Ravenbarber
This is my qualitative estimation of the relative strengths of the Barcelona and Real Madrid teams of the last season in numerical values. I chose Real Madrid because they are the second best team in the world after this already legendary Barcelona team.

You could say my ratings are subjective, but I think it is pretty accurate and based on these values, it is obvious that Real Madrid never really had a chance. These ratings do not take into account team work, or even the Mourinho factor that became so instrumental in Madrid’s mentality at the tail-end of the season. They are purely an assessment of the quality of player in their positions. In my estimation, a player can only ever get a ten if they are one of the all time greats in their positions, and at the height of their game, which Xavi and Messi both were this season. It was obvious for all to see in the final, and in the 5-0 drubbing that Madrid suffered earlier in the season. In my opinion, they are the only players in the world right now deserving of a ten rating. The last player who would have been worthy of a ten rating would have to be Maldini, although he wasn’t a ten anymore when he retired. Before him, Zidane, if you took his whole career and his stature into account.
I think it is very, very rare to have two tens in one team. Can anyone think of the last time that happened? Not just in terms of a player’s overall stature, but the form of their game at a particular point.
I think some folks might think a 9.5 is too high for Dani Alves, but their is now denying the dynamism he adds and how fundamental he is to this legendary team’s style of play. Villa dipped towards the end of the season, but overall, everyone knows that he is always dangerous, and he proved in the final how sharp he still is when he isn’t fatigued or lacking in confidence He is a quality player.
Madrid fans might think I am being a little unkind to their team, but player for player and collectively, they are not quite the finished product.

20.06.2011