Has the Barcelona squad fallen from its peak? Is it time to move on from the famed and fabled Tiki-Taka approach to the beautiful game? Has Leo Messi lost the motivation to reach newer heights in his career? Should Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino be sacked right in his first season? These are some of the questions in everyone’s minds after the shocking Champions League Quarter final exit suffered at the hands of Atletico Madrid.
It was 2008 when Pep Guardiola moved Barcelona from a traditional 4-3-3 to a disciplined and aggressive play style focusing on possession. Did he succeed? 14 trophies in 4 seasons- the stats speak for themselves. Tito Vilanova carried on the system with a very conservative approach which saw the team make very few chances every match. In 2013 we saw the little known Gerardo Martino take over who added some of his own ideas to the traditional Barca system which saw the Barca squad attempting to add a new dimension to their already mesmerizing tiki-taka. Counter-attacking and aerial tactics were employed, but just as Barca have discovered in the past, they have found it difficult to adapt to these approaches.
Now in early 2014, seeing the team failing to make the UEFA CL semi-finals for the first time in 7 years and Sunday’s 1-0 loss to Granada leaving the team’s title dreams in tatters has raised a lot of questions about the team’s ethics.
The biggest problem with the Barca style of play has been the holes left in defence with teams successfully punishing Barca on the counter. Central defenders like Gerard Pique, Carles Puyol and pseudo centre back Javier Mascherano have many a time struggled to cope against the large and aggressive strikers who beat them for pace. Especially with totally attack minded full backs in Dani Alves and Jordi Alba, there is a major threat to Barca’s defence anytime the team loses the ball. With the widely known physical frailties in the team, they are known to consistently concede through set pieces.
Victor Valdes had been an absolute rock between the sticks this season helping the team rectify for many errors caused. With the unfortunate injury to the Barca goalkeeper, the team will definitely miss his presence with the injury also placing a question mark on his wish to leave Camp Nou at the end of the season. Jose Pinto is far from the optimal replacement in goal given his knack for harsh decisions, especially in the business end being such a crunch time for the team.
Barca’s Terrific Trio
Has the time come for a major overhaul of players and the coveted playing style for the team? Now that major teams have learnt the right way to box in Barca’s players and render the magical feet of Messi, Xavi and Andres Iniesta ineffective at times does the team have to open up their playbook and devise a fresh approach to their game?
An overhaul of first team players will not be easy given the fresh news of the transfer ban handed in by FIFA which will be in effect for the next two transfer windows. It also casts a shadow on deals to sign players like Marc Andre Ter Stegen, Alen Halilovic and Victor Ibarbo for whom deals have been finalized in principal.
Make no mistake in thinking that this leaves Barca helpless regarding a fresh lease of new players. Barcelona’s B team and the famous La Masia academy have a host of great talent just waiting for a piece of first team action.
A large chunk of the Barcelona faithfuls were hoping to see the team sign a tall, strong and cultured centre back to strengthen the defense, also serving as a long term replacement for Carles Puyol who announced his decision to leave the Camp Nou outfit at the end of the season. Vincent Kompany, Daniel Agger, Mats Hummels, David Luiz or Thiago Silva look like ideal signings for the team, but any of these players being added to the roster looks highly far-fetched with a small hope riding on Barcelona’s appeal against the transfer ban.
A total revamp to the present play style will not be easy given the team’s long standing ethic to believe in follow the club principles even against the heat of heavy criticism. Players like Messi, Xavi, Iniesta and Busquets will find it very hard to abruptly move away from it, giving that the entire approach was focused around them. Yes, it is maybe time for Barca to find a new way to improve their game which ensures that they create more clear cut chances, while maintaining a solid back four. But will sacking Martino at this time help the team? Definitely not is my opinion!
All in all, the criticism on Barcelona in recent times feels very harsh. Yes, this is an era where everyone expects the team to continue in the glory days of the Guardiola season of 2008-09. But let’s face it, no team’s ethics on and off the field can be a 100% perfect. The Barca players put in their full effort in every match but to count on the team to rip through defenses every match is unrealistic, particularly when teams have learnt the team’s play style inside out. What the team, and Martino should make sure is to add an extra dimension to the tried and tested tiki-taka formula, with the added physical element, showing the fans and critics alike that team is not only capable of keeping the ball but can use it effectively to find a new path to success.
