Barcelona - A Soccer Tribute
I felt compelled to pay a tribute to great soccer. The Total Football of the Netherlands and the Tiki-Taka of Barcelona. This is a tribute to FC Barcelona! They say Spain is pretty though I have never been . (Elton John with Daniel) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AY5_CNHRqqk . But I am often in awe of Spanish music. Just listen to Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass (don't miss these music) , here with:
Spanish Flea - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-_2QpbXMbw
A Taste of Honey - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_KDPUTyDyQ
Tijuana Taxi - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-t-g_msR2o
Lonely Bull - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16B5Xm8_IKw
What made it even more special was we used to play these songs so frequently in the school band. Herb Alpert is an American Jew when he went to Tijuana, Mexico and was so influenced that he formed the Tijuana Brass. From the bull fights in Mexico we move to the bull fights and soccer in Spain, in particular Barcelona. Flamenco music has such an infectious rhythm and tempo that it never fails to draw out your passion. Just like watching my childhood hero Zorro!
Tijuana Taxi - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-t-g_msR2o
Lonely Bull - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16B5Xm8_IKw
What made it even more special was we used to play these songs so frequently in the school band. Herb Alpert is an American Jew when he went to Tijuana, Mexico and was so influenced that he formed the Tijuana Brass. From the bull fights in Mexico we move to the bull fights and soccer in Spain, in particular Barcelona. Flamenco music has such an infectious rhythm and tempo that it never fails to draw out your passion. Just like watching my childhood hero Zorro!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPhCIKFkfg4 (Dance)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmcjAGJOPR0 (Guitar)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCq3CMbqYNo (Gipsy Kings)
Then you look at the matadors in bull-fight rings and hear the chant of "Ole!" You go to a restaurant and you saw on the menu and thought the meatballs looked good and ordered some. The next day you wanted those same delicious meatballs but this time the serving comes with smaller meatballs and you ask the waiter "why?" and he said "You see senor, sometimes the man wins and sometimes the bull wins".
Then you look at the matadors in bull-fight rings and hear the chant of "Ole!" You go to a restaurant and you saw on the menu and thought the meatballs looked good and ordered some. The next day you wanted those same delicious meatballs but this time the serving comes with smaller meatballs and you ask the waiter "why?" and he said "You see senor, sometimes the man wins and sometimes the bull wins".
Barcelona
Barcelona is the capital and the most populous city of Catalonia and the second largest city in Spain. Soccer club FC Barcelona was founded by English, Swiss and Spanish footballers. They are one of three clubs in the La Liga to have never been relegated. Their motto "Mes que un club" means "more than a club". You need to give a mention to Rinus Michels.
Rinus Michels
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVwDvKabxZo
Rinus Michels played his entire career at Ajax Amsterdam. Later, he became coach at Ajax and managed the Dutch national side. He also won the European Cup with Ajax. In 1974, he led the great Dutch side to the World Cup Final and won the European title for Holland in 1988. He was most famous for the "Total Football" of the Netherlands in the 70s and in 1999 was named FIFA Coach of the Century! It was Michels who brought his brand of soccer to Barcelona and brought Johan Cruyff over.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVwDvKabxZo
Rinus Michels played his entire career at Ajax Amsterdam. Later, he became coach at Ajax and managed the Dutch national side. He also won the European Cup with Ajax. In 1974, he led the great Dutch side to the World Cup Final and won the European title for Holland in 1988. He was most famous for the "Total Football" of the Netherlands in the 70s and in 1999 was named FIFA Coach of the Century! It was Michels who brought his brand of soccer to Barcelona and brought Johan Cruyff over.
Johan Cruyff
Hendrik Johannes Cruiff aka Johan Cruyff won the World Best Player 3 times in 1971, 73 & 74. He was the most famous exponent of Total Football espoused by Rinus Michels. He was a great success as a player and then as coach/manager at both Ajax and Barcelona. Today, he is still an influential adviser to both clubs. In 1999, Cruyff was voted the European Player of the Century.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CT98zLgkhao
Cruyff in action (watch that famous Phantom Goal of video around 3:17 minutes, where the cross looked like crossing the far post with the ball around neck level and an impossible angle, Cruyff leaped like a salmon and used the back heel of his right foot to hook the ball home).
