Watching Barca’s performance last night against AC Milan not only threw me into a bad depressive mode. It made my flu that much worse so all I could think of was going to bed and hoping sleep would come as quickly as possible. This morning the memory of last night was the first thought that came to me so I felt it difficult to get up. A hang-over despite not touching a drop of alcohol since Lent began!
Such moods are familiar to football fans the world over but I suspect we cules suffer from post-match let-down syndrome more than most. Let’s face it we have been spoilt by the unprecedented success that out football team has enjoyed in recent years and which still had TV commentators like Glen Hoddle last night describing us as the greatest in the world.
Older generations of cules suffered a great deal more, both politically and in sporting terms, and yet kept the faith, and their cool if Barca lost deservedly as it did last night, trusting in better days to come. By contrast I know of younger cules who now get drunk and violent and rather nasty when things don’t go according to what they’ve got used to. Such behaviour is unacceptable anywhere in sport, but most of all in a club that boasts a unique sense of civility.
I am afraid Jimmy that it appears Barça days are numbered. Ever since Pep abandoned the team after their elimination by Chelsea, their game looks languid and uninspired. Whilst they can despatch the lesser teams that make up La Liga, when if comes to vital Champions games, they look very ordinary.
The tiqui-taque football, which in my opinion is ultimately sterile and could eventually kill the game, is totally boring when there are no shots on goal. What terrible statistics last night: 1 shot on goal & 68% possession! Even made Milan look exciting whenever they got the possession as, at least they appear to have intention and desire to inspire them.
And for the record, just a few facts to correct your distorted Cule coloured picture of football:
– Official FIFA best club in the world: Real Madrid
– Political suffering?: Barça won more Copas del Rey than Real Madrid during Franco’s rule, and between 1939 & 1959 (the most oppressive years), won 7 Liga’s, one more than Real Madrid…..I don’t call that political suffering!!!
– Sport Suffering?: when? Like Real Madrid they have played 2.572 games in La Liga and Real Madrid has just won 70 more than they have…
– Civility???: Nou Camp closed for 2 games for throwing pigs head, bottles of whiskey, stones, etc. at Figo, booing the National Anthem at last years Copa del Rey final in the presence of the Royal Family, supporting the Qatar regime, etc…….
RIP Barça FC
Barça are impotent, ever since they were bundled out of Championship by Chelsea last April and their inspiration, Pep, decided to “take a sabbatical” (what a mistaken and cowardly decision that was).
Against Madrid, Milan & Celtic, the real tests this season, they have imploded.
The dream has faded…….. about to disappear for ever…….