Barcelona Vs Valencia
Beating the bats
Vampire bats [...] The common vampire bat feeds mostly on the blood of mammals (including humans), [...] white-winged vampire bat feed on the blood of birds. Once the common vampire bat locates a host, such as a sleeping mammal, it lands and approaches it on the ground.
Vampire bats are very agile and a recent study found that common vampire bats can, in addition to walk, run at speeds of up to 7.9 km per hour (4.9 miles per hour). They locate a suitable place to bite using their infrared sensors.[2] They then create a small incision with their teeth and lap up blood from the wound.
[...] If there is fur on the skin of the host, the common vampire bat uses its canine and cheek teeth like a barber's blades to shave away the hairs. The bat's razor-sharp upper incisor teeth then make a 7mm long and 8mm deep cut. The upper incisors lack enamel, which keeps them permanently razor sharp.
The bat’s saliva, which is injected into the victim, has a key function in feeding from the wound. The saliva contains several compounds that prolong bleeding, such as anticoagulants that inhibit blood clotting, and compounds that prevent the constriction of blood vessels near the wound. [...]
That’s the Valencia we are going to host this week. A group of Vampire bats who land and approach the host on the ground counting on their skillful players, who can knock the ball forward with a great pace and Agility. Their versatile bunch of players can create a very bat-like versatile system where you can barely figure out who is really the striker, false nine, attacking midfielder, or wing. “They locate a suitable place to bite… then create a small incision with their teeth and lap up blood from the wound.
It doesn’t matter how thick-skinned the host is. They can break down the opponents’ lines through a sequence of positioning switches and skillful passes and runs, with players like Silva, Pablo, Villa, and Mata slicing their way through the opponent troops toward the net, and the likes of Banega the bomber who in a good day can change the game’s dynamics on his own.
Valencia tactical structure is based on plenty of players capable of operating in the midfield. Whether for being midfielders like Banega or forwards who can move back to assist like Villa or defenders who can contribute in the build up like Marchena makes them a team capable of battling for midfield dominance and ball possession. In that matter, its like “The (Bats’) saliva that contains several compounds that prolong bleeding” they can torture you fitness wise. And for a team like Barcelona that is looking forward for a champions’ league game the following sunrise that will be a nightmare.
But it only happens when the bats enjoy one of the good nights…
In fact the main reason why Valencia is not competing for the title this season is the inconsistency virus. Sure there is the lack of depth and the defense concerns. But the X-factor was the lack of consistency as they dropped points where they could have won with Villa as a keeper and César as a striker. Their starting 7 (putting the defense aside) are as exceptional as Barcelona or Real Madrid lines. Their defense exceeded the expectations (my expectations at least). Their coach is as good as the team is, but as consistent as well (in terms of game management).
The question here is: Will they have one of the good nights and turn to be the legendary Draculas, or Barcelona will enjoy playing the role of Vampire slayers?
I'm Tired...
It’s the worst time for Valencia to play against Barcelona. They are playing twice a day since I can remember. They approach this game after a very physically demanding game against Werder Bremen and will have to play them again in Germany After their visit to the Canp Nou. The fatigue virus is attacking the knees of the players and getting to their minds as well. Villa is a doubt, which adds to the injury owes they are “enjoying” so far.
I am not even sure if they will be as tempted to fight for this game as they usually are against Barcelona. They need a game to serve as a vacation, where they rest some key players who are close to collapse on the field. They have a more important game to play in the midweek. They have more important games to play afterward. Three points in this game is a jewel, but greediness is a devil. They may try- lose-get-injured-and collapse in the following games where they can’t afford to be defeated. My bet is that they will try to start the game in a strong way, and then decide about the second half based on what happens in the first.
But we need to think about ourselves. Which means playing against the best Valencia team you can expect. It’s the team that can run over any team in the world if the teeth in front were sharp enough. Playing for a win is risky from the physical aspect and may not worth, but from the moral perspective it will be a huge boost that they may invest for the rest of the season.
Key players: Banega, Pablo, and the Silvilla machine (sigh…).
