RUSHIE#9 wrote:if Barca want to salvage anything from this season they need to replace Rijkaard soon. The guys managerial shortcomings are coming home to roost now in a big way. His lack of tactical flexibility was shown in all of its glory tonight, they were really struggling to break through Madrid's defence and his only answer was to throw different players at it. There has been no plan b for most of his tenure which is fair enough when his plan a works so well but times will call for a plan b and he doesn't have one.
The fact that he has no real control over the dressing room and his players is startling and his apparent reluctance to impose discipline on the dressing room is even more baffling. It's no wonder Ronaldinho is out getting bladdered most nights (allegedly) and having less mobility than the Michelin Man come match day.
Agree with you there. The guy seems almost too laid back and relaxed at times. I've never rated the guy tactically anyway. I mean we went to the Nou Camp and completely outplayed them at times. He's just been fortunate that he's had possibly Barca's best squad ever to work with. Now it just seems a case on getting as many attacking players in the side as possible without worrying about how it might upset the balance of the team. For example I just can't see how Ronaldinho, Eto'o and Henry can be in the same side. Eto'o was useless today and Henry wasn't even brought on. What was that all about?
As for Madrid, I can still see why a lot of our fans wanted us to get them in the Champions League. The way they play would have suited us down to the ground with the pace of Torres on the counter attack.
