This Time Last Year

by looking at the numbers , seems like last year was better than this year but actually it wasn't , or at least so far . The big difference between last year and this year is that i wasn't very happy with the performance unlike this year , i wasn't happy with the manager decision and his very predictable tactics and the team played with OVER confidence besides the problems that happened between the players . I think this what will make the difference this year

I think the hat the team will do much better than last year, as they seem more focused and are fit and strong and fighting till the final whistle is blown...

Fair point, although I think last year's team didn't really fall apart until the March loss to Atletico, that started the free fall in La Liga.

I'm not really sure how this team is different than last season's. I guess if enough people say this team has fire, it must be true.

It's been a great month for us...kudos to the entire team for this....and I wouldn't say the team of this season is better than the team of last season up until this point...cuz we thrashed Lyon, beat sevilla, mauled Zaragoza with probably the best performance of last season, and thrashed Atletico...we were playin some great football up until that point....however, it all went downhill after the international break...I just hope that the current team doesn't crash after comin back......but again, we played Villareal when we came back last season..this season, we are playin Athletic...so nothin really to worry abt..

Maverick977 says: "but again, we played Villareal when we came back last season..this season, we are playin Athletic...so nothin really to worry abt.. "

With all due respect, that is kind of attitude which cost us the title. Every team in La Liga deserves respect and just because we undoubedtly have a better team on paper, we will have to beat them with 100% hard work and team-work. All things considered, we are doing well and have a good chance in every competition. Like Pep said, we might not win anything but at least at the moment we can be proud of this Barca. They fight hard, they work hard, and hopefully it will pay dividends at the end of the season!!

Last year after 6 games (like today) we were fourth and two goals less and one point more. That's not a very remarkable difference. The more important difference is that we had a very experienced coach last year who long before exhausted his means to change something and a squad which was not disciplined and title hungry enough. Today we have an unexperienced coach, lots of new ambitious players whose best times are still ahead!!!

Titi:

Chill bro..With all due respect, Athletic are no Villareal...I was just sayin that our streak ended last season cuz we had to play against Villareal right after we came back, but this season, we are playin Athletic...and I'd gladly play against Athletic than Villareal...You can't deny facing Villareal would be much much tougher than facing Athletic, who btw got trashed by Sevilla 4 to nothing....I know that it still doesn't give me a reason to be overconfident, but I guess I m just glad that we are not facing big teams...Viva Barca...

Of course Maverick I never meant to say it in a bad way I was just so pissed last year when we were looking really good but we pressed the self-destruct button and let the whores of Madrid win the league. Of course Villaeral atm are on a different level to Barca but Arsenal lost at home to Hull, Barca lost 1-0 to a crappy team on day 1, so I just want the players to keep their eyes on the ball. Lets hope we are celebrating at the end of the season!!

I think this is a fair point to make but all things seem unequal at this point for several reasons: New Coach, new players, new dynamic, new tactics, new schedule...in short different club! The same is valid with our opponents.Henceforth, a comparison can be a bit misleading but the underlying motivation is to be respected:we cannot be overconfident.Point taken!!!

Last season was nothing like this year--as a club. Pep is a fresh change, his attitude to the players is stricter than Frank's. Guardiola is starting with a blank sheet, unlike Frank did last season. There is no one player who dominates play for the squad like Ronaldinho did. How the squad plays on the pitch is even different with a more active game (systematic pressing). Personally, I see a lot more versatility now, a greater sense of experimentation and fluidity. Pep doesn't mind venturing outside the envelope at times and it shows in how Barça conduct themselves on the field. There is an edge to this team I haven't seen before. The artistry is still there but now with a jagged edge. The will to win. That underlying current is due to Guardiola, I feel. Now, whether Barça will make the Double (or Treble?) is another thing that only time will tell. It might all go to hell in a handbasket too. Who knows? But, from what I'm seeing right now, these guys have the goods for the job. Oh, and the last time FCB had such a bad start was also the season they beat Real Meh 0-5 at the Bernabéu. Back when Cruijff came to town. Barcelona also won the league that year too.

more options...more confidence...more hunger. Time will tell people

To me, it just seems to me that this team is more determined than last year's and that they are mentally stronger. I think Pep has a lot to do with that, along with the fact that Barca are no longer favorites. Camp Nou fans are still demanding, but we are bonafide underdogs, so the pressure is off compared to last year with the "fantastic four". To a degree, we can play like we have nothing to lose, and that makes a huge difference.

