I think it was Oscar Wilde who wrote something once about how the best relationships were those that drew together the energy of youth and the wisdom of experience.
I guess not many of you bothered to watch Tuesday night’s FC Barcelona game at the Camp Nou against a hardly glamorous champion from Belarussia. After all , Barca have already qualified for the next round of the Champions League at the head of their group, and you are saving your voice, and your liver for this coming weekend’s Classico. You are not alone. Only 35,000 turned up at the stadium and I suspect TV ratings were proportionately rather down.
A pity because in many ways this was one of the most fascinating games played by a Barca team so far this season and I am glad I ended up watching them cruise to a 4-0 win over Bate Borisov rather than suffering Valencia’s under performance against the overrated Chelsea in my London neighbourhood.
Thanks to Pep Guardiola’s wisdom, Barca fielded a team that included squad players Pinto, Maxwell , and Pedro but was made up largely of team B young bloods, among them teenagers who have not had a chance to even sit on the bench this season with the first team. Pep’s decisioun to bring them on provided those who bothered to watch the match with a unique glimpse into the future
It was good to see a returning-to-form Pedro both creating and scoring goals alongside his main competitor for a first-team place, the increasingly impressive Isaac Cuenca. But among the other Barca players, there was enough talent, skill, and motivation on a level that would leave many Premier Division clubs trailing, not least in the clever foot play and combined assaults involving Montoya ,Sergi Roberto, and the two bothers Thiago Alcantara and Rafinha To see these kids play was to have one’s faith in the evolution of mankind restored. Days ahead of FC Barcelona going to the Bernabeu for a match I fear they will lose against Mourinho’s Real Madrid, this was a necessary up-lift tonic. I am getting old after all.
I 100% agree with you Jimmy. Yesterday was a really great day for Barca. It showed that the future is brilliant. The other teams are the ones that need to start worring…
If your faith is restored in the evolution of mankind watching Guardiola`s B team win against a non descript Z team, then why do you predict Barcelona A team will loose on Saturday against Mourinho`s All Stars? Or is it just old age at work?
By the way, your A team only managed a draw against the under performing Valencia this season…..and now Chelse have wonderful Catalan Romeu in their ranks, will you now begin to support your high flying neighbours?!