El Clasico open thread: Copa del Rey 1/18/12

once upon a recent time we would have had a few players either of these clubs would gladly have nicked but tonight I struggle to think of a single outfield player who would get in either side and, sadder, even on the bench. Possibly we could squeeze SOMETHING in in Altintytop’s stead but who? They may be two morally defunct turd hole clubs but their better TV income(which cripples their league and suits only them and is unfair on EVERY club in the CL)allied to their dubiously claimed history ensures we will NEVER be able to compete when the FFP rules come in and it’s amazing just how far we have fallen behind since 5 or six years ago.

Cech might, even on current form beat out Barca’s keepers but Ash is too tired because he never gets a rest and is getting too old to play every second so is no longer close to his World class best and wouldn’t come close to these sides currently. JT isn’t coping as well, bodily, he used to and, though it pains me, isn’t close to Riccy even though he’s younger and he’s abut the weakest CB on display while Luiz might one day(along with DS, Mata and Rambo) get there he hasn’t got there yet.

Saddest of all Romeu might get there too but should he manage it why on Earth stay with us? Straight back home, sadly, sao training him up is just wasting our time. I guess if Torres gets back to form he’s capable matching any of the strikers but riht now, again, not even close while Lamps and Dd, generally, aren’t coming back to their full prowess-Lamps these days can only score the share of the goals heb used to if he fails in other respects where he used to chip in like creating and defending. Maaking his trademark runs is what he’s stupidly concentrating on and its sidelimning him and killing his chances of being part of plan A long term. He continues not to alter his game to fit in he will make his goals only desirable as a special occasional starting effort and mostly be a bench impact player. as someone the media portrays as clever he’s being a bit stubborn and daft in thinking a watered down Lamps of old is what we need and selfishly feels that the goals are enough to keep him relevant and they aren’t while they now mean he’s always out of position as he can’t cover back or make them from as deep as he used to. He’s nt being fair to himself, his ability(he COULD create more if he’d try to change because he USED to create a lot more than he now does and I think it’s because he’s more arsed about his opwn goals and trying desperately to keep a team servicing HIM and it won’t happen and shouldn’t when it means he offers less than he once did)or to us or tyhe team and is giving away any chance he has of being our Giggs and getting back to being good enough for a place fo Real or Barca.

Honestly, if we don’t start buying a FEW players and also get a few kids into the team now and then to find out if they can make the grade we wil forever fall so far behind we can never make the gap up again. no sin of a big enough ground and little chance, in my eyes, of beating Napoli, winning the FA and only a 50/50 given our form and squad of finishing in the top four. It’s bad enough how weak we are compared to these giants(should we play Barca now Cole wouldn’t be our saviour as he used to be and we couldn’t “do a Valencia at home” as they’d murder us)but when you think how Spurs have managed more from lower transfer fees, lower wages, a terribly ignorant manager, smaller ground and worse youth set up than us you have to worry, don’t you? If Harry had a clue tactically Spurs, shuddrs, would be top right now so where have we managed to go THIS wrong?

I’m not blaming any one man or manager and feel the power given to mere players(because they won us our first ever real period of success I get why it happened)has ruined us and we will have to build a cxlub ethos from scratch without nearly all of them to succeed ever again. If we were to repeat the error of allowing Terry and Lamps, DD and Cech the power they have had with future plasyers it will be terminal in terms of us even being relevant in the EPL. Bigger capacity, better discipline, lower wages but better players and a way of stopping the academy being nothing more than a money pit(currently losing us loads, millions a season on top of the forty million already put into the grounds and scouting)and atctually gettiung a manager to have enough faith to play (Bertrand after seven loans should be playing to allow Ash a rest or be allowed to go and get us money back in for example)youngsters rather than, in Josh’s case, a risky loan that through none of his fault will likely be a farce. Needed more here but if we won’t trust him why sould they? Their midfield works for them and even a great kid will be up and down so Josh won’t be their saviour if he DOES play and, imho, he’s unlikely to fit better than their own and was more likely to improve on Meireles here. Daft and dafter in my eyes.

Alonso passing from deep and positioned on top of the defense while Diarra and Pepe destroy barca’s deep playmakers before they can begin to string attacks

If Ronaldo had Iniesta and Xavi he’d be an even better player statistically than the 50 goal monster he was last season.

*provided Barca wins, otherwise it’s a travesty and anti-football

Plus, he has a very, very, punchable face.