Barcelona vs Santos August 2, 2013
FC Barcelona Club
unfortunately had to say goodbye to a club legend this week, as former
Blaugrana goalkeeper Antoni Ramallets sadly passed away at the age of
89. In his 16 year spell with the club, Ramallets won the Zamora trophy
for best goalkeeper a record five times, and was an instrumental member
of a Barça squad that won an unprecedented six La Liga titles.
Considering that club football Barcelona had won the La Liga title just twice prior
to Ramallets’ emergence, and just once in the 24 years after his
retirement, it’s safe to say that Ramallets is one of, if not the best
keeper in our fine club’s history.
And while Antoni may
be gone, he will not be forgotten; his successes, his contributions
and his skill will live on, just like Barça founder Joan Gamper is
remembered with fond memories. Born in Switzerland, Hans-Max Gamper
moved to Catalunya in 1898 and was so impressed with the city of
Barcelona that he decided to stay put, set up a football club and even
adopt the Catalan version of his birth name. From the club’s inception
right up until his tragic death in 1930, Joan Gamper was the driving
force behind Barcelona football early expansions and as founder, Gamper is
arguably the most important figure in our club’s history.
So it’s only fair that
each season we dedicate one match to his memory; remembering all that
he did for the club, all the while looking to the future. Just as much
as the Joan Gamper Trophy is dedicated to our late founder, it is also
dedicated to the future as the club traditionally unveil their playing
squad ahead of each new season.
Icons, and potential
legends in the making take to the field together and demonstrate a brief
glimpse of the future – of the new season – and under a new coach, Gerardo Martino,
excitement is at a fever-pitch. How will Barcelona perform? Will Neymar
adjust to his new surroundings? Can another Catalan player burst onto
the scene?
Each of these
questions will be answered in the coming months, but until then, Culés
will have to try and deduce what the future might hold from this one
match, as FC Barcelona contest the Joan Gamper Trophy against Santos.
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| Barcelona vs Santos August 2, 2013 |
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| Barcelona vs Santos |
Barcelona
As one might expect, Barcelona’s record in this "competition" is rather formidable – with 35 wins in 47 years, Barcelona FC have enjoyed a near-monopoly over the famous trophy, but their monopoly has been upset in recent years, as Manchester City returned home with the title in 2009, before Sampdoria memorably defeated the Blaugrana just a season ago. Under the guidance of Gerardo Martino, Barcelona matches will be fully expected to regain what’s rightfully theirs – starting with the Joan Gamper Trophy, extending to their playing philosophy and pressing in particular, hopefully ending with their fifth UEFA Champions League in Lisbon in less than ten months time.
Victor Valdés may be
leaving the club on a free transfer at the end of the season, but is
expected to retain his place as Barcelona’s number one and should start
in goal tomorrow against Santos. While he played very little part in
Spain’s Confederations Cup defeat, Valdés was granted extended leave
along with all his other international colleagues – yet now that he’s
back, Valdés is keen to make up for lost time. With no offers on the
table as of yet, Valdés cannot afford to coast through his final season
with the Blaugrana; on the contrary, Valdés needs to perform and earn
himself a contract with another top-level European club. Leading the
club to another La Liga title and winning a record-breaking sixth Zamora
trophy certainly wouldn’t go amiss, and that’s for both the club, and
Valdés’ bank balance.
At right-back on the other hand, we enter the new season anticipating change. Dani Alves remains at the club (as expected), but so does Martin Montoya,
and the young full-back remains as dedicated as ever. He’s determined
to break into the first-team sooner or later, and with a World Cup
on the horizon, Alves will need a little rest, while Montoya will want
to earn a place in the Spanish squad; it seems like a perfect situation
for head coach Gerardo Martino. Rotate between the two options and
everyone is happy.
On the contrary, not
much has changed at centre-half for Barcelona. Since this blog’s
inception in 2010, club football Barcelona have signed a grand total of zero central
defenders, but they have sold or released five centre-backs (six if you
count Eric Abidal).
This adds to the two central defensive departures in the summer of
2010; so for the best part of three years, Barcelona have rotated the
same few defenders with varying results.
Gerard Piqué and Carles Puyol
previously laid claim to the unofficial title of "best defensive
partnership" in Europe, but the latter has struggled to cope with
advances in time, while the former has seemingly lost his "mojo". Yet,
with just a couple of weeks to go until the start of the La Liga season,
Barcelona continues to count on both players, plus Javier Mascherano (a converted midfielder) and Marc Bartra (an inexperienced youngster). The talent is there; unfortunately luck, fitness and form are not – at least at present.
However, that could
all change. Barcelona’s defense has been deteriorating over the past
couple of seasons – but so has their emphasis on pressure. If Martino
can revive the principles of old, starting with a high-line of pressure,
will the Blaugrana defense regain form? Sure, defending ultimately
comes down to the defenders, but the whole team plays its part; and the
defenders might not need to "defend", provided that the offense and
midfield picks up the slack.
That’s not to say that
another defender wouldn’t be welcome, but equally Barcelona shouldn’t
just sign another name, simply for the sake of signing someone. For all
his talents, is anyone really convinced that Daniel Agger
for instance – a mediocre centre-half for a mediocre Liverpool team in
an ultimately mediocre defensive league – is the cure for our defensive
ills? Or is David Luiz
– an attack-minded, overpriced defender for a team that crashed out of
the UEFA Champions League group stages – a better fit? Barcelona went
down a similar path last season, and ended up wasting €19 million on Alex Song;
for a club that thrives thanks its patience on the field, perhaps the
board (and the fans) should follow suit off the field, even if that does
mean waiting another season for the perfect signing.
Anyway, moving back to the match, I expect to see Gerard Piqué and Javier Mascherano
start together in the heart of defense with Adriano alongside them at
left-back.
In midfield, Sergio Busquets
will hopefully start at pivote – whether carrying a slight injury or
not, Alex Song has simply not been at his best, let alone up to the
standards that Busquets delivers on a consistent basis. In the absence
of Carles Puyol, I suspect that Xavi Hernández will start in central
midfield and captain the side, and may be joined in midfield by Sergi Roberto,
giving Martino a chance to try Cesc Fàbregas in a "Xavi role" in the
second-half, with Andrés Iniesta in support. Despite announcing that he
is set to stay at the club, I wouldn’t bank on Jonathan dos Santos
seeing much, or any, game-time.
Then, moving onto the attack, Lionel Messi
will start for the fourth consecutive game and should be joined in
attack by Barcelona’s latest signing, a certain Brazilian forward named
Neymar. Up against his former club, Neymar will be raring to leave a
good impression on the watching Camp Nou crowd – and he must be
relishing the chance to finally take to the field alongside Lionel
Messi, a player whom Neymar idolises. Will Alexis Sánchez complete the
attack? It seems likely, though one can never rule out Pedro given his
history with the club, and his playing style which is sure to fit in
under the new management.
Barcelona have
reportedly secured a first option on three Santos players – Victor
Andrade, Gabriel Barbosa (aka ‘Gabigol’) and Giva – and it would be a
surprise if we weren’t treated to a glimpse of at least one of them
tomorrow evening at the Barcelona Nou Camp. The Brazilian side have focused on a
counter-attacking style in their most recent training sessions, with an
added emphasis on practising the offside trap – so they will surely
utilise one of their talented forwards to capitalise on the few chances
they are gifted at the other end, right?
Well, maybe not.
Instead, Santos will probably turn to two of their other talented
forwards, Neilton and Willian Jose to bag the goals against the
Blaugrana, and pack the midfield in an attempt to stop Barcelona from
dictating the tempo.
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