Month: January 2022

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”

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

What are you worth? What is your value? How susceptible to marketing trickery are you? Now how do you feel about players as they negotiate with the club that you support? Four seemingly unrelated questions are all intertwined in the wild, tribal, megamillions world of money that isn’t ours. In a famous line from the… Continue reading Worth and value, marketing and money … and players

Ages ago now, during a tennis player’s epic choke against Steffi Graf, as she turned a one set up, 5-3 in the second set and 15-40 on match point into a three-set defeat, one of the commentators said, with more than a bit of sadness in his voice, “She’s done.” Sure enough, that player was… Continue reading Flinching, failure and when veterans stop being leaders

We’re 15 or 16 matches into the La Liga season, depending on the team, and this is where the wheat has historically already separated itself from the chaff: the big clubs are on top, the wannabe newcomers or surprising starters are fading. Who can match the spending, the power, the ref-baiting decisions of the major… Continue reading Betis, Legends, and Dembele

This guest series is written by my good friend Harry, who has chosen to make himself miserable for your enjoyment. This is Chapter 8. For previous chapters, see Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, and Chapter 7. -Isaiah February begins with another Copa trip to a lower league team in a month which contains… Continue reading FM21 – A Blaugrana Tale – Chapter 8: February 2021