It’s commonly called "Team Management", or more correctly in this
particular case "Club Management", something that is not being done
too well at FC BARCELONA, or at least it seems from this outside
observer´s point of view. The last couple of weeks have seen FC
Barcelona transform itself & its public image from total euphoria to
almost depression,that is, the signals being transmitted outside from
the Club is that everything now is a problem. As it’s already known
"Management" at any level is easier done while things are running
superbly, it’s only when events change that you need to pull out the
“Management Book” & all your know-how.Before continuing &
developing this story, SFS will like to make it clear to its readers
from the start, that it is not against Barça nor do I support by its
consequence its direct rival. Far from it, SFS is neutral & just attempts
to point out observations so as to give readers an alternative angle
for the things that are occurring, or seem to be happening.
Back to the story…
It seemed unthinkable that after winning the Spanish League, Spanish
Cup & Champions League – a feat never done before by any Spanish
Club – for season 2008/2009 that FC Barcelona is it seems now in a
process of “inner turmoil” with problems arising on a daily basis:
1. There is the SAMUEL ETO´O issue. The Club wants to sell the
player asap to guarantee some cash flows before he is a free
agent, the player initially wishes to stay but Guardiola is opposed
to the idea. The management of this situation has been terrible &
not to professionally ethical towards the player. A series of backroom secret dealings, negotiations with other players,
double-talk media statements & the leaking from Inter Milan President
that Barça President Laporta commented that “Eto´o was a strange
fella”, after publicly saying if it was up to him he would extend his
contract. What is the real deal? It is poor management of the
situation in SFS opinion.
(photo: Victor Valdes)
2. The future of “The Best Goalkeeper in the World” – said by
President Laporta personally a month back – VICTOR VALDES is in
serious danger at the Club. The goalkeeper has asked for a 9M€ salary
& 4 more years to his contract, while FC Barcelona will only go as high
as 7M€. This afternoon Valdes & Barça have announced that
negotiations are broken & the Club will begin scouting for a
possible new goalkeeper. What changed Laporta´s mind? Rumours
have it that AC MILAN has smelled blood & will go after Victor
Valdes (along with Eto´o). My observation leads to the question,
what has gone wrong? Why is Barça in a situation now to lose its
heroe goalkeeper? Yes, SFS realises that 9M€ is too high perhaps to
ask for, but break negotiations so adamantly?
(cover of Sport "Only wishes to go to Barça" - weeks ago)
3. FRANCK RIBERY has been “signed” by FC BARCELONA since two
months ago. All the Barcelona daily’s put it on their front cover as a
done deal, FALSE. The player via his current Club BAYERN MUNICH
has communicated to FC BARCELONA to forget about the idea, if
Ribery goes anywhere it would only be to Real Madrid. Bayern wishes to keep the player & not sell, but Barça is not in the running.
4. DAVID VILLA. FC Barcelona enter the picture with a supposed last
minute offer of 50M€ (Cash + loan of defender Martin Caceres) to halt
the “gentleman agreement” between Valencia CF & Real Madrid.
Many believe that the Barça offer does not exist at all & that Barça
is playing at “disrupting proceedings” & Valencia of course to get a
higher transfer fee. Why is Barça playing this game? David Villa has
expressed to everyone that his only desire is to move to Real Madrid;
so why does Barça make the supposed offer? Eto´o hasn´t even
pronounced his intentions & didn’t Barça wish Ibrahimovic? Forlan?
The answer seem obvious however difficult to prove.
(FC Barcelona President Laporta)
5. Controversial statements from FC Barcelona President Laporta
over the spending & contracting of Kaká & Cristiano Ronaldo by Real
Madrid has baffled the Football World. Public statements like “they
will inflate & create a bubble market, its crazy”, “were do they get
the money”, “it’s not moral”, “it’s not our style to do that ”, “The
Real Madrid model is the same as favouritism (political) & is Imperialist”
…bla, bla, bla. Is this the style & image of a Club that has won it all?
Why sink to the mud & get involved in a flinging match that Real
Madrid isn’t even participating?
6. Most of the World Class players on the market wish to go to Real
Madrid – if asked – over FC Barcelona, because the project of
President Florentino Perez is more attractive – their words not SFS
These are just 6 observations of many that from the outside gives
the impression that FC BARCELONA has shot itself in the foot by its
own “imaginary” ghosts & a inferiority complex. The takeover of
the local & World media by Real Madrid has left FC Barcelona on a
second level & that is causing irritation & negative envy at Camp
Barça that is beginning to filter & affect the Clubs inner workings &
the structure of its already proven winning team of last season.
This is not the image that FC Barcelona should be transmitting to
the World, they have no reason too, nor have they any rational
reason to feel threaten by the “new Real Madrid”. The only reasons
SFS can point that can possibly help explain this are theses:
1. Real Madrid President Florentino Perez is a very close friend &
ally to President Laporta´s arch & deadly enemy: Sandro Rosell.
The latter has ambitions to be one day the Barça President, in fact
Laporta "knifed" him when Rosell was in his initial team. Laporta
could be seeing & imagining Shakespearian plays.
2. Bad management. Let’s not forget that a year ago President
Laporta was taken to a Club confidence vote by its members that
nearly cost him his position. He has taken on board that he has
been the reason for this seasons Barça success story. However,
many see the reasons in Coach Guardiola & the players themselves,
thus the President is not so confident after all as the public sees
through the public relations campaign.
3. Total psychological panic that the "new Real Madrid" project will
knock Laporta & Barça off their throne, & whitewash their current
public profile & market share, the latter is occurring at this particular
moment & the Barça attitude is not helping at all.
Therefore, worrying signs so early in the summer break, both for the
Club & for the team that is beginning to break-up in pieces under this
apparent bad management. Let’s hope that FC Barcelona under its
President manage to get above personal & imaginary jealousy &
perceived threatening paranoia to focus on fine tuning an already
proven “Football machine”. They should forget about what the
neighbour is doing in his backyard & concentrate on cleaning its own
garden.Finally,FC Barcelona should act like the Club that is European
Champions & the acclaimed current “Best Team in the World”
avoiding entering in mud fights that can only lead to the disintegration
of their whole structure in the coming months; there are already
tremors with earthquakes threatening ahead. Lets hope for Barça &
their fans that these are just my paranoia observations.
