Madrid - A mixture of optimistic sunshine - and of dark pessimistic clouds - have marked Josep Guardiola's first 100 days as coach of FC Barcelona. On the bright side, the former 1990s "Dream Team" captain - aged just 37 and without much coaching experience - has introduced a renewed sense of optimism and expectation into a club that was mired in pessimism after two trophy-less seasons.
In addition, Guardiola has managed to restore tension, discipline and order in the dressing-room, after the lawlessness and lethargy of the Frank Rijkaard-Ronaldinho era.
Guardiola's first decision was to get rid of Ronaldinho, because of his unprofessional habits and nightlife. Nine other players followed the Brazilian through the exit door.
Guardiola also wanted to offload the explosive Samuel Eto'o - but no serious offers were received.
Guardiola has strengthened the defence and midfield by signing the likes of Daniel Alves, Gerard Pique, Martin Caceres, Seydou Keita and Alexander Hleb.
These new signings have helped Barca to make a good start in the Champions League (Tuesday saw a 3-1 debut against Sporting Lisbon).
The Catalan media and the Barca fans admire Guardiola for his strong work ethic and clear tactical ideas.
However, the negative side of the balance-sheet as the 100-day mark was reached on Friday is worryingly long.
The inescapable fact is that Barca have made their worse start in La Liga since 1973, picking up just one point in their first two games - and this against modest opposition (Numancia and Racing Santander).
Barca are, worryingly, sixth from bottom - and have four points less than crosstown rivals Espanyol, the season's first leaders.
Guardiola's team is leaking goals as sloppily as did Rijkaard's, despite the defensive signings.
The midfield looks stronger than last season (despite Hleb's injury), but the attack is still mostly firing blanks.
Eto'o is in appalling form, Thierry Henry cuts a forlorn figure stuck out on the left - and Lionel Messi is doing his best to validate Diego Maradona's criticisms of his excessive individualism.
The poor form of the forwards makes Guardiola's attitude towards Bojan Krkic even more inexplicable.
Last season, the lively young Bojan either started or came off the bench in practically every match, partly due to Eto'o injuries and to Ronaldinho's apathy.
Most fans expected Guardiola to give a starring role to Bojan, who has just become a full international at the tender age of 18.
Instead, the imaginative starlet has played just 54 minutes in five games - and is starting to look frustrated and indignant on the bench.
On Friday daily paper Sport calls on Guardiola to give Bojan more of a chance.
Attendance figures in the Camp Nou are down, argues Sport. What better way to restore optimism at the club, than to give Bojan "an extended run in attack...He could hardly make things worse."
At the same time, Sport asks the fans for a "margin of confidence" for Guardiola.
But if his team fails to win away to minnows Sporting Gijon on Sunday, then Guardiola's credit will start to evaporate - which will make his second 100 days even more difficult than his first 100.
