The View From Section 118

I apologize to my faithful readers for not updating this blog. I was based in Asia for some time and it was difficult to follow La Liga. Now I am back and on a mission to consume as much FC Barcelona as possible. I got my hands on a season pass to Camp Nou and, in my depraved and deprived state, even go to Barcelona B games at the mini estadi.

My seats are in Section 118, Row 3, right behind the goal that Barcelona attack in the first half. In no particular order, here are my observations:

• Leo Messi spends most of the game walking around and looking bored. Unlike early in his career, when he chased every play and developed chronic muscle problems, these days he concentrates his energy on 8-10 sprints per game. On these runs he tends to be devastating and it's a much better use of his power. Example of a devastating Messi run.
• As good as Messi is, Andres Iniesta might be even better. When Barça face top quality opposition and are under pressure to maintain possession, Iniesta is the most threatening attacker. He's always composed and perfectly balanced. Defenders can't read what he's going to do. "Imagine if the team could field 10 Iniestas as outfield players," I said to my friend. He gasped. "They would be invincible."
• Dani Alves is fading fast. Gone are the days where Alves and Messi on the right side were Barcelona's attacking fulcrum. Alves is increasingly unable to put up a good cross and his shooting is terrible. Before each game he practices shooting from distance and usually gets nowhere near the goal.   And this is with no one between him and the net. Some say that Alves is partying more after splitting from his wife, a la Ronaldinho circa 2007. It wouldn't surprise me if that were true.
• Barcelona's unsung hero is Sergio Busquets. No one recovers more balls in midfield and no one has better anticipation of how a play will develop. At the same time, he has become a better passer and goalscorer. Each year he improves. Example of Busquets improvement as a passer.
• Barcelona are going to need two new keepers. With Valdes insisting he wants to leave at the end of next year and Pinto declining more and more with each game, there will soon be no one left. Barca can purchase two decent keepers and let them battle it out for the starting spot. Do I buy Valdes's reasoning that he simply wants to experience another country while he's in his prime? I'm not sure. I feel like there must be something else.

Thanks for reading and I'll try to post breakdowns of interesting games should they occur.