Let me say this, though. Truly, what Barcelona need is someone like Capello, who can reorginize the squad with an iron fist, who unquestioningly goes about his business and humbles, molds the players into a semblence of a team. What has happened in Madrid, although I usually hate the morons at the top of the club and think they have the collective intellegence of a single parrot, actually was quite beneficial: Capello humbled and organized, Schuster got the team spirit up and mobilized. The biggest suprise of the Madrid team this season is that despite their profiles, our players are playing team football, seem genuinly in support of their coach and each other, and are winning with consistancy, even if not glamorous. Neither Capello, nor Schuster alone could have done all this more effectively. It looks like the big men in clown shoes finally, accidentally, did something right. Can Laporta (who i give no more credit to) do the same?

And remember when I was saying sell Ronaldinho to firm up deals with Krkic and Dos Santos? I take it back. Dos Santos, the more I watch him, the less enamored I become.

Edmilson’s injury is a little troubling. He wasn’t doing badly as a mediocre Yaya sub.

Wasn’t there some talk of us trying to get Dani Alves? Rijkaard was outcoached as usual. Jiminez’ second-half subs of Navas and Kerzhakov were spot on. Rijkaard has no sense for how the team is feeling and playing, even though we think he’s watching the same match as we are. Gudjohnsen warmed up for about a year before finally getting in, too late to even stink, as usual.

Henry was on form, which was encouraging. Very nice goal, and that defensive play he made in the first half, where he came rocketing in to make a sliding tackle just as Sevilla was building an attack was tip-top. His fire seems to be back.

But…yuck. Salgado is the latest Evil Empire denizen to speak up about how the lads are playing, saying that they seem to have lost their desire. Unfortunately, I think he’s right. The talent is there, the energy is also there for a time, but something is missing.

It’s new coach time!

Good ball by Marquez, good finish by Henry; no keeper in the world is going to save that. You have to blame your defense. Capel was there to bury a lucky rebound, but it was the opposite for Chevanton’s header.

Barca deserved to lose because they played like ass for half the game and their manager was awful. I’m done defending Rijkaard if he’s going to leave a team desperate for change to tire themselves out in the midst of 10 games in 30 days. They’re called substitutes, Frank, f-ing use them so that we have a team to play with come February 1, much less 20.

I’m pissed and am going to take that anger to the indoor game I’ve got lined up tonight. And I’ll fluff my chances like any good cule would do this time of year; I’d just be imitating my heroes…

1-1 at the half.

Goal by Henry on a terribly play by DeSanctis (the backup Sevilla keeper)

Goal by Capel on a volley off a corner

Keeper wise Valdes deserves to be first choice and I have yet to buy into an argument for why we’d need say Buffon…he’s not perfect, he’s not Casillas but he’s very good, young, well rounded, and a team leader who is close friends with Iniesta/Jesus, he’s exactly what we need. The Amelia rumours are tempting and would lead to extremely close competition although even more I like the links to Jääskeläinen…the perfect experienced veteran we can use if anything goes wrong. Lehmann is a bad idea on so many levels, the one thing we definitely don’t need right now is another poor attitude who cares more about himself than the team.

Right now our biggest problem is the midfield…With Toure going to the ANC we are stuck with last years DM woes, Edmilson is questionable at best and Marquez (who I know you love) has recently been in brilliant form but is capable of suffering an injury that could throw his game off at any moment, even in the attacking area, Gudjohnsen has looked good but not perfect in the midfield, Xavi has been awful recently, Iniesta isn’t at his best in a central role, and Deco seems to be out of favor with the club, likely tying his loyalty to Ronnie over the club. I love Deco and all but he seems to have lost what little loyalty he had left with his most recent injury, while I still consider him the single most important player to our successes at this point change is a must and he will only give us headaches from now on. Cesc is a nice thought but unrealistic (also I really don’t like the Arsenal fetish so many Barca fans have considering we have yet to have a player we bought from Arsenal succeed at Camp Nou (the jury is still out on Henry)), Modric on the other hand is really tempting.

First we need a manager though..thanks for everything Frank but every team in the world knows how to outhink you at this point. Mourinho would be great but I feel his heart is set on Milan, I’d really like to see us snatch Valverde, though I wouldn’t object to Lippi who openly expressed his desire to manage Barca.

Lehmann definately wont come. He is leaving Arsenal because he wants first team action so that he will play well for Germany. Also, he is an arsehole, which wont really help our attempts to create harmony in the squad. If he could get over himself, he would be a great backup though.

Personally, I don’t think landing Fabregas is impossible. I think that as long as we keep Henry, and if either a)Wenger leaves or b) Arsenal fail to win anything this year, than he will be tempted. He has said numerous times that he loves the club and the country, and he has also said that Barca is better than Arsenal. When asked about Barca’s interest, his agent said that he signed a long-term contract not realising that Barca were interested, and that Fabregas was very happy there and would listen to an offer. In the next few years I think we could have him. It will cost us a LOT though.

As for Ronnie, I think we should get a new coach VERY soon, and if he is still underperforming, sell him at the end of the season. We can get a lot of money for him, but what he does when he is on top form is priceless. So it all depends on whether or not we can get him back to his best. Imagine a top form Ronnie and Messi (just doing what he always does) on the wings. The opposition way as well just forfeit to save their embarressment (that includes Madrid).

Oh and john, your anorexia joke was great. kudos.