Barca 1, Basel 1, a.k.a. “Uncle Fester’s Revenge.”

By: Kevin | November 4th, 2008

Yes, as in festering pile of dung.

This picture is of one of the sole bright spots of the lackluster, pretty much craptastic encounter with Basel, El Capitan, our own Carles Puyol, who also seemed to be the only one taking the match seriously.

I’m going to be brief with the report, and let the vituperation loose in the player ratings.

As I commented in the preview, this was always going to be a tough one. It’s hard to convince a side that they have to put out for a match that they don’t have to put out for. It’s also one of those things that define a championship side, the desire to win every match. It’s clear that we aren’t there yet, as we dicked around, letting Basel hang around, even though their sole interest was in not getting another 5-0 pasting.

They must have been overjoyed when they saw the “white flag” starting XI of Valdes, Sylvinho, Marquez, Pique, Puyol, Busquets, Initesta, Victor Sanchez. Hleb, Krkic and Henry.

They also must have been thinking, “Hey, where are those penetrating runs and dishes that upset our defense so much going to come from? I think we’re home free here, boys!”

And so it was.

If you don’t convert your chances, this is what happens. Henry had a sitter. Krkic had a volley off an Henry bicycle setup, which would have been the goal of the century if converted. Instead Krkic lets it fall, giving the defender a chance to get there. Pique must have tried to miss that header. He succeeded. This was a match that frankly, against a better side, we lose.

That we advance into the knockout stages via sort of a slideways move should be scant consolation because simply put, the lads didn’t want that match. Dare I say it, they looked like last year’s Barca. I rather imagine that Guardiola had some choice words for some folks. And he should have.

The only up side to this is if they want to win the group, my Shakhtar match will mean something now. Hoo-freakin’-ray. And anybody who says “Oh, you’re over the moon when they win, and the sky is falling when they lose,” can stuff it. They justly earned every bit of bile they’ll get for this display, from papers, Catalan radio, socis and us.

And to make matters worse, Iniesta is out for six weeks with thigh damage. Do I seem cranky? Good. Because I am. We become a right-sided team now, as there is nobody else on the left side with the attacking verve and ball skills that Iniesta had. Ick. Let’s do some ratings, shall we?

Valdes: 7. Still playing great, still controlling his line. He kept out a Basel goal with very quick reactions, and was helpless on the goal they did score. He’s still making liars out of his detractors.

Pique: 4. Pulsated with adequacy. Score the header, jackass. He has to stop playing so casually, as if it were practice. The more I watch him play, the more convinced I am that it wasn’t talent that kept him out of the side at Man U, but fire.

Marquez: 3. He was on erratic the whole match, including sloppy marking on an earlier Basel corner. And it was just absurd the way he stood there and let the goal happen. Puyol was great again, but so great that he can mark his AND Marquez’ man? No. Hell no. If Marquez does his job, it’s a win.

Puyol: 8. Grit, drive and deterination galore. He was everywhere again, but he showed his weakness today: he is not a crosser of the ball. Was there a cross that he put into the box that didn’t go directly to the keeper? Don’t think so.

Sylvinho: 3. Trash. Invisible except when he was fouling to keep from getting beat up the line. The conceded goal started with him, because he didn’t press the ball. If he puts any kind of pressure on the attacker, that pass isn’t as good and we don’t get to see Marquez go on psychic walkabout. Does anyone doubt Abidal’s value any more?

Iniesta: 5. He tried, but reverted to type….holding the ball too long, making runs that would amount to nothing, banging his head against the 10-man Basel wall. So much for thinking that they would come out and play football.

Busquets: 4. Son, rolling on the pitch and running around ineffectually is no way to go through life.

Sanchez: 3. Pep, keeper of a most excellent space, noticed that in my initial evaluation, Mr. Sanchez and his rating were omitted. Truth to tell, he was so invisible that I forgot he even played. My notes don’t mention his name a single time. But whenever he’s in, he seems to struggle with finding a spot. I hate to keep repeating an old saying, but he’s everywhere and nowhere, all at once.

Hleb: 3. The master of passes that almost got there, only to be intercepted by Basel players. His last outing he was very good, but he was surrounded by higher quality. He had the stank today. There was one stretch where he passed the ball to Basel defenders not once, but twice! If everyone else is aggressive, his style can work. If he has to be a catalyst, he is found wanting.

Krkic: 3. Whatever, dude. Learn to volley, and learn not to take long shots that don’t have a snowball’s chance of going in. You’re still a year away. When you talk about playing time, remember that. If you’re a striker, get your ass in or near the box and make some stuff happen, like one Cameroonian. Just saying.

Henry: 6. His effort and energy were good, and he did create chances. But he has to score that first-half goal. He had the whole back half of the net at which to shoot, and the ball just didn’t bend. Top class strikers bury those, all day and all night. Good, right? No, because we didn’t buy him to create chances, we bought him to put the damn ball in the net. Do so, or sit down. And get your ass off the wing. You’re wasted out there.

Substitutes

Messi: 7. Energy and movement galore, and I like the give-and-go with Henry for the goal. But on two occasions in the box, the ball got tangled up in his feet, because rather than dishing off to a teammate who surely must have been open, given that he was surrounded by 3-4 defenders, he kept on working to try to get loose. Not good.

Xavi: 5. Pretty much invisible. Completed a few passes, didn’t do much beyond that.

Eto’o: Incomplete. You all saw why. He was out there running around, but really. I expected more. So did he, I rather think.

Guardiola: 5. You have to get players motivated to play every match. That lineup was a gamble, but when the goals didn’t come early, you should have punted. And shame on you for not realizing that Sylvinho can’t cut it any longer. Well, now you know.