Five years ago today - a standing ovation for Ronaldinho in Madrid

On November 19, 2005, Frank Rijkaard took his Barcelona side to Madrid for another incarnation of El Clasico, which the visitors won 3-0. At the time, nobody would have guessed Rijkaard and his side would finish the season hoisting the La Liga and Champions League Trophy. Neither could anyone have foreseen the unprecedented events which transpired on the field.

A Samuel Eto'o goal 14 minutes into the match put the visitors ahead, but this night would belong to Ronaldinho. The first was a scintillating run down the left flank, leaving Sergio Ramos on his ass, and Iván Helguera and Iker Casillas helpless. For the second goal, he again made Ramos look pedestrian finishing ever so calmly to seal the win. Then the unthinkable - the Bernabéu rose to its feet to give the Brazilian, a Barcelona player, a standing ovation in one of the very few classy gestures in this extremely fierce rivalry.



Ronaldinho later capped off that season with the FIFA World Player of the Year award.

Ibrahimovic and his agent go too far - Barcelona block payments

There has been to decrease of pathetic, classless, insulting remarks from former Barcelona striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic and his stupid, gluttonous agent Mino Raiola. To start with, the gangly Swede has used every breathe over the past few weeks and months to slander the Barcelona manager and his image.

He has repeatedly mocked Pep Guardiola calling him a "philosopher" - claiming he is no better than any other manager or player in the game - that he barely had anything to do with Barcelona's success. Just a few days ago, he told reporters that Guardiola thinks of himself as Ghandi. "He seems to think he invented Barcelona's style of play."

As if that wasn't enough, his agent joined the fray yesterday stating, "I think [Johan] Cruyff and Guardiola should go to a mental institution, shut their mouths, and play cards. They would be doing a great favor to Barcelona and the modern game."

Enough is enough. For all the bad blood and supposed bust-ups between manager and player, Ibra is long gone and has almost single-handedly carried AC Milan to the top of Serie A. Upon transferring to Milan, he and his agent made out like bandits with Barcelona's money. So why must they keep pestering and badgering?

There is no rational answer. And luckily, Barcelona Football Club have slammed their fists in response. In an official statement, the club defended their coach and, effective immediately, threw the book at Raiola:

Futbol Club Barcelona considers inadmissible the recent statements issued by Mino Raiola, which have attacked the honor and moral integrity of our manager, Pep Guardiola, and Mr. Johan Cruyff.

These statements have been published by the Swedish daily newspaper "Expressen" and widely reported by numerous agencies and international media.

In this regard, the Legal Department is considering legal action against Mr. Mino Raiola, including criminal proceedings.Taking effect immediately, FC Barcelona has blocked all outstanding payments to Mr. Raiola as per his contractual agreement with the club.

I do wish they had mentioned Ibrahimovic in here, but on second thought, that would only bring the club down to his level. Everyone in their right mind knows that the stupidity coming from Ibra's mouth is exactly that. He's the one looking like an ass. Raiola is a different story altogether - a businessman and an agent. He deserves everything the club has threatened him with.

El Clásico to be contested on a MONDAY

 
Barcelona, Real Madrid, and the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) have agreed to move El Clásico to Monday, November 29th. On Sunday, the originally scheduled date of the match, Catalan elections are set to be held, and the local authorities had reservations about security for both occasions (and getting people to vote). 

On the one hand, I completely understand why Barcelona did not want the game staged on Sunday. Although it would kick off around 10pm local time at the Camp Nou and polls would be long closed, there is the issue of security. At the stadium itself and around the city, there will be plenty of Madrileños aka targets for violence and vitriol. Security forces will need to be at their fullest capacity. The problem is, 10pm is around the time when results could come in. And even if they came in earlier, there is the issue of celebrations and election parties where security would also be necessary. Frankly, it's a logistical nightmare and the RFEF could ill afford risking a lax in security for one of the most heated derbies on Earth.

Then we have the RFEF itself who were, in my opinion, too weak to assert any influence here. We all know every decision made in this sport revolves around money, and nothing more. Not the supporters, not attendance levels, not the squads (and in some cases not even security). Money and revenue only. So how could the Federation allow the biggest, and most anticipated game on the planet, to be played on a workday?! When ratings will drop. When interest will dwindle. Catalans would have complained (or at least the candidates would have) were the game held on Sunday. And I doubt many people would have argued with their reasoning to do so. But the RFEF needs to do what is in the best interest of their league - a league with the potential to be the most exciting in Europe. This is their grand spectacle to the world, and most won't be able to watch.

You could say that having it on a Monday makes it even more engaging. They will have their own Clásico day. That's just crap though. Spain missed an opportunity here to reach a record number of televisions in every corner of the world. I can't think of a bigger inconvenience in history than this.

