Recent content by Gooch

Keep in mind he was their only craque - their only dribbling and creative outlet. On top of that job, he had to the same defensive/pressuring job as everyone else. At Barca, he will have a smaller burden, and he'll be rotated. I don't think it's a matter of being lazy, but of preserving his...

They did look out of shape. I wonder what the work rate differential was with Chile.

Messi... bad luck. I'd say it started with Pekerman making that disastrous substitution in 2006, first, taking off Riquelme, and then not putting on Messi. Uhhh, I still shudder when I think of this mother of all mistakes. Argentina most definitely should have won the 2006 World Cup with Messi...

He's a bit old, but he has the main characteristic of a Barca player - great on the ball. Not just a passer, but a dribbler. Can hold up two or three players. Is a threat to dribble past two or three. Can hold the ball for several seconds. With him, Iniesta, Messi, and Neymar on at the same...

He's slowed down, like all his teammates of the great era. That's life, but I for one like to watch great players even as they age and are less effective. Buy sell buy sell for me is soulless and unpoetic. Keep Xavi and Iniesta, put them on different training regimens, and let us enjoy watching...

Out of these, only a fit Thiago could be it. People forget that the key to Xavi at his best was not his passing, but his dribbling. He could not only hold possession against multiple defenders, but he could also dribble past them if necessary. Same with Iniesta. Until he aged, it was this...

Yes, great start. I think they'll do great with Tata.

Ah, what might have been. But it wasn't di Maria only, it was a fit Aguero also which made a huge difference. Things will be interesting in four years, though Aguero may be past it. They still need a little more quality in the midfield, particularly from Biglia and his name slips my mind from...

He's doing great with Porto.

Applause to Leon. They didn't park the bus - they played and lost like men. A lot of the Barca goals were on mini counter attacks after Leon lost the ball. I don't think many teams will play this way against Barca this season.

It's true that Alves doesn't have the pace that used to open things up for Barca a few years ago, but he's still a good reliable right back. He can defend, if asked, and his retention is as good as any right back today. I don't know where people get the idea that his crosses are poor - is it...

I don't personally know Suarez. I can't judge him. But his actions - the biting - was wrong and needed to be punished. It's subjective, but I think it's fair punishment. Besides, the rest from competitive matches will do him good - should be regenerative.

Tata was inches away from the league title and the Champion's League final. Really, man, have some perspective. Lucho will be glad if he does that well this year, especially with all the changes and the unknowns. Tata has a good philosophy, perfect for teams such as Argentina, Chile, Mexico...

Like many said, it was Brazil's rough play that indirectly resulted in the Neymar injury. They wanted a rough game and the referee to be lenient, which meant that players such as Neymar would be vulnerable.

He doesn't make many really obvious passes when dribbling. It's as if he's been told to practice his dribbling under pressure for now and that he can learn to pass the ball later on!!! But his passing was awful last match. Timing and weight was way off. It's not so easy to learn to pass later...