As one former Barcelona player puts it: “It is the game of the century, even if there are eight of them a year.” It is a comment not just on the excellence and the expectation that comes with Real Madrid v Barcelona but also on their eclipse of all else, on the dominance and potential dilution of a […]
Tag Archives: Lionel Messi
Has Messi’s Goal-Scoring Obsession Hurt Rather Than Helped?
It was the cruelest of blows. Lionel Messi’s recent muscle injury has left Barcelona hamstrung at the worst possible time and seemingly contributed to the Catalans downfall in the Champions League semi-finals after a half-fit Leo failed to help his team in the Blaugrana’s brutal battering at Bayern Munich on Tuesday night. It looked like extremely […]
Gary Neville: Messi – His mere existence means anything is possible.
People often talk about great players and I have always thought the definition was someone who consistently delivered in major tournaments, making the difference in World Cups, Champions League trophies or league titles. In our league, think about how Robin van Persie dominated the early part of the season, winning the games for Manchester United […]
The tweaks that led to Barca’s comeback
A few days before Barca’s second-leg vs Milan, I posted an article going through some of the problems Barca were facing – tactically and otherwise – during a difficult run in their season. Changes were required. Spanish football expert Andy West takes a look at some of reasons Barca were able to mount their historic comeback. […]
Barcelona 1 Real Madrid 3. Copa del Rey Semi Final.
TKTG takes a look at the best articles and analysis of the second leg of the Cope del Rey semi final between Barcelona and Real Madrid. Match Report from Goal.com With a 1-1 home draw to overcome from the first leg, Jose Mourinho looked on in jubilation as his team executed their gameplan to perfection, […]
Undeserving Messi ‘out of this world’ according to Wenger
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has suggested Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi is ‘from a different planet’ as he assesses his sublime talents, but does not believe he was a worthy winner of the 2012 FIFA World Player of the Year prize. … When asked whether Messi would have got his vote in the FIFA poll, Wenger […]
Four and Counting – Messi Wins Ballon d’Or
And so we have it. What the majority of people were expecting has come to pass. His 91 goals for club and country, a total that broke Muller’s 40 year-old record, has helped Messi win the 2012 FIFA Ballon d’Or. In doing so he becomes the first player in the history of the game to […]
TKTG’s UEFA.COM Team of the Year
UEFA.com’s Team of the Year nominees have been finalized and voting is under way. We at TKTG have decided to cast our vote too by coming up with our own best XI. We first went through the list of nominees for each position, and then the opinion of each TKTG author on what formation to […]
Barcelona’s greatest spine secure
Almost an entire life at just one club. Carles Puyol, Xavi and Lionel Messi have agreed new contracts with Barcelona and their stay at Camp Nou means the side’s spine is now secure for many years to come. Club captain Puyol extends his current contract to 2016, while midfielder Xavi has agreed a two-year prolongation […]
Team of the Season so far – La Liga
La Liga has almost reached its halfway point and there is one team well and truly on top as the winter break approaches – Barcelona. The Catalans lead the Primera Division by nine points from Atletico Madrid, with rivals Real a further four back in third. … In goal we find Betis’ Adrian, who has proved […]
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