barca is an interesting team.
they have a solid system, from youth set-up to the first team. everything is ready and has been slowly built up way before frank rijkaard is in charge.
the way the team functions and play, any manager will be successful as the 'system' is already in place and end user just have to plug in and play.
what I see now is that BR is trying to model a system after the very successful tiki taka total football style made very successful by Barca and the early 70s dutch team. we have to be patient as reaping the reward after what we had sow also takes time.
what we have to do now is to build on an empire, a dynasty and not just some fly-over kingdom, much like what SAF did at manu, even though I hate to admit it, he is really good and impressive. he didn't get onto a successful tenure just by luck or chance. Similarly, he took around 4 to 5 years before things start to turn for the better and he never look back.
difference between his 4-5 years and raf999's 4-5 years in charge is that SAF readily admitted his shortfall in his early years and build on a strong and solid foundation, instead of finding excuses and throwing more smoke into the air.
SAF has my respect and I cannot wait for his tenure at manu to end for I believe it will finally mean the end of a successful dynasty as we are slowly building on ours. :bsmilie:
No team can be Barca..Tito is unknown before..yes but hes been at Barca long enuf..its like our old bootroom..he just have to continue Peps work..