What A Glorious 7 Days For A Barça Fan!

[mike412]

Last Wednesday: Real Madrid 0 Barça 3. In Madrid at the Bernabeau. Barça puts itself into the finals of the Copa del Rey and knocks the eternal enemy out of the competition.

Saturday: Real Madrid 0 Barça 1. Again in Madrid at the Bernabeau. Barça moves to 12 points clear of Real Madrid in La Liga and effectively eliminates its eternal foe from the race with 12 matches left to play. Barça holds the tiebreaker, having won both games in the league by a 6-1 aggregate.

Today: Real Madrid 1 Ajax 4. In the Bernabeau, the eternal enemy becomes only the third team in Champions League history to lose a tie after winning the away leg first. They had beaten Ajax 1-2 in Amsterdam after a VAR ruling unjustly disallowed one Ajax goal and a second horrendous VAR ruling let stand a penalty kick called despite two of the four angles on IR showing that Gareth Bale took a dive with no contact from the Ajax defender.

Barça is alive in all three major competitions while the eternal foe is finito!

The only downer in the whole thing is that a great and very young Ajax team is certain to have its best players sold to bigger teams in bigger leagues. Frankie De Jong, the 21 year old holding midfielder considered by many to be the best young European not named Mbappe already has been sold to Barça, which won a bidding war despite offering less than Man City and Real Madrid because it is his dream team. He made Luka Modric invisible today. Matthjis de Ligt, 18, is considered the best young Center Back in Europe and will likely be sold this Summer. The entire squad only has one player over 27 other than backup goalies.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Ajax looked legitimately the better side. Completely outplayed RM

 

[mike412]

Ajax looked legitimately the better side. Completely outplayed RM

If you didn’t see the two matches against Barça, in the first match RM dominated the first half but didn’t score. As soon as Suarez scores the first goal for Barça, RM basically died. Barça could have easily had 6. On Saturday, the score was closer but the match was totally one-sided.

Their problems are many but Bale is the big one, both on and off the pitch. He has been there 5 years and has not learned any Spanish. Marcelo gave an interview about how lonely he is in the dressing room because his locker is next to Bale’s and he can’t speak to him. Marcelo pointed out that he is a Portuguese speaker and learned Spanish to fit in, but Bale hasn’t even tried to fit in.

Casemiro is a very good holding MF, but he too often forgets that is his position and plays attacking MF. Carvahal is too aggressive at RB and gets caught way out of position. Verane IMO has the most natural ability of any CB in the world. He is extremely fast, tall, very good in the air and an excellent tackler. But. Defensively his positioning is terrible. And, Ramos hasn’t helped him because Ramos is not sound positionally. Against Barcelona on Saturday, Ramos came out to challenge Rakitic a good 40m from the goal. Absolutely no reason for that. Rakitic laid it off to Sergi Roberto and took off for goal. Ramos couldn’t get back, Casemiro was nowhere in sight, Varene didn’t challenge Rakitic and Roberto fed him for the goal. It was one play that crystallized all of RM’s defensive woes.

 

[CMUandPitt]

I'm a big Ajax supporter, starting following them in the mid-90s with their UCL run, which coincided with the best of the Dutch talent - Van Basten, Bergkamp, Overmars, Kluivert, van Der Sar, and so on. Good to see them back on the global scene but you're right, they're second-tier behind the big boys.

Tadic was remarkable. That's the game of his life. Everyone on RM played like shit.

On the topic of Barca, have you been to Camp Nou? Went last year with the wife - great atmosphere, but what a dump.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

I'm a big Ajax supporter, starting following them in the mid-90s with their UCL run, which coincided with the best of the Dutch talent - Van Basten, Bergkamp, Overmars, Kluivert, van Der Sar, and so on. Good to see them back on the global scene but you're right, they're second-tier behind the big boys.

Tadic was remarkable. That's the game of his life. Everyone on RM played like shit.

On the topic of Barca, have you been to Camp Nou? Went last year with the wife - great atmosphere, but what a dump.

I've always kinda liked Ajax. We went on a tour of Amsterdam Arena a few years ago. I am fully aware of their position in the soccer world but with all the money they get in selling off young players, dont you think they can bring in some good backside of their prime players more often? Like some 28 or 29 year semi-world-class guy. I've always thought they aren't maximizing what they can do there.

