Match Review
Barcelona 3-Real Madrid 0
I spoke 2 weeks ago about being overrun in midfield, about the need to play both Owen and Ronaldo to ensure that there were spaces created in front, about the need to pass the ball around and keep possession, about how we could not afford to sit in the final 3rd and let them ping passes around at speed…. And every bloody fear came true.
I think we started okay but once the goal happened, the team just gave up. It made me ashamed to see such an inept, spineless performance… one of the worst since the 5-0 loss 6-7 years ago.
I did not expect to win, but I at least expected to create chances, to show some heart, to show some fire. Instead for the last 60 minutes, we were taught a football lesson by a team in a different league.
I think Ronaldinho confirmed that he’s probably going to win World and European player of the Year this time around.
Points out of 10:
- Casillas: 2.5. Good tip-over off Ronaldinho but he lost major points for the 1st goal, which changed the match. Let down by his defence but did nothing special either.
- Salgado: 4.5. Most effective of the defenders. Couldn’t stop Ronaldinho but still did a better job than the rest. 1-2 good forward runs.
- Pavon: 3. No big mistakes but he did struggle
- Samuel: 1. Terrible foul late in the game and got drawn out of position regularly. Can’t tackle without fouling. Largely responsible for the final penalty.
- RC: 1. Nothing in attack. Destroyed by Beletti in defence. Big role to play in the 1st goal. Playing ahead of Raul Bravo on reputation only.
- Figo: 3. Tried but often ran into traffic. Did not release the ball early enough.
- Beckham: 0. Zero contribution=Zero points. The invisible man’s speciality now seems to be the pass back or the pass to the guy on the side. Left Guti with no support, was destroyed by the opposition midfield. Lost the ball in the move that led to the 2nd goal.
- Guti: 6. Tough night. Does not get a higher grade because we are talking about an absolute performance scale. But compared to the rest of the team, he was a 10, and it was fitting that the captain handed over the band to Guti.
- Zidane: 3. 2 good attempts, one good pirouette. But the great man’s best days are behind him and I am certain he can no longer impose himself on a game regularly like Ronaldinho or Deco. We will see a few superb games like Albacete but the King is dead.
- Ronaldo: 3. No service. And ever time he tried to do something he had 2-3 players gunning for him and no one to pass it to. But the Ronaldo of a week ago would have found a way to impose himself. The desire was there but this week it translated to frustration, not hunger to deliver.
- Owen: 4. Came on too late and starved of service. But still looked better than most of his team-mates
- Raul: -2. Most disappointing person all night. Did even less than Beckham and failed to provide leadership or inspiration. What a comedown from silencing the Camp Nou with a finger on his lips. Raul maybe the soul of the club but I am starting to feel that he is too nice to be captain, and we’re better off with a captain who is more forceful on the pitch.
Barcelona 3-Real Madrid 0
I spoke 2 weeks ago about being overrun in midfield, about the need to play both Owen and Ronaldo to ensure that there were spaces created in front, about the need to pass the ball around and keep possession, about how we could not afford to sit in the final 3rd and let them ping passes around at speed…. And every bloody fear came true.
I think we started okay but once the goal happened, the team just gave up. It made me ashamed to see such an inept, spineless performance… one of the worst since the 5-0 loss 6-7 years ago.
I did not expect to win, but I at least expected to create chances, to show some heart, to show some fire. Instead for the last 60 minutes, we were taught a football lesson by a team in a different league.
I think Ronaldinho confirmed that he’s probably going to win World and European player of the Year this time around.
Points out of 10:
- Casillas: 2.5. Good tip-over off Ronaldinho but he lost major points for the 1st goal, which changed the match. Let down by his defence but did nothing special either.
- Salgado: 4.5. Most effective of the defenders. Couldn’t stop Ronaldinho but still did a better job than the rest. 1-2 good forward runs.
- Pavon: 3. No big mistakes but he did struggle
- Samuel: 1. Terrible foul late in the game and got drawn out of position regularly. Can’t tackle without fouling. Largely responsible for the final penalty.
- RC: 1. Nothing in attack. Destroyed by Beletti in defence. Big role to play in the 1st goal. Playing ahead of Raul Bravo on reputation only.
- Figo: 3. Tried but often ran into traffic. Did not release the ball early enough.
- Beckham: 0. Zero contribution=Zero points. The invisible man’s speciality now seems to be the pass back or the pass to the guy on the side. Left Guti with no support, was destroyed by the opposition midfield. Lost the ball in the move that led to the 2nd goal.
- Guti: 6. Tough night. Does not get a higher grade because we are talking about an absolute performance scale. But compared to the rest of the team, he was a 10, and it was fitting that the captain handed over the band to Guti.
- Zidane: 3. 2 good attempts, one good pirouette. But the great man’s best days are behind him and I am certain he can no longer impose himself on a game regularly like Ronaldinho or Deco. We will see a few superb games like Albacete but the King is dead.
- Ronaldo: 3. No service. And ever time he tried to do something he had 2-3 players gunning for him and no one to pass it to. But the Ronaldo of a week ago would have found a way to impose himself. The desire was there but this week it translated to frustration, not hunger to deliver.
- Owen: 4. Came on too late and starved of service. But still looked better than most of his team-mates
- Raul: -2. Most disappointing person all night. Did even less than Beckham and failed to provide leadership or inspiration. What a comedown from silencing the Camp Nou with a finger on his lips. Raul maybe the soul of the club but I am starting to feel that he is too nice to be captain, and we’re better off with a captain who is more forceful on the pitch.
posted by Anirban Blah at 4:09 am
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