What a beautiful match the first leg of the Europa League tie against Eintracht Frankfurt was. Yes, there was lots of grumbling, lots of grousing about the quality of football, a ref that left much to be desired and more. Xavi all but called their pitch a cabbage patch. But that match was like medicine… Continue reading Eintracht Frankfurt 1, Barça 1, aka “KaPOW!”
Author: Kevin Williams
Femeni at the Camp Nou, aka “Excellence right where it belonged”
It was weird watching that Femeni match in the Camp Nou, weird wrestling with a feeling that was difficult to describe, but one that you didn’t want to let go. And then it hit you. That lump in your throat that usually presages tears, but of joy and wonder and justice at looking at something… Continue reading Femeni at the Camp Nou, aka “Excellence right where it belonged”
Real Madrid 0, Barça 4, aka “Reruns are nice”
When you fire up a movie you’ve seen before, or happen across it while channel surfing and stop, it isn’t because you’re lazy. It’s because sometimes, you just want those feelings again. Manager takes over a Barça team in disarray, works wonders with the psychology, instills a tactical sense and the team takes off like… Continue reading Real Madrid 0, Barça 4, aka “Reruns are nice”
Messi, PSG, failure and choice
Own it. Accept it. Understand the idea of choice. When sucky things happen to wonderful players, the nature of fandom is to seek absolution for them. But from the outset it should be clear that Lionel Messi chose to hitch his wagon to PSG, for a last chance at something great. There’s no shame in… Continue reading Messi, PSG, failure and choice
Xavi, mind power and building an idea(l)
Athletic accomplishment starts with mentality. Or as a longtime friend is fond of saying, “You gotta want it.” When Xavi arrived in Barcelona and assessed the team that he had, his talk was about mentality and psychology. It was clear to see why. Koeman, for whatever reason, inherited a broken team and somehow made it… Continue reading Xavi, mind power and building an idea(l)
Hello Spotify, farewell illusion, aka “What can we sell next?”
When I came to Barcelona on the heels of that legendary Rivaldo chilena, it was an amazing time. I didn’t know what to think but knew I wanted to be part of it, to feel that emotion, that explosion. Even as I barely knew what “making Europe” meant. That the FC Barcelona president at that… Continue reading Hello Spotify, farewell illusion, aka “What can we sell next?”
Dembele is back, even as he never left, and the games — all of them — continue
Michael Corleone could well have been describing the situation we find ourselves in now with Barça and Ousmane Dembele with the famous line, “Just when I thought I was out … they pull me back in.” When my fingers last touched keyboard on this matter, it was with the assumption that the player was gone.… Continue reading Dembele is back, even as he never left, and the games — all of them — continue
Footballers, celebrites and mind your own business
A really insightful Tweet by a quality journo, Lee Roden, got me to thinking about athletes, life and the work/life divide. It was about Dembele, and how little we know about him. I remember mentioning something casually about my second wife in a work context. The colleague to whom I was speaking said, “Wait. I… Continue reading Footballers, celebrites and mind your own business
Welcome, Adama Traore, aka “Mr. Excitement”
Let’s be clear about my views on Adama Traore rejoining FC Barcelona: Not a fan. He wasn’t good enough the first time, nor is my confidence that he will be good enough this time in anything like fine fettle. I also think that the player that he is replacing, one Ousmane Dembele, is exponentially more… Continue reading Welcome, Adama Traore, aka “Mr. Excitement”
Farewell, Ousmane Dembele, we hardly knew ye
That’s it for Ousmane Dembele, a player who arrived with so much promise, and leaves with that promise unfulfilled, talent that flashes like a beacon rending the night sky until it splutters into darkness, leaving everyone frustrated at the return of the night. FC Barcelona, in effect, did what had been being threatened all along… Continue reading Farewell, Ousmane Dembele, we hardly knew ye