 

[mike412]

They might be more successful, but that’s just not their philosophy. They rely almost totally on their youth program. That is ingrained in their DNA and I don’t think it ever will change. They have one starter on this team who didn’t come up through their youth program. De Jong is from Arkel, in South Holland not far from Rotterdam. But, he joined the Ajax youth program because of its philosophy and because his childhood dream was to play for Barcelona and he thought that would be the best way to achieve it. (Another part of Ajax’ philosophy is to sell players to the interested team they most want to play for. Cryuff didn’t want to play for RM, which had offered twice as much money for him. Ajax sold him to Barcelona. Two other teams reportedly offered 10 Million Euros more to Ajax and larger salaries to De Jong but the deal was made with Barca because it was his choice.)

For the last decade, that philosophy has meant that they no longer are the dominant Dutch side. PSV Eindhoven has become the major power and leads the Eredivisie again this year. But, Ajax hasn’t deviated from that philosophy. I actually think it’s admirable.

They also don’t deviate from the total football philosophy. That was why they had so much space against Real Madrid, especially in midfield. Kroos, Modric and Casemiro couldn’t deal with their pace and with knowing that as soon as they touched the ball, they would be pressed. Both sides push their wingbacks forward, but because Ajax owned the midfield, RM got into even more trouble because their wingbacks couldn’t get back in time defensively. When tiki-taka total football is working to perfection, as it did on Tuesday, it is great art!

 

[Hoquista]

Michael Owen couldn't speak Spainish either.

Spainish is easy to learn once you know Portuguese. Having said that and I'm definitely not absolving Bale but players who want to get transferred to other countries should realize they need to learn the language.

 

[mike412]

I’ve been to Camp Nou many times. Barcelona is my favorite city in the world, and since I retired in 2012, we have spent a lot of time there. We rented an apartment for 3 months in 2013, and then other apartments in the same building for 2 months in 2014 and one month in 2016, 2017 and 2018.

And, to the extent I can, I schedule the trips around Barça’s schedule. I have seen regular season La Liga games, Champions League games and the Catalan Cup against Girona.
Last year, when they tied Girona 2-2 in a La Liga match which Barça played with 10 men after Langlet got a red card in the 37th minute was the first match I saw that they didn’t win.
Unfortunately, my wife is an athlete who hates watching sports. She has participated in 125 km bicycling Cross-country races, but she hates watching soccer. So I either have to bribe her (“on the way back, we can stop at the Zara’s on Passeig de Gracias”) or find someone else to go with, or go alone.

I don’t think the Camp Nou is a dump, but they are starting a $125 Million to $500 Million (depending on who you ask) remodeling project next year.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

They might be more successful, but that’s just not their philosophy. They rely almost totally on their youth program. That is ingrained in their DNA and I don’t think it ever will change. They have one starter on this team who didn’t come up through their youth program. De Jong is from Arkel, in South Holland not far from Rotterdam. But, he joined the Ajax youth program because of its philosophy and because his childhood dream was to play for Barcelona and he thought that would be the best way to achieve it. (Another part of Ajax’ philosophy is to sell players to the interested team they most want to play for. Cryuff didn’t want to play for RM, which had offered twice as much money for him. Ajax sold him to Barcelona. Two other teams reportedly offered 10 Million Euros more to Ajax and larger salaries to De Jong but the deal was made with Barca because it was his choice.)

For the last decade, that philosophy has meant that they no longer are the dominant Dutch side. PSV Eindhoven has become the major power and leads the Eredivisie again this year. But, Ajax hasn’t deviated from that philosophy. I actually think it’s admirable.

They also don’t deviate from the total football philosophy. That was why they had so much space against Real Madrid, especially in midfield. Kroos, Modric and Casemiro couldn’t deal with their pace and with knowing that as soon as they touched the ball, they would be pressed. Both sides push their wingbacks forward, but because Ajax owned the midfield, RM got into even more trouble because their wingbacks couldn’t get back in time defensively. When tiki-taka total football is working to perfection, as it did on Tuesday, it is great art!

Ajax has a large stadium, plays in a world-renown city, and has great tradition. I just think they are punching below their weight.

