I probably come down on the side of those left cold by their virtuosity (the inevitability that they will succeed grinds you down. The relentless 'death of a thousand cuts' passing style ensures that a goal will come and their incredible ability to consistently produce this level of skill results in that, even when they somehow lose, they're still better) but I don't think it's just that. The problem with Spain/Barcelona (and the distinction between the two is ever decreasing - while it may be a little disingenuous to count Villa as a Barcelona player, although obv factually correct, Fabregas seems to have retained this identity, maintaining the huge player representation/playing style) is not just that they're so technically superior, it's that they're also morally superior. There are no outs for opponents. They don't have the millionaire misanthropes we're so used to seeing in the Premier League, a Van Bommell spoiler to make us uneasy or a willingness to sacrifice their principles to achieve an end - they plainly fight the good fight. And while the logical step would be to take some warmth/inspiration from their example, this doesn't seem to be happening, at least certainly not universally.
At club level, the reaction to Barcelona is largely one of negation and destruction rather than creation or imitation. Real Madrid, after initially trying to reclaim the mantle of standard bearers for exciting attacking football (and increasing their lost Spanish identity) through the most lavish spending on talent ever seen in world football, have quickly surrendered to fatalism. An acceptance of the seeming impossibility of beating Barcelona 'fair and square' has led to them employing Mourinho as a sort of hired assassin, the mythical Portuguese seer who can slay this ghost that haunts them. As in a ghost returning it is Madrid's sins which Barcelona represent. All those Galacticos, the constant bailing out of any financial trouble by a coercive ruling class, the surrendering of identity in search of success - you knew you we're going to have to pay for this right?
The list of teams which Barcelona have shaken in their belief is growing ever larger. Manchester United's defeat in the 2009 Champions League Final was an end of much of the narrative in which the club places itself. The inadequacies of the Premiership 'superstars' like Ronaldo (not a discredit to the player, more an acknowledgement that the margins between good/great/'the best ever!' are more fine than the media will admit), the acknowledgement of the loss of their adventurous playing style in recent years and the complete destruction of questionable players (Michael Carrick, you're time is up) all presented an unarguable challenge to previously held beliefs (At the time a movement was tentatively starting that this United team was one of the best club teams ever, fit to rival Sacchi's Milan. Although obviously a great team, especially the Rooney-Ronaldo-Tevez axis and the Ferdinand-Vidic partnership, Barca's ruthless demonstration of the paucity of their midfield severely damaged their posterity).
Seeing Barcelona play fantastically, with players largely produced by their local youth system (commentators still talk about 'Manchester United's famous production line' despite it having produce nothing of real note in over 15 years, aside from a steady stream of players destined to end up playing for Steve Bruce/Paul Ince/Roy Keane at some stage), the Unicef versus AIG sponsorship/donation (Christ, was Lehmann Brothers not available?) and Barca's supporter owned model versus the Glazers brutally smashed United's confidence. (I don't think this impact was limited to the fans either. Ferguson's shock at the superiority of Barcelona has caused lasting damage. His reaction to Fabio's sending off against Bayern Munich this season was a tactical display out of 'the bad old days' of a mid-90s European performance, a type of performance I thought he had buried with the second CL win. Watching him sitting rigidly, refusing to make a change despite it being increasingly obvious Bayern would score, was a distressing replay of history.)
While United fans, exceptionally, have responded to the Glazers/football's ever-increasing compromises with the fantastic FC United - an obvious example of ripping it up and starting again - this creation still comes with an unfortunate sort of admittance and challenge to history. When did supporting this system become unjustifiable - is it all fine up to the Glazers? Sky? Becoming a PLC? The Edwards family? Can I watch it occasionally? Can I ever go Back? All that goes before becomes tainted by the present, part of the lesson learned from Barcelona's example is that rejection of a once dearly held affection is necessary. Considering how Manchester as a city/people likes/needs to see itself as big the loss of United as a celebratory feature is drastic, especially considering the once reliable music output can no longer take up the slack. Man City's fortunes are a drastically inferior substitute - the soulless stadium, the history of failure, an image of a long-term loser suddenly winning the lottery. It looks ill-fitting.
Not even Arsenal can escape Barcelona's brutal revelations. Long considering themselves as a sort of brothers-in-kind stylistically and morally to Barca, their encounter this season has firmly removed that comfort blanket (A 2-2 draw that managed to be embarrassing, where even Ibrahimovic scored - and he's the shit one! A 4-1 rout that was more the level of a Getafe than a team which only 5 years previously could be considered as 'Invincibles' without too much hyperbole). Finally forced to admit to their obvious decline. No longer can they explain away heavy defeats to Chelsea or United as some sort of bullying or exploitation but objective confirmation of inadequacy.
Similarly, Barcelona's superior morals regarding player production damage one of the last remaining celebrated virtues of the 'Arsene knows' brigade (An unerringly accurate eye for talent and flair that scours the globe to selflessly bring it back to England for us all to enjoy dangerously reducing to one of a kind of child catcher exploiting more stringent labour laws in less ruthlessly capitalistic countries). Interestingly, however, as the model Wenger follows is fundamentally similar to Barca's, their ideal may well be achievable. It will still be an inferior version due to the lack of indigenous talent but that may be excused as failings of England and the FA on a strategic level rather than short-termism on Wenger's part. As Arsenal do look to be actively addressing their fundamental flaws this summer perhaps they will be one team who do gain positively and constructively from encountering the Catalans.
It is this limited possibility for change from Barcelona that displeases me most, both in those that encounter them and Barca themselves. While I would like to see myself predisposed to wanting a 'proper' club like them to prosper, I find myself hoping for a challenger. But what if they never decline? What if they just keep producing interchangeable 5'7" tippy-tappy players for 20 years (Which one's Pedro? I thought that was Busquets? Is that Xavi or Iniesta)? This thought is far more depressing than, say, thinking that Real Madrid may never decline. Even with Real being permanently dominant I know there will be variety. Managers will come and go, imposing their particular style, new players purchased bringing difference and possibilities. It's the gap between what I wan't (thrill, excitement) and what I feel I should wan't (precision, decency) where the dissatisfaction lies.
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