FC Barcelona Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread

miralize

eZe^ wrote: »

Unbelievable, completely intolerable. It's not the first time either, he needs to cut that sh*t out.

In fairness, it was pretty wet?

Turtwig

Did he appeal for the penalty because that to me looks like he lost his footing?

JPA

I've never seen anyone dive like that, looked like a fall.

eZe^

Jernal wrote: »

Did he appeal for the penalty because that to me looks like he lost his footing?

Lost his footing my balls. Look at his feet, they make perfect contact with the ground and then he throws himself to the floor, I bet he was so embarrassed with himself that he didn't bother protesting.

CongoPowers

Nah, I think he slipped. It helps his case that players had been losing their footing all through the game. I'm not sure if he appealed or not, I don't think he did, but he probably at least accepted the penalty knowing he hadn't been fouled. It's not the sporting thing to do, but not many players would have done differently.

I don't really understand how people would be shocked, though. Everyone knows this has become part of the modern game. Alexis has dived before and may do so again on Wednesday. But then he will more than likely be matched by Ashley Young. It's not right, but I don't see it changing any time soon.

miralize

Players were slipping all night.

Corholio

Think it's a dive myself. None of his feet really slip from under him. He just miscontrols it too far behind him and tries his luck to win something IMO.

SeantheMan

Tito should have a word with them all anyways.

I'm sort of both excited, and dreading the Supercup final.
Excited obviously because of the teams involved.
But...the spectacle and bad sportsmanship that comes out in those games, and if the above was a friendly and is anything to go by ?
Alexis and Buckets will be up for Oscars soon

SeantheMan

I just read Tello hasn't been given a squad number for this season as of yet....very strange, considering how heavily he featured last season.

He's not even listed in the First team on the website, even though the like of Bartra, Montoya, Muniesa, Dos Santos, and Muniesa are
http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/staff

Saying that, he drove me mental with his stepover at the side of the area trick, one horse pony he looked like sometimes. Lightning fast though.
Much preferred cuenca.

gimmick

Ill be in the "not a dive" camp there. Looked like he turned too quick and slipped to me.

CongoPowers

To be honest, I'm not at all surprised at Tello being left out of the squad. He's a player that would improve a huge amount with regular games. I'm not sure whether that will be with the B team or elsewhere, though*. He just needs more experience, to mature and like you said, add a bit of variety to his game.

* I say this because excluding Tello, Barça B have eight forwards already. We need to sell rather than adding another attacking player to that squad, so I don't know.

miralize

Valdes saves Rooneys penalty! Barca have been playing well, but United are defending pretty well too. It will be tight

No need for Busquets to do that...

CongoPowers

Pinto is a boss.

Really impressed with the lads tonight, thought we deserved to win in normal time. Tello had a game to forget and Adriano's positional play was awful as usual, but I thought the team generally played well. Iniesta was great. Messi too, but I was delighted to see him being taken off at HT for a rest. Some people were saying Sergi Roberto wasn't involved enough, but I thought he was very tidy; four starts in a row for him now. Dani's beard is the greatest thing ever.

Barça B beat Huddersfield 2-0, Deulofeu penalty and a first goal for Araujo.

Davaeo09

Dani missed training today, didn't hear why though??

Roberto looks like taking his place in the first team very soon. Quality player, very tidy in possession idd.

miralize

What an amazing goal by Affelay.

and El Guaje is back!

Chancer3001

Villa has been missed on the world stage . Legend

miralize

Afellay's goal

G.K.

Class finish.

Davaeo09

What a ball from Masch too
He's getting soooo good at those balls over the top, Affelay done brilliantly too.
He's got lots of minutes so far under Tito so far, I think he has the extra yard of pace we lack some times through the middle, he helps with a more direct approach when needed.

Can't wait for the season to start, still trying to decide which game to try go and try see lol.

miralize

Aye, I need to get out of the country to!. Only been to the Camp Nou once but it was just as a tour when I was wee young... Are tickets easy enough to get against lower ranked teams?

Davaeo09

miralize wrote: »

Aye, I need to get out of the country to!. Only been to the Camp Nou once but it was just as a tour when I was wee young... Are tickets easy enough to get against lower ranked teams?

Yup they are indeed, been debating it myself, seems like ages ago that I was in the Nou Camp and even at that I was a teen myself lol.

CongoPowers

I missed the last fifteen, but I thought we played well in the first half. No disrespect to Dinamo, but it's hard to play with intensity for the ninety when you're not really being pushed, plus the pitch wasn't great. Delighted like everyone else to see Villa (and Fontàs!) back, but we shouldn't expect too much from him, he will need a fair bit of time to get back to anywhere near his best. Alexis was brilliant, and has been for the most part this pre-season. The back four weren't seriously tested, but I was still impressed with Bartra and liked Jordi Alba's relentless overlapping. To go back to that same old argument about Barça, the options are to either buy a striker or to try and draw and stretch as well as possible. We already have a very attacking full-back in Dani, but he rarely hits the line in comparison with Jordi Alba. I think he is going to be very useful against teams who play behind the ball and that we will eventually end up signing another player who can beat a man (Neymar I guess) rather than a proper #9.

