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Football News: Barca too disjointed to catch Madrid

Barca too disjointed to catch Madrid
Image from: forbes.com

You would think the addition of a player like Luis Suarez, the ultimate in high press players, would strengthen an already formidable Barcelona frontline. On the face of it Suarez, Messi and Neymar is a scarily good trio to put on the pitch.

So why is it not working out? Why do Barca look so lacking on the pitch? Why are Barca even considering selling Lionel Messi to raise funds?

The last question is the easiest to answer, Messi and the head coach, Luis Enrique, are struggling to work together well. The money that would be raised by selling him would be incredible and Neymar is pretty much able to fill his place in the team. There is also a thought that Neymar would be able to raise his game if out from under Messi's shadow.

Messi's attitude has become a concern within the club, with his treatment of Alexis Sanchez destroying the Chilean's confidence, and his demands to be the centre of everything making it difficult for Suarez and Neymar. Added to his tax issues and the emergence of Neymar and it becomes understandable that the club would look to cash in to fund its long term rebuilding plans.

Messi is a big part of the problems at Barcelona, while also being a major reason for them being able to get the results despite them. Gone is the quick interchange passing, complete team play, that characterised Barca when the little Argentine forced his way into the team and led to the Catalans being the most feared side in Europe.

Over the last few years the tactics seem to be simply to get the ball to Messi in the opposition's final third and let him do his stuff. Iniesta's brilliance was subjugated in the quest to allow Messi to run everything, and the team has suffered as a result.

Unless Enrique can figure out how to get the team to share the ball, Barca will struggle to catch Real Madrid. Messi can only do so much, but he doesn't need to do it all, not when the team also has Iniesta, Suarez and Neymar!

Written by Tris Burke January 31 2015 14:43:57