Barca in need of va va voom

Last updated: 26th September 2007

Barca in need of va va voom

Henry: slow start

The directors will not allow Rijkaard to mismanage this golden property that they brought in the summer for so much money.

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Sky Sports' man in Spain, Graham Hunter told Revista de la Liga that Frank Rijkaard is under severe pressure following Barcelona's poor start to the season.

The Spanish media and, more worryingly for the Dutchman, the Barca directors are turning against Rijkaard and Hunter feels that might spell the end for him.

"Some of the directors have started to turn against him in the media and as a manger you know that's your very worst moment just before the sack," said Hunter.

"Equally you have to remember that Joan Laporta said at the end of last season that he waited too long to take action when things were going wrong so the pressure is squarely on Rijkaard's shoulders.

"I think the media criticism that is repeated time and again, not in the media but by the club, is to what degree Rijkaard can take the whip hand and bully the players into working harder and performing better.

"Complacency, easy-going - these are two things that get banded about at Barca and are two things that people once admired about Rijkaard - the way he managed the superstars - but now his strength seems to be perceived as a fault."

Fresh tactics?

Following the Catalan club's goalless draw at Osasuna, fans are beginning to feel the frustration at the lack of goals with Barca only netting three times in as many games.

£16million summer signing, Thierry Henry is yet to score and Hunter feels that Rijkaard must change the way in which he has used the France striker to date.

"Having seen Henry play so well at Arsenal I simply can't understand Rijkaard's dogged devotion for the 4-3-3 formation over the worth of Henry playing either as a central striker or a striker in a 4-4-2 formation.

"Then he will be given the room to run at the players from deep. Rather than being given the ball on the left wing with the fullback right up behind him.

"There's a lack of understanding about the best way Henry could be scoring goals and leading the revival for this team. Nobody here in Barcelona understands why 4-3-3 is more important than unleashing the world class striker that is Thierry Henry in his proper position.

"You can see that he is being professional in other ways by buckling down and working hard whenever he makes a bad pass he gets on with it.

"He was signed not simply by Rijkaard but by the President. This was the President's bet 12 months on after failing to sign him - that Henry can be world-class at Barca.

"They will not allow Rijkaard to mismanage this golden property that they brought in the summer for so much money."

Comments (8)

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Graham Tiernan (Manchester United fan) says...

What a load of nonsense this article is. People should look at the facts before making ridiculous comments.. FACT: Thierry Henry was out for a long time and needs time and games to get 100% match fit again FACT: Any foreign player moving to a new country, let alone a new club, needs time to adjust to the differences in the cultures and the pace and style of the leagues FACT: Barcelona are unbeaten in the league and CL, and judging by their last three games are just starting to tick like they were a few years ago. Henry is a class act, these type of players do not become bad overnight!

Posted 00:37 29th September 2007

Vince Vinno (Weston-S-Mare fan) says...

Hunter's comments are so childish they are unbelievable. There is no way Laporta is going to sack Rijkaard after a few matches. Barca is no longer that kind of club, especially under Laporta. Why should Rijkard change the system to suit Henry? What about the other Barca players who have been playing 4-3-3 for years? Henry is not scoring goals not because Rijkaard is mismagaging him but because he is not putting away his chances and that is because he is not 100% fit. He was out of action for 5 months... It is ridiculous for a so-called football expert to insinuate that Laporta will fire Rijkaard for "mismanaging Henry." If you have nothing to write, why give us these ridiculous comments?

Posted 00:42 27th September 2007

Thokozani Chirambo (Arsenal fan) says...

Henry was not sold to Barcelona because he had lost the fire power.He had accomplished his mission at arsenal and in England, needed a new challenge.He is still a world-class player,all he needs at Barca is space and the ball to work with.He is one the best players in the world.Give him time and he will prove his critics wrong

Posted 11:30 24th September 2007

Thomas Easterling (Leyton Orient fan) says...

As a Barcelona fan, I'm a bit disapointed at not seeing the beautiful football that we have all come to expect. But it has only been 3 games. It is far to early to start talking about sacking Rijkaard.

Posted 18:50 19th September 2007

Samuel Eto'o (Liverpool fan) says...

This is the perfect time for Henry to get a chance to shine and play plenty of games while Eto is out injured. Ronaldinho and Henry playing up front with Inesta and Messi out wide in a 4-4-2 formation.

Posted 14:15 19th September 2007

James Vickers (Arsenal fan) says...

I feel that Thierry Henry is past his best having had his best moments at Arsenal. Arsene Wenger also never seems to get it wrong when selling his best players on to other clubs at the right time; such as Vieira, Anelka and Ashley Cole to name a few! In fact we have almost lost all our Invincables since the 03/04 campaign and now have a very talented, rejuvenated young side. Arsenal now appear to be out of their shell that they seemed to be in last season with the sale of Henry. Now they could certainly have a chance of winning the Premiership and Champions League if they carry on with their form this season. I think that with the attacking options that Barcelona have, it's not going to be an easy job for Rijkaard to get the players to gel together and find the most suitable formation in such a short space of time. However with the edition of Henry making it extremley competetive amongst the forwards at the Nou Camp and the Barcelona president Laporta wanting to see his prize asset shine, Rijkaard could be in for a difficult time!

Posted 13:42 19th September 2007

Pierre Kassar (Arsenal fan) says...

In my opinion Frank Rijkaard isnt doing a good job at Barcelona although i would love to see them winning. Thierry henry is a world class player and he is a HUGE bomb but the thing is Rijkaard till now doesnt know the formation that can fit his players and this is his mistake especially when they played so many friendly games, which was bad for the team.

Posted 12:27 19th September 2007

Sanjay Tayal (Sunderland fan) says...

CHANGING THE SYSTEM to suit a player is not sucha good idea...interchanging of positions between forwards is the way ahead..as for Rijkaard....hold your horses!

Posted 11:58 19th September 2007
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