I'm happy for Ibi, but would have to feel worried for Jonathan. MD won't let go of the Song story, and if we are to sign a player as cover for Busquets, JDS won't get many opportunities. There isn't even room in the B team anymore.

Speaking of Barça B, their game wasn't shown anywhere on Friday, but 2-2 away to Bolton is a good result. Apparently Araujo (who was impressive again by all accounts) and Keith Andrews had each other by the throat. Andrews was taken off straight afterwards, you would think for that incident..

Davaeo09

Can't believe the summer is nearly done and the season about to start again.. thank god

Some of our players were out on international duties last night and one game in particular has me a happy man :cool:
Argentina vs Germany..
It was a massive challenge for Argentina, there U21's lost this mirror fixture 6-1 and it was time for Messi, Higuain and Co to finally get a shout in on the international stage too. At least that's what I thought when I had Messi to score and Argentina to win by 2 or more on 365.
Messi did indeed go on to score and he produced one of his best displays on the International stage despite missing a penalty, here's the goal and an absolute screamer from Di Maria 2 in a week

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJpVwAnOTZw

Spain too were playing Peurto Rico and went on to win 2-1 with Xavi being left out of the squad to have a well deserved rest to focus on the season ahead. Cesc scored a peach of a volley from inside the box too

Song seems to be a done deal btw, with 15 million pounds being the amount reported. If that's to be true or even close to what we pay then i'll be a happy man. I seen the transfer as unnecessary tbh but if that's the price tag on what would be a great piece of business to see some one replace Keita then class... He will fit right in in mid-field to cover for Busquets or is it possible they might both play on some occasions. One must not forget either than like Masch he has recently changed his position. He started out at as a CB and is quiete adept there too

CongoPowers

I watch almost all Argentina games because of family and man, Messi has become a monster as captain. Nine goals in his last five internationals, all of which Argentina have won for the record. The team is so strong from midfield forward:

Mascherano Gago
di María Messi Agüero
Higuaín

and actually, I have to give Masche a mention for his performance last night, man of the match for me. Bossed it at DM for eighty minutes and moved the ball so well. It's a pity the defence is still pretty rubbish. Zabaleta and Garay are alright, but Fernández and Rojo are headcases.

That moment between Leo and the fan was great. Crazy how happy the guy was.

EDIT: I always fail at posting gifs, link.

I'm glad Xavi wasn't used like yourself, I suppose he and Pedro are sure to start against La Real now.

Agree with everything you said about Song. Having a physical and versatile midfielder would do no harm, and in replacing Keita to begin with he's hardly going to be kept on the bench long-term by Busquets like people are suggesting for whatever reason. Same was said about Mascherano, Cesc and even a youth player like Thiago, but it's always proven wrong with Barça competing for all titles etc.

CongoPowers

So for anyone who didn't see, Barça B kicked off the new season by losing 5-4 to Almería. Yep, 5-4. Deulofeu's first B team hattrick couldn't save us. Dongou scored the first. Here is Gerard's ridiculous hattrick (last one isn't replayed, but yeah, direct from a corner haha)

Overall, a really shocking performance ahead of the mini-clásico next week. I'm even thinking Eusebio should start with a whole new back four after that, but he himself is a bigger problem than anyone else, usual batshit crazy decisions on the line. So disappointing.

miralize

FC Barcelona has agreed a deal with Arsenal FC for the transfer of Alex Song to the Camp Nou. The fee is 19 million euros

The Cameroon international midfielder will sign for the next five seasons with a release clause of 80 million euros

On Monday he’ll have a medical and then join the rest of the squad for the official team presentation at the Gamper

Happy with our business over the summer. Much needed defensive backup, we were leaking a few uncharacteristic goals last season.

MD1990

my predicted Barca Team against Real Sociedad
Valdes
Alves Mascherano Pique Alba
Busquets Xavi Iniesta
Sanchez Messi Afellay/Pedro

miralize

The team practically selects itself for tomorrow. I think your selection will be the team that lines out, but with Busquets more central (not sure if you meant to do that or not) and I think Afellay will get the nod over Pedro. Afellay looks the more dangerous from preseason.

Puyol, if fit, might start or at least come on for 20-30 mins

miralize

:pac: :pac: :pac:

Cesc (then at Arsenal): "Teammate with worst dress sense? Alex Song. A disaster, a complete disaster. He thinks he's fashion.

]

dagdha

Hey guys, anybody know of a decent pub in Galway that will definitely be showing the game tonight? I was watching a match on my laptop yesterday and it was doing my head in as it needed to buffer every 30 seconds. I want to be able to see the season opener on a proper TV. Thanks!