Now, I have a question for you guys. We know Barca has the potential to be the best team in the world on any given day of the year, they are creative and talented beyond belief, they have a superstar roster, they have the backing of millions of fans the world over and yet they lack effectiveness, why? I have my theories, but I want to hear from you.

I still think the blaugranas can put it together, there’s still time. The Copa del Rey and Champions League is still calling their name. And like my mom always said, “nobody’s perfect”, not even Real, ESPECIALLY REAL! They will stumble, they did in the Copa, and they will again.

We’ll be back. No worries.

And the Giants are going to surprise. They might not win, but they will surprise. I was torturing myself by watching the Bears/Colts game from last year, and realizing how winnable that game was for us.

The goal yesterday was an own goal off Thuram, by the by. Llorente might have gotten a toe to it, but from the replay it looked like it was mostly Thuram. Still, can’t fault him for that. He was a man on the pitch, and the way that attack moved through the midfield, the horse was out of the barn long before Llorente got into the box. And we should have been up by two or three goals by that point.

And it’s causing me great pain to say this, because I don’t believe it to be true in fact, but the way the Evil Empire dispatched Villarreal, a team we struggled with, hurt my heart. Those SOBs are playing the way I expected us to be playing this year: open and flowing, lots of one-touch stuff and slick passing. Ouch.

As Kevin said, Rijkaard is to blame. Obviously the players are the ones who play the match, but Rijkaards tactics and subs are just rubbish. Messi, Bojan and Puyol was great. How can Thuram, a 36 year old, still perform as one of the best players in one of the best teams in the world? He is a machine. Is he still international or is he retired?

I don’t know, it’s definitely possible to come back, but not the way the team is playing. In the meanwhile, we’re just competing for the automatic Champions League spot with Villarreal.

I’m laying the blame at the feet of Rijkaard. You have to get your side ready to go. Bilbao fought like crazy for that draw, which for them was a victory. The sub for Xavi took WAY too long. It was obvious that he was crap from the first minute. And notice how the attack faltered when Krkic came off? I would have subbed for Henry. Don’t know what he was thinking with that one.

I thought Puyol was going to give it up more, and dive at the cross to give the passer a smaller hole to shoot into. He played a great match, as did Thuram. It was unfair that they were the two players at the scene of the crime. It almost looked like Thuram helped it in, too. Bummer.

Three substitutions wouldn’t have been enough to get the players off who were stinking up the joint. Deco just wasn’t there. For a man saying “If we don’t win something, I’m off,” you’d think his play would do more of the talking. Too much dwelling on the ball for everyone, not enough effort or intent with the ball.

I’m pretty much giving up on the league. I just can’t see Villarreal doing the deed, which means a nine-point lead. Might as well be 900, the way the lads are playing. Time to focus on the Copa and Champions League, I say.

How ’bout everyone else?

Xavi, by the by, has done more to kill more attacks than any Bilbao player. Even late in the half he gets the pass, with two players making the run, and dribbles, then does a back pass. Why the hell is he still in the side? I never thought I would say this, but I’d take Gudjohnsen at this point.