​BARCELONA NEEDS TO FIND A WAY TO OVERCOME “THE CURSE OF ANOETA” NOW!

As the 2015/16 season reached its decisive period fatigue amongst other things gripped almost all the core players (basically the whole team in general) in the FC Barcelona team, which saw them crash out of the Champions League quarterfinals and almost conceded the league to bitter rivals Real Madrid. This lack of rotation might not have been of choice considering the shortage of reliable and quality bench players, mainly due to the FIFA ban imposed on them. 

With Real Madrid three points clear, what’s up with Enrique’s Barcelona?

Alfred Amoah dwells into FC Barcelona’s recent misfortunes.

NEW BARCELONA SIGNINGS: THE BEGINNING OF ANOTHER UNFORGETABLE ERA?

Alfred Amoah explores and analyses the qualities offered by each of FC Barcelona’s summer signings.

WHY NEYMAR MIGHT LEAVE BARCELONA SOONER RATHER THAN LATER

Brazilian footballers are widely known to be some of the finest to grace a football pitch, playing wit h a distinctive style from the rest of the world in general. Brazil has produced some players in the past that have left their mark in football in a way that can never be forgotten, generations will pass and their names will forever remain on the lips of football fans world wide. Pele, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Garrincha, Roberto Carlos, Romario, Zico, Kaka, Rivaldo and Sócrates are all players that can never be forgotten for what they did in football.

JUST FIVE GAMES CHANGED BARCELONA’S SEASON

 

In recent weeks the world’s most feared team went from Champions League favourites to fighting to keep their La La Liga crown, something that was received as a shock from many football fans and pundits. Many questions have been raised to what might have caused this rapid and unexpected decline of the Catalan team and many have resorted to accepting fatigue as the main issue at play here but the problem runs deeper than just fatigue and lack of rotations.

Cristiano Ronaldo: The conversion from winger to striker

In recent years, astronomical developments have taken place in the playing style of Cristiano Ronaldo. Transforming from a mercurial, goal scoring winger, cutting inside to shoot, aiming to outmanoeuvre to a supreme goalscorer, who’s superb movement, timing of runs and footballing brain have allowed Ronaldo to acclimatise in a new role. As a result, Ronaldo is as ever a huge benefit for Real Madrid.

BARCA: ARE “BIG NAME” SIGNINGS THE ANSWER FOR THE 2016/17 SEASON?

Paul Pogba, Marco Verratti, Laporte, Stones, David De Gea, Nolito, Pierre Aubameyang and Ilkay Gundogan amongst others are all top players most teams in Europe would like to see in their team. Most of these players have been targeted or linked to top teams in Europe, for the next summer transfer window. FC Barcelona were linked with almost all these players in the past transfer window and some are still being linked to the club currently but the financial restraints on the Catalan club arising from failed negotiations with Qatar Airways means they will be most unlikely to persuade most of these players to join the club unless they land a new bumper deal.

Is the Premier League as preeminent as once before?

When you contemplate the Premier League, you straight away consider many aspects that replenish you with a sense of amazement. For instance; the array of great goals scored over the years, who can remember Dennis Bergkamp’s exquisite finish versus Newcastle United? Or Tony Yeboah’s outrageous strike against Liverpool?

The most incredible title victories are also a primary source of greatness; who could honestly forget commentator Martin Tyler exclaiming… AGUERO!!!?

The Premier League has been able to showcase a vast collection of legendary players to have graced the game, ranging from the diminutive magician Gianfranco Zola, who bewildered the Stamford Bridge faithful, to the outstandingly complete Cristiano Ronaldo, who eventually became the first player to won the FIFA World player of the year, while representing an English club.

Yet, many a supporter would strongly detract from this very positive outlook of the Premier League, and instead criticise the arguable decline in the quality of football, and the respective teams competing.

Here, The Conventional Playmaker analyses the reasons to why the Premier League has perhaps dwindled significantly in recent times, as well as the reasons that still proudly regard England’s top flight as a brilliant spectacle.

Adnan Januzaj’s failure to fulfil expectations resembles Manchester United’s downfall

Following the end to Manchester United and Wales legend Ryan Giggs’ illustrious career, spanning 24 years, the coveted number 11 shirt was subsequently left vacant at United. The matter was highlighted by Ryan Giggs, leading the experienced Welshman to state that Belgian wonder kid Adnan Januzaj should be rewarded with the challenging responsibility. A flying winger in his ultimate prime, Giggs believed Januzaj would excel in the coming years.