Barcelona
There was a draw against Almeria. Frustration! Abdication! Aberration! Abrogation! Accusation…then Wednesday arrived announcing Real Madrid elimination and a sudden ovation…celebration…affectation…flirtation…lets calm down and go back to common sense…
I will write about the lessons served by Real Madrid knock out in the coming days. The lessons that serve Barcelona, not the words that piss Madrid. But it’s important to keep our feet on the ground and let’s not start counting our chicken already (one of the lessons?). This is the last 100 meters in the league Marathon. There is no room for mistakes anymore. The most important event for Barcelona at the moment is not Perez spending another 300 Million to buy toilet papers while Mourning the 300 Millions he spent last summer. The event is not the game against Stuttgart where lot of Cules are already painting their “See! That’s how you do it!” cards to send to the inhabitants of that other city. The event is the game against Valencia. That’s the season at the moment.
Selection:
Valdes, Alves, Puyol, Pique, Maxwell, Busquets, Xavi, Keita*, Messi, Henry, and Iniesta
That’s my favorite selection. Then we start with the conditional statements. If Abidal is available, Maxwell can stay with Ibra wherever he is. If Keita is not ready to start then I wish that we use Yaya in his place (not as a holding midfielder), but we will most likely have Iniesta there with Pedro starting the game so he scores his inevitable goal early. Pedro may start also if Henry doesn’t (which will mean more than just…not starting a game).
With all the defense delaminate Valencia will have to deal with, I doubt they will play any kind of passive tactics. And why will they? Barcelona showed more fragility when the opponents put pressure on them than when the opponents park the bus. If Unai Emery watches Barcelona game against Villarreal again he will get lot of inspirations. Using Silva-Mata-Pablo between two holding midfielders and Villa is the way to go. Barcelona needs to be fully prepared for that.
With Banega putting pressure on Xavi to disturb the buildup process, we must be read with plan B where Xavi try –thru his movement and positioning -to pull Banega out of the operation area in the midfield opening the space for Busquets-Keita-Messi-Iniesta to make the play, accompanied by the fullbacks. It won’t differ if Emery did a more intelligent plan using the second holding midfielder to mark Xavi so he keep Banega as a pivot. We must have the collaborative contributing in the buildup section in the midfield which will be more difficult to contain.
In case Abidal started, it will be better while setting offense that he stays in defense marking Villa with Puyol , so Pique can support Busquets and push the lines forward.
Two things we lacked against Almeria we can’t afford missing in this game:
Pressure: especially the offense contribution in winning back possession.
Commitment: Alves performance against Almeria is a good example, as he is known as an extremely dedicated player. I often praise his stubbornness moving the battle into the opponents half on his flank regardless of the quality of the wing he is facing. He was strangely uncertain against Almeria. He didn’t push forward enough to contribute effectively offense wise and his transition was too slow to help defense wise. When he moves forward, his mind setup must focus on causing damage, or else stay behind.
Messi needs to play against Valencia the way he played against Almeria after Ibra’s suspension. And Iniesta has to believe more in his potentials as a goal scorer.
Keeping the quality wings of Valencia in mind, and Villa’s ability to open to channels, Busquets must position himself where he can move deep anytime needed as a supportive center back till the fullbacks complete their transition. Keita is an exceptional player the way he moves on the field, we missed him dearly in the past few games and he will be needed for this game if he is completely fit. Henry is important as a focal station for offense setup. His movement can create enough spaces in the heart of Valencia defense for the likes of Messi to get advantage of.
Another lesson we learned from Madrid’s tragedy. It’s important not to struggle in the first half so you don’t burn all the fuel you have in the last 45 minutes. Struggle against Sevilla in the first half; you collapse against Lyon in the second. Don’t struggle against Valencia in the first half even if it means guarding possession and dominating the midfield without taking risks to score. With their fitness level problem, time will not work for Valencia interest. Make them run after the ball in the first half while you control possession, and they will hand you the three points in the second half.
The most important key to win: Leave no spaces between the lines for counter attacks. Valencia will not play a patient buildup style; they will try to move the ball from their third to offense in a glance. That’s where their threat increases, and that’s the way they can score for fun.
Valencia is a team I route for 36 weeks a season. Obviously this is one of the two weeks that I don’t.
* LAtest news confirmed that Keita will not be available for this game.