 

[mike412]

Ajax has a large stadium, plays in a world-renown city, and has great tradition. I just think they are punching below their weight.

But, even when they have been a power in the past, they sold off their best players. They sold Cryuff to Barcelona in 1973. They sold the next great Dutch superstar, Marco Ban Bastjen to Inter Milan, which probably shortened his career by 6 years. Overmars to Barcelona, Rijkard, De Boers, Koenig — all their truly great players — have been sold. So, it’s been the same plan for 50 years.

 

[Fk_Pitt]

Last Wednesday: Real Madrid 0 Barça 3. In Madrid at the Bernabeau. Barça puts itself into the finals of the Copa del Rey and knocks the eternal enemy out of the competition.

Saturday: Real Madrid 0 Barça 1. Again in Madrid at the Bernabeau. Barça moves to 12 points clear of Real Madrid in La Liga and effectively eliminates its eternal foe from the race with 12 matches left to play. Barça holds the tiebreaker, having won both games in the league by a 6-1 aggregate.

Today: Real Madrid 1 Ajax 4. In the Bernabeau, the eternal enemy becomes only the third team in Champions League history to lose a tie after winning the away leg first. They had beaten Ajax 1-2 in Amsterdam after a VAR ruling unjustly disallowed one Ajax goal and a second horrendous VAR ruling let stand a penalty kick called despite two of the four angles on IR showing that Gareth Bale took a dive with no contact from the Ajax defender.

Barça is alive in all three major competitions while the eternal foe is finito!

The only downer in the whole thing is that a great and very young Ajax team is certain to have its best players sold to bigger teams in bigger leagues. Frankie De Jong, the 21 year old holding midfielder considered by many to be the best young European not named Mbappe already has been sold to Barça, which won a bidding war despite offering less than Man City and Real Madrid because it is his dream team. He made Luka Modric invisible today. Matthjis de Ligt, 18, is considered the best young Center Back in Europe and will likely be sold this Summer. The entire squad only has one player over 27 other than backup goalies.

Karma.

Serves Tibault Cortouis right. He’s a snake.

 

[Fk_Pitt]

Last Wednesday: Real Madrid 0 Barça 3. In Madrid at the Bernabeau. Barça puts itself into the finals of the Copa del Rey and knocks the eternal enemy out of the competition.

Saturday: Real Madrid 0 Barça 1. Again in Madrid at the Bernabeau. Barça moves to 12 points clear of Real Madrid in La Liga and effectively eliminates its eternal foe from the race with 12 matches left to play. Barça holds the tiebreaker, having won both games in the league by a 6-1 aggregate.

Today: Real Madrid 1 Ajax 4. In the Bernabeau, the eternal enemy becomes only the third team in Champions League history to lose a tie after winning the away leg first. They had beaten Ajax 1-2 in Amsterdam after a VAR ruling unjustly disallowed one Ajax goal and a second horrendous VAR ruling let stand a penalty kick called despite two of the four angles on IR showing that Gareth Bale took a dive with no contact from the Ajax defender.

Barça is alive in all three major competitions while the eternal foe is finito!

The only downer in the whole thing is that a great and very young Ajax team is certain to have its best players sold to bigger teams in bigger leagues. Frankie De Jong, the 21 year old holding midfielder considered by many to be the best young European not named Mbappe already has been sold to Barça, which won a bidding war despite offering less than Man City and Real Madrid because it is his dream team. He made Luka Modric invisible today. Matthjis de Ligt, 18, is considered the best young Center Back in Europe and will likely be sold this Summer. The entire squad only has one player over 27 other than backup goalies.

Champions League seems to be wide open. Hoping Atletico makes it thru to the quarters. Wouldn’t seem right if only one Spanish and one Italian team are represented. 4 of the 8 left will be EPL teams but I don’t think United and Spurs are good enough. I’m just hoping someone beats Man City...they are looking at 3-4 trophies this year. Maybe Barca is good enough to do it?

 

[mike412]

The last three matches I have watched Atletico play, they have been the best team I have seen this year. Totally dominated Juventus. Then, on the road in San Sebastián against Real Sociedad, the hottest team in Spain (hadn’t lost since December), they didn’t allow a shot on goal and had 14 shots themselves. Today, they rested a lot of players in front of the match with Juventus this week and didn’t allow anything even resembling an attack against them.

