Athletic 1 - Barcelona 1: End of the Triple Edition

By: Isaiah | January 28th, 2008

It looks like we won’t be earning the Triple this year as Barcelona dropped 2 more “golden points” to Madrid by drawing 1-1 at San Mamés and fall to 9 points behind the “champions” from the capital. And as one reader pointed out in previous comments, they’re doing it with the style normally found at the Camp Nou, not at the Bernabeu.

I missed the game (un)fortunately, so not only did I not get to see the team squander away chances, but I failed to be able to see them do it in HD — I love you WorldSport HD!. Regardless, if the stats tell the story (and they usually don’t), then Athletic dominated. According to Soccernet’s stats, Athletic outshot Barca 17(6) to 8(2), which is, coupled with 60% possession in favor of Barca, means they were the more vertical team. And I don’t mean vertical in the Peter Crouch sense, I mean in the “hey look a goal, let’s go towards it” sense.

Rijkaard claims there’s still a chance we’ll win the league and I suppose he’s right. 17 games left and we’ve got 9 points to make up. Meaning all Real Madrid has to do is start sucking horrendously and we have to play, you know, not like ass. Assuming that we win in the Bernabeu 0-2, we’ll need them to lose twice and us win on both of those occasions and match Madrid the rest of the way. Technically feasible, but when you look at the fact that Barcelona is playing as if they’re stuck in hardening cement, who is going to bet against the merengues at this point.*

Bojan goal was a beauty, but it involved Messi playing in the center, a position I’ve railed against in the past. Messi is not a central striker, especially when you have Thierry Henry on the field. Sure, Messi is talented as all get out, but as a winger, not a forward. Countless times Rijkaard has pushed Messi to the middle and I have yet to see it create a goal (Bojan’s was a lucky rebound — and as a disclaimer, I don’t know if it has or hasn’t created goals in the any game, but I’ve never personally been witness to one, that’s all). So why don’t we start with that lineup against Villarreal? Hell, why not. We don’t need any goals or anything.

Rijkaard said less jogo bonito, more goals. But what we need is, really, something to light a fire under the asses of everyone out there. The defense is working its ass off and the midfield is mailing it in. Normally it’s our defense that lets us down, but we’re on freaking Cell Block D lockdown over here and no one is guarding the gates. The offense is playing fairly well, but Xavi is the definition of shit right now and should not start. But of course he will since he’s a studious, quiet character that Rijkaard probably needs backing him. Xavi isn’t the type to speak out much and he really does just go about his business, but he happens to be doing it very badly right now. So he should be subbed.

Deco should be subbed too, but you do have to start 11 players. Ronaldinho’s supposed return against Villarreal may provide a way to bench Deco, but at what price? Ronnie has been playing like crap and only 4 or 5 brilliant games in a row will return him to his prior untouchable status. Perhaps with Henry, Bojan, and Messi out there he can become a creative player again, rather than the finisher, but we’ll have to wait until ~~Wednesday~~ Thursday to find that out.

More later, when I get the chance to think about some of these things, put them into perspective better (we’re 2nd in the league, not 18th), and come up with a potential solution to all our problems (Ross Perot!).

*Me, of course, cause I’m both a fan and an idiot. $5 anyone?