Caught in Possession

Allow me to take a brief break from DC United and MLS ponderings, and ponder the situation at my Euro club of choice...

Gor blimey, the home of the world's most beautiful footie has gone off the rails.

Yes, I'm talking about FC Barcelona, where the constant presence of drama and intrigue has for several years been comfortably balanced out by the irresistible style of slick attacking soccer created by a squad full of engaging personalities. But no more, it seems.

Ruinous losses and underwhelming draws have been stacking up like newspapers in a pack rat's living room and the Blaugrana seem to have spurned the golden opportunity handed out by the poor form of league leaders Real Madrid. Now Barca are looking at a dogfight with Villarreal just to hang on to the second spot in La Liga. Or worse, the Yellow Submarine may push on and achieve where Barca have failed -- providing a real challenge for the league title.

All that, combined with simmering, ever-present rumors of Ronaldinho's departure has been discouraging, to say the least. But then -- thanks to Steve Goff's morning post on SI -- I got updated on the latest installment of Barca Toons, the Blaugrana's cunning campaign to win the hearts and minds of soccer children the world over...and I felt the cold, clammy fingers of real fear.

Clearly there's a stoner infestation in the highest reaches of the Barcelona brain trust and there's no telling what will happen next. I feel a nauseating sense of powerlessness in the face of chaos...this must be what Redskins fans are saddled with every day.