Cont... 'The Deco & FC Barcelona debate'

Defensive-Midfielder - I believe this position is a fine example of how the famous Barcelona youth program has moved on leaps and bounds in recent years. After a hugely siccessful 4 years in France with Lyon he got his dream move to The Nou Camp for £10m aged 28. A right mixed bag followed in Spain though, as only making 6 performances in his debut season things were not exactly turning how they were planned out for the Brazillian holder. He did though, manage to turn things around the following term in the successful Champions League campaign, performing 9 times in that competition alone and featuring against Arsenal. Edmilson was never renowned for his finesse or his pace and power yet seemed to have a nack of mopping up play well and acting as a handy shield. The new-boy in town: Sergio Busquests - comes as stiff competition though, though he too has his positives and negatives. A product of the youth system, Sergio was performing in Barcelona's 'c' side in 2006 but went on to make his debut competitively in 2008 - he carries a reputation with rival fans that cannot be ignored, yet he still seems to carry that mould of 'The Barcelona way' and it appears if anyone is going to sit and protect that back-line with Messi and co galavanting forward it should be this Catalonian - he receives an 8.5 whilst Edmilson has a 7.

Centre-Midfield - Things really start to get interesting and competitive for the current Barca champions now, the Midfielder we will be focusing on here is the pinnacle of passers that is Xavi - ironically he is in terms of this comparison - going face to face with Deco who knew a thing or two about unlocking defensive doors himself - a very interesting one this. To many football fans nowadays Xavi is the ultimate midfielders and creator-in-chief, he may not have the lightening speed and being his size sees him at a tiny 5"5 it shrouds a mist over any ideas that you have to be giant to successfully dominate a midfield. He may be 31 years of age now but the little man doesn't appear to be slowing down - if anything he's giving former teammate Pep Guardiola more of a reason for choosing him after adding goal-scoring - 4 in the League already this year - to his repertoire. Portuguese man Deco - a great, great player himself (& the reason this very article exists) enjoyed a solid spell with The Catalonians, it can't be forgot the honours and ranks he picked up for himself at his time there and in all honesty if he found himself up against anyone other than perhaps Xavi, he could well of nicked it. Barcelona 2005/2006 player of the season, over 100 appearances from a foreign player while his work with teammate Ronaldinho was seen as a revelation on the field. Xavi though, is unstoppable in the eyes of Barca fans, it would be impossible to give him anything lower than 9.5, while Deco goes on to win a respectable 9 for his Nou Camp efforts.

Centre-Midfield - This is a tricky one - there are no doubts at all that the former Arsenal skipper is an apsolutely delightful footballer, has he been at Barca long enough at competitive level to draw to a conclusion is difficult to say - I will attempt to stick to the basis of Deco's statement of individual class to spark a game - maybe why Cesc takes this one over Dutch enforcer Mark van Bommel. Although the Dutchman only spent one of his years in Barcelona, a hugely successful one it was - winning a superb treble - whilst having to rotate his position with many of the technically fabulous figures already involved in his position. Van Bommel though, is a midfielder of great aggression, a fine player to compliment what Barca already had - he was heading towards 30 when he got his Nou Camp move, so the one year stay didn't turn into a huge surprise. Fabregas is a fine footballer, it's hard to argue that he is a good way in front of the Dutchman in terms of 'technically quality' as Deco refers to - but van Bommel's efforts must not be extinguished - the one year was fantastically successful but on the basis of this comparison he wins an 8 whilst Fabregas sneaks it with 8.5.

Right-Midfield/Attacking-Midfield - Ludovic Giuly was a wanted man - his dynamic performances down the wing for French side Monaco were being well tracked by all of the European big boys, it was hard to imagine him saying no when someone like Barcelona came knocking. Giuly performed well for The Catalan side in his 3 years in Spain, he went on to become second top scorer in his first term and despite several niggling injuries went on to fulfill his promise of entering double figures scoring wise with 11, 05/06 was where he really shone though, out-wide in their historic CL campaign he was magnificent and looked threatening every time he got going with the ball. Unfortunately the emergence of a young lad by the name of Messi halted his Barca career, although he can be more than happy with what he achieved. Andres Iniesta is his particular opponent here who, much like Xavi is nothing less than worshipped by the Barcelona faithful. whilst also receiving plaudits off former team-mate Samuel Eto'o as being the "best player in the world". Iniesta's spirited, dynamic movement is mesmorising and the number 8 appears always in control and to never give up on anything he's chasing. After consistently assisting and scoring for FCB for 7 years straight now - it is hard to call him anything other than a 'Barcelona Legend' and a well earned 9.5 he receives here, with French winger Giuly also taking a decent 8.5.

