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 The original "Galacticos", of course, were the megastars brought to Real Madrid by ambitious president Florentino Perez, from 2000 to 2006.

 The first was Luis Figo, snatched away from Barcelona. Then came Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo and, most famously, David Beckham.

 The term "Galacticos" originally meant richly talented players who were going to set the galaxy ablaze with their skills, achievements and charisma.

 By 2004, however - as Real were overtaken by a young, hard-working Barcelona side - the term had come to signify over-paid, over-weight, under-achieving, pampered stars who had won everything in the game and refused to learn anything new from any coach.

 In particular, the Catalan media used the term "Galacticos" to scoff at Perez's ageing team, which won absolutely nothing from 2003 to 2006, prompting "El Presidente" himself to hastily resign the presidency in February 2006.

 Now, however, the very same Catalan media are asking whether the boot is now on the other foot, whether it is their own beloved Barca who have become the indolent, pampered under-achievers.

 Since they won the Champions Cup in May 2006, the Barca team that was supposed to dominate Spanish and European football for at least five more years has won nothing.

 The past 18 months for Barca have been an ongoing nightmare of hubris, arrogance, frustration, injuries, high expectations - and low returns.

 The nadir was reached on Saturday, when Ronaldinho and company ran up the white flag in Getafe and lost 2-0 without hardly a shot or goal - or any sign of pride.

 The depressing defeat in Getafe has left Barca four points behind leaders Real, and has provoked a massive debate about the new "Galacticos".

 Two men are in the eye of the Barca storm: coach Frank Rijkaard, generally seen as being too soft on his megstars, and Ronaldino, the new personification of apathetic "Galactico" habits.

 Catalan sports dailies El Mundo Deportivo and Sport are crying out for Rijkaard to "take a strong hand" with this expensive squad.

 On Tuesday the digital version of Sport has launched an online poll, in which readers can choose from the following solutions for Barca's woes:

- changing the coach

- selling a star in January (referring to Ronaldinho, in whom AC Milan and Chelsea have expressed an interest)

- signing players in January

- a "stronger hand" with the players

   Sport columnist Joan Maria Battle talks on Tuesday about the "beginning of the end" for Rijkaard.

 Madrid sports daily Marca, clearly enjoying the Barca crisis, claims that Rijkaard already has a "sell-by date": 22 December, when Real Madrid come to the Camp Nou.

 According to Marca, if the attitude of the team does not improve in forthcoming matches against Espanyol, Valencia and, finally, Real, then the laid-back Dutch coach will be on his way.

 Marca also claims that Barca president Joan Laporta is already thinking about possible replacements for Rijkaard with Marco Van Basten, Fabio Capello, Javier Clemente and Jose Mourinho believed to be possibilities.

 With regard to Ronaldinho, Sport claims that Rijkaard is losing patience with the Brazilian and is considering dropping him for the home game against Recreativo Huelva on November 25.

 When Ronaldinho arrived from Paris Saint-Germain in 2003, he quickly became the idol of the Camp Nou and the symbol of the new Barca: charismatic, charming, talented and massively productive.

 Now the goofy Brazilian is the symbol of the new "Galacticos", forever skipping training, returning late from Brazil after international matches, over-weight and under-performing.

 How quickly times change in football.

DPA