And Catalonia Goes Bonkers

Well “bonkers” may be an overstatement, for as we all know Europeans rarely go bonkers. They as a whole are a group more in tune with the subtle aspects of life. And today in Rome Manchester United lost the game of their season on the subtleties. Both Barcelona and Man U possess the firepower of a US carrier group. Yet what is so often the case in such games, success on the field was defined by which side was able to most effectively provide ammunition for the big guns. Within the first 40 minutes of the game the midfield of Iniesta, Xavi, and Sergi Busquets were the creative catalysts for a Barca attack that had totally befuddled a vaunted Man U defense. Many will credit the creative duo of Iniesta and Xavi, but what I found highly effective was the positioning of Busquets behind Iniesta and Xavi, feeding that creative duo from the back line, and supporting a defensive four that was largely deputized from players playing out of position. In effect we had a sweeper playing in front of the back four.
In regard to Man U, the sheer horrific lack of any playmaking creativity in the midfield doomed them from the first twenty minutes of the game. Giggs had no business being on the field, Rooney went awol, and Park seemed about as misplaced as a drunken whore at a state funeral. Anderson played his usual Portuguese impersonation of Inspector Clouseau, and no one in the Man U side seemed to have a clue. What was clearly on display in Rome was without a midfield presence to feed your attackers all you have are a bunch of Ferraris without any gas.