"Why Are Barcelona So Annoying?"

[davek]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2010/may/22/barcelona-cesc-fabregas-barney-ronay

Spot on.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

You'll always get those that dislike the great in any sport. I suspect there are those that would happily write prose having a pop at Federer for instance as well. It tends to reflect more on themselves than their target.

Lets face it, they have the history, both on and off the pitch (and lets face it, Yeovil weren't victimised by a fascist dictator were they). They have one of the finest stadiums in the world. They generate their own income without relying on sugar daddies. They have the best youth system in the world and the team benefits tremendously from this. And yes, they do play a style of football that is fantastic to watch.

I sense this is just your dislike of the 'elite' seeping through Dave.

 

[kenada_blue]

The writer is either a massive Wimbeldon fan of the 80's and a lover of the art of Hoofball.....a RS fan.....or just a plank.

They do things differently. Get over it

 

[davek]

You'll always get those that dislike the great in any sport. I suspect there are those that would happily write prose having a pop at Federer for instance as well. It tends to reflect more on themselves than their target.

Lets face it, they have the history, both on and off the pitch (and lets face it, Yeovil weren't victimised by a fascist dictator were they). They have one of the finest stadiums in the world. They generate their own income without relying on sugar daddies. They have the best youth system in the world and the team benefits tremendously from this. And yes, they do play a style of football that is fantastic to watch.

I sense this is just your dislike of the 'elite' seeping through Dave.

No, they genuinely annoy me as a football team. I can stomach only very small portions the type of football they serve up. It's just not entertaining to me. Same as Arsenal. They bore me stupid. As for all the hype that surrounds them: it's strictly for the birds. They are a privileged club. Practically given the run of a whole region financially speaking and talent wise suck in talent from all over Spain and South America. They are a corporation.

 

[kenada_blue]

No, they genuinely annoy me as a football team. I can stomach only very small portions the type of football they serve up. It's just not entertaining to me. Same as Arsenal. They bore me stupid. As for all the hype that surrounds them: it's strictly for the birds. They are a privileged club. Practically given the run of a whole region financially speaking and talent wise suck in talent from all over Spain and South America. They are a corporation.

What type of togger does ye like then? Sunday league?

 

[davek]

What type of togger does ye like then? Sunday league?

I think a more attractive game is when a team can play through other teams, but also get from back to front in a hurry with raking passes. It's undeniable too that wingers hitting the dead ball line and swinging crosses in for an aerial threat is an exciting dimension to a football match. Barcelona are pretty one dimensional to me. Nice to watch on occasion, but ultimately unwatchable on a regular basis.

 

[Seamus Colemole]

Yeah it just comes across as finding petty minor things to complain about just for the sake of it.

No wonder Dave agreed with it.

I mean critcising them cause they have UNICEF on their shirts rather than a highly expensive brandname?

Its digs for the sake of it.

 

[davek]

Yeah it just comes across as finding petty minor things to complain about just for the sake of it.

No wonder Dave agreed with it.

I mean critcising them cause they have UNICEF on their shirts rather than a highly expensive brandname?

Its digs for the sake of it.

Not really. In fact, he doesn't go far enough. He correctly identifies that they position themselves as something that transcends the murky world of corporate football. They dont. They rely on commercialism as much as any other club and the UNICEF sponsorship is a pretty good loss leader in marketing terms. The much vaunted 'membership rule' is not all that it's cracked up to be either. It's been open to manipulation by the very wealthy millionaires who run the club who have bought off delegates to be elected to the board. As for the Catalan nationalism: again, something they trade on in the same way as Celtic carve out a niche support amongst the Irish Diaspora to exploit. Funnily enough, a director of Barcelona was recently outed as a Francoist. In short, Barca and Real are now merely the Spanish Old Firm - binary opposites for business purposes.

 

[Jamo Martinez]

All teams like to paint themselves as the good guys. So all clubs are 'more than a club', so what. Who's stopping them putting it on their stadium. Barcelona did it because the football team is representative of the region and it's seperatist nature. It's tied in with their history. You should see the way the Spanish media fawn over the rs and the analfield experience anyway. People might prefer a different type of football, that's fair enough. But the fact is, most people like to see quick, flowing one touch passing and one-twos on the edge of the box. I know I do. Maybe they're annoying coz they consistantly wipe the floor with top sides, score shed loads of goals and clean up on the individual awards. Where was this guy when the national media and every self-proclaimed football expert in England was announcing to the world that Rooney would have to leave Everton to progress as a player.

 

[GhostOfDixie]

I'm sorry, but how can anyone get annoyed at a team that has just won the league with how many? 8 is it home grown players! They don't need sponsorship, they pay a charity to put on their shirt.

Barcelona are the perfect sporting club, and a model for any club wanting to achieve what they have achieved.

They spend less than Madrid, Man City and Chelsea over the years - and win more trophies.

