What an year we had. Six trophies with a team and manager who seems to have inherited the "Midas Touch". Everything Guardiola touched turned into goal within minutes. Lionel Messi's "Goal From Heart" sealed the perfect season for Barca in 2009. The achivements of this Barca side will be written with Golden Ink in the history books of the game. I don't know whether any team will be able to replicate what our boys have done, may not atleast in this century. It all started with a stunning last minute victory against Chelsea. Statistically it all started from that stunning Yaya Toure's goal against Atletic Bilbao but I would prefer to see the Iniesta's Chelsea goal as the pivotal in Barca's success of this year. Had that didn't happen it could have gone all the wrong way in this year. That goal was god sent, sure there were enough controversy surrounding that match but no one can question that goal. Guardiola looked like had lost all the hope so did all Barca fans, I was about to turn off the TV as I couldn't bear to see teh highlights, then that "Moment from Heaven" happened - Lionel Messi played the ball to Iniesta, Iniesta against his usual nature decided to take the shot and the ball ended in the goal sending Barca to Rome. The match against Manchester United was an example of how the season went - perfect to the plan. Barca had played much better game throughout the season and was for me below par in the final, but still they were miles ahead of Manchester United. I had earlier wrote why I though Barca Out Played ManU, Have a look - Why Manchester United were Stunned by FC Barcelona in the Finals?Dec 27, 2009
2009!!! wow What an Year
What an year we had. Six trophies with a team and manager who seems to have inherited the "Midas Touch". Everything Guardiola touched turned into goal within minutes. Lionel Messi's "Goal From Heart" sealed the perfect season for Barca in 2009. The achivements of this Barca side will be written with Golden Ink in the history books of the game. I don't know whether any team will be able to replicate what our boys have done, may not atleast in this century. It all started with a stunning last minute victory against Chelsea. Statistically it all started from that stunning Yaya Toure's goal against Atletic Bilbao but I would prefer to see the Iniesta's Chelsea goal as the pivotal in Barca's success of this year. Had that didn't happen it could have gone all the wrong way in this year. That goal was god sent, sure there were enough controversy surrounding that match but no one can question that goal. Guardiola looked like had lost all the hope so did all Barca fans, I was about to turn off the TV as I couldn't bear to see teh highlights, then that "Moment from Heaven" happened - Lionel Messi played the ball to Iniesta, Iniesta against his usual nature decided to take the shot and the ball ended in the goal sending Barca to Rome. The match against Manchester United was an example of how the season went - perfect to the plan. Barca had played much better game throughout the season and was for me below par in the final, but still they were miles ahead of Manchester United. I had earlier wrote why I though Barca Out Played ManU, Have a look - Why Manchester United were Stunned by FC Barcelona in the Finals?
Dec 22, 2009
Messi Wins the World Player Of The Year Award
Lionel Messi of Barca Adjudged "The Best Player In The World"
Exactly one day after helping Barca secure the World Club Championship with his "Goal from the Heart", Lionel Messi was adjudged the as the FIFA World Player of the Year. It come as no surprise as everyone expected him to win this hands down. Messi secured 1073 points and the second placed Ronaldo secured 352 points. Barca's Xavi Hernandez came third with 196 points followed by Kaka with 190 points and Iniesta with 134 points. The inaugral FIFA Puskás Award for the 'most beautiful goal' of the year went Ronaldo for his goal against FC Porto. Ronaldo's goal secured 17.68 percent of total votes, meanwhile Iniesta's important strike against Chelsea came second bagging 15.64 percent of votes. Lionel Messi has expressed his hapines of becoming the first Argentinian to win the award - "It’s lovely to get this recognition from colleagues and coaches. That makes it even more important. The fact that I’m the first Argentinian to win it is also a great honour." FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year award went once again to Brazil's Marta, who incidently has created history by winning her fourth World Player award. The voting pattern went in expected lines but I still believe it is a great injustice to Xavi and Iniesta after being ranked at three and five. Xavi had a better season than Ronaldo for Spain and Barca but still finished thrid behind Ronaldo. The same with Iniesta who also had a very good season atleast better than what Kaka had. But it looks like this is the order of the day, you got to be flambouyant to secure votes in these awards.
Dec 21, 2009
Barca To Face Stuttgart
I missed to write about the Champions league draw. FC Barcelona got one of the easiest pairing with Stuttgart as opponent. No offence meant to Stuttgart fans and players, but there was a potential chance of facing bayern, AC Milan or Lyon. The first leg of the tie takes place in Stuttgart on 23rd of February and the reaturn leg will take place in Camp Nou on 17th of March. Ex-Barca player Hleb is in the squad of Stuttgart and will make his first return to Camp Nou after the transfer. Stuttgart had a great last season but they are way off colour this season. Bundesliga has reached the half-way mark and Stuttgart lie in the 15th position. So Barca definitely could not have asked for a much better tie. Meanwhile all across Europe there has been some interesting paring for the knockout stage. Italina teams AC Milan and Inter will face Manchester United and Chelsea respectively. The English teams will definitely have the advantage of playing the second leg at home, even then an English - Italian encounter always is volatile. Dec 20, 2009
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