Read More
My column on Total Barca:
Barcelona 2010, better or worse
The unsung Heroes of Barcelona: Fullbacks
Barcelona’s injury woes; turning Crisis into Opportunities
Previous Articles on Football Mood:
Shopping tour, Cesc, Silva or Villa: Who will join Barcelona?
Advocatus Diaboli: Barcelona youth academy, Overrated.
Scoup Group: Our Football Mood News Agency
Barcelona 2010, Tactical Ramble.
Who score goals for Barcelona?
From Ronaldinho to Ibra, Txiki in number
Follow my Barcelona Champions' league previews on The Offside.
Karthik Said,
Hi Ramzi.. Brilliant preview..
I am a valencia fan and tonight I am expecting a very tough match for los che's..
*The major point of concern for me is our defense.. This season we have not had much problem with crosses unlike last season but against very technical players with good pace and ball skills the defense has been exposed.. Only banega marchena and albelda effictively deal with this aspect and banega is the stand out.. the other two usually give the fouls..
*another very important factor is this games is away factor and valencia do not play very well away..I remember away matches where villa has had just one or two touches.. The problem here has been the lack of service to the up 4 whenever banega has not played well.. and the mediocre form of mata[loosing possession very cheaply] and pablo(after injury) has not helped us much..of course silva is the only other player who is good with possession..
*The positive for us is banega might be fresh considering he has played only 55 minutes in 14 days..
*I would again say the player to watch out for valencia will be silva.. he usually turns up for big matches.. though he is pretty bad infront of the goal if he dictates the game barca will have few problems with the creativity..
*Bad news
1)most of them wont have legs after 60 minutes..this is very hard on us as to keep barca quiet we need the high pressure style of play which we exhibited in mestalla.. and to boot it all we have werder again this week..
2)villa injured.. probably not worth the risk considering sevilla and mallorca dropped points..
Prediction : too nervous to make any.. mind says barca heart says valencia..
amunt :)
P.S : love your right ups at the barca offside, barca football blog and your stand in the henry - ireland issue.. muchos respect amigo..
Posted on March 13, 2010 at 9:59 PM
kamikaze kontiki Said,
Agree with most of your observations, Ramzi but I don't think Pep will count on Henry to start this game just yet. It would be a big leap of faith if he did and involve too much risk, besides there were reports of Henry having injury troubles midweek.
Messi since he is looking like Barça's most likely scorer I would play in the centre closer to goal. This would also aid Xavi in keeping possession and dealing with Valencia's DMs besides creating greater confusion in the centre of the pitch with the movement of both players.
I agree we will need both Busquets and Yaya to start behind Xavi. Keita as far as I know, is available but I guess we shouldn't expect more than a 2nd half sub appearance from him.
Another key aspect is keeping Valencia's left flank occupied else even with the double pivot Alves will be overworked. Moving Messi to the centre (in my formation) means we need someone as capable of troubling the Valencia defence. At the moment I don't think any of Bojan, Pedro or Henry is upto this task so Iniesta would be my choice for the right wing.
Lineup
VV
Alves, Puyol/Milito, Pique, Maxwell
Yaya, Busquets
Xavi
Iniesta Messi Pedro /Bojan/Henry
Valencia are always such a scary team to play. And I am sorry to say this but I have the feeling the result will depend more on Valencia's form and fitness than Barça's performance.
Posted on March 14, 2010 at 3:27 AM
zi-zou Said,
.... WTF did i just read, how can you relate blood sucking bats to a football match!! every time i've read something from you its awesome. You definitely over complicate football but it's great to read :)
Posted on March 14, 2010 at 10:39 AM
adal Said,
Ramzi, when I tried to access your site from google chrome today, I encountered the following message:
The website at www.footballmood.com contains elements from the site www.feedzilla.com, which appears to host malware – software that can hurt your computer or otherwise operate without your consent. Just visiting a site that contains malware can infect your computer.
I chose "proceed anyway", but you might want to check it out.
Posted on March 15, 2010 at 2:41 AM
Ramzi Said,
Thanks for the telling me. I will check that. Feedzilla is the news gadget on the side. I was planning to take it of anyway. May be its time for that, just in case:)
Posted on March 15, 2010 at 3:12 AM