Another year comes with great expectations. Barcelona fans gear up for another sensational journey after a year in which the potent combination of Lionel Messi, Neymer and Luis Suarez inspired them to five trophies. Here is the 5 things Barca fans can look forward to in 2016.
More brilliance from Messi-Suarez-Neymar
The lethal Messi-Suarez-Neymar. image courtesy: Google
2015 has been certainly the year of MSN – Messi, Suarez and Neymar have scored an outstanding 136 goals between them. The Latin American trio have become a lethal force to be reckoned with and with a crunch Champions League clash with Arsenal on the horizon; the North London outfit might be wondering if there is anything they can do to stop the devastating front-three. Time will tell what will be the impact but one thing is for sure, the three ‘sharpshooters’ are enjoying the football of their lives and their current form isn’t looking on dropping any time soon.
Each of them bolsters with their own strengths but the most impressive and inspiring aspect is their selfless attitude and a unique relationship that has helped the three players to build such a devastating front three. Last year we saw MSN tearing apart teams like PSG, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Juventus.
Playing for a side like Barcelona is certainly a difficult job. There is huge pressure on the individuals to perform consistently not only individually but as a team also and build up coordination. This is where Messi-Suarez-Neymar has left all others behind, especially Bale-Benzema-Ronaldo (BBC) and became the envy of all around the world.
New signings
Traditionally speaking, Barcelona rarely give interest to spend money in January transfer windows, but this January it will mark 18 months since the Spanish giants has been able to sign any new players or even a staff. To mark this occasion, Barcelona are planning to add on to the arrivals of Arda Turan and Aleix Vidal with a few fresh signings. Highly rated Centre-backs including Mats Hummels from Borrusia Dortmund have been rumoured to be linked with them but Luis Enrique recently has suggested that he wants to stick to La Liga to find fresh new talents. Reports are claiming that he already has a three-man shortlist of Nolito, Denis Suarez and Jonathan Soriano.
Red Bull Salzburg’s Soriano actually fits the bill in several ways. The promising attacker’s breakthrough season came under Enrique at Barca B team, where he went on to score 32 goals in the 2010-11 Liga Adelante, so he is not only well accustomed to Barcelona’s style of play, but also the Asturian manager’s methods.
However, Barcelona’s ideal signing would be none other than Nolito, Luis Enrique’s favoured target. The Celta attacker, has excelled under Enrique’s guidance at two different sides (Barca B and Celta Vigo), and right now is in excellent form in La Liga. Better still, having netted against Sevilla, Barcelona, Villarreal and Real Madrid this term, his credibility to deliver good effective performances against the toughest opponents is beyond question.
Much awaited Debut of Vidal, Turan
Barca’s two summer signings Turan and Vidal. image courtesy: Google
Barcelona fans were eagerly waiting for this moment. January 2016 will mark the end of their club’s transfer embargo and both the summer signings Aleix Vidal and Arda Turan are relishing the prospect of playing for Barcelona having not been able to feature in a competitive football since May. The introduction of new players will definitely strengthen this Barca squad ahead of a congested New Year campaign.
Not only that, the two signings will also give Barcelona a plan B, Aleix Vidal will come with blistering pace and Enrique will be delighted to use him as an impact sub; while former Atletico Madrid star Arda Turan has vast La Liga experience along with an intelligent footballing brain, so both of them will be a welcome inclusion for what is already a destructive Barcelona side.
More home-grown talents
Sergi Roberto. image courtesy: Google
Arguably one of the unsung heroes of Barcelona’s La Liga topping and Club World Cup winning squad has been Sergi Roberto. When he broke into the senior level, critics were quick to point out the Brazilian ace’s lack of pace and his bizarre style of play, but Barca boss Luis Enrique’s trust in the youngster eventually paid off when a superb man-of-the-match performance in El Clasico showed the world what an exceptional talent he is. Roberto has step by step adapted his style of play to another dimension which is quite intrinsic in a successful Barcelona squad, quick passing and high pressure when off the ball being the most improved area of Roberto.
But the interesting fact is, this Brazilian ace is not the only youngster to have come into the team recently, Munir and Sandro both contributed positively to Barcelona’s attacking play and also with age on their side the pair will be eager to make another lasting impact in 2016.
Sergi Samper is another one who finally has the chance to fill the big boots of Sergi Busquets; his impressive performance against AS Roma in the Champions League solidified the claims that he has the potentiality that needed to be a regular Barcelona first team player in 2016. His composure and calmness has seen him slot right into a confident lethal Barca midfield and the age being just 20, the Catalans will be really interested to hold on to the Brazilian youngster keeping in mind the promising future.
The Barca supremacy once again
Luis Enrique’s managerial career at Camp Nou is beginning to get into full stride and also, on the back of claiming the most coveted treble last year, the Catalans are desperate to continue their rich vein of hunting silverwares as they sit top of La Liga and also favourites for the Champions League and Copa del Rey this season.
Barcelona have won a sensational five trophies in 2015 and will look to break former manager Pep Guardiola’s trophy record of six if they manage to complete the first back-to-back treble in European football history.
This is also a fact that Barcelona still has a long way to travel. After all, Real Madrid managed to finish 2014 with four trophies, a handful of goals and a stunning club record of 22 wins in a row in December 2014, only to fade away after Christmas and eventually miss out on all the major silverwares at the end of last season. So Luis Enrique’s men will be surely wary of counting its chickens just yet.