This is the first year I thought they had the depth to compete in three competitions at once. Then, they got knocked out of the Copa del Rey early. I think they are the most solid team in the competition. I don’t think either Manchester club or Spurs is good enough at the Center Back position. Liverpool has a chance if Salah gets hot. Barcelona can beat anyone in a one-game final, but I don’t think they will make it that far. So, Atletico is my pick.

Next year I think would be Barça’s year if they make the right transfer moves. They need to replace Suarez; they need to sign De Ligt; and they need to sell Courthino and keep Rakitic. But, I don’t think they will get the right replacement for Suarez and I don’t think they will sell Coutinho. They wouldn’t get half of what they paid for him and I don’t think the Board will want to admit what a big mistake signing him was. So, Rakitic will be sold instead. Also, Valverde needs to be flexible enough to allow De Jong to replace Busquet in starting the big games by November. I don’t think he will.

 

[Fk_Pitt]

The last three matches I have watched Atletico play, they have been the best team I have seen this year. Totally dominated Juventus. Then, on the road in San Sebastián against Real Sociedad, the hottest team in Spain (hadn’t lost since December), they didn’t allow a shot on goal and had 14 shots themselves. Today, they rested a lot of players in front of the match with Juventus this week and didn’t allow anything even resembling an attack against them.

This is the first year I thought they had the depth to compete in three competitions at once. Then, they got knocked out of the Copa del Rey early. I think they are the most solid team in the competition. I don’t think either Manchester club or Spurs is good enough at the Center Back position. Liverpool has a chance if Salah gets hot. Barcelona can beat anyone in a one-game final, but I don’t think they will make it that far. So, Atletico is my pick.

Next year I think would be Barça’s year if they make the right transfer moves. They need to replace Suarez; they need to sign De Ligt; and they need to sell Courthino and keep Rakitic. But, I don’t think they will get the right replacement for Suarez and I don’t think they will sell Coutinho. They wouldn’t get half of what they paid for him and I don’t think the Board will want to admit what a big mistake signing him was. So, Rakitic will be sold instead. Also, Valverde needs to be flexible enough to allow De Jong to replace Busquet in starting the big games by November. I don’t think he will.

Simeone is such a good Manager. I wanted him to replace Conte at Chelsea. I hope you’re right about them. Would love to see them win Europe, and while you are right about City at the CB position, they’re just too good everywhere else.

 

[Fk_Pitt]

The last three matches I have watched Atletico play, they have been the best team I have seen this year. Totally dominated Juventus. Then, on the road in San Sebastián against Real Sociedad, the hottest team in Spain (hadn’t lost since December), they didn’t allow a shot on goal and had 14 shots themselves. Today, they rested a lot of players in front of the match with Juventus this week and didn’t allow anything even resembling an attack against them.

This is the first year I thought they had the depth to compete in three competitions at once. Then, they got knocked out of the Copa del Rey early. I think they are the most solid team in the competition. I don’t think either Manchester club or Spurs is good enough at the Center Back position. Liverpool has a chance if Salah gets hot. Barcelona can beat anyone in a one-game final, but I don’t think they will make it that far. So, Atletico is my pick.

Next year I think would be Barça’s year if they make the right transfer moves. They need to replace Suarez; they need to sign De Ligt; and they need to sell Courthino and keep Rakitic. But, I don’t think they will get the right replacement for Suarez and I don’t think they will sell Coutinho. They wouldn’t get half of what they paid for him and I don’t think the Board will want to admit what a big mistake signing him was. So, Rakitic will be sold instead. Also, Valverde needs to be flexible enough to allow De Jong to replace Busquet in starting the big games by November. I don’t think he will.

Well Mike, Atletico goes down to Juventus, and Man City routes by way of a 7-0 win today. Unbelievable. Who is going to beat City??

 

[mike412]

City will be City. Don’t they always. I don’t know if they were hurt or suspended, but two of Atletico’s back four didn’t play today. That really hurt them because Juventus entire attack plan was high crosses — and it worked. It usually is fruitless against Atletico.

Also, Griezman had a total of 8 touches. That is unbelievable!

If Barcelona loses tomorrow, no La Liga teams in final eight.