The End of Barcelona's Dominance? (YES!!)

Another loss for Barcelona....and now they are looking UP at the two Madrids and are now in the unfamiliar point of CHASING. Many would like to blame the coach and cry that Pep has gone, and is doing pretty well. But when will players take the blame? Is Xavi really any good anymore and was ever that great? Pirlo is STILL ballin' and shows no sign of slowing down. So could this be the end of Barcelona's tiki tookie hold on world football?

All eyes have to first go to Messi. The dude that RUNS this team. Yes, he relies on Iniesta, Xavi and the system that is so used to his way of playing. But Messi is that jewel and diamond that was a very important reason for Barcelona winning TWO Champions League titles. The question is whether that hunger it there anymore. The question that dances around is if Pepe foresaw this and realized that these group of players had reached their peak and had to pick up a whole new crop of hungry talent.
   You also have the issue of Neymar and whether he fits in this very annoying fucked up way of playing football. NO, he does not. Yes he has scored some goals, that included that winner against Madrid, but is it so strange that the kid looks like lightning playing with Brazil and just looks like a pale clone or ghost when he is forced to adhere to the passing for the sake of passing philosophy?

IF Barcelona get beat by Man City in that Camp Nou, after fighting so hard to get that two-goal lead, then this could really get out of control. That match on Wednesday is very important and I think that if Barcelona keep that ball, they will end up winning. City are going through some problems as well and I just don't see them coming and scoring THREE goals at the Camp Nou.
  But back to the Barcelona malaise, the fact is the team is lacking that dynamism and energy that they had with Pep. Perhaps now, maybe, I am SLOWLY starting to appreciate what Pep did and all those tweaks he made during a match to get wins and escape losses. Martino is a decent coach, and I won't just say Pep is a better coach, I will still side with Neymar being the wrong fit for THIS Barcelona...I mean imagine Neymar with Rivaldo or that DINHO team with Rijkaard????? WOOOOOOOOOOOOW!
 And there is also the issue of Messi perhaps saving himself for the World Cup or just quitting football and not really giving a shit anymore. Also, there is the loss of Puyol and a defence that has declined and not gotten any better. So please, quit bitching about the coach and see that the problems at Barcelona is a lot larger than just one dude.


HH