A cagey affair.  That phrase is often used in conjunction with Champion’s League Football, particularly when describing the first leg of the tie. Continue Reading

CL Preview: Barcelona – Real Madrid, Tuesday 2:45pm, Fox Soccer Channel (HD)

I wrote a fairly calm and rational preview over on Soccernet that you should read if you’re feeling a bit tactical. But that preview was written before I knew about the good news concerning the man, the myth, THE LEGEND, Eric [censored] Abidal. Let me repeat that because I’m not sure you heard me: Eric Abidal is in the squad list. He had surgery to remove a recently-discovered Siamese twin. Like his own personal Jonas Venture except Eric is the crazy awesome one and not a dork like Rusty. And then Eric was forced to find the secret ingredients to cure a severe infection–the bubonic plague–in the depths of the Amazon jungle. When he ran into a Temple Guard, he took one of his pendants. That is how awesome he is.

There’s also someone else returning to the fold: Andres Iniesta.

So. Happy. Right. Now.

The hero of Stamford Bridge and Soccer City returns with in his possession-laden glory. We’ve missed him, sure, but we’ve also survived without him and Keiteee has been magnificent. It’ll be unfortunate if Keiteee gets no time on the field, especially given that I think our Malian smiler does so much better when he gets the start. For whatever reason, he’s not great at getting into the groove of a match and often things go slightly awry when he’s subbed on. Not like “oh god we’re doomed” awry, but more like “wow, they suddenly have 23% possession instead of 22%. That kind of thing.

So then, we have two of our studs back and just in time for them to learn to play defense, right? Right? Oh god we’re doomed. Oh wait, no, we have our secret weapon!

Did you know he can play at any position in defense better than Raul Albiol? I did! And I certainly hope you did. I imagine he’ll play left back again with Masch and Pique in the center and Alves on the right. Busi in the middle with Xavi and Iniesta (if fit, Keiteee if not), and fronted by MVP. It will be all about possession.

And also murderous rage! Yay murderous rage! Wait, wait, no, not that. Controlled murderous rage. There we go. Much better. Because despite the fact that we just freakin’ did this, it’s still a clásico and it’s still something I’m going to be shaking absurdly about throughout the afternoon. That’s how I roll on clásico day, in case you wondered. Once again I’ll be 4 hours late on starting the game because of stupid work; paychecks are great, but why can’t they come even when I’m not in the office? So it’ll be another several extra hours of avoiding the internet and faking like I can concentrate while there’s a spherical object being foot slapped around a field some 3,800 miles away.

And don’t think this match can possibly come off without at least one rancorous incident. There is too much at stake and too much hot air being blasted back and forth. The I’ll Sue You brigade is out in full force on either side, the videos are appearing on official sites, and the word “pathetic” is being used entirely too often when not in reference to things other than the rojiblancos. Zing.

Valdés, Oier, Abidal, Puyol, Alves, Piqué, Mascherano, Bartra, Fontàs, Busquets, Sergi Roberto, Thiago, Iniesta, Xavi, Keita, Pedro, Messi, Afellay, Villa, Jeffren.

Note the absence of Pinto along with the obvious ones of Milito, Montoya, Bojan, Adriano, and Maxwell. Am I missing anyone else? Probably, but I can’t be forced to think on such short notice. It’s only been like 3 days since my last attempt at using the old noggin and really, I’m out of brain juice.

Official Prediction: 2-1. Nervy moments at first, they grab one, and then we lay siege to them and get some fancy pants goals from el rey, Lionel Messi. And yes, they end with 10.

After this it’s over. After this, my emotional well will have run dry. And I will probably fall into a deep coma for 3 days before I have to write another preview. Oh the boringness of regular life…And I will enjoy every mundane moment after this, though perhaps only if we go through. But remember, we’ve never not gone through when up 2-0 after the first leg, so rest assured that history–and the best team on earth–is on our side.

Quickly, my thoughts on Busi: innocent until proven guilty. If innocent, Real Madrid owes us a hearty apology plastered all kinds of all over their website. If guilty, free transfer to anywhere on earth other than our squad. Or RBNY cause I don’t want none of that anywhere near me. If there’s racism within our ranks, we must squash it like the pathetic bug it is. The end.

