Campeones!!!

 

After 122 matches and 344 goals scored in a campaign that spanned 333 days from the first round of qualifying, we finally have our European Champions in the form of FC Barcelona. Pre-billed strongly as the match of the decade in some quarters for reasons that still elude me, the Champions League Final left onlookers much to talk about in its aftermath.

If you are like me, you might have only now just got your head around what many genuine fans would describe as one of footballs all-time greatest performances. A feat completed by a team who I like countless others regard as the greatest team ever assembled. It would be easy to talk about the showpiece fixture and how magnificent Barcelona’s display was, and indeed it shall be reflected upon. But what really struck me about UEFA’s blue riband event at club level, was just how amazing the much maligned ‘new’ Wembley Stadium looked.

Dressed in its Sunday best or perhaps I should say Saturday night’s finest considering that was when the match was played, the new Wembley Stadium lived up to its predecessor’s billing as being the home of football. The 90,000 all-seater stadia appeared comparable if not better to all the iconic stadiums of the world, famed for their respective history or architectural awe. However, Wembley Stadium stood up to the enormous challenge, and put on a real demonstration in how it can stage a large scale event. The 2011 Champions League Final inked the first real milestone to what has up until now been a soulless venue, and rediscovered London as a football heavyweight amongst its neighbouring cities across Europe and further a field. 

As for the match itself, well credit must be given to Manchester United in their attitude to try and compete with Barcelona, and attempt to make the final a bonafide contest. It would have been very easy for many sides to set their stall out to stifle Barcelona’s consuming rhythm, thus destroying the enjoyment of the game from a neutral’s perspective in an attempt for a smash and grab win. Coaches such as Jose Mourinho, and Rafael Benitez come to mind in employing such tactics. Even so, for all their efforts Sir Alex Ferguson’s men came up woefully short. But quite frankly what could he and his team have done any different against such an onslaught?

Some have pointed to the surprising omission of Dimitar Berbatov, who was last season’s Premier League’s joint top goalscorer hampering United’s chances in the final. Fergie himself has come under attack for getting his tactics wrong when it came to the big stage. Some United fans I even heard went as far as to call for Feguson’s head! Oh how the fickle finger football has now become. But in my humble opinion no team in world football at any level would have been able to handle Barcelona’s performance. I include the World Champions Spain in that statement, despite playing a parallel brand of football with a similar pool of players.

In the 25 years at the helm of England’s most successful club, Ferguson went on record by saying his team has never taken such a hiding. That would be an accurate assessment for my money, as the two teams looked poles apart. Let us not forget that both sides have been the most consistent, and dominate teams in Europe in the late noughties. Barcelona have featured in three of the last five finals all against English clubs, and Manchester United have appeared in three of the last four showpieces where they have lost to Barcelona on two of these occasions. With this, it makes Barcelona’s win against an associate elite outfit all the more remarkable.

But seriously, what more can one say about the Catalan club that already has not been said. Perhaps we should throw in another superlative which Rudd Guillt calls, sexy football. If their 2009 win against United was decisive, then this win was comprehensively conclusive. A display full of astuteness, craft, and what many overlook is their work ethic in closing down the opposition. All components of implementing the beautiful game with ease, as discussions began certainly in the UK as to how come the Catalan team are so good? Many a football fan mulled over why their own supported team cannot play like that, and football media outlets asked the question is this the future?

All of which brings Arsene Wenger in to sharp focus. A man who has become the point for a lot of criticism during his reign at Arsenal, his style is not too far away from what has now become the en vogue attitude in football after Barca’s display. Surely he cannot be doing to bad a job?

Wenger’s approach has long been rooted at Arsenal and emulates Barcelona of instilling a philosophy at based on the youth development and playing with technical prowess. After all if it wasn’t for the blundering Nicklas Bendtner who had a late opportunity to score at the Nou Camp, Barcelona would have been almost certainly knocked out in the last 16 stage of the tournament. Even though I felt Barca were far the superior team in both legs, it is the score line that counts after all, and this tie officially was the closest Barcelona ever came to being troubled in the competition with a slender 4-3 aggregate win. Perhaps there lies the problem Wenger has created for himself in trying to take Arsenal to the next step, if he has to call upon such individuals like Nicklas Bendtner. 

