BARCELONA'S TIC-TAC-TOE ERA MAY HAVE REACHED ITS END

Another loss for Barcelona. Two in a row. I think we are finally seeing the end of an era for the Barcelona philosophy. How long did they think they could get away playing the same system? In all honesty? The loss to Atletico and now to Granada...both by the one goal and not SCORING IN BOTH MATCHES....must make one wonder if their time is truly up.

It all began with that BEATDOWN, SMACKDOWN by Bayern. I feel that when people write about the death of tic-tac-toe, they can trace it back to the Bayern match.
 Before then, Barcelona were still the team to beat with their new style that annoyed but beat teams. However, Bayern came along and actually showed if you defend well, and have men on the ball who can use it intelligently despite being pressed by players...that was the recipe to completely shutting down the Barcelona team.

Since that loss, which was so resounding and monumental, Barcelona never fully recovered. Never before had their philosophy been so exposed, and it gave teams with a similar setup to Bayern more confidence. Coaches could now see how to stifle the Plan A, and as I said so many times, Barcelona only have ONE WAY of playing. If you stop it, then you will beat them. It's a simple mathematical fact because they do not have anything you can call a defense.

Pep began the whole cycle. The importance of keeping possession of the ball. Restricting the amount of chances your opponent has, and HARASSING THEM for the ball. Win it back quick, and build an attack that is predicated on passing and passing and passing, until you find that opening.

But that system may work against team that can't defend or rely on a passing game. Pretty Arsenal. But when Mourinho came to Spain, he showed that the Pep philosophy can only take you so far. Sometimes...YOU NEED TO RUN WITH THE BALL AND ACTUALLY SHOOT ON SIGHT.


A lot of Barcelona fans are hating on me, and they can't admit that their mighty team has fallen. I am sincerely sorry, but the game has changed. We are perhaps seeing teams just like Granda, who are now figuring out this system. Barcelona, based on Messi and others will always create chances...but that domination they once had, and the ease with which they would score just seems to have gone from them.



The may prove me wrong...but I doubt it.

SO LONG...TIC-TAC-TOE.


HH