FC Barcelona Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread

Agent Coulson

Traore off to Stoke is now the latest.

Andersonisgod

From bad to worse, how are we losing our best young attacking player to Stoke or Villa?

In good news, congratulations to Mascherano, the 4th captain in the squad, he beat Pedro and Pique in a vote, he joins Iniesta, Messi and Busquets as the captains of the team.

Andersonisgod

Messi and Neymar are back and they've scored a goal each, both brilliant, in the Gamper trophy vs Roma.

Ulysses Gaze

Andersonisgod wrote: »

Messi and Neymar are back and they've scored a goal each, both brilliant, in the Gamper trophy vs Roma.

And Sky still have La Liga rights for the next 3 years.

Won't miss any La Liga now.

Andersonisgod

Ulysses Gaze wrote: »

And Sky still have La Liga rights for the next 3 years.

Won't miss any La Liga now.

A great day all round. You wouldn't want to miss a minute of it with the kind of stuff the Barcelona front 3 are playing.

brevity

The lesser spotted Angry Messi

https://twitter.com/Zizouology/status/629037412258332672

Ulysses Gaze

brevity wrote: »

The lesser spotted Angry Messi

https://twitter.com/Zizouology/status/629037412258332672

What happened there?

brevity

Ulysses Gaze wrote: »

What happened there?

Not entirely sure. Only following on Twitter.

Turtwig

Wonder if that's anything to do with his Argentina pressure gauge?

Andersonisgod

I say this with absolutely no doubt; there is nothing better in football than watching Messi, Neymar and Suarez link up.

Turtwig

What about Messi, Iniesta, Xavi and Busquets when their team was at their peak?

Christ some of those plays could have been painted on a tapestry. They were that good.

Andersonisgod

Turtwig wrote: »

What about Messi, Iniesta, Xavi and Busquets when their team was at their peak?

Christ some of those plays could have been painted on a tapestry. They were that good.

That's a very good point. Certainly both sets are different but they are both absolute breathtaking.

The Camp Nou rises to salute Pedro. The Camp Nou rises to salute a thunderbolt of a strike from Rakitic to make it 3-0. Fantastic performance.

Andersonisgod

An exhibition of football from the Blaugrana in their home tournament. There is no doubting who the standard bearers at the very top of the game are, all others must aspire to match them. Barcelona are back, football is back.

Turtwig

C'mon Sevilla.

Last team to deny Barca a super cup too

hufpc8w3adnk65

Any sources in barca saying anything about Pedro too United lads?

Andersonisgod

MrMac84 wrote: »

Any sources in barca saying anything about Pedro too United lads?

Apparently Barcelona wanted to keep him at the club for the game tonight. After that it's more than likely he is on his way to Man Utd assuming they pay the buyout clause. He got a fantastic reception from the crowd tonight, a "Pedro" chant rang around the stadium several times.

hufpc8w3adnk65

What's his best position? Left or right of a front 3? As a #9 cf or as a #10 in the hole?

Turtwig

Pedro is a winger. Good with both feet. A very disciplined and intelligent one. He'll follow instructions to the letter. LVG needs to utilise him, not the other way around.

Pep's most potent role for him playing off the shoulder of the defender and keeping his width making runs to selflessly create space for others. His one touch passing ain't bad either. Key point is Pedro needs a dynamic system. If man Utd don't play it he'll look an incredible flop.

Andersonisgod

MrMac84 wrote: »

What's his best position? Left or right of a front 3? As a #9 cf or as a #10 in the hole?

I would say left of a front three where he can cut in on his right, though he has often played from the right too (most prominently during the days of the Villa-Messi-Pedro forward line). He's been utilized the odd time as a number 9 (and a false 9) both for club and country but the results were mixed at best. I can't say I remember him playing as a proper number 10, though a couple times last season in games he did play in the midfield 3, he even had a go as a right back and didn't look too shabby at all though I suspect not many clubs will use the right back position quite like Barcelona do.
Great attitude, tonnes of endeavor, boundless energy, he can also get goals (that is backed up by his record at international level and he's chipped in with quite a few for Barcelona too) