Oh thank you! But to be fair though, it easy to snuff out these cheap attacks. There are a lot of videos could be used as the 'weapon' in Youtube. You too can help me out

Nah, I'm sure they'll be fine, at least on the football pitch. The relationship will grow cold, but not on the pitch, where all will be forgotten. Casillas especially is a gentleman, so he will have no problem to reconnect with Barca players.

But perhaps the most surprising addition to this bunch of butcher-on-the-pitch players is Arbeloa, at least IMO. I think he was among the most cynical and nasty RM player, even surpassing Ramos and Pepe. I guess that's why Mourinho mentioned his name when asked who was the most important team member. He will do exactly what his coach instruct him. I can't get the image outta my head when he sliding kicked Adriano's balls

Proposed mosaic for the next El Clasico It'll be a helluva atmosphere

Do you guys feel RM stand a chance in next match? I really don't think so I'm sure you guys have read about Frank De Bleeckere's appointment as the referee for the next El Clasico. And you guys may also remember The Special One shortlisted him as the Barca-biased ref after he sent off Motta last season. So don't worry guys, we'll win. I'm sure Barca (Unicef may also be involved here too ) may continue the 'deal' with UEFA from last season UEFA like Unicef, so they like us too!

But why UEFA didn't appoint him? It'd be more fun

Don't worry. Unicef has bribed UEFA for that case

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Salvation in beautiful truth
By Eamonn Sweeney

Sunday May 01 2011

The great American literary critic Lionel Trilling once wrote that "we shall all do better, meet with kindlier judgements, if Tolstoy rather than Dostoevsky is right about the world." If you've read the two lads you'll know what he meant.

If you haven't I suppose the best way to boil it down is to say that Tolstoy had some faith in human nature and Dostoevsky had very little. My apologies for this unforgivably reductive summation of two of the greatest writers in history but I do have a column to write.

That Trilling quote popped into my mind after watching the Barcelona-Real Madrid game last Wednesday night. Because football will do better and meet with kindlier judgements, if Lionel Messi rather than Jose Mourinho is right about the game. In how they think football should be played, what should be expected from it and what the game means, Barca's star player and Real's manager, if I may continue the 19th century novel theme, are as starkly opposed as kindly Dr Henry Jekyll and his hideous alter ego Edward Hyde.

Mourinho's vision of football is unremittingly grim and almost completely cynical. In his eyes there is no petty advantage too small not to be zealously sought for, no trick too mean to be ruled out, no joy to be had out of the game apart from a winning result. His monomaniacal pragmatism makes him the footballing equivalent of Dickens's obsessively utilitarian schoolteacher Thomas Gradgrind in Hard Times. He is Don Revie with a foreign accent.

The nattering nabob of negativity showed his true colours as far back as January 2005 when he accused Alex Ferguson of influencing referee Neale Barry at half-time in a Carling Cup semi-final between Chelsea and Manchester United. "In the second half it was whistle and whistle, fault and fault, cheat and cheat." A month later he lied that Frank Rijkaard, then Barcelona's assistant manager, had been seen coming out of referee Anders Frisk's dressing room at half-time during a Champions League tie between Chelsea and Barcelona at the Nou Camp. The following year he was accusing Stephen Hunt of deliberately injuring Peter Cech. The year after that he claimed "it is not possible for penalties to be awarded against Manchester United and it is not possible for penalties to be awarded to Chelsea," while berating Cristiano Ronaldo as a liar. And he has continued on in this vein.

Alex Ferguson is also prone to the odd verbal outburst but the big difference between the men is that Ferguson's sides always play attractive football while Mourinho has produced one highly effective but stupendously dull outfit after another. There was something utterly predictable and infinitely depressing about his attempts to get a rise out of Josep Guardiola in the run-up to the semi-final. He succeeded to the extent of provoking the normally gentlemanly Barcelona boss into losing his cool at a pre-match press conference, something hailed as a psychological masterstroke by gullible hacks.

On the field, however, the poverty of Mourinho's approach has never been as cruelly exposed as it was on Wednesday. Playing at home in a Champions League semi-final, Real started without a single out-and-out front man on the pitch and three world-class strikers, Karim Benzema, Gonzalo Higuain and Emanuel Adebayor, on the bench. From the get-go their performance was steeped in fear as they retreated en masse and allowed Barcelona to monopolise possession.

