Imagine a situation in which the world had to choose a football club as the brand ambassador of the game itself to represent our planet, which club would fit the bill best? Which football club should be the face of football on Earth? The shortlisted clubs are FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, Milan and Manchester United to fight for the top spot. You can judge the winner from the arguments. Feel free to comment if you differ somewhere or support a fact. We considered the performance of the club in the past five seasons – 2004-2005 to 2008-2009.
REAL MADRID
Let us start with the famed Galacticos – Real Madrid? A club that looks to buy a new squad every year by bleeding the Spanish banks or using devious ways of funding by the president’s Construction Company? And runs only as a football merchandise business by selling jerseys of the beautiful stallions it recruits round the year with millions of Euros? Well they never do understand the difference between a good squad and a good team. Maybe they never will with their brains stuffed with all those Euros.
Notable achievements :La Liga – 2, 2006-2007 and 2007-2008
CHELSEA
Chelsea? Nah they would never even qualify as a football team. If there was a similar spot for a wrestling team full of theatricals from a bunch of sissy ballerinas, they would surely go through uncontested. The pictures of Chelsea players elbowing opponents out of frustration and themselves falling down like a pack of cards when an opponent comes close have registered in the minds of all those who love the game. Just Unacceptable.
Notable achievements : English Premier League – 2, 2004-2005 and 2005-2006
FA Cup – 2, 2007 and 2009
ARSENAL
Arsenal? Hmm…well they do try to Play the Game as it should be played but that alone is never good enough. Being stubborn when it comes to buying the right players for the Squad is not doing them any good. They haven’t won a major trophy in half a decade now simply because they did not replace their legends like Henry, Vieira, Campbell, Pires and the likes with good enough players.
Notable achievements:FA Cup – 1, 2004-2005.
( Runners Up just doesn’t count enough )
LIVERPOOL
Liverpool? They have remained in the wilderness for far too long to be considered. They have not won their domestic league in 2 decades now and that is just not good enough for any club that aspires to be the best in the world. They are an inspired club to watch on the European circuit but they are far too inconsistent and heavily rely on only 2 of their players to get them through in Gerrad and Torres.
Notable achievements : Champions League – 1, 2005
FA Cup – 1, 2006
AC MILAN
AC Milan? A club that has an average age of the squad old enough to be called as academy of pensioners or aspiring football managers of the next generation!? Too old, too slow for the modern game. Politics is what their owners are good at and that is what they should stick at. Watching Milan go about managing their club is like watching a Political party – Big Names who are always past their prime trying to hold on to past glory, Elephant sized egos, Reluctance in considering innovation and all the taboos that come associated with a political party.
Notable achievements: Champions League – 1, 2007
FIFA Club World Cup – 2007
MANCHESTER UNITED
Manchester United? Now I have to agree that is a tough one. Credit must be given where it is due. They have arguably the best manager of the modern era in Sir Alex. They have dominated their domestic league for the past 2 decades. They have one of the strongest squad’s in the Europe but it has depleted in quality over the summer considerably with the departures of Ronaldo and Tevez. The football world is still uncertain about how much Owen has left in him and Valencia is just starting. They most definitely come the closet to challenging for the top spot.
Notable achievements: Champions League – 1, 2008
Premier League – 3, 2006-2007, 2007-2008, 2008-2009
FIFA Club World Cup – 2008
FC BARCELONA
And finally coming to FC Barcelona – Mes Que Un Club – This says it all – More than A Club. The last 5 years has seen Barcelona put on show, the most dazzling and effective display of football. Pure football. Total Football. As Pep Guardiola described simply: “ Our football is as clear as water. We always play the same “. The last half decade has seen 2 different but still the most brilliant squads ever – The Ronaldinho – Rijkaard Era that saw them conquer Europe in Paris and Spain on 2 occasions. And the Latest ‘ Dream Team ‘ – Pep Guardiola – Messi Era that conquered everything there was to conquer in their first year – European Champions League in Rome, La Liga and Spanish King’s Cup. The elusive Treble.
Numbers alone are enough to prove the point but with Barca, it is never just about the numbers. Its about how the Game is Played. How the Club is run. How the Youth is nurtured to greatness. How many clubs in the world boast of Home Grown Talent like ones from theCantera? –Lionel Messi, Xavi, Iniesta ( 3 best players in the world right now), Puyol, Valdes, Bojan Krkic, Busquests, Gerad Pique, Cesc Fabregas (the one that got away) and so many more.
All the evidence points to a simple fact – 2 Champions League Triumphs, 3 La Liga Titles, 1 Copa Del Rey and 2 SuperCopa de Espana, with the most loved style of free flowing football and a team full of ambassadors of the game cements Barca’s place as the Best Football Club in the past 5 years. Hopefully the next half decade is going to bring more glory to the greatest club in the world. Barca Forca!
Achievements : Champions League – 2, 2006, 2009
La Liga – 3, 2004-2005, 2005-2006, 2008-2009
Copa Del Rey – 1, 2009
WOW WOW WOW. Excellent writing Mega i have to bookmark your page now and would definitely spread the word of your new site.With witting like these you have combined both Pep's Place and goal.com.
ReplyDeleteOf course being a lifetime/devoted culé i must choose our beloved Barca.Its plain and simple,in the last 5 years(excluding 2yrs b4) we have really been on top of our game and winning what really matters.I foresee that this is our time to shine so to speak as history shows us every club has a cycle to dominate.
ReplyDeletelol thanks Alex.but in truth i didn't write this piece it was sent by one of our many contributors whose goal is in making this blog known and insightful.
ReplyDeleteLike most other comments i have to give praise to you Mega for really making a new Barca news feed for us cules.
ReplyDeleteOur club being Mes Que Un Club will always be successful no matter how dark the times may come.Plus with the talent coming through i doubt dark times are ahead.Only up from here(fingers crossed)
i appreciate the analysis and agree with you(since u considered only 5yrs) but i’d like to point out that while stating “Lionel Messi, Xavi, Iniesta ( 3 best players in the world right now)” u very conveniently forgot a certain christiano ronaldo n a brazillian named kaka(2 players certain to be a pain in barca’s ass this season)!!
ReplyDeleteWell we didnt hear too much of Kaka last year did we?
ReplyDeleteYes Ronaldo is good.But just look at the performances of Xavi and Iniesta(Forget Messi-He is way ahead) and you will know why i called them the best three in the world.
Well The Modern Game is changing really fast. Every half decade the style, tactics, perspectives change significantly. Now we will see if your are really the best to achieve what u did last season.
ReplyDeleteNext time cover the last-ten years to make it even more comprehensive and see who comes out on top!!!
That was a pretty low blow at Chelsea
ReplyDeleteNo need to criticizes a club just to make your point shown cuz i to admit that Barca has been the best in the last 5 years or so and i'm a ManUnited fan.