Facebook has spoken: Puyol will play until 40

 
About a month ago, reports claimed that Carles Puyol had confided in a friend that he would play until 40 if a Facebook group for the cause attracted 250,000 followers. Well, it appears the power of Facebook has succeeded once again.

As of today, November 5th, the group named Carles Puyol: "If this gets 250,000 I will retire at 40", has surpassed the benchmark and currently boasts 251,082 followers. Carles has not released an official statement as of yet, but Barcelona, Spanish, and giant hair supporters around the globe will be thrilled with the opportunity to watch the Rock of Gibraltar compete for another EIGHT years.

Why not? The guy still plays at an extremely high level and his partnership with Pique has grown exponentially in a relatively short period of time. He does not appear to be slowing, nor has Guardiola ceased to put him at right back when needed. It's safe to assume that Facebook or not, Puyol probably anticipated playing a few more seasons as long as injuries did not get in the way (and he has been pretty healthy over the past few years).

I attribute his endurance to Malena Costa - his young brand new, super hot girlfriend.

Pep Guardiola and Stale Solbakken almost come to blows

I love my manager - one of the classiest and humble perfectionists on the planet, who always takes the high road and never gets mired in the childlike banter many managers employ. However last night, Guardiola's patience reached its breaking point as the Barcelona manager confronted FC Copengan's Stale Solbakken in a very heated exchange that almost got physical. Apparently, Guardiola was pissed at Solbakken for attempting to infringe on the Barcelona man's unflappable sense of style - shaved head and stubble, scarf, tapered coat, tie, and vest. It is a look that sends shivers down my spine every time I see Pep on the sideline. However, the Copenhagen man wears it with a little less class and sets an extremely bad example for that look...

Okay, I only wish that was the issue at hand. But in all seriousness, Solbakken had made a number of remarks before the match in reference to José Manuel Pinto, the Barcelona keeper suspended two matches by UEFA for unsportsmanlike conduct after he imitated the referee's whistle to stop a Copenhagen player from advancing on a break-away, who thought the ref blew for offsides and stopped playing. In an unprecedented scene in the career of one of the quieter managers, Pep stood up for his man.

(Details of the exchange and the video after the jump)

Barcelona arrives in style

About a month ago, I mind-numbingly outlined the issues surrounding Barcelona's predicament in traveling to Ceuta for today's Copa del Rey match. Ceuta, as you may or may not know, sits on the northern tip of Africa across the Straight of Gibralter. Well after a quick flight south, they chose the most flamboyant of means of transportation. Like kings, the team crossed the Straight in a helicopter and landed at their own little helipad.

Hey, when you're the best, you deserve the best.

WAG Wednesday Part 7 - Malena Costa

We're kicking it Spanish WAG style today. Next up - Malena Costa, the charming and adorable girlfriend of one of the most unattractive men in the game today - Carles Puyol. Don't get me wrong, I love the guy for everything he has given to Barcelona. But you can't argue with the evidence: here, here, and here.

But who cares what I think? As they say, looks aren't everything. It's obviously about fame and fortune and sugar daddies, of which Puyol can boast all three characteristics.

Whatever you do Carles, don't let this chick get away:

Are Barcelona becoming Arsenal?

The concept seems preposterous, especially coming from a Barcelona supporter. Yet after watching Arsenal's display at Stamford Bridge followed by Barcelona's draw at home to Mallorca, you could not help but notice some cringing similarities between the flag bearers of beautiful football. And whereas during the past few seasons you could characterize the North London side as a Barcelona "B team" of sorts - an identical style of play but just a class below the Catalan giants - the first six matches of the La Liga season have revealed that the "A team" may not warrant the pleasure of such a title.

Barcelona's Travel Woes

Aaaah logistics. Nitty gritty minutiae that deal with the most mundane of subjects and content. Nobody really enjoys dealing with them, but at the end of the day, they are the glue that hold together any planned outing. So, I will now bore you with a problem that is receiving ample space in local newspapers in Barcelona: How to get to Ceuta?

Ceuta is Barcelona's opponent later this month in the Copa del Rey. The problem is, Ceuta is not located in Spain...it's in Morocco. Located just across the Straight of Gibralter, this autonomous city of 75,000 has dealt the Catalans a bit of a headache. You can't fly there because there is no airport. You can't take a train because the Straight is in the way. And you can't walk because, well, that's just not possible. So, here are the options being considered:

OPTION 1: Fly to Málaga in southern Spain, take a coach to the coastal city of Algeciras, ride the ferry to Ceuta.

OPTION 2: Fly to Málaga, coach to Algeciras, helicopter into Ceuta.

OPTION 3: Fly to Tetouan, Morocco, coach to Ceuta

The helicopter ride would take only 10 minutes compared to the 30 by boat. Also, it would avoid any potential sea sickness problems along the way as the meeting point of the Atlantic and Mediterranean isn't always the smoothest. We wouldn't want the players to be wretching just hours before the match! However, the helicopters can only hold 12-15 passengers or even less, which means the team would have to commandeer an entire fleet. Oh, and the helicopters are 95 euros each way.