Isaiah will be up with your preview shortly and Kevin has already told you the amazing news that Abidal has been cleared to practice (though he is unlikely to play this weekend due to fatigue issues). Unfortunately the biggest news of the days is the ongoing saga of Sergio Busquets’ comment or non-comment to Real Madrid player Marcelo during last week’s Champion’s League Semifinal First Leg.

Preeminent Sports Illustrated and Guardian football columnist Sid Lowe came away believing the weight of the evidence from Pep’s press conference today all but confirmed that some comments were made. From Pep at his press conference (translated), emphasis on the most interesting comments:

“I know these players. They are an example of professionalism,” said the Barcelona coach. “They love this sport. Some of them, during the game, can make a mistake but as players they are exemplary both for Spain and for Barcelona.”

Asked if he would punish Busquets he said: “We are not proud when they make mistakes but I know these players. If we do something wrong, then Uefa have to decide. What is in the past is in the past. It won’t happen again.”

From his Twitter, @sidlowe:

Pep Guardiola’s comments tonight appeared to confirm Busquets racist remark did happen. So, action presumably will (and should) happen

1. Let me clarify for those who don’t seem to understand ‘appeared to confirm’. Pep did not say Busquets made racist remarks, but asked

2. directly about it, he didn’t deny it and said that his players can make mistakes on pitch and are not proud of those mistakes.

3. It would of course still be helpful to have an explicit admittance/denial, though.

Many suggesting alternative interprets. There’s a certain ambiguity but i think what Pep said (and didnt say) implies confirmation

Mr. Lowe has never been one to pull punches, engage in oversimplifications, or get carried away with the mob and when he goes out on a limb like this, it usually means there is something to it. I am sure you have watched the video and possible made up your mind. Personally I cannot make up mine, mostly because I do not speak Spanish and am a terrible lip reader.

Until we know more, this blog will continue to operate under the familiar guise of “guilty until proven innocent” for Busquets. I would hope that a full investigation is under way by UEFA and the club and that if he is found to have been innocent, then Madrid should be punished for such lies, because falsely calling someone a racist is abhorrent. However, if Busquets did make these comments, then I believe he should be fined, made to offer a proper apology, and suspended or removed from the team. I personally vote for removal, since we have so many players from different nationalities, specifically 2 Brazilians, a Malawian, and I have no idea how he could look them in the eye again. But, I am not the final arbiter there, that is Sandro and Pep and his teammates. If they can forgive him, then that is excellent for them and I would hope he could continue as a productive member of the team, though I doubt I could forgive him (not that anyone cares about my forgiveness)

But make no mistake, racism is intolerable in any form, joking or serious. It has no place in the game or anywhere else for that matter. To be sure we stand by Busquets and the team until proven otherwise, but if the worst is true, then it is an action that should be swiftly condemned and is unacceptable, period. This is just an update of the current situation as it stand. NOTHING IS OFFICIAL YET. Please keep the comments germane, intelligent, and friendly.

[Update]

This has been transcribed by a friend who watched the press conference:

“Pep was talking about the Pedro incident with regards to the quote “We are not proud when they make mistakes, but I know these players….etc”. He was asked by a lady who asked him what he thought about Pedro! grabbing his face. She outright called it pathetic and Pep said they weren’t proud but it’s in the past and he knows his players.”

Apparently, it’s being mixed up with the Busi quote where he was asked what Barca would do if Busi was found guilty:

“If proven guilty, we would take appropriate measures, but the players are honest”

I’m just the messenger, SoccerMom takes over after the jump. Continue Reading

This is what the world is going to remember of this, the tercera El Clasic, one that was on display in a significantly larger number of homes, thanks to the reach of Fox’s FX cable channel in the U.S., and other affiliates abroad.

This was an opportunity for two great sides to show what La Liga is made of, how the beautiful game should be played.

Instead, we got crap. Sorry, but it was crap. As a cule I am pleased that we won, and thrilled to death that we won on two immense goals. As a devotee of the game, one who cries with its downs and exults with its great moments, one who believes that there is no better sport in the world, as one who tries to be as neutral as possible in his evaluative template, this was a disgusting display by two teams that are so much better than what we got.

Don’t worry. If you didn’t like this part, you ain’t gonna like the rest of this review, either.
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