Cruyff in action (watch that famous Phantom Goal of video around 3:17 minutes, where the cross looked like crossing the far post with the ball around neck level and an impossible angle, Cruyff leaped like a salmon and used the back heel of his right foot to hook the ball home).
http://wn.com/Johan_Cruyff
Total Football
What is Total Football? Simply it is a system where a player moving out of position is replaced by another team mate in that position so that the structure of organisation is maintained. It is a fluid system where there is no fixed position in an outfield role where a defender can attack or an attacker could defend. It has to be honed with supreme fitness, understanding and teamwork. Cruyff was the epitome and shining star of this system as he though playing as a forward would frequently drop deep or suddenly move to the wings to confuse his markers and mostly to devastating effect. Nobody has played like that before and Cruyff was referred to as the Total Footballer. He has great technical ability, acceleration, speed, dribbling skills but his greatest asset was his ability to orchestrate and seek out his team mates' position. He could move from box to box and has a mesmeric control on a game.
Total Football
What is Total Football? Simply it is a system where a player moving out of position is replaced by another team mate in that position so that the structure of organisation is maintained. It is a fluid system where there is no fixed position in an outfield role where a defender can attack or an attacker could defend. It has to be honed with supreme fitness, understanding and teamwork. Cruyff was the epitome and shining star of this system as he though playing as a forward would frequently drop deep or suddenly move to the wings to confuse his markers and mostly to devastating effect. Nobody has played like that before and Cruyff was referred to as the Total Footballer. He has great technical ability, acceleration, speed, dribbling skills but his greatest asset was his ability to orchestrate and seek out his team mates' position. He could move from box to box and has a mesmeric control on a game.
Watch this clip to see how the opponent never touched the ball:
Watch Marco van Basten - one of the best strikers of all time especially that goal v Russia with a first timer from an impossible angle! (around the 3rd minute of video clip).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Da2ADkkEGs (Marco van Basten)
FC Barcelona
What has Michels, Cruyff, Total Football and Dutch soccer have to do with Barcelona? Plenty! FC Barcelona was already a great club with a rich history. When Cruyff came over he endeared himself to the Catalans when he said he had chosen Barcelona over Real Madrid because he could not play for a club associated with Spanish dictator Francisco Franco. He further endeared himself when he chose a Catalan name for his son - Jordi.
What has Michels, Cruyff, Total Football and Dutch soccer have to do with Barcelona? Plenty! FC Barcelona was already a great club with a rich history. When Cruyff came over he endeared himself to the Catalans when he said he had chosen Barcelona over Real Madrid because he could not play for a club associated with Spanish dictator Francisco Franco. He further endeared himself when he chose a Catalan name for his son - Jordi.
Rinus Michels and Johan Cruyff inspired with Total Football. Add that to Barcelona's tiki-taka and you have a potent combination which you are enjoying today when watching Barcelona and then Spain.
Tiki-taka - (tiqui-taca in Spanish) is a style of soccer play that involves short passing and lots of movement through different channels and to maintain possession. Tiki-taka originated from Cryuff's tenure as manager at Barcelona. Its legacy continued under Louis van Gaal and Frank Rijkaard and in some ways adopted by other La Liga teams and eventually Spain's style of play.
Tiki-taka - (tiqui-taca in Spanish) is a style of soccer play that involves short passing and lots of movement through different channels and to maintain possession. Tiki-taka originated from Cryuff's tenure as manager at Barcelona. Its legacy continued under Louis van Gaal and Frank Rijkaard and in some ways adopted by other La Liga teams and eventually Spain's style of play.
Sometimes, a team will come along and dominate for awhile like AC Milan when they had Dutch trio, Frank Rijkaard, Ruud Gullitt and Marco van Basten. It is once in awhile to see a team like the current Barcelona team which should dominate the La Liga and Europe for some years. This did not happen by chance but has been put in place for many years. How do you find or replace Xavi Hernandez, Andreas Iniesta and Lionel Messi? They will still play together for a few years being aged around 30, 26 and 23. You ought to enjoy watching them now for as long as possible for there will never be another.