At one juncture in the first period we were treated to the bizarre sight of the visitors knocking the ball around unopposed just inside their own half while Madrid stayed deep as though employing a footballing version of the old Muhammad Ali rope-a-dope tactics. It was something you'd never have expected to see in the Bernabeu.

Had Barcelona also been happy to play for a draw we'd have ended up with something like the infamous West Germany-Austria tie from the 1982 World Cup. Mourinho's team gave the kind of display you'd have expected from, say, Stoke City at Old Trafford or the Sam Allardyce model Bolton Wanderers at the Emirates.

There was something grotesque about seeing this anti-football being perpetrated under the flag of Real Madrid, the greatest club in the world, the most successful side in the history of European football, the club of Di Stefano, Gento and Galacticos, a club whose teams have always endeavoured to play with a certain style. Just last year Real chased Barcelona all the way in an enthralling Primera Liga title race before losing by three points, scoring 102 goals in 38 games, and playing terrific football under Manuel Pellegrini.

The expectation was that Mourinho would work the oracle, as he had when steering Inter Milan to last year's extraordinary Champions League victory. And there was also a feeling that the quality of players available to him at Real might see the birth of a new Mourinho. Perhaps the dour football at Chelsea and Inter resulted from the type of players the manager had available to him.

Sadly, things haven't turned out that way. What Wednesday's match showed is that for Mourinho negativity has attained the status of a cherished principle. Seeing the miserable set of the man, after he'd been sent from the dugout for protesting against Pepe's sending off, you were reminded of mugshots of Hollywood stars booked on drink driving charges. His desolation was total. Because if you live by the creed that nothing matters but the result, then defeat leaves with you nothing at all to hold on to.

It was fitting that Wednesday's coup de grace was provided by Messi. On a nasty night, he reminded all of us why we still give allegiance to this often frustrating game. Because the little Argentinian's run right through the heart of the Real Madrid defence embodied the spirit of football at its best. There is probably no other player on the planet who'd have been able to score that goal. It had nothing to do with tactics or planning.

Messi simply took a short pass from one of his team-mates and set off on his own. In fact, none of the other Barcelona players even bothered to support him. They just sat back as though clearing the stage for a great performer to do his solo.

A player like Messi makes nonsense of all the guff about psychological warfare and systems that gets talked about in the run-up to big matches. It was impossible to defend against his run for the second goal; this was the greatest footballer in the world proving yet again the old adage that talent does what it can, but genius does what it must.

And yet there was also something oddly familiar about Messi's slalom towards goal. Look at it again and you see that it's the kind of run most of us did as kids, dribbling the ball in the back yard, the front garden or the top field, commentating under our breaths, "he beats one man, beats two, beats three, beats the 'keeper, goal." Messi's masterpiece was this run raised to the Nth degree but it is still a recognisable cousin, a remarkable reminder that sport at its best remains rooted in play.

We need to be reminded of that. Because there is enough grim stuff in the news, about economic crises, terrorist attacks and natural disasters, without making a grim thing out of sport as well. The likes of Mourinho make football seem like just one more corporate takeover bid. Messi reminds us that, for all the money involved, we're still talking about a kids' game. And football is at its best when it connects us with that more innocent part of ourselves.

When the proceedings got particularly spiteful on Wednesday, Ray Houghton bemoaned on RTE the example that this was setting for the football-loving kids of the world. Yet, in the end, what those kids will remember is Messi's goal. Kids are like that, they look on the positive side.

On Thursday morning, I played the goal for my nine-year-old daughter on YouTube. It just felt like something she should see, like a heron in flight, a spectacular sunset or The Wizard of Oz. We watched it again and again and again, this small still moment of beauty carved out single-handedly by a man who is enough on his own to justify the entire enterprise of professional football. We live for moments like that.

There are myriad moments from Messi which you'd like to pass on to the next generation. But Mourinho? Well, try sitting your kids down in front of one of his whingeing, b****ing press conferences, and explain that this is all about 'subtle mind games' and see how long they'll stay interested.

Because in the words of John Keats, "Beauty is truth, truth beauty -- that is all/Ye know on Earth and all ye need to know." And Messi is always on the side of beauty.