Left-Midfield/Attacking-Midfield - Well well well, here we are: Ronaldinho v Lionel Messi - where to start - how to compare?! Ronaldinho was once and still is classed as the greatest footballer of all time, his charisma and technique was something never seen before - he did something new to football - gave it an identity and he will be remembered by not just Barcelona fans but football fans in general forever. He was a phenomenal footballer, the life and soul of Barca for a good number of years he carried an enormous threat and for an attacking midfielder finished with a goal/game ratio nearing 1 in every 2 - outstanding. Ronaldinho earns a 10 in every section of the football pitch - unfortunately for him, he has fell into the category now occupied by another genius, one that is breaking records right, left and centre, one who at 24 is less than 30 goals of Barcelona's all time leading record - one Lionel Messi. This diminutive Argentinean needs no other words spoken, he is a footballing god and labelled by many retired greats of the game the best they have ever witnessed play - yes, that includes the Peles, Maradonas and Zidanes. Messi footballing talent is unrivaled, the ball is 99% seen elasticated to his feet and the amount of times he single handedly destroys opponents is unreal. In ways it is a shame these two had to be compared, who am I to call a winner? Statistics suggest otherwise but it's equal, Messi has and will continue to outscore, assist and shine the Brazilian but what Ronaldinho introduced to Barcelona is unforgettable - an unprecedented 10/10 for the both of them here.

Centre-forward - Perhaps an opportunity for the attacking sense of Barcelona's 11 of 2006 to redeem themselves, Samuel Eto'o enjoyed a tremendous 5 years with Barcelona, he left with an unquestionably impeccable scoring record - and for a good few years was both regarded and feared as the most lethal finisher in the game - with the likes of Ronaldinho, Messi, Xavi and Iniesta feeding him, he had a glittering career for Barcelona. In his time leading the line, he scored numerous hat-tricks (even four goals in the first half on one occasion!) whilst netting his 99th and 100th goal for the club against the same opposition. Eto'o carried a personality and had a not so un-like Carlos Tevez incident in early 2007 when he refused to come off the bench, it all blew over quickly though and the Cameroonian was able to continue earning legendary status at the Nou Camp. Eto'o also bagged a Champions League final goal in each of his 2 finals - both 2006 and 2009 at the top of his powers, he boasted electrifying pace - was regarded a nightmare to defend against whilst his finish was always unnerving. David Villa - is the man we turn to in the modern day Barcelona XI, he was signed well as the idea of replacing what Eto'o left behind when he moved to Inter, to recover the goal-scoring hatchet, after a fearful strike rate for both Valencia and the national side, a £34m move cast shudders around the globe. Although Villa is too a feared striker, he does not carry the burst of acceleration of Eto'o, and therefore stakes the claim of being 'easier' to defend, already holding a 1 in 2 strike record for his new suiters he also netted a fantastic goal in his sides Champions League victory against Manchester United, his technique, like many around him is undisputed - but on the basis of raw spark and creating that one moment - Samuel Eto'o must crack it - by a margin of 9.5 to 8.5.

Final scoring:
'2011 Barcelona XI' = 96
'Deco's class of 2006' = 93.5

Well there we go, after a long and (quite exhausting) in depth comparison Barcelona's class of 2011 have come out on top by a very miniscule 3.5 - quite a shocking result when perhaps comparing both line-ups for the first time.

The replacements of Xavi, Iniesta, Messi, Fabregas and Villa have all risen Barcelona's status up - yet not to such a level to completely outshine the squad of 5 years previous. It appears Deco's statement did contain some elements of truth - there were a lot of individuals, many talented footballers in that squad, mostly collected from all around the globe with the likes of Brazilians, Dutch, French and Portuguese it just appears - in the eyes of myself anyway that the Barcelona current crop just has that little edge - that assembly of youth teams set-up players where it gives themselves that family feel, like no other in world football -

After all: they are: 'Más de un club'