"Why Are Barcelona So Annoying?"

[Jamo Martinez]

Good post, James. I think you have something with that line about vulnerability + brilliance = watchability. Very astute.

Cheers, Dave. Truth is your post got me thinking. Don't know if your a snooker fan but I'd put foreward Jimmy White as another example of watchability. Stephen Hendry was fairly quick (certainly when he started out). but you just knew he'd clear the table if he got in. Jimmy could just as easily do the same or miss an easy red. It's true to say that while Barça attack continually and in numbers, they don't really take many risks. Due to the movement off the ball and the technical ability/reliability of their players, they are highly unlikely to lose the ball in a dodgy situation. However that is also very watchable for me. Quick, intelligent thinking; quick, intelligent movement and the technique to execute the passes.

 

[davek]

Cheers, Dave. Truth is your post got me thinking. Don't know if your a snooker fan but I'd put foreward Jimmy White as another example of watchability. Stephen Hendry was fairly quick (certainly when he started out). but you just knew he'd clear the table if he got in. Jimmy could just as easily do the same or miss an easy red. It's true to say that while Barça attack continually and in numbers, they don't really take many risks. Due to the movement off the ball and the technical ability/reliability of their players, they are highly unlikely to lose the ball in a dodgy situation. However that is also very watchable for me. Quick, intelligent thinking; quick, intelligent movement and the technique to execute the passes.

Yeah, I think everyone is drawn to that flawed genius syndrome: Higgins, Best, McEnroe, Warne, Pantani...all sports have them, just as they have the 'Mr Consistencies' of Hendry, Beckenbaur, Borg, Boycott, Indurain. 'Binary opposites', I suppose you'd call them, which keep the tension (and our interest levels) up. That dualism is at the heart my lukewarm attitude to Barca - well, this Barca team at any rate. They're at the Mr Consistency end of the pole. Which sounds completely ridiculous when they have the most exciting player in the world in their team!

 

[Goat]

I think Federerererer suffers from the same problem, hes an excellent player, but very few non tennis fans really warm him to him.

 

[davek]

I think Federerererer suffers from the same problem, hes an excellent player, but very few non tennis fans really warm him to him.

He's another example of Mr Consistency. There'd usually be a flawd genius to counteract him, but there is no one of that description. The likes of Nadal just wear garrish gear...it's simply not enough. You have to throw a few racquets around and scream a bit.

 

[tsubaki]

Yeah, I think everyone is drawn to that flawed genius syndrome: Higgins, Best, McEnroe, Warne, Pantani...all sports have them, just as they have the 'Mr Consistencies' of Hendry, Beckenbaur, Borg, Boycott, Indurain. 'Binary opposites', I suppose you'd call them, which keep the tension (and our interest levels) up. That dualism is at the heart my lukewarm attitude to Barca - well, this Barca team at any rate. They're at the Mr Consistency end of the pole. Which sounds completely ridiculous when they have the most exciting player in the world in their team!

makes one realise how unique Valentino Rossi is then - who else combines consistent success, at the very top level, with being deeply entertaining as well as being very popular*?

* admittedly not with everyone

 

[Republic Of Leodensia]

Hmm, Barcelona. See, I admire their socialist ethics and priniciples, and their whole connection and history with anti-fascism. I do.

What I don't like is how the media constantly lick them out about how they're a "beautiful team" and a "club for the people", yet they're one of the dirtiest teams I've ever watched. I swear every time the ball gets intercepted the players start rolling round like they've been shot. Bunch of cheating divers. The match against Inter completely showed them up. Busquet's reaction to Motta's gentle tap from his hand was just pathetic and ridiculous. That was never a red.

As I say, I like their whole approach to being arguably the biggest team in the world, and the way they've gone about it, that whole "grassroots" feel to their existence. I just don't like their players.

 

[Rook]

I want to like Barca, I really do. However they are such diving cheating f$#ks that it was actually pleasure to see Murinho one up them with the same tactics. They really need a manager like Clough who wouldn't stand for all that nonsense.

Its bad enough when you see someone at say Blackburn or Liverpool do it, at least they have a built in excuse, they suck. To watch a team that's supposed the best in the world have to resort to tactics like that is beyond odious.

 

[Neiler]

Barca are a fantastic team to watch hell, id watch Messi all day doing keepy upys on his own and thats before you mention Xavi and Inestia, if they get Fabergas they will be a joy to behold.

I always had a soft spot for Barca, some great players i really enjoyed watching down through the years Cryuff, Maradonna, Stoitkoiv, Hagi, Ronaldo, Figo, Rivaldo, Ronaldhino etc. I like the fact they havnt been ubber successfull like Madrid at a European level didnt they only win their first European cup in the mid 90s.

There seems to be some leverage and bias toward Madrid domesticaly over there, didnt the Spanish Government wipe 150mill of debt of Reals balance sheet at one stage. Cant see them doing something similar for Valencia.

Terrific club.

 

[johnny rotten]

What I don't like is how the media constantly lick them out about how they're a "beautiful team" and a "club for the people", yet they're one of the dirtiest teams I've ever watched. I swear every time the ball gets intercepted the players start rolling round like they've been shot. Bunch of cheating divers. The match against Inter completely showed them up. Busquet's reaction to Motta's gentle tap from his hand was just pathetic and ridiculous. That was never a red.

this. i mean come on, there are other teams on earth as well. if you call this barça a "legend", you've never seen a legendary team.

 

[Jobby]

I actually have a great deal of respect for Barca, other than the whole serial diver antics that plague them (although, really I feel that it's a trend amongst Champions League regulars). I think a big part of my respect for them is due to my hatred of Real Madrid - who are the embodiment of everything I dislike about footballThem and Atletico Bilbao are the two non-Evertonian clubs that I have the most respect for.

 

[Maverick]

whenever someone tells me that football sucks or is boring, I have them watch a Barca game

it shuts them up quickly and they're hooked

they play beautiful football