Bleacher Report - Articles by Jude Tah

Is Guardiola's Glory Drying Out at Barcelona?

Jude Tah — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:49:40 -0400

Barcelona's 2-1 defeat at the hands of Russian side Rubin Kazan on Tuesday at the Nou Camp stunned many football observers. Was this just a bad day at work or was it one too many under par performances?

For many football pundits this defeat was, to say the least, surprising. Barcelona’s last two La Liga outings have been nothing but lacklustre. First they managed with difficulties to dispose of a stubborn UD Almeria side 1-0 at the Nou Camp, then it a below per performance at the Mestella against a surging Valencia.

The downward curve is evident, from a marginal victory to an unconvincing draw; the smell of a defeat was getting stronger and stronger around Barcelona until Rubin Kazan finally punished them on Tuesday in their own quarters.

It will be interesting to see how Barcelona reacts this to free fall. No doubts that no matter how good is team they loose games sometimes. But what is crucial is how respond to it. To me this is the first real test for Pep Guardiola since taking over at the helm of Barca a little over a year ago.

I am one of those who gave him little credit in Barca's last season’s sensational success. He met a team that was already in place; with a distant play style which he pursued. One many occasions last season Guardiola's was unable to make a difference at difficult game; his substitutions hardly made any difference. He had of course, Messi, Iniesta, Eto´o, Xavi, Henry to name a few, whose top form made the difference.

I reserved my credits for this season to appraise his influence and philosophy on the team. I am not in any way openly suggesting that Guardiola is not a good coach but could assert that Gareth Southgate with the titillating form of the players last season could have achieved the same at Barcelona.

All eyes would be fixed at the Nou Camp this Sunday when Barcelona hosts Zaragoza in La Liga to see how they emerge from the doldrums but I will be more cautious and wait until the first week of November when the play away at Osasuna and at Kazan to assess if glory may just be drying out for Barcelona.

Real Madrid Does It Again

Jude Tah — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:19:44 -0400

Florentino Perez has reborn the Galacticos era only a few days after ascending to the supreme command of Real Madrid. The signing of Brazilian play maker Kaka for a colossal £45,6 followed swiftly by the £80m signing of Cristiano Ronaldo has ushered in a rebirth of the Galacticos era at the Barnebeu.

It should be recalled that the first Galacticos era was established under the command of Florentino Perez less than a decade ago, when he brought in the likes of Luis Figo, Zinedine Zidane, etc.

This new era is launched at the dawn of Real Madrid’s silverware drought. What does this mean for Real Madrid? The signing of these two superstars does not necessarily translate into trophies, but it does put them into a comfortable position to challenge.

Some loopholes still remain in the squad, especially with the defense. Perez squandered money on the front line, forgetting the defense completely; a sector which showed its limits last season.

Real Madrid boosts no formidable midfield play; hence one sees a tactical problem relating to coordination between the different sectors. For Real to seriously compete for trophies next season, Perez and company should give a serious thought to reinforcing its defense.

No matter the case, next season’s La Liga is promising to produce some fireworks. Will these two mega signings be a flop? Only at the end of May, 2010 will we have the answer.

Barcelona, Show Eto´o Some Respect

Jude Tah — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 13:37:12 -0400

Barcelona needs to show respect to Eto´o

Speculations are rapidly increasing about a possible deal to bring in Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Barcelona with Eto´o being used as an exchange commodity plus some cash. Yesterday, the Barcelona based El Mundo Deportivo published an article claiming a deal has been reached between Barcelona and Inter Milan that would send the Eto’o, Cameroonian striker plus 10 million Euros, packing for Milan in favour of Ibrahimovic.

For five years now Eto´o has been consistent in Barcelona’s scoring over 100 goals and becoming one of the most prolific goal scorers of all time for the Barcelona club. He has basically won two Champion Leagues for Barcelona, scoring in each final. Yet, Eto´o has hardly enjoyed the respect he deserves from the club. The public disgrace he sustained at the start of last season from new appointed Manager Pep Guardiola is a case in point. Even during the season, Pep Guardiola has demonstrated displeasure in Eto’o through his actions, despite never publicly acknowledging his wanting Eto´o off of his club. He has more or less treated Eto´o as a peripheral star in the club compared to the likes of Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, and so forth.

Juan Laporta, who brought Eto´o to Barcelona despite hesitation from then Manager Frank Rijkard, has expressed his willingness to see the striker stay, but needs to do more to show the player that his services are needed, as well as to compensate him for his contributions to the club. His unwillingness to negotiate in to improving the player’s salary as a condition for the renewal of his contract is enough to show the lack of respect for the striker.

Quick are some to attach the desire to sell Eto´o to the fact that he just has a year left on his contract, and the possibility of him becoming a free agent next year. That is an easy way out in regards to explaining such a complex situation. No willing team would fail to renegotiate the contract of one of its key players, nor would they allow that contract to narrow down to a year before its expiration. Barcelona unwittingly put its energy and focus last year on declaring Eto´o as irrelevant in their plans for the future.