It's the only side to be on.

source.

I got most of the ideas from Barcaforum.com. Damn the guys over there are hilarious with their sarcasm

The best of them all I tell ya:

Great news about Abi!!

Come to think of it, he never seemed that ill, did he? It was like, the tumor news came out, he went for the surgery, get out of the hospital, and he immediately went to the pitch meeting his teammates, and today, he is full of running again. Thank god

Hiddink is blind. Barca has been using Unicef's fund to bribe refs. Barca is broke, can't spent own money bribing 'em. Those are the established facts. Plain ignorant la Mr Hiddink

@hack3line,

Nice post! I also thought why not Malaysian government concentrate on bringing Barca's expertise into our youth development system, rather than sending our youngsters training abroad. However to bring Barca's expertise into Malaysia, well it is not that easy.

Bringing Barca's expertise in maybe the easiest option. But in all honesty Barca's project outside Catalunya have yielded very minimal result, and there are not so many of them btw. Last I heard Sandro and his board was considering to close down Barca's training center in Argentina. Only Eto'o Foundation program in Cameroon, in which Barca is the active partner, have yielded impressive results. Well, having Eto'o as the ambassador surely have attracted top talents from the country. Considering how minimal the overall result have been, what are the odds that Barca may decide to invest in SEA region?

Next option is sending our top management of youth development to Spain and learn how the cantera system works. But before we go over there, we must understand that the system is a non profit business, or even money-losing projects. And considering how weak our local clubs in terms of marketing and generating money for themselves, it is utterly impossible to implement it here.

Not being pessimistic towards our football development program, but there is so much more our football scene can improve on, before we look for tips outside. Strengthen our foundation, and go abroad searching for fresh ideas. Further input may be found in Malaysia football thread. I believe folks over there have discussed about this youth development issue.

But I do dream of Barca football school here in M'sia one day. If tiki-taka is embraced by the whole world, added by any variations, football will be "The Beautiful Game" again

What was Villa doin????? He missed an open goal!!!

I...I can not brain this

Was...was that really erection? Enormous erection at the airport? I can not brain lah

Please don't compare yourself to Pique. Have money, have gorgeous GF, have enormous didi

We are the Champions again

Lets celebrate with the most epic celebration

Of course not He's happy here

UEFA has confirmed they are investigating Busquets over an alleged racial abuse on Marcelo.

Messi is from La Masia. Well if you're going to argue with that, then Raul should not be regarded as ex Real's youth player either.

The difference between the 2 clubs is the commitment to groom youngsters. The amazing uprising of youngsters from a youth system often regarded as a generational thingy. Like Fergie Fledglings, or Ajax 95 class. But at Barca that has never been the case. Sure right now it seems La Masia is delivering its optimum output. But before Messi, Bojan, Busquets generation we had Puyol, Xavi, Iniesta and Valdes came out. Before that we can put Pep, Albert Ferrer, Serji and de la Pena as most notable La Masia products.

However Real's products are actually good enough. But their commitment to groom their youngsters is very poor. How could you guys let go talents like Eto'o, Juan Mata and Borja Valero is beyond me. Borja in particular can be the next Guti, and perhaps with better attitude.

This post has been edited by matyrze: May 13 2011, 11:55 PM

Well to put things into perspective La Masia only existed since 1979. To compare achievement of both clubs's in grooming local players throughout history is a bit unfair. Real had already had their system in place significantly longer than Barca. Real already had their reserve team in place since 1950s.

Messi debuted 6 years after Xavi, and Xavi 8 years after Pep. Are they in the same generation? I really think they are not. They represent different eras.

Its true the number of quality grads coming out from La Masia may be varied for each era they represent. But each eras have examples showing Barca's commitment in homegrown talent. During Pep's era, Ferrer managed to get more than 200 appearances, although as you said, he was not the most talented footballer. Busquets Sr. was the understudy for Zubi for several years. During Xavi's era, we had him playing over 100 games for us. Now we are struggling with Bojan. See? The commitment haven't died down. Vastly different compared to Real Madrid.