With that it brings me to a great comment received on this site in a previous post labelled ‘Off the Record’. A brief recap for those who may have forgotten, the article looked at both Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger, and asked which of their respective teams held the greatest accomplishment by a Premier League club. United’s 1999 treble winners or Arsenal’s 2004 ‘Invincibles’, and also posed the question which of these teams featured would fair best against the current Barca side?

Well the received comment, who I should add is a long time follower but shall remain nameless, but they know who they are, put together an 18 man squad comprising of all three teams. Likewise I am going to do the same and form a squad from all three teams and calling the dream team squad, Arselona United.

Arselona United

Schmeichel, Alves, Campbell, Stam, A. Cole, Viera, Xavi, Iniesta, Giggs, Henry, Messi.

Subs- Keane, Beckham, Bergkamp, Pires, Puyol, Valdes, Scholes.

What do you all think?     

Monte Carlo or Bust?

Once again all eyes were fixed on the streets of Monte Carlo last weekend as Formula One’s crown jewel took place, the Monaco Grand Prix. Lauded for its glitz and glamour, to those who watched, we were hoping for an eye-catching race that matched the scenery on view. Nevertheless, if you are like me, you might have felt a little short-changed by last weekend’s proceedings.

I enjoy the unique variances that each Formula One race provides us from a viewing perspective, and think those at the helm in Formula One have got the balance right in staging races from the spectacular and novel, to the challenging and demanding. However, I do feel the Monaco Grand Prix is in danger of not necessarily falling into this progressive category. I would even go as far to say that I actually do not look forward to the Monaco Grand Prix, when I know it is the next race on the F1 calendar. 

Now to some of you reading this, you might be wondering what on earth I have been drinking to make such a statement. But lets be honest, the Monaco Grand Prix is nothing more than a well staged dazzling procession, where the cars involved have little or no chance to overtake. A race where the qualifying positions are king, and the starting grid near enough replicates the finishing places of the cars. Where is the excitement in watching such an occurrence? I for one would like to see a bit of racing in my motor sport.

In addition, what also dampens my enthusiasm of the grand prix, is the circuit’s narrow streets which I feel harms the natural flow of the contest from a watching viewpoint. Why you may ask? Well, with little or no runoff area in a built up region and the track being so tight in terms of width space, any accident that arises is likely going to result in the race temporarily being halted. Usually by the means of the safety car, or the race being suspended altogether for particular period of time.

Now employing such measures is not exclusive episode to the Monaco GP, we often see the use of the safety car or race being brought to a standstill at many other track venues. But these precautions are going to be slightly more frequent on the Monaco circuit, as the clean-up operation is going to be that more prolonged when an accident occurs before the race can continue. And more importantly, the safety of a driver or drivers involved in an incident is always the primary point of concern, and should never be hurried for the sake of the race to resume at full pace.

But as we saw in this year’s event, such a scenario occurred both in the qualifying and the race itself. Negatively affecting the strategies of the drivers and teams particularly at the top end, and dramatically influencing who won the race and how it was won. Should this be the way a prestigious race is concluded, especially when matched up to the efforts Formula One is putting together in trying to make its races more exciting and competitive?    

Barring its picturesque settings, should the F1 road show by-pass the principality of Monaco altogether as a consequence in reviewing the points mentioned? Personally I think maybe it is time. Or at the very least, Formula One needs to make impactful positive changes to how the Monaco Grand Prix is run. Because for far too long the event has been in need of adjustments, and more thrilling than what we saw last weekend as an example. 

Newly introduced races in Abu Dhabi and Singapore, and modern complexes being built on-site at many of the tracks featured, have helped F1 be fresh and current. Monaco needs to keep pace in its exhilaration or be a relic of the past. Though on a personal note, if the sport could still retain the beautiful scantily-clad ladies that we often see circling around the track that would be great!