Football Update

The concept of defence has never been a popular one at the Nou Camp. After all, why would a crowd fed on a diet of Cruyff, Romario, Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho and Messi, to name just a few, care about what happens on the other end of the field? This lack of concern for the back third of the pitch is often reflected in the relative lack of funds directed at strengthening the defence over the years, often to the club’s detriment. This summer, however, the new regime has spent the majority of its money re-enforcing Barca’s back line.

Goalkeeper

For all their best defensive intentions, the decision by the new management not to sign a new keeper is a baffling one. Technically, they have made a permanent signing, in the form of Jose Manuel Pinto, who was on loan from Celta Vigo for the second half of last season. However, this is nothing more than a convenient way of covering for the long term injury of the previous second choice, Albert Jorquera. Despite being a fine goalkeeper in his prime, the ageing Pinto is not realistically going to provide competition to a keeper, Victor Valdes, who desperately needs it. It’s not that Valdes is a poor goalie, but rather that he is far too inconsistent for a club aiming to win every competition it enters. For every spectacular performance, such as the 2006 Champions League Final, there is a horror show, such as his catastrophic night at the Bernabeu last year, a woefully inept showing capped off by a comical booking for feigning injury. Of course, world-class keepers are a rare breed (oh, for a Casillas in every team), but one can’t help but feel that if Valdes was not Catalan, he would have been shown the door a long time ago.

Right Back

When Barca signed Gianluca Zambrotta two years ago, he was widely regarded as the best right back in the world. Two-footed, capable of playing on either flank, solid defensively, a dangerous attacker with a fierce shot to boot, there was no one to rival him. However, his performances for the Blaugrana left a lot to be desired, leading to his sale in the summer. His replacement? The undoubted heir to his throne, Daniel Alves. The rampaging Brazilian full back is worth every penny spent on him, and the prospect of an Alves-Messi combination will have left backs everywhere in serious depression.

Central Defence

Barca’s central defensive signings this year are more about squad depth than superstardom, thus addressing a serious problem from last season. With one of Puyol, Milito and Marquez usually injured, the only back up came in the form of an ageing Lillian Thuram and a clumsy Oleguer. While the former trio will still make up the first choice defence (Milito’s injury notwithstanding), new signings Martin Caceres and Gerard Pique will provide stiff competition at the very least. The Uruguayan Caceres impressed on loan at Recreativo de Huelva from Villarreal last year, and is definitely one for the future. The signing of Pique is somewhat more mysterious. While Barca fans are always happy to see players from the cantera in the team, some are questioning the wisdom of paying money to buy back a home grown player who left for nothing, particularly when, for all his promise, he has yet to prove himself as a first team regular at a big club. He has undoubted potential though, and being back at his dream club should help him harness it. When Henrique, the Brazilian Barca have signed from Palmeiras (although he will probably be loaned out to another club this season to gain experience) is factored in, Barca’s central defensive unit looks to have a solid future.

Left Back

Just as baffling as the faith shown in Victor Valdes is the retaining of Eric Abidal as Barca’s first choice left back. Consistently overshadowed by Patrice Evra, Abidal’s reputation only remained intact due to his continued selection by the frankly insane French manager, Raymond Domenech. A poor first season was followed by a dismal Euro 2008, in which his technical deficiencies were highlighted for the world to see. Abidal is atrocious going forward and unsteady at the back, and with the ageing Sylvinho as the only backup, the left side of defence is a serious liability.

While a few areas of Barca’s defence still exhibit signs of weakness, the general attitude towards improving this area shown by Guardiola and co. is an encouraging one. It is far from the finished product, but the rejuvenation of the back line should lead to a vast improvement on last season’s often dismal performances.

Arjun K Miglani

(a) form over the last 12 months,
(b) potential, and
(c) transfer fee involved.

10. Ezequiel Garay (Racing Santander to Real Madrid) Last Week: 7
What a capture! Barcelona seemed to have him in the bag, but hesitated a little too much as they waited for Frank Rijkaard to leave and a new coach to take charge. Madrid managed to snatch Sergio Ramos a few years ago, and what a signing that has turned out to be. This one may be no different.
9. Deco (Barcelona to Chelsea) Last Week: 6
On the wrong side of 30, a first look suggests that he is past it, but nothing could be further from the truth. There is a fire that burns in him as we saw during Euro 2008, and he has a lot more to give to football. He is not what Frank Lampard is, as he will never score as many goals. But then, he is also everything Lampard is not. Superb creativity, a great eye for the game, and an ability to run the show that has seen him win the Champions League with two different clubs. Finally, Chelsea have a player who can orchestrate the pleasing football their owner wants. With Ballack and Essien set to play around him, it will be an ominous midfield.
8. Amantino Mancini (Roma to Inter) New Entry
Jose Mourinho does not quite promote exciting football, but he does like a fast, aggressive winger forward at least on one flank. That is just what he has found in Mancini, who will be handed the license to thrill just as Arjen Robben was during the glory years at Chelsea. Tends to blow hot and cold, though, as Roma found out last season. Lack of consistency will not go down well with the 'Special One', so he does need to focus a lot more.
7. Amauri (Palermo to Juventus) Last Week: 5
The Brazilian-Italian striker made it to number three after earning himself a long overdue move to a top four club, but now slips down to seven. He has already shown his potential with Palermo, and the prospect of him getting some top quality service from the Juve midfield is simply mouth-watering. Champions League, here he comes.
6. Daniel Alves (Sevilla to Barcelona) Last Week: 4
Chelsea, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Manchester United – these are just some of the clubs that have queued up for him over the last 18 months or so. However, it is Barcelona who land him after some difficult negotiations with Sevilla. Perhaps a touch overpriced at 30 million euros (he would have been number one on this list at 20m), but then again, he is the best attacking full-back this world has seen since Roberto Carlos.
5. Samir Nasri (Marseille to Arsenal) Last Week: 3
The highly rated French international is the latest to join the clan of young Gunners. Many view him as a replacement for Aliaksandr Hleb, while others go a step further and call him the next Zidane. He has had some problems with injuries, but let's hope those were exceptions as opposed to the rule. The prodigous playmaker is at number five.
4. Ronaldinho (Barcelona to Milan) New Entry
A gamble? Yes. But given the chance, would you sign one of the all time greats of football for a third of his market price last summer? You bet you would. At 28, he is far from over. Some diet planning and some tough training, and he will give at least three or four good years to the Rossoneri. A gamble nonetheless, or he would definitely have been number one. Number four for the Gaucho.
3. Luka Modric (Dinamo Zagreb to Tottenham) Last Week: 2
The hottest young Croatian was snapped up by Spurs despite the interest of clubs such as Barcelona and Chelsea, and what a signing it has already turned out to be. Looks set to become the jewel in Juande Ramos' midfield next season. He remains at the sharp end of our list.
2. Aliaksandr Hleb (Arsenal to Barcelona) New Entry
A very shrewd buy, and what could very well turn out to be a stroke of genius from Barcelona. With Lionel Messi expected to run the show, what they needed was not a Ronaldinho, but a tireless, no-nosense attacking midfielder to offer support from the other flank - without hogging possession or the limelight. And they got him on the cheap too. A true critics' player in that while fans rave about others, he runs away with the technical plaudits.
1. Mathieu Flamini (Arsenal to Milan) Last Week: 1 The underrated Frenchman was one of Arsenal's best players last season, and Milan's signing was nothing less than a coup. That it was a free transfer makes it even better. The smartest transfer this summer despite the number of high profile players on the move.