We're ahead of Madrid now, but don't read into that too much at the moment. As 'Pep' from fcbtransfers pointed out, they have one distinct advantage over Barca this year, which is that each week, they play the team that Barca played the week before. It can be difficult for smaller teams to psyche themselves up for big games two weeks running, which may give Madrid a slight advantage, all other things being equal.

i dont think villareal and valencia are strong at all....villareal has only scored 9 goals in 6 games! and they havent even played any of the strong teams yet while we played atletico and espanyol.....they have a good defense though. ive watched valencia a couple of times and i think they r just terrible and they r lucky to be 1st now....if anyone saw last valencia game u would understand, valladolid played much better!

88 ur 100% wriet on valencia, ive seen them a lot this year and they are really not good at all. their football is so boring and so slow. their depth sucks too, one injury to villa and that team will crumble. ur also correct on valladolid, tehy outplayed teh shit out of them. villarreal are definetley more of a challenge. real madrid are still are biggest rivals by far. at mad look back to be tehir normal inconsistent selves, we will have to see what happens with them. sevilla look better than most, they could be the more suprising challenger (though not a big suprise).

Barcelona this year started out bad in the league and I actually thought they were gonna end up messing up bid time like wat they did last year...Yah this year they lost a couple of good players like Ronadinho, Deco, and Zambrotta, but they got some acceptable replacements since Ronaldinho technically did not do anything last season...Even Rikard who coached last year was way under his actual capabilities in coaching the team and I think if we wait for a couple of weeks Guadriola coud prove himself worthy of coaching Barca and we wil hopfuly see them at the top of the La Liga. BARCA 4 LIFE

last season barca were beaten by betis 3-2 away than they went on 4match draw streak before getting thump by madrid, their worst game was against madrid without a shadow of doubt, this team has more hunger and has that ruthless bite that makes teams win titles, but as they say a season is a marathon

on all the players that exited only deco looks like he's having fresh air of football again and getting his tune back, the rest either just made bad moves or are just playing at a low performance as they did or even worse

there has been a lot of improvements to recognize so far, comparing this season to the last one... you've all already menchoned a lot, but i'd like to add the fact, that 1) we're scoring on set pieces 2) we're not having any major injuries (so far).
but i still have a concern. we haven't seen our beloved team beform very well without Messi on the pitch. it concerns me a bunch because he simply can't keep fit for a whole season. i'm i the only one with this concern???

Frede:

I think this problem has been solved now by Pep during the Atheltico game. When Messi is not playing put Henry and Bojan in a 4-4-2. They both thrive off each other as both are quick-minded direct players. When Messi is playing, play Iniesta-Eto-Iniesta in a 4-3-3. There is no point playing Henry or Bojan iwde-left as they are useless there.

The team does lose a lot of creativity but Iniesta glittering form and Xavi's continued good form would ease any loss a Messi injury would provide.

The difference so far this year is Iniesta at left wing. He makes defenses respect both sides of the Barca attack, something teams didn't have to do last spring.

I think another big difference will be team depth, which will tell over the course of the season.

"I think another big difference will be team depth, which will tell over the course of the season. "

Agreed. That is what we definately lacked last year. Lack of squad competition caused complacency within the squad with certain players. This year it has been a big part in improving Abidal's, Iniesta's, Henry's, Marquez's hopefully Alves' form. Pep might not win trophies at the minute, but hes got the sqaud giving 100% which is the only thing anyone can ask.

Nic,
I am hearing that Laporta and Pep are trying to test Eto'o's commitment to the club with a lower offer to extend his contract. Is that true?

If it is then It will be seriously stupid of them to go that route.Great players should be payed well, especially if they have won many trophies for you. They should test his dedication by judging him on his output on the field. This move will really upset me. Screw this whole commitment crap, pay the players and win games:that is all they are asked to do. Just as things start going well, they have to get "cute" again. I will STOP supporting Barcelona until the both of them are gone (Laporta and Pep) if they chose to pull this crap on Eto'o, not because I "love" Eto'o but because it seems "unfair".

I think the biggest difference with the beginning of last season is the fact that we've already made some impressive comebacks. The team keeps on fighting until the last minute: Barca 3 - 2 Betis, Espanyol 1 - 2 Barca, Shaktyar Donetsk 1 - 2 Barca. When we went a goal down last season, the players seemed to quickly give up, that has been changed drastically this season imho.

Don't forget that our opponents last year like stuttgart, zaragoza, Levante and Seville had their fair share of problems. So don't let the results fool you, It wasn't that we played well, but maybe the other teams were not as good at that time.

This year, we haven't got the greatest of result's, but the team does look fresh, I think Pep is going to continue to drop Abidal in CL games because he plays so much better the next game when he is brought back,. So I think with example like abidal, Pep seems like he is Ironning out the bugs of last season on an individual scale.

I like the fact that we have two consistant goal scorers now with 5 in 5 games started for both Messi and Eto'o, plus the fact that we already have a wide variety of goal scorers too. We also have a large stock of midfield and defenders (that are competent) in the squad.