FC Barcelona: Cold Offense, Worse Defense, Inconsistent Team

Cold. That describes FC Barcelona effectively right now.

I’m not sure whether to be mad or more disappointed at FC Barcelona’s performance this past Saturday. I’ll try to put it into words.

I had people tell me I was hitting the panic button too early when I said La Liga was essentially lost after Barcelona’s tie with Villarreal two weeks ago. I was told by readers to wait and see what happens, even wait till mid-February to see if the team responds.

Well, what excuses can be made now? There are no excuses. Even the team said it after their 3-2 loss to Osasuna on Saturday.

Please don’t give me the “they can’t win all of them” speech. I know they can’t win them all, but what I do expect—as well as all Culés expect—is consistency. There is no consistency, and Pep Guardiola doesn’t seem to be able to get his players on the right track.

And yes, I know that “Pep can only do so much” talk. But he is the man in charge, and he is responsible for getting his team, both offense and defense, ready to play. It appears that the defense has not gotten the attention they need while the offense remains not in sync.

The offense has been nonexistent too many times. Lionel Messi has been getting close but not scoring the goals he’s used to scoring. Alexis Sánchez, Issac Cuenca and Thiago have played well. But Cesc Fàbregas is still not as good as he was at the beginning of the season. Perhaps he needs a whole year to get Pep Guardiola’s system.

Xavi and Andres Iniesta are desperately needed to carry this team’s attack. Messi has tried, but he is accustomed to having one of those two getting him the ball. Thiago is still learning, and Cesc is not playing at midfield most of the time, thus not being able to facilitate Messi. Sergio Busquets is needed as well.

Bad passes, mistimed runs, and questionable shot-taking have plagued the offense since the FIFA Club World Cup in December.   

The offense has been cold, but the defense has been even colder—borderline horrific.

In January, I wrote an article entitled "10 Things to Expect in 2012" where I stated Eric Abidal should be let go this year. He was recently re-signed a few weeks ago for a one-year deal.

After seeing his performances these past few weeks, it's looking like re-signing Abidal might have been a mistake. Age is starting to get to him: He is consistently getting beat by younger forwards, and he is losing his markings as well.

Carles Puyol, as much as he has his moments of greatness, is losing his ability to play with La Liga’s speedy forwards. The Barça back line, especially Puyol and Abidal, have had too many players get past them. Gerard Piqué is also at fault of this as well.

The back line has also has too many issues when it comes to allowing opponents being onside. A lack of opponent awareness on the pitch has allowed opponents to sneak by the back line and score goals.

Pep Guardiola was right to take out Puyol at halftime of the Osasuna game. His defense was awful just like his passes. It may be time to remove the captain’s armband; Puyol has struggled all season, and he isn’t being the defensive leader he’s usually been.

I'm not asking for Abidal and Puyol to be permanently benched. I just think Barcelona need younger, speedier defenders on the bench to replace Abidal and Puyol, so that the team can compete against clubs with speedy forwards.

Having defenders with great speed is becoming more and more crucial to stay competitive against fast teams, especially in La Liga. Perhaps in other leagues teams are able to get away with slower defenders, but not in La Liga.

And no, the bad defense is not just a recent issue. Unlike the offense’s struggles, the defense has been inconsistent since the beginning of the season.

Two weeks ago, I wrote another article entitled “Liga Lost? 10 Questions Fans Need to Ask About FC Barcelona The Rest Of The Season,” where I asked questions about the team’s future this season. Well, some of those questions have been answered.

I know it’s only been less than a month, but to me Cristian Tello has earned a spot on the first team for next season. His play has been one of the few bright spots in Barcelona’s struggling few weeks. Tello has clearly surpassed Sergi Roberto on the list of players deserved of first team play.

Tello’s excellent play may signify the end of Ibrahim Afellay at Barcelona. Afellay has been out since September with knee surgery. With the rise of both Cristian Tello and Isaac Cuenca, there may not be room for Afellay on the roster. Ibrahim was purchased for three million euros in 2010, and he would be sold for a profit for el blaugrana.

