Comments on: Clasicos, Cash, Cesc and Simulation: Are Barca losing their shine? (Part 1)

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 20:56:29 +0000

I prefer Barca over Real, but they are setting terrible examples of what football should be. There is a lot of diving, acting, overspending, bad language, poor sportsmanship, bad comments in the press, & shady transfers. Many other teams and players are guilty of these things, but these two are in the limelight and are a source of many young footballers round the world. LaLiga must share the TV revenue or the league will become a disgrace

By: Jamie

Jamie — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 09:37:29 +0000

You make it sound as though Barcelona and Madrid are villains when it comes to money and players for balancing it in their favour? And you compare the PL favourably with it. We all know that the top English clubs would change the rules when it comes to TV rights at the drop of a hat.

It may not be two clubs ruling, but the Premier League is equally so a league in which the rich rule and the poor struggle to compete. How many teams have won the league again? The gulf is so huge between the top clubs and the rest that only money matters. Yet here you are supposing that only Barcelona (and Real Madrid who are not really covered) exploit their status as a rich and important club.

Are titles per se bought in England? Yes. With Barcelona? Well, look at the home-grown talent of the team.

Indeed, this argument has even less clout when you consider how Barcelona have assembled their team. While transfer money has its undoubted role in making big clubs big, Barcelona have developed most if not all of their best players rather than bought them.

Actually, I’m just assuming that your argument is that Barcelona are ‘losing their shine’ because they have money. You don’t really seem to be linking the two together at all. In fact, your biggest point about money directs blame to the structure of La Liga, rather than Barcelona themselves.

By: obami

obami — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 03:31:33 +0000

really good article, not overly critical or a barca smear campaign just simply stating the facts and backing it up. and there are criticisms of madrid too.
the title isnt OTT either, if they and madrid keep up their money grabbing the spanish league will die.

look forward to pt 2

By: wisey_9

wisey_9 — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 02:58:06 +0000

great article.

in the absence of a salary cap, a fair distribution of the TV Revenue is the only way to keep some sort of balance to the league.

the 3rd placed Valencia being closer to relegation than the title is a HUGE point. no fan in their right mind would think that this is a good outcome in any league…

By: JN

JN — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 13:36:19 +0000

the question was free of judgment.. i was just curious really.

Yeah the writer has raised some interesting points. And haha i think thats the point of the title/article, first to grab us enough to read it then provoke us enough to write a response. can’t fault the guy for that.

Question.. was barca’s saint-like image self promoted?

I suppose its what people look up to, doing things in the ‘right spirit’. and (i think) everyone wants to believe their club does but imo, i don’t think any club does. I mean they’re all out for themselves first and foremost.

should any club be responsible for encapsulating all thats good with football?

By: AH

AH — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 13:22:15 +0000

Leo, I’d like you to explain to me why you think that a 22 year old is too immature to write a piece on football. Especially seeing as though all this “immaturity” seems to be based on factual evidence.

I’d also like you to tell me HOW the title is “deceitful crap”.

PS I’m a Barca fan. I’m all for debate, but when it comes to straight out criticism, you need to prove your point.

By: Leo

Leo — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 13:05:41 +0000

The writer is only 22, so much immaturity in your article! You are trying to fan an anti Barca campaign. You should have tried another title noit this deceitful crap!

By: MB

MB — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 12:52:10 +0000

I’m french my first team is PSG and then I like Arsenal. I prefer Barca over Real but not a fanatic. Some points in the article are true, but I just think that the headline and some arguments are more than exaggerated and used more to make a fuss than prove a point.

Its only my opinion.

Cheers

By: JN

JN — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 12:46:48 +0000

MB are you a barca fan?

By: MB

MB — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 10:26:11 +0000

Barcelona players don’t dive more than other players (maybe Busquest but we you have Messi, Iniesta and Xavi they dont dive AT ALL)

Barca is negotiating for player transfers…. Big news on that one (especially when you know Wenger “policy” on the Masia…)

“Complete disrepect”… do you look at the end of the match and see how barca player always thank the referee and the players of the other team ?

So Barca is no perfection but in my opinion you article is more about getting some attention than real information (as you are used to do)