La Liga: CA Osasuna 3-2 FC Barcelona: Match Review
by Arron Duckling on Feb 12, 2012 1:38 AM CET
in Barça: La Liga
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FC Barcelona slumped to yet another away defeat, this time 3-2 at the hands of Osasuna. The loss leaves the Blaugrana seven points behind arch-rivals Real Madrid in the title race having played a game more. In other words, unless Real Madrid lose tomorrow, the league is all but over. Osasuna raced into an early lead courtesy of Dejan Lekic, before the Serbian doubled his tally on 22 minutes with a tap-in. Barcelona pulled one back after half-time thanks to Alexis Sanchez, but Osasuna restored their two-goal advantage thanks to Raul Garcia. Pep Guardiola’s team did threaten to pull off an improbable comeback when Cristian Tello scored to make it 3-2, but deservedly Osasuna walked away with the three points.
Guardiola’s team selection was fairly surprising given the UEFA Champions League encounter with Bayer Leverkusen on my mind at least, and by the end of the match, we were left baffled. Not because guys like Thiago and Sergi Roberto started, but instead because Pedro started, and depressingly, because Gerard Pique and (I write this with a heavy heart) Carles Puyol were in central defense. The frozen pitch and the weather conditions played their part, but unfortunately, the real problem was the sheer complacency and stubbornness on display in the first 45 minutes. That is where the damage was done.
Barcelona attempted to pressure their opponents as per usual, and Osasuna played around them. Both Gerard Pique and Carles Puyol were watching the ball instead of "their player" and as a result, they were both beaten to the ball in quick succession, with Raul Garcia beating Puyol to flick the ball to Dejan Lekic, and the Serbian was confident enough to slot the ball past Victor Valdes to gift his side the lead.
It was a hammer blow to the Catalans, but at this stage, it wasn’t the end of the world, especially with 85 minutes left on the clock. There was nearly an instant reply as well, with Thiago threading a delightful through ball to Alexis Sanchez, but the Chilean was (wrongly) judged to be offside, and his subsequent finish did not matter. Of course, we are Barcelona though, so this clearly wrong decision will have to be swept aside with no consequences...
Serge Roberto was playing well, all things considering and he set up Lionel Messi on the right, who cut inside and tested the keeper with a decent long-range shot, but ultimately didn’t cause him too many problems. Then Osasuna made everything a whole lot worse. Cejudo delivered a pin-point low cross, and there at the far post was Dejan Lekic to tap the ball into the net from six yards out. The build-up play was pretty exquisite, while the Serbian’s finish was something Barcelona lacked in their play during the match. That was pretty much the last event of note in the first half. That’s simply how poor Barcelona were. Recently we have been treated to some real poor displays, but they still found a way to surprise us with a whole new level of crap. Hooray...
Isaac Cuenca and Cristian Tello were introduced after half-time for Pedro and Carles Puyol respectively. Surprisingly, both were a marked improvement, with Isaac Cuenca taking just five minutes to send in a low cross that Alexis Sanchez tapped in at the far post. It was a similar goal to Lekic’s second, and at the point, I foolishly thought it would be a turning point in the match and possibly our season. Cruel, cruel hope.
Raul Garcia restored the two-goal advantage just four minutes later, and with it went Barcelona’s title aspirations. Cesc Fabregas replaced Gerard Pique and too made an impact by assisting Cristian Tello’s fantastically taken goal. Cutting in from the right he smashed the ball into the roof of the net and temporarily restored some hope, but Barcelona could not get the equaliser, let alone the winner that they so desperately needed. Guess it’s the Champions League or bust for us this season.
¡Visca el Barca!
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The sad truth of losing La Liga
is that, had we crashed out of the Copa, or even the CL, we would have been able to rest an ageing squad. With this in mind, if we happen to win the Copa or the CL (or hopefully both), we should be doubly impressed, given the continuation of the punishing number of fixtures.
Another thing that I think is worth considering is, if Madrid win the title this season, this does not necessarily signal an era of success for them. Even if Madrid do begin a reign of supremacy beginning this season, I we should feel privileged to have experienced living during a period of success and flair for Barca.
Keep smiling, amigos :)
Well there goes the league
I don’t think we’ve actually played well since our 1-4 against Malaga… That was 21 days ago. I am incredibly disappointed in Barca and their air of complacency in pretty much every single match since then.
Maybe Barca needs a new coach?
Sure not all players perform well, but with many waiting their turn, it’s ultimately to the skipper to decide who to play, and I am sorry to say this but PEp has made some poor choices and frankly I would not shed a tear if he left.
That's probably a bit much, but I see your point
Everything we say about player motivation and complacency actually applies to Pep as well. Perhaps he can’t motivate them like he used to because they’re getting too familiar with his coaching methods, or he just isn’t motivated enough to motivate, or his decision-making is getting sloppier because of complacency, who knows. This is definitely something to evaluate at the end of the season, though. If he wins the CL, I’d give him another season to win the league back.
That's just crazy.