Believe it or not, this is practically front page material in Barcelona. How poor old Barcelona will get to Ceuta to field a youth squad against the third division side. Although there is something rather arrogant yet dashing about flying in on helicopters, landing just next to the stadium, and walking out like FBI agents in any movie ever made. Yet it also degrades the local side a bit - arriving to take care of business and then leaving right out of the parking lot in their fancy helicopters.

Judge as you will, but it's rather obvious option 2 is their best bet. How could you NOT take helicopters to a match?!

David Villa sees red for left jab

Lost in Barcelona's 3-1 win over Athletic Bilbao on the weekend was David Villa's straight red card which will very likely result in a 2-3 game suspension. In some fairness to Villa, Gurpegi was riding him like a jockey and somehow avoided a whistle himself with the referee standing nearby. However, Villa lashed out with his left fist and was immediately sent off. An end to a frustrating evening no doubt.

And a frustrating season as well, as Villa has only found the back of the net three times in all competitions. For some players that would be a thrill. But not the calibre of Villa. 31 shots, two posts, nine turned aside by great goalkeeping. He's also given the ball away 61 times, most of any player on the team.

You can only really point to bad luck. Obviously, his summer was a successful one and it seemed as though he could score blindfolded at the World Cup. He has had a number of guilt-edged chances so far this season but simply can't score, and we all know he is one the deadliest strikers on the planet. This punch was expected at some point, I imagine, and the Barcelona press have practically ignored the entire episode. Their only worry is that he may miss his first opportunity to face former club Valencia. It only goes to show that they, and any Barcelona fan for that matter, are confident he will start scoring at some point. He is just too good not too.

Hopefully this is the first and last such episode from Villa. A team already thinned out at the forward position can ill afford less options.

Matches You Can't Miss This Weekend

Amid the endless number of football matches available for viewing this weekend, here's three can't miss encounters. That means - unless your girlfriend is dragging you to some lame brunch with her parents (which is still not a decent excuse), get your ass to a TV and watch!

MANCHESTER UNITED VS LIVERPOOL

The bitterest and most hotly contested of the northwest derbies. Pride and much needed confidence boosts are on the line Sunday at Old Trafford – perhaps more for the players involved than the teams themselves.

Wayne Rooney, who as one United correspondent so aptly described as filling 'more column space than the Iraq war in recent week,' needs to get back in the headlines for good things. Between cheating on his pregnant wife and playing terrible, anonymous football, Rooney needs to up his game and what better platform than this. Luckily for United, Berbatov has started to show his £30 million worth. Rio Ferdinand is back from injury. Can he sure up a United defense which has shipped four points and more injury time goals in the past two weeks than SAF's already red face can take?

Mascherano is getting soft

One of the game's toughest and reckless tacklers is changing face. In an effort to adapt to Barcelona and La Liga's style of play, Mascherano told Barça TV:

"Every day I am listening and learning new concepts...all I need to do is change that "chip" of mine and I know I'll be successful in this league"

Hmm. That chip you say? I guess he's referring to his debut with Barcelona against Hercules in which he almost got sent off. Although it did take him 20 minutes to receive his first yellow, and since I anticipated that taking place 19 minutes earlier, looks like he's already improving!!

More Cesc tapping up. Only this time it's an ex-gooner!

Barcelona's tapping up of Cesc Fabregas over the summer is well documented. In fact, pretty much everyone except his pet dog made a public statement to woo the Catalan back to the Camp Nou.

Messi started tapping even before the end of the season, then admitted to sending his buddy text messages. Xavi played prophet during the World Cup. Gerard Pique got dreamy. Captain Puyol led the charge. Pedro claimed it was a no brainer. Biscuits spoke up over tea. Even Coach Pep threw his weight around in South Africa.

With nobody left to talk up the Arsenal skipper and the transfer window closed, one of Wenger's best has admitted the ex-Barcelona youth star will undoubtedly make a return to his hometown club.

Gilberto Silva, admitted Fabregas' fate is sealed.

"'He is a great player and a good guy. I wish him well at Arsenal, but sooner or later he will return to Barcelona."

First off, I love that Silva wishes him well at Arsenal. It sounds like he's just arrived there and has yet to prove himself. Heroic PK with a broken leg at the Emirates against his former club? No good. Cesc still needs some encouragement to play well since he's been AWFUL...

In any event, it's nice to finally hear an Arsenal guy say what everyone is thinking. Although I wouldn't be surprised if the Daily Mail, who published this story, comes out tomorrow with breaking news that Barcelona players paid Gilberto Silva to make these comments. Would you doubt it?!

(photo courtesy of the Daily Mail)