For the record, it’s “el blaugrana” not “la blaugrana.”

All of these defensive struggles still make me wonder why Pep has not called up Martin Montoya (as mentioned in my “Liga Lost?” article) or Marc Muniesa to the first team. They are the two best youngsters from the B squad, and it’s not like Puyol or Abidal have played tremendously great for the team.

Instead, Pep puts in Javier Mascherano, who has defended well but his passing is horrific.

To me, this is a sign of Pep having no confidence in young defenders. Does he not see that this defense is not playing well and that perhaps bringing in a young defender could give the back line much needed energy and speed? Bringing in a youngster worked with Tello and the offense; why can’t it work for the defense?

Pep appears to simply not care about the defense as much as he cares about the offense. I hope I’m wrong, but I’m simply calling it as I see it.

These past couple of weeks has shown all fans that this defense conceding with an inconsistent offense has cost Barcelona a realistic shot at winning La Liga. Credit has to be given to Jose Mourinho and Real Madrid for being consistent.

It’s clear that this Barcelona team is not good enough to win La Liga. Real Madrid has been playing consistent football and has shown they are the best team in La Liga this year.

Yes, the few times Madrid has faltered has been against Barcelona, but that doesn’t matter right now. One team beating the other is not everything. Real Madrid can’t beat Barcelona, but Real Madrid has taken care of the rest of La Liga, something Barcelona can’t truly say.

By the way, Madridistas, we Culés are still not obsessed with Jose Mourinho or Real Madrid, so please don’t think or believe that. Our concern has been and will continue to be our team and our team’s play.

I’m hopeful that Sandro Rosell is ready to make moves this offseason. This team needs some changes, especially at defense. As much as I love Pep Guardiola, it’s clear that he is not willing to change things up defensively; hence this will force Rosell to be the instigator of making moves.

With the club’s financial issues, some current players will have to be sold to bring in money for a new signing. Some of the players that will be looked to be sold will be Seydou Keita, the aforementioned Ibrahim Afellay, Javier Mascherano and Adriano Correia.

Don’t be surprised to see Sergi Roberto moved in order to get more funds. Roberto, once considered the next B squad player to be called up to full-time first-team status, has been outshined by Cuenca and Tello, and he may be considered expendable just like Jeffren was last year.

At a press conference on Sunday, Carles Puyol said La Liga is complicated, but not lost.

La Liga is not lost, Carles, because Real Madrid has it right now. And it looks like they are going to keep it for this year.

I know people think I have no faith in my team. Don’t believe it. It’s just that I’m a realist ,and I am not afraid to ever criticize my team. I can’t always sing Pep and the team’s praises. I love FC Barcelona, but I call it as I see it, even if it's negative against Barça.

It's what all real fans do: Be honest about their team.

La Liga will more than likely be an uncatchable chase for FC Barcelona. La Copa Del Rey will be determined in May, and the Champions League will start its race to Munich this week. I expect FC Barcelona to find its rhythm offensively in Germany against Bayer Leverkusen.

As far as the defense, I don’t even know what to say anymore. It can’t get any worse, can it? I hope not.

I’ll be watching the game versus Bayer Leverkusen closely to see if this team can make good on their European championship defense because they have not made good on defending La Liga.

The time to panic has ended. It's time to perform well. No more drama and—like the players said—no more excuses.

Visca el Barça!

Thanks for reading. Follow me on Twitter: @XoelCardenas

Don’t forget to check out my other columns:

Commentary: Barcelona Is Not Obsessed With Jose Mourinho; We Have Pep Guardiola

FC Barcelona: Barça Fans' Top 10 Chants at the Camp Nou

Liga Lost? 10 Questions Fans Need to Ask About Barcelona the Rest of the Season

Commentary: Leo Messi Is Not Big Enough For America?