I admire Pep though I despise the club he works for. He rarely goes out of line with what he says. His tactical knowledge is up there with the best of him and his record speaks for itself. I don’t know how you could ignore all of his accomplishments he’s achieved in the past year alone. Barca wouldn’t be the same without him. I’d really like to know who you think could replace him? Because other than Mourinho I don’t think anyone could do the job he’s done.
by MychalShannon1 on Feb 12, 2012 5:07 PM CET up reply actions
What?
We are talking about a new manager now!
Thats crazy talk. This squad has many players promoted from the B team, and after the last 3 season we won almost everything, we were always going to drop points a long the way, as for a new Madrid era, they have to at least beat Barca 10 times.
Pep is the best you can get, yes the experiments with team formation has not always worked out, but 90% of the time Pep has been right.
by meadow on Feb 12, 2012 7:49 AM CET via mobile reply actions
Clearly, some fans did not live thru the Joan Gaspart era
Believe me, things could be much, much worse… So please people, stop with the OMGITSTHEENDOFTHEWORLDWENEEDTFIREPEP talk…
Alcohol may be man's worst enemy, but the bible says love your enemy.
"So what if we're boring?" says Tim Duncan before taking a nap.
Pep is the best we have had in years!
Nobody could fulfill the potential of this great generation of Barca players like Pep and he’s also the best candidate to smooth out the transition to a post-Xavi, post-Puyol team. Pep’s management is the smallest (if at all) of the adverse factors against us this season.
Pique’s performance is another story. Today’s was not his worst but it’s one in a series of bad performances, which over time piques me more to think how irresponsible of him to go rafting and got injured for one precious week during the pre-season training. He never had chance to recover fitness and form afterwards, especially with another injury a few weeks into the season.
Get rid of pep?u guys are joking right???
There isnt a single coach in the world who can do what pep has..and will continue to do…one league lost and this is the reactioni wonder, don’t u remember riijkaard’s last two years…did u also want to fire pep after we lost CL to inter?…amazing…
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Let's put that match behind and look ahead!
The game was very frustrating to watch. Sure, terrain and ref played their part, but we have to talk about factors we (well, the squad and Pep) can influence. For me the worst player (not only today but recently) was Piqué. His error tally is skyrocketing. But apart from that, the defence didn’t communicate at all, which is vital.
I liked Thiago a lot. He’s always working hard and trying to push his teammates to do the same. Sergi Roberto worked a lot as well but wasn’t that successful. I’m happy for him to finally get a start.
Messi didn’t know what he should do and subsequently didn’t do anything properly. Alexis was pressuring left, right and center, he’s MoM for me. At least his goal at one nil down should have counted, and it would be a very different story then.
I think talking about sacking Pep is ridiculous. We culés have been spoilt recently, and missing out on one title (though probably the most important) is not the end of the world. I hope he’ll sign a new contract soon but the thing he always demanded, a hungry team, seems to be gone at the moment. I think the match v Leverkusen will be key for the rest of the season.
^This
"You are a stupid debater if you don't consider your opponent's point at all, slow down with the arrogance"
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by Guidance Mhlari on Feb 12, 2012 11:26 AM CET via mobile up reply actions
The defence lost the game yesterday, 90% of the rest of the team were 'good enough to win it for us
So if people are blaming Pep for Fielding the Best defence he had then I completely understand, otherwise ah! ah! ah! Pep had a decent game by his standards.
Honestly guys, look at all the goals we conceded, the defense was a mess in all of them. Once three defenders (third goal I think) were all in ±1 meter radius of each other, how did they expect to cover the other two attackers? We concede goals from set-pieces with pride sometimes because well, we know we are short, but yesterday’s goals were just embarrassing by our standards.
So Pedro missed a couple of chances (some of them weird), first touches we sometimes squandered in the final third but at least we created chances. You never blame attackers for losing a game in which they netted twice, it’s always your Men at the back.
Pep had a good game, players let him down, at least that’s my opinion
"You are a stupid debater if you don't consider your opponent's point at all, slow down with the arrogance"
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by Guidance Mhlari on Feb 12, 2012 11:19 AM CET via mobile reply actions
Dont forget
Pedro has not played many games this season, hope his fit and good to go now, so I wont be to hard on him.
As for Pep I am 110% behind our great manager, this team has been hit with injury’s, 1st team looks tired, we have had to rely on our inexperienced players and adapt to Pep’s game plans, I think this team has done a good job, to top it all, Madrid has not been able to beat an out of form Barca.
by meadow on Feb 12, 2012 1:27 PM CET via mobile up reply actions
Rocking the boat
Ok, first of all, we all should agree that receiving a little criticism did not hurt anyone, and helped many. So when I say i would not shed a tear if he left, it does not mean I am suggesting this his departure. I wish he sign his darn contract and concentrated on playing
Going back to some issues from last night game first thing comes to my mind is using Pique and Mascherano. Mascherano was brilliant playing CB in his last game at that position, Pique on the other hand has been playing poorly for a while now, so Puyol-Pique as of right now is not our best CB duo, anyone disagree?
