Guardiola to take Barca reins

[yanno]

Guardiola to take Barca reins

Rijkaard to be replaced at end of season

By Lewis Rutledge Last updated: 8th May 2008

Barcelona have confirmed that manager Frank Rijkaard will be replaced by Josep Guardiola at the end of the season.

Rijkaard vowed to continue in the job after Barca lost to Manchester United in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals last week.

However, Barca's disappointing domestic campaign carried on as they were defeated 4-1 by fierce rivals Real Madrid on Wednesday.

Real have already clinched the Primera Liga title and Barca will finish the season without any silverware.

Rijkaard took charge of Barcelona in 2003 and led the team to back-to-back league titles and victory in the Champions League in 2006.

However, he has paid the price for not being able to build on the success with club president Joan Laporta deciding that he will not see out his contract, which was due to run to 2009.

"The administration of the club has decided that at the end of this season Frank Rijkaard will cease to be the coach of Barcelona and the position will be occupied by Josep Guardiola," Laporta told a news conference.

Former Spain international Guardiola spent 11 years as a player at Barcelona and has been in charge of the club's B team for the last 12 months.

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11827_3538935,00.html

 

[yanno]

As part of the restructuring under Guardiola, I wouldn't be surprized to see Barca switch away from their current 4-3-3 formation. Which would have implications for the type of players they want to sell and to sign...

 

[Adam]

Do you reckon? I would have thought that he might stick with it and see if he could make it work as that was the formation he played in at barca was it not? Also, i think players like Messi and Iniesta who for me have been the only two undeniable positives this year are suited better to a 4-3-3 than any other formation and, if i was Guardiola, i'd be looking to build my team around them.


Im there a couple of times a season and am a member so see them very much as a second club and to be honest, im not particularly enthralled by getting him in as a coach. Graham Hunter (IMO the best journalist in football) quite rightly said (again IMO) that what Barca needs most of all is a man manager and someone that can sort the disciplinary problems out-for me, Pep isnt that man due to his current lack of experience and worldwide respect in the game. I really do hope i'm wrong and that he proves to be a massive hit but at this moment in time with the club in disarray, i think we will see at least one more trophy-less season with the emphasis on transition and i really dont think that the fans will stand for that, especially when managers like Mourinho are currently out of a job.

 

[jimmyh]

Pep is barca through and through and if anyone knows what is expected of a barca team it is him.I hope he turns things round and he shows them francoist scum the way proper football should be played.

 

[yanno]

Do you reckon? I would have thought that he might stick with it and see if he could make it work as that was the formation he played in at barca was it not? Also, i think players like Messi and Iniesta who for me have been the only two undeniable positives this year are suited better to a 4-3-3 than any other formation and, if i was Guardiola, i'd be looking to build my team around them.

If I remember correctly, Guardiola usually played as a DM in a 4-4-2. However, he was very much a Carrick or Pirlo DM, dictating the tempo with his passing. That said, Barca have had so many coaches that I'm sure he's played in all sorts of formations.

I do know that Guardiola's playing successor as Barca's playmaking C/DM was meant to be Xavi, followed by Iniesta. Barca now play with a defensive rather than a passing anchorman - usually YaYa Toure - and I wouldn't be surprized to see Guardiola put a passing CM (ie Xavi or Iniesta) next to him in a 4-4-2 or even a 4-2-3-1.

Also, I thought Rijkaard's 4-3-3 was essentially designed to accommodate Ronaldinho. It looks like Ronnie's off, and playing as wide left striker (even though Barca rotate the positions of their forwards) certainly doesn't suit Henry. We shall see.

 

[Adam]

If I remember correctly, Guardiola usually played as a DM in a 4-4-2. However, he was very much a Carrick or Pirlo DM, dictating the tempo with his passing. That said, Barca have had so many coaches that I'm sure he's played in all sorts of formations.

I do know that Guardiola's playing successor as Barca's playmaking C/DM was meant to be Xavi, followed by Iniesta. Barca now play with a defensive rather than a passing anchorman - usually YaYa Toure - and I wouldn't be surprized to see Guardiola put a passing CM (ie Xavi or Iniesta) next to him in a 4-4-2 or even a 4-2-3-1.

Also, I thought Rijkaard's 4-3-3 was essentially designed to accommodate Ronaldinho. It looks like Ronnie's off, and playing as wide left striker (even though Barca rotate the positions of their forwards) certainly doesn't suit Henry. We shall see.

Id prefer to see a 4-2-3-1 as i think it will suit Messi better too. Yaya Toure has done a decent job but i still always feel that they look vulnerable through the middle, and the amount of bookings that the centre backs get by just taking a man out near the box is laughable, and a couple of times it has really cost them from set pieces.

I know he is a bad influence with his lifestyle, but id just love them to give Ronnie one last chance. Im sure i am biased as he is probably my favourite footballer of all time, partly because he is at my second club, but i look at the team now and feel that they are lacking the type of pass that only he could provide-the Man U game was a classic example, as well as the home games against teams like Osasuna, Getafe and Espanyol, where they only scored once in all three games-teams that come to the Camp Nou just to defend are extremely resilient in Spain and, when Messi is injured the team look completely bereft on creativity, which has been a major reason for this years failure in my opinion.

Whatever happens, it does look like its going to be a very interesting summer

 

[Coolpudge]

I think that it is amazing that a team as huge as Barca give there main job to a man with no managing experience, except for the reserves. Could you imagine Clive Allen getting the Spurs job after Ramos. That being said, good luck to the lad

 

[donny1013]

I think Pep will do well in charge although i would have preferred Michael Laudrup. I think he will probably stick with that formation as Johan Cruyff loves it and he still has a massive say at Barca even though he has no official role, its crazy!

 

[deselina]

he's only an interim trainer people, expect frank rijkaard to re-unite with henk ten cate at chelsea.

 

[DoublePivot]

I have a feeling that Pep won't give a toss about Cruyff's desired tactics. And hopefully two trophyless seasons with poor football have diminished that relic's hold over the club.

I think Pep is going to be a revelation for Barcelona and I do expect to see a change in formation. But he doesn't control transfers, so it will be interesting to see how that affects his tactics.