Abhishek Thakur

The next Van Nistelrooy?
After his phenomenal goal scoring feats with Ajax in the Dutch Eredivisie, Huntelaar has naturally drawn comparisons with Ruud Van Nistelrooy. Huntelaar, like Van Nistelrooy, has the rarest of talents, the natural ability to get to the right place at the right time. Simply put, Huntelaar is a goal scorer. There are a less than a dozen players currently playing in Europe who can guarantee you 20 goals or more a season and Huntelaar, while playing in the Dutch league at least, has been one of them. The Dutch Eredivisie is considered a second tier competition by European standards and herewith lies the problem. Statistics can be misleading if the standard of the leagues are not taken into account. Mateja Kezman was the top scorer in Holland for three seasons but he hardly set the world alight when he arrived at Chelsea. Many believe Huntelaar’s pace will let him down in the quicker leagues of Spain, Italy or England. Nevertheless, slower goal scoring forwards can survive in the top leagues as long as they can understand and read the game. We only have to look to craft and guile of Henrik Larsson or Teddy Sheringham in past seasons.

Improvement in Huntelaar’s game
Over the last season Huntelaar has tried to expand his game outside of just finding the back of the net. He has started to show for the ball in better positions, make better decisions with his combination play and improve his somewhat jumpy first touch. Still, as a player, Huntelaar bears more resemblance to Filippo Inzaghi at AC Milan than he does to Van Nistelrooy. There is a common misconception that Van Nistelrooy is only a finisher but his ability to link the play and make the best decisions at the highest level was on full display for Holland during the Group stages of the European Championships this summer. It’s reasonable to assume that Huntelaar will struggle to fill the shoes of Van Nistelrooy in the national team. Although his goal scoring talents have been almost peerless domestically, his lack of pace to stretch defenses or give midfielders the option for longer defense turning passes could continue to haunt him. Until now, despite Huntelaar’s dedication to improving his game, it is clear that his contribution remains restricted to pure finishing and finding space.

The future at Ajax
What it boils down to is that Huntelaar may not be a fantastic player but he is a fantastic striker. Stereotypically, a striker scores the goals for the team and traditionally a player’s worth can be justified if, after doing nothing for the entire game, he can grab a winner in the dying seconds. Huntelaar has been that type of player for Ajax. However, if Van Basten’s purchasing spree is anything to go by it is clear that he is ready to give himself different options in the central striking position of Ajax’s 4-3-3. Van Basten has shown confidence in Huntelaar by throwing him the captain’s armband but Ajax have also prepared themselves with a plan ‘B’ by signing nippy Serbian teenager Miralem Sulejmani, Argentina bred Croatian forward Dario Cvitanich and youth team forward Darko Bodul in the off season. With so many options available and a youth academy full of promising forwards Ajax are clearly geared for life without their current captain.

What is Huntelaar’s next move?
Sooner or later Huntelaar will head overseas; it is the nature of Dutch football business. To be successful Huntelaar needs to sign for a team where he is expected to do little for 90 minutes but put the ball in the net. Arsenal and Manchester United may lead Huntelaar’s personal wish list but the Ajax man would not be quick enough to fit in with their style of play. Luiz Felipe Scolari often relied on the poaching talents of Nuno Gomes with Portugal and in that system of play Huntelaar would be the perfect match at Chelsea. Carlos Ancelotti’s AC Milan is also a team that suits the Dutch striker and with the aging Inzaghi slowly running out of time and maybe luck, you might think that the Rossoneri would be scrambling across Europe to land the comparable Huntelaar. How good Huntelaar will become depends on where he ends up after Ajax. He has a lot to do to develop his game and at 25 years old time could be against him. He will continue to honour the Ajax tradition by adding goals to their flowing football but it may be a sign of the times in Amsterdam that questions are being raised about his chances of succeeding abroad. Still, the bottom line is, if Huntelaar can keep on scoring then fame will follow no matter how well he plays.

Matthew Wheatley