With increase competition in La Liga next season following Real Madrid´s signing of Kaka and Ronaldo. In order for Barcelona to repeat as champions they will need the services of its very best, and possible one or two more new players, especially at the defence line. Pep Guardiola should show more humility and give Samuel Eto´o the respect he needs. After all, arguably Barcelona´s triple this year is still very much accredited to the foundations left by former manager Frank Rijkard. His ability will be tested this season and next as he tries to stamp his signature on the squad.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic To Barcelona?

Jude Tah — Sun, 24 May 2009 14:57:28 -0400

Zlatan to Barcelona?

Speculations are rive on the media about where Inter Milan's Swedish international striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be plying his trade next year.

Recent reports have suggested that the Nou Camp will be Zlatan´s new address. Others have purported that the striker will probably move to Barcelona’s rivals Real Madrid should Florentino Perez lures Inter Milan’s current Manager the self-styled “Special One” Portuguese Jose Mourinho.

The question that looms is; Is Zlatan a suitably candidate for Barcelona?

First and foremost, Barcelona boost of the best attacking force in world club football today. The trio of Samuel Eto'o, Lionel Messi and Thiery Henry has netted a colossal 71 leagues goals this 2008/09 campaign way more than any attacking force this season.

This is enough evidence of the destructive force of the Barcelona’s attacking line. Is there a need for another expensive striker? I personally do not think so.

Secondly, Zlatan is a too expensive striker and Barcelona is definitively unready to meet Inter`s asking price. The Swedish striker will be turning 28 soon and for a club of Barcelona´s status to put in such an exorbitant sum for a striker nearing his prime is unconceivable.

More over, Zlatan is currently the best paid footballer in the globe and this is a cause of concern. I doubt if Barcelona will be willing to meet the striker’s present salary exigencies. Some pundits insinuate that should Zlatan move to Barcelona at his present salary this may cause unrest in Barca´s dressing room thereby destabilising the team.

In then same vein, Barcelona´s performance this year has been linked fairly to the strict disciplined impose by Manager Pep Guardiola. It should be recalled that immediately Guardiola ascending to the helm of Barcelona he put on the market the then untouchable Ronaldinho, Deco and Eto´o.

Eto´o alone managed to survive that episode and has greatly improved on his attitude which has translated into performance on the pitch.

Is Barcelona ready to bring in another “diva”? Zlatan has been known for his indiscipline and diva-like attitude. This is another factor that militates against the possibility of a move to the Nou Camp.

Lastly, Guardiola has built Barcelona´s playing style on mounting immediate pressure should they be dispossessed of the ball. This means a lot of movements and displacements for the strikers and Zlatan is not fitted for this type of system.

Some see Zlatan acceleration, technique and height as possible qualities Barcelona would want to catch on. But look at Barca´s upfront; Eto´o is explosive, Henry is probably one of the fastest strikers out there and Lionel Messi´s technique and pace ball-on are arguably the best in the world.

Zlatan without doubt is one of the finest strikers in the world but do I see Zlatan moving to Barcelona this year, the answer is no. What do you think?

Eto´o Or Forlan: Who Will It Be?

Jude Tah — Sun, 17 May 2009 07:46:15 -0400

Though the title race has been decided with Barcelona driving home La Liga 2008-09 season, the excitement surrounding the few two games of La Liga is still very much alive.

The question is who will it be? The quest for the much coveted title of “Top scorer” is still way from been done.

Half-way through this season many football observers had tipped Eto'o to secure this title at the end of the season. But a series of brilliant performances by Forlan has re-ignited this challenge. Eto'o without doubt has been prolific all season, netting 28 goals and still one adrift of Forlan but Forlan's double last weekend sent more than just signals to Eto'o but also his ambition and desire to usurp Eto'o from the throne come season end.

We go down memory lane to the 2004-05 season when Diego Forlan tipped Eto'o to the title and the golden boot. This increases the temperature as football lovers wonder if history will repeat itself or will Eto'o take his revenge?

With two playing days left, Cameroonian Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o tops at 28 goals, closely followed by Forlan with 27 with David Villa trailing at 25. Tonight Barcelona travels to Mallorca; a club Eto'o knows too well having played there for several seasons while Atletico Madrid plays host to Valencia.

Many pundits comment that Eto'o is still the favourite to notch the title considering the strength of the opponents ahead, asserting that he is against weaker defensive sides whereas Forlan to begin with will have to crack the jammed pack and no nonsense Valencia defence.

Whatever the case, the excitement La Liga generates is not yet over. One more important title is yet to be determined and it is worthy to mention that the top scorer will definitively win the golden boot.

Well we wait until the end of the season to have our answers, we are in into some interesting features this last but one playing day especially at the bottom of the table.