Davek = Weapon of The Year 2010, is that 7 years in the row now? Now that is an achievement.

 

[GrandOldTeam]

I'm sorry, but how can anyone get annoyed at a team that has just won the league with how many? 8 is it home grown players! They don't need sponsorship, they pay a charity to put on their shirt.

Barcelona are the perfect sporting club, and a model for any club wanting to achieve what they have achieved.

They spend less than Madrid, Man City and Chelsea over the years - and win more trophies.

Davek = Weapon of The Year 2010, is that 7 years in the row now? Now that is an achievement.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/mar/15/bunyodkor-uzbekistan-rivaldo-craig-murray

 

[davek]

I'm sorry, but how can anyone get annoyed at a team that has just won the league with how many? 8 is it home grown players! They don't need sponsorship, they pay a charity to put on their shirt.

Barcelona are the perfect sporting club, and a model for any club wanting to achieve what they have achieved.

They spend less than Madrid, Man City and Chelsea over the years - and win more trophies.

Davek = Weapon of The Year 2010, is that 7 years in the row now? Now that is an achievement.

To be fair, I think this debate's a bit too sophisticated for you.

For the reasons I've outlined I dont fall in with the herd mentality on this one. Maybe it's a subjective thing. Football-wise, I can see the elegance of Barca (though I probably like more their tenacity at recovering the ball rather than what they do when they get it). But it's all a little too calculated for me. I prefer a more cavalier approach to the game. In recent memory the United treble winning side was a far more complete and entertaining outfit. As for the 'more than a club' stuff...if anyone believes that horeshit in this day and age they need their heads feeling.

 

[Dutch Toffee]

I'm sorry, but how can anyone get annoyed at a team that has just won the league with how many? 8 is it home grown players! They don't need sponsorship, they pay a charity to put on their shirt.

Barcelona are the perfect sporting club, and a model for any club wanting to achieve what they have achieved.

They spend less than Madrid, Man City and Chelsea over the years - and win more trophies.

Pretty much this.^

 

[kenada_blue]

Not really. In fact, he doesn't go far enough. He correctly identifies that they position themselves as something that transcends the murky world of corporate football. They dont. They rely on commercialism as much as any other club and the UNICEF sponsorship is a pretty good loss leader in marketing terms. The much vaunted 'membership rule' is not all that it's cracked up to be either. It's been open to manipulation by the very wealthy millionaires who run the club who have bought off delegates to be elected to the board. As for the Catalan nationalism: again, something they trade on in the same way as Celtic carve out a niche support amongst the Irish Diaspora to exploit. Funnily enough, a director of Barcelona was recently outed as a Francoist. In short, Barca and Real are now merely the Spanish Old Firm - binary opposites for business purposes.

Of course they are a business but I dont see them as trying to get away with being something they're not. They just go about it differently.

As Real or Man Citeh swing about saying my dicks bigger and pumping money here their and everywhere....Barca do their business on the quiet behind closed doors for the most part.

As for the sponsorship thing....they dont need to do it but they do. And seeing it from a different point for view, makes a change from clubs that are all about "how much can we make money wise." Getting bollocked for giving cash to a charity is a bit harsh.

As for the way they play.....Im sure Barca do play the way you've mentioned....

I think a more attractive game is when a team can play through other teams, but also get from back to front in a hurry with raking passes.

They generally do pass from goalkeeper, midfield to forwards and rarely, if ever, hoof while keeping possession. Even when they're under the cosh they pass their way out. And they generally play through teams, rarely shoot out side the box unless a bank of 10 players are stopping them getting through.

It's undeniable too that wingers hitting the dead ball line and swinging crosses in for an aerial threat is an exciting dimension to a football match

They play that too. Messi played wide right plenty of times and did it a few seasons back. Nowdays Pedro and Keita are used as wingers to hit the by line and ping balls in. That was also a reason why they bought Ibrahimović last season...to get on the end of crosses etc for height and to pick up the ball if they play route one.

So to say they're 1 dimensional is a bit harsh. Its not as if its a case of "do this and it stops Barca" because it never works so there must be more dimensions to how they play.

And anyway..."more than just a club" is a slogan. I mean, if "the Peoples Club" was taken litterally Davek would've killed himself by now.

 

[GhostOfDixie]

To be fair, I think this debate's a bit too sophisticated for you.

For the reasons I've outlined I dont fall in with the herd mentality on this one. Maybe it's a subjective thing. Football-wise, I can see the elegance of Barca (though I probably like more their tenacity at recovering the ball rather than what they do when they get it). But it's all a little too calculated for me. I prefer a more cavalier approach to the game. In recent memory the United treble winning side was a far more complete and entertaining outfit. As for the 'more than a club' stuff...if anyone believes that horeshit in this day and age they need their heads feeling.

Whatever you miserable get.