With no top flight domestic football on over the weekend as a result of the international qualifiers/friendlies, and Cadiz playing away from home, I decided to tune into Barcelona B v Xerez to get my weekly fix of Spanish football. And if there's anything I learned, it's that Barcelonas future is in safe hands...provided they hang onto this fantastic bunch of youngsters. It was like watching the first team, no word of a lie. Smooth, effortless, inch-precision passing that cut Xerez to pieces with stunning regularity. Jonathan Dos Santos, incredibly the only foreigner in the whole squad, led proceedings from the middle with a man-of-the-match display full of attacking verve and defensive responsibility. Why Barca persisted, and will continue to persist, with the purchase of Cesc Fabregas when they have this little jewel coming up through the ranks is beyond me. A gradual transition from Xavi to Dos Santos would save the Catalan club millions.
Half-time read Barcelona B: 70% of possession. Look familiar? La Masia just doesn't stop churning out posession-hungry footballers. And they're all so small and tricky. The spritely Nolito upfront was a constant thorn in Xerezs side whilst the solid defensive partnership at the back formed by Fontás and Sergi Gomez was largely unpenetrable bar a thunderbolt from the blue by Mario Bermejo. Oier Olazabal in goal also looks a safe pair of hands, as well as a safe bet to take over from Victor Valdes once Spains third choice decides to hang up his gloves. And to think that the player making most noise from the Cantera, Thiago Alcantara (son of ex Brazil international Mazinho), wasn't even on the pitch last night.
Just how much importance Barca place on youth was evident in pretty much the whole board, new president Sandro Rosell included, being present at the match. Only shame is that Luis Enriques Barca B will be unable to make an ascent into La Primera should they finish in the top three, which on yesterdays evidence is more than likely. But wouldn't it be fascinating to see how they'd fare? Mid-table?
Amazing to see a bunch of 18 year-olds with so much discipline and style. If Barca continue like this, they'll rack up more trophies than Real Madrid for me.
ReplyDeleteNot looking too good for Barcas rivals is it?!
ReplyDeleteIt's just incredible that even after all these years, the Cruyff legacy lives on. Discipline and style sums it up nicely ;)
Yes, it would be interesting to see whether Cruyff brought in some of his own coaches/staff at youth level (which he probably did), and whether they're still there.
ReplyDeleteIf they're not there, then it's truly his legacy living on, but for me there's probably some coaches which are still there that are good friends with Cruyff.
Without a doubt. He was recently reinstated as honorary president, so I'm sure he is involved with the youth set-up in some form or another.
ReplyDeleteJust want to point out that Atleti have a decent youth team coming through as well. Real has always had a good set up but their job is more to fill the squads of smaller clubs than produce homegrown stars as they prefer to buy.
ReplyDeleteGary! Would be awesome if you could write about that over at Madrid Atleticos ;) Would love to read up about the youth set up at the Calderon, I have to admit I know very little. On the evidence of De Gea, Dominguez, Valera and Camacho, they're doing something right.
ReplyDeleteReal Madrid really need to sort themselves out. Since Guti, Casillas and Raul (admittedly an Atleti product) have they produced any world class players?