Sparked by Arrogance of a Foe

I really didn't have much planned to write about this week. It's kind of bland and we are still in a bit of a depressing stage with out Champions League exit. Even though I hate bringing it up, I have to at times. We can't escape it. But while reading an article on goal.com, I was astonished at arrogance of Dani Alves, who I've never fancied as a person or player. He throws a hissy fit because he couldn't handle Malouda in last year's second leg of the Champions League semi final (in which Chelsea was cheated but that's an arguement for another day) and get's himself booked for crying, disabling him to play in the final for yellow card suspension, childish. He stated that fellow Brazilian, Kaka, had picked the wrong club and should have come to Barcelona instead. First of all, I think that Dani Alves should keep his nose in his Barca business and maybe hold his tongue and concentrate more on trying to catch us and focus his own football. It rekindled my hatred flame for the right back, if he even be considered that. It also conjured up so good debates and discussions that had my mind ticking like a time bomb in World History 2. Here are some of his out of place and of bad taste comments.

"In Milan, he played for the team, but that is not the case in Madrid."

"They have bought many important players, and one seems to take away the space from another. Kaka is not playing in the position he likes, things are complicated, and the pressure increases."

“At Brazil we play as a collective, something that also happens in Barcelona, but not at Real Madrid. It would have been better if had come here with us."

"Our game is perfect for him..."

First of all before I get carried away. There is truth in the statement in which the right back (sorta) mentioned Kaka has played in his position of choice. That was true in the earlier parts of the season but since then, Kaka has been playing in behind the striker(s), the position in which Alves is referring too.

Where did Dani step out of line (besides calling himself a defender)? Where he said we play collective at Barcelona , but not at Real Madrid. Okay, so at Barca the play a very obsessive pass possession footballing style but its almost a comment of ethnocentrism to think that just because they've been very successful at it, that it's the best and only way to go about playing. However, that being said, who's to say we don't play team football as well? We're not as seasoned as a team because our core players haven't played together as long as those at Barcelona, and just because we have big names, everyone needs to brand them as individuals, not team players. Especially Ronaldo. Because he has such individual talent and can often times take on a hand full of defenders and score, he isn't a team player? But it's a bit of a double standard. Not that I want to bring Leo Messi into the debate but he is the best comparison. He scored a hat trick this weekend in what was mostly individual efforts. I mean you pretty much have to receive the ball from somebody but twice he deeked out a couple of defenders and scored goals pretty much single handedly but you hear no rings "ball hog" or people saying he isn't a team player. The third goal, he received a quality ball from Henry, but he still did most of the work himself It's really unfair if you think about it, just because we bought big players. However can we really be blamed from spending big? We obviously needed a major change to compete with a team that won the treble and then went on to add a perfect 6/6. This past summer Barcelona purchased Zlatan Ibrahimovic who cost them €70 million plus Eto'o who was rated around the same price. The also bough Maxwell as a supplement to be injected at left back. The year before that, when Madrid had previously won the title, the blaugrana spent 80€ million on Hleb, Caceres, Keita, and Alves himeslf. Madrid have bought big but also sold big as well, Robben, Sniejder, Robinho ect.

I think it was dumb of Alves to throw his compatriot under the bus like that too. Kaka has been under a pressure like no other and with the World Cup approaching, he decides it would be a good idea to put more attention on him. Can the spotlight get any brighter on the guy? He played the first half of the season injured with a team that hardly knew each other. He finally recovers, we still have a ways to go but the gelling is starting to set in, and we are starting to see the Kaka we all know. Prior to the Lyon tragedy, he had netted 3 goals in two games. If anyone is underachieving that is expected to do great things, I'd point the finger at Iniesta. He's played three more games than Ricky, and has 6 less goals, and 2 less assists. Yet you don't hear him getting the same drilling that Kaka gets in the media because he wasn't bought for a great sum of money. However, Ibra was and despite his clear lack of form, goal scoring ability, and discipline lately, doesn't get nearly as much as the drudging Kaka gets. I do agree that we haven't seen Kaka's best stuff but patience is a virtue.

Alves seems to be gloating and bragging about how they do it at Barca and how their style is better and Kaka would like it their better but look who is chasing who right now? Aren't we winning the league? I wouldn't expect Alves to say this out of the pressure of the league race or jealousy for that matter, but then again he is a child. I think his comments are misplaced. Who says we don't play team football? Here are some counter arguments.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Skp376uK0r0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1x73hmxFEQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drht7ZSRpSI

There are more but I'm gonna wrap this up. I have Spanish to do and if I don't stop stating my case now. I never will. Way to piss me off Dani Alves.

HALA MADRID

Bobby