no perfect teams and Barca are certainly not one of them. You can bet that their Spanish and European rivals are licking their chops at exploiting them.