Okay, here's my analysis of the match, with a cool head.
Frankly, I'm really disappointed in the team. Not just because of the defeat, but also because of the way we lost.
First I thought the players were saving themselves for Chelsea. Then we lost that match and I thought «Hey, they're saving themselves for Madrid». After last night, I don't know what to think anymore.
I'm particularly disappointed in a few individuals, mainly Ronaldinho and Gudjohnsen. Ronaldinho isn't playing anymore, and that's the sad reality. I was not among those to criticise him, but after last night, he does deserve all the criticism he gets. I know he did a lot for us, and I respect and love him for it, but that doesn't excuse his lack of interest recently. I said I believed Ronaldinho would turn up when we need him the most… right now, I don't believe that. He wasn't there against Chelsea, and he also didn't show up against Madrid. The Chelsea match wasn't so important, but I had high expectations against Real Madrid. We always have to go 120% into El Clasico, and last night that wasn't the case. I don't know what's wrong with him, and I won't even try to figure it out. It's funny that he looks for excuses like «I'm not a machine», and yet he has at least two team mates (Messi and Eto'o) who outperform him in pretty much every game. I guess those two are real machines. The best player in the world has to be better, has to show up more. Ronaldinho isn't right now, and we need him. It's early in the season, but still. I won't talk about Sevilla because I didn't see that game, no one did, really. And that would only be an exception to a new, unwritten rule, anyway.
As for Gudjohnsen, I sweared so much last night, I hit the wall with my fist when he missed that sitter. I don't know how a professional football player can be so useless. Nevermind the missed chances, even though that ruined the game for us – he couldn't even receive the ball properly. His technique is zero, his accuracy is zero, he's like an amateur who wandered into a game between two clubs on a professional level. Saviola has to play from now on. We sank so low here.
The rest of the team, save Messi and Zambrotta, wasn't much better.
Valdes did okay at first (I blame Raul's goal on Thuram and Puyol who should have marked a player who isn't superior to them in the air, and yet scored a crucial goal so early on), but then made a cardinal mistake and missed Robinho's cross to lock Madrid's win.
I don't think Sylvinho did anything well. He was invisible in defense and poor upfront. I still stand, however, by my opinion that Gio shouldn't play. I can thrash-talk Sylvinho all I want, but the fact remains he at least tried, he was there making runs and attempting crosses. Gio doesn't even try. I guess we'll have to wait for a good game by Sylvinho.
Thuram and Puyol were poor, as well. I thought the introduction of Thuram would mean a better defense, but it doesn't. After last night, Thuram's advantages over Rafa disappeared. He missed passes, he was insecure, he was basically far from what we've witnessed earlier in the season. I didn't notice Puyol much, but he can get away with it. There's a player who is always great for us, so a bad run is excusable. Hope we see the real Puyi back soon.
Zambrotta was ok by me. He wasn't good in the first half, but he did well in the second. I can see he's improving.
Our midfield was utter crap. I don't know what could have happened to Iniesta. He's always great and has a huge impact when he's subbed in, and yet when he starts – nothing. There's no sense in that. Xavi was useless, which is a tradition this season. Same for Deco, except he was important for us so far in the season, he probably needs rest.
It turns out Messi is the only one showing why he wears blaugrana. What a player. He'll be the best in the world one day, if he isn't already. I keep saying that, and I believe it.
I have faith in the team, I know we'll come back, I just hope we don't lose our favourable positions in the CL and La Liga before that. This is Barca, the reigning European champ, the Dream Team, we have to come back and show who's the best. We're injured now, so we'll have to explode eventually.
Eto'o is important, but his absence is not the only reason why we're this bad. There's more to this, and hopefully the staff and Rijkaard fix it as soon as possible.
Madrid really showed mature football. We had more possession, but that meant absolutely nothing. Classic Capello.
