NOW BEHOLD THE SCARY NEW BARCA! VOLTRON?
Something is unravelling before our very eyes. "Voltron" of immense magnitude is piecing together with reckless abandon. In the 80's Voltron came up– a top-rated animated television series franchise for children,which features a team of five space explorers who pilot a giant Super Robot known as "Voltron".
you-tube snap-shot from my phone
It remained a top-rated syndicate children's show for two years straight during it's first release period in the 80's,generating three follow-up series, several comic books,and toys to match. The Super Robot was nicknamed "The Defender of the Universe" and it's job was to fight against evil and it always wins. The similarity with Barcelona, is how units are forming a strong united force, "to conquer evil"– well, meaning to trump opposing teams.
There is a certain Xavi Hernández, a former Barca player, the second most decorated Spanish player in history(behind Andrés Iniesta), with 32 trophies. A man who has seen it all as a player with 8 La Liga titles, 4 Champions league titles and a World Cup title. It seems clear that Xavi as coach has come back with a certain fury,to reclaim Spain,Europe, nay the world.
November 2021,the Barca legend returned as coach of Barca. It was unsurprisingly not smooth sailing at first because, it was a team that was short of players(in the context of a top club they are) and needing a rebuild. By February he had claimed six wins, four draws and just one defeat. Not bad for a start and this even took Barca to fourth position on the log from 10th position he began with. However it was a different story in other competitions. Barca was knocked out of the Champions League, Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup. Ofcourse Xavi had inherited some problems.
However, in January a major shift in events kind of went a little bit under the radar– he signed,Adama Troare, Fernando Torres,vastly experienced former Barca player,Dani Alves and lastly, came in a player of top notch quality in striker, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Well Alves had been with the team training since late November, but was only eligible by his contract to play officially by January. Since the new recruits all got up to speed(after the initial bedding in process) somewhere around late February Barca has been on an upward trajectory. Don't forget they have a Dembele, who is like a new recruit– please see my live Hive post on Dembele
Today they are apparently third in the La Liga. Yes "apparently" because, they have a game in hand over Sevilla in second position and they are only three points behind them, with a superior goal(up to 6 goals better) difference over them. Today Barca is playing an exciting brand of football, full of energy as they maintain a high press and ball distribution that reminds one of the glorious Pep Guardiola era as Barca coach. They embarrassed Real Madrid 4 nil last Sunday in the El Classico, right in the Bernabeu, a Madrid that dumped them out of the Spanish Super Cup.
Yet Barca won't stop, Xavi is not willing to rest on his oars,he has long begun his summer business. It is the AC Milan midfield dynamite Franck Kessié. Having reached a verbal agreement with the player days back, the player has now signed for Barcelona with medical already completed. It's a four year contract. His net salary will be €6.5million plus there will be add-ons. He joins on a free transfer as his contact with Milan expires this summer.
As if that is not enough Leeds ace is in "trouble" with Barca. His is the much sought after Brazilian winger,Raphinha. He is been tipped for a Barca switch. According to SPORT, Barcelona have made an approach for the player at the behest of Coach Xavi who has okayed the player. Therefore initial contacts with Leeds United have been made.
Raphinha is viewed by Barca hierarchy as an ideal replacement for Dembele, just incase Dembele decides to leave. Ofcourse they hope Dembele stays. The defender,Christensen of Chelsea seems destined for Barca too.
This is the new Barca, they are arising from the rubbles and with various parts coming together to form one united strong "Voltron against all evil".
cheerfully...
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Still way too early to compare Barca to Voltron as they are still way over budget and need to still get rid of players. I am not sure how many years they have to get this done as from my understanding they need to drop the wage bill by another 30% which is and sounds impossible.
They have an over bloated squad already. Do you recall there is one "the new Messi"(and it's no understatement) called Fati,who has been out injured for months. So naturally they will get rid of players even without the budget issue.
The rest,on wage bill the players are willing to sacrifice for the club.
What is clear is that,this a new Barca already. I even wonder where the brilliant Kessié will play– it just goes to show how "scary" Barca has become. A lot of folks are surprised how the team has changed drastically so quickly. Well Xavi chose the speed lane and he's handling the vehicle so well.
"This is the new Barca, they are arising from the rubbles and with various parts coming together to form one united strong "Voltron against all evil."
This my conclusion has nothing to do with blind optimism.
Thanks a lot for showing up here sir.