I believe this something Cules can be really proud of. And of course for the fact that despite Real Madrid's rich history of producing Spanish National players, La Masia was the first system to provide Top 3 Winners of FIFA POTY

LOL you are bringing up history from like 60 years ago. OK I'm going to admit; Real Madrid was among the first to show commitment in youth development in Spain after the Basques. Happy? Barca on the other hand was founded by a foreigner, so it is understandable we were more open to foreign services back then. Catalans seem to be receptive to this 'foreign invasion', although a small group of Catalan refused, and founded Espanyol instead. So there, I've given you a piece of history that perhaps you want to hear from a Cule.

However, La Masia was founded in 1979, and I think its a little more fair to judge Barca's commitment after that period, because only then we had a youth system in place. Before that, we rely solely on feeder clubs. IINM Charly Rexach hailed from this feeder clubs system.



They play in the same team, but the huge period between their debut show they came from different generations of La Masia products. 6 years period is too far apart to be considered generational.

Yes luck do play some part, but its not a matter of luck when we decided to put our trust and patience upon Iniesta. IMHO, Spain always have tremendous footballing talent pool. It has always been. I'm sure talents are in abundance in Real's system too. The difference is just the commitment.



I believe I didn't exaggerate. Based on my observation on both Man Utd and Real, after the outstanding generation came out, both clubs tried different approach of youth development. Instead of grooming them in house, both clubs sent their talented youngsters to other clubs, either on loan deal or with buyback clause. Man Utd have been using that Belgian (iinm) team, sending talented foreign youngsters they signed. You guys have been supplying players for Getafe in several years now.

Barca on the other hand, groomed selected youngsters in house. We tried with a wobbly Valdes, inconsistent Puyol, brilliant Xavi but often compared unfairly to Pep, and a very skinny and quiet Iniesta. Never did we send any of them on loan. This set Barca apart from the rest. For other clubs, youth development seem to be a generational thingy because their commitment is actually conditional, depending on how the club is doing.

I don't know why people take this generational argument seriously. A reputable youth academy should always have the most talented youngsters by theory. The facility in the academy often improved rather than being left to rot. So although not all products are quality, at least there should be 1 quality graduates from each generation coming out from each academy. Real Madrid system for example, have produced numerous quality players playing for other clubs. Even now, Madridistas are raving about current batch of youngsters coming out. But for them to claw a regular place in Real first team slot is another story altogether.

I've heard Pablo Sarabia several years ago, wonder how he is doing now

Yeap, Pep is brilliant isn't he? Yes admittedly he is still a rookie in certain aspect. Well he is a brilliant rookie manager then

Interesting for us, or interesting to you because Barca 'learned' from your club? Yes it was Cruyff who suggested to Barca president to set up a youth academy, but I'm not quite sure whether it has anything to do with Real's achievement. As far as I know Cruyff shared his knowledge from his time at Ajax. But am not going to dwell too much on who learned from whom. What I do know is to measure Barca's commitment in youth system, we have to start when the system is already in place, not before that.

For me, Barca has been consistent, while RM have been kinda on-off.

Although many of previous products were not world class, they still managed to accumulate a significant number of games for Barca. This is why I don't regard Granero and Arbeloa as the evidence showing RM commitment. They haven't accumulated enough games to justify Real's commitment. Only Arbeloa has the biggest chance to get games. What about Granero? Negredo? They did managed to get a sniff of the first team, but they never have the chance to nail a place in RM first eleven.



Pedro technically was a La Masia student, although he had a short stint in the academy. So yes Tenerife should get most of the credit. But when people say he was a graduate, it is not that wrong is it? At least Pedro regards himself as a La Masia graduate.



No no I was not saying every generation should have Messi in it, but more like Pedro's quality. You know, with La Liga standards. And as you mentioned Real Madrid produced a lot of those players. But Real Madrid showed lack of intention to integrate these lower quality players into their system. So yes, I say Pedro's (or maybe you can put Busquets here) talent is not world class. He is good, but not a world beater. But Barca found a place for him in the system, and not just a squad player, but as the main front three. This is the difference Barca have compared to anyone else.

Oh yes, it was versus Auxerre.

And apparently it was his only appearance for the whole season, and it was only for 18 minutes.

And no he is 19, assuming UEFA's done their homework here.

And I've heard Castilla's progress. But I'm gonna bet Sarabia will be another Soldado case.