Messi, What a Shame!

It must be said that Messi's father who was organising the Messi's Beijing Olympics campaign has till done a fabulous job. A job whose priority for me was to get the blame of Messi missing the Olympics on someone else. But it looks like his luck might have finally run out, with Maradona questioning about Messi's character. Maradona has been very careful in this issue, earlier criticising the Club but not until this day has launched an attack on Messi. Now he rightly does the same, he said and I quote "think he needs to show a little more character and I believe that this is the time to where he can become a man.There are always occasions when a player has other commitments but I really hope that Messi can change his attitude. Hopefully with time, he will become more of a complete footballer." Barcelona has been playing the hard ball and would face punishment from FIFA as AFA is not ready to give up on the player. Before this day the world was sympathetic to Messi, he was potrayed as a person whose heart belonged with Argenitinian team in Beijing but was forced to be in Scotland with Barcelona. Barcelona has been potrayed as the villain and messi played his part of the victim perfectly. I am not saying for a moment that Barcelona is not the villain, but I believe the real villain is Messi and his father.

Messi's was really in a strange position. He was touted as the next Maradona and the pivotal player on which Barcelona going to rebuild. He knew it was tough to make a choice between Club and Country, so he and his father for me orchestred a wonderful drama in which everyone participated unknowingly. If you see carefully, Messi announced much early that he wants to go to Beijing. But when he learned about Guardiola's objection (due to his lack of national pride, maybe) he mellowed down a bit. His father stated that it was upto the Club to decide, simply speeking they outsourced the tough job of making the decision. After that they went to Argentina, where Messi said that he finally made up a decision that he will not miss Olympics. He looked like in a mood of defying the Club, but for no surprise the moment he came back to Barcelona he mellowed down his stand again. Simply put he was playing a game where he has already chosen to miss the Olympics, but want to keep the tag of Next Maradona intact. Have to say he had huge sucess till now. But with Maradona asking the Kid to grow up, the situation might change. For all the barcelona fans who keep on saying that Barcelona has the right to keep him, I have only one question - If there was a small crisis in your family and the same time you cannot leave your work. What decision would you take? There is nothing like these guys are being forced, If Messi or Kaka decides that they will go to Olympics disregard of the club's instruction, what will happen? Milan will not sell Kaka because of that, nor do Barcelona. I am not encouraging indiscipline, but sometimes if your Club will not listen to you for a genuine matter, a bit of indiscipline is good. remember you might have contracted to the Club, but you are not their slave. Olympics and the Olympics' spirit are worth fighting for, Messi.

Pictures from Barcelona vs Hibernian FC Match

Barcelona Pre Season Match; Hibernian FC - 0, Barcelona - 6

Barcelona started of their pre season campaign well by scoring half a dozen goal against the Hibernian FC. Hibernian FC was never considered to pose any challenge, but the way the side eased past the Scottish side would have given enough encouragement to Guardiola. More over this was Guardiola's first match as incharge of the team and he could not have wished for a better result. Barcelona started the first half with Valdes on the Goal. Infront of him was Alves, Marquez, Pique and Corcoles. The midfield consist of Vazquez, Busquets, Gudjohnsen and upfront Pedrito joined Henry and Messi to form the attacking trio. In the second half the side was substituted almost completely. Pinto took over the Goal Keeper gloves, Caceres made his debut in place of Marquez, Toure was brought in midfield and Jeffren replaced Messi. Surprisingly Eto was absent from both the starting eleven and was brought in only at the 66th minute.

The first goal came in the fourth minute when a curling cross from Alves into the box was poorly cleared by the defense, the defender cleared it on to the legs of Gudjonsen and Eidur send the ball past the Goal keeper to the left of the goal with a tremendous kick. The second goal came in the 14th minute again from a defensive mistake, the Hibernian defense gave away the ball in their half and Busquets played the ball to Messi on the right; Messi cut inside the defender and send the ball past the Goal keeper to the extreme left of the post. The third came in the 16th minute when a beautiful link up between Alves and Messi which cut apart the defense, Henry couldn't control the final ball from Messi but fortunately it reached Gudjonsens and his shot was deflected ion to the goal. Next it was Pedrito's time to get onto the score sheetin the 27th minute. Messi passed the ball to pedrito on wide left, he cut inside and send a scorching shot past the goal keeper. For me that was the best goal of the lot. Goal Keeper and defense had no chance against it. Shortly after the half time Bojan grabbed the fifth goal, after a wonderful run by Jeffren in to the box. Again the defense was the culprit in that goal. Then in the 68th minute Barca rounded up a wonderful performance by Toure's Goal. That was a typical Samuel Eto goal.