Pep Guardiolahttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vqfRe6GviY
Josep Guardiola was a defensive midfielder as a player with Barcelona. He was part of Johan Cruyff's Dream Team that included Ronald Koeman (Dutch), Michael Laudrup (Danish), Romario (Brazilian) and Hristo Stoichkov (Bulgarian - the Maradona of the East). At age 20, he won the La Liga, the European Cup, he was in that triumphant Spanish team that won at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. An Italian magazine named him as the world best player under the age of 21. After injuries, he played his last match for Barca in 2011. He moved around and by 2007 was made coach of Barcelona "B" team. After being appointed to replace Frank Rijkaard at frist team coach in 2008, he sold Ronaldinho, Deco and Samuel Etoo. Of course Johan Cruyff and Louis van Gaal had strong influence on hm as a coach.
Josep Guardiola was a defensive midfielder as a player with Barcelona. He was part of Johan Cruyff's Dream Team that included Ronald Koeman (Dutch), Michael Laudrup (Danish), Romario (Brazilian) and Hristo Stoichkov (Bulgarian - the Maradona of the East). At age 20, he won the La Liga, the European Cup, he was in that triumphant Spanish team that won at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. An Italian magazine named him as the world best player under the age of 21. After injuries, he played his last match for Barca in 2011. He moved around and by 2007 was made coach of Barcelona "B" team. After being appointed to replace Frank Rijkaard at frist team coach in 2008, he sold Ronaldinho, Deco and Samuel Etoo. Of course Johan Cruyff and Louis van Gaal had strong influence on hm as a coach.
Barcelona is special as they are the only club I know that do not take a big money sponsorship but instead put "UNICEF" at the front of their jerseys! I want you to watch some clips and enjoy. Politically, Barcelona are like an opposition to the masters at Madrid. So the defining game of the season involved very strong and passionate encounters of their El Classic0 between Barcelona and Real Madrid. Wayne Rooney was at the Nou Camp in the stands watching this game which Barcelona won 5-0 and remarked that he had never seen anything so incredible - soccer played at such tempo and quality! Watch:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ly3NCoQ2Y-g (Barcelona 5 Real Madrid 0).
I haven't done this in along time. That the game is scheduled on a Saturday night (Sunday morning 2.45am) with Barcelona playing and my better energy in recent times, I miraculously got up to catch the game. No regrets. Manchester United as English Champions and having beaten the rest of Europe was the best team to oppose Barcelona. Pedro scored first for Barca, the real player Pedro not my shoe brand. When Rooney equalized and they closed for half-time. There seemed to be some hope for the Red Devils?
I haven't done this in along time. That the game is scheduled on a Saturday night (Sunday morning 2.45am) with Barcelona playing and my better energy in recent times, I miraculously got up to catch the game. No regrets. Manchester United as English Champions and having beaten the rest of Europe was the best team to oppose Barcelona. Pedro scored first for Barca, the real player Pedro not my shoe brand. When Rooney equalized and they closed for half-time. There seemed to be some hope for the Red Devils?
I want you to watch carefully Messi"s winning goal. He does not possess a powerful shot and from way out it is difficult to beat a goalie of Edwin van Der Sar's calibre. Messi took a pass from the right side, there were 2 Man U defenders in front, he appeared to take the ball and ran at them and in a split second as he moved forward, the 2 defenders' movements left a tiny gap between them and Messi placed a low shot through this gap and the ball spun just passed the finger tips of van Der Sar. Goal! This is pure genius and none can score a goal like that.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdQkzL3fjYw (Barcelona 3 Manchester Utd 1)
If that was a good goal, watch also how David Villa wrapped the game when he screwed his shot to the top left hand corner with van Der Sar at full stretch. I shall now leave you to marvel at the magic of Andreas Iniesta, Xavi Hernandez and Lionel Messi.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsbVv_G0Kgc (Andreas Iniesta magic)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3bs_TAzqO0 (Xavi Hernandez)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frIGOzEQXm4 (Lionel Messi)
For playing the right kind of soccer so delightful to the eyes and minds, it is Barcelona forever! I am going to get that jersey which I have postponed so many times. Resistance is futile. Singapore should go Spanish. Players who can't behave should be sent to the bull ring arena next door as matadors where sometimes the man wins and sometimes the bull wins.
For playing the right kind of soccer so delightful to the eyes and minds, it is Barcelona forever! I am going to get that jersey which I have postponed so many times. Resistance is futile. Singapore should go Spanish. Players who can't behave should be sent to the bull ring arena next door as matadors where sometimes the man wins and sometimes the bull wins.
Gracias! Ole!
Comments