Mascherano when used as a DM in one of latest games did not play well in that position which showed last night as well and having inexperienced Sergi did not help and that leaves us with Thiago. So, move Mascherano back and bench Pique, bring Cesc in. Cesc always creates chances with Messi (mind you, not always finishes them)
As far as up front, as much as I can appreciate Pep desire to get Pedro back in form, I’d rather start Cuenca or Tello and bring Pedro from the bench later on if he wants to. You have 2 youngsters who are in form and, and DO NOT need to be motivated
Almost the same players
Well, discussing lineups after the match is always easier
Nobody will say Pique and Puyol in CB worked out last night, but then, they were a brick wall in the last few years until they got injured and rarely played together since. I think Pep wanted to get them used to eachother again.
Now, about Mascherano, I like him at CB too, but then our DM position is vacant with Busquets not yet recovered. Thiago filled in last time who did ok but he’s far from effective there. Unless Busquets plays, moving Mascherano to DM is fine by me.
In the current situation, with the reduced squad and many many games, I find the Pep’s lineup defensively good, I’m rather surprised by the terrible way it played out.
On the attack and creativity department, however, things look different. Fielding Pedro was a mistake, he’s clearly not yet ready. But then, I thought Alexis was rushed back into the starting XI when he was still struggling a little but that gamble paid off, so maybe that’s what was in mind. Sergi Roberto was not bad considering his age and (in)experience but when we can’t afford to drop points in la liga so when playing in such a difficult ground with these conditions, that was too much of a risk. Playing Cesc for Sergi and Cuenca for Pedro up front should’ve worked a lot better.
Current form
I think you you consider starting 11, one thing should always be taken into consideration, and that is current form. Strategy and planning ahead are important, but how well given player performs now should be more of a deciding factor, what do you think?
11 on-form players is a luxury we don't have at the moment...
Of course if you want to get the “best” players out you’ll decide based upon their recent form. But if a player is out of form or recovering from injury, the only way to get back to their best is by playing. Probably that’s exactly the problem Adriano is having. He played well last season but barely gets any time on the pitch this term which in turn makes the his (few) appearances worse.
I think getting Pedro back to match fitness in a game vs Osasuna is a better idea than in the CL knockout phase (midweek), against Valencia (next weekend) or against Athletico Madrid (in a forthnight). Wth the current (reduced) squad, especially with Villa and Afellay out and Messi misfiring, we desperately need Pedro’s goals.
My point is (I think I wasn’t very clear), I generally like the choices Pep made for the Osasuna game, I see advantages in them, but they just backfired horribly. But then, again, we are far from blessed with good fortune, be it injuries or conditions, which take their toll. But still, this game could’ve easily gone into a completely different direction, if maybe the linesmen watched the match through blue-red glasses.
Hind sight is 20/20
Pep has to weight a ton of considerations when he fields the starting XI, current form is just one factor. Many of those variables are unknown to most of us. And if we did know, I’d doubt we’d disagree with his choices. I was OK with the decision to start Pedro, he has experience, he has proven himself to be a starter, and for the most part, he is not a defensive liability. In my mind, the starting XI should have posted a victory. But, the unexpected occurred, the back line failed big time. Had they not had such a poor showing, I really don’t think Pep would be an issue.
^ this
agree…ironically for all the worries about the starting 11…which was pedro over tello…and more important…the midfield of sergi and mascherano (was pretty confident about thiago although i wasnt sure how he would do without xavi or iniesta…but it seems he really is that good lol)….yes the midfield took a while to settle in…but every one of those goals, the defense should have stopped…we played our best defensive line and nobody was worried about conceding cheap goals…but that happened…either way…you win as a team and lose as a team…so cant blame any one particular player…
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by Inder Methil on Feb 13, 2012 1:48 PM CET up reply actions
I don't blame Pep...
And I’m not a person who wouldn’t go after Pep if I think he deserved it.
Our main failing was our first-choice 4-man line. It’s not as if it’s that long ago that that 4-man line has beaten RM. You can’t really blame a manager for that.
I pointed out vs. Valencia how our defense lacked communication, and made poor choices. Osasuna made us pay.
His changes were good too. He did exactly what I would have done and took out Pique/Puyol, which was a really brave choice. I wouldn’t have put in both Cuenca and Tello and was a little confused about it, but they both played really well.
As far as the refereeing, it’s shit. But still we should have done better. Not much else to say really.
by Luis Mazariegos on Feb 13, 2012 6:50 PM CET reply actions
dont panic
folks calm down. pep is experimenting things up for next season. he knew he had lost the league when we were 7 points behind madrid. he knew team is inconsistent. that is why he is trying new things up. dont worry as we will rise again next season.
besides we still have champions league trophy to defend which pep will take seriously.
for now congratulation to madrid but we will retain that trophy again next season.
just a quick question. if pep does not renew his contract who do you think should coach barca? imo bielsa is a perfect candidate.
by footballfordoze on Feb 13, 2012 9:33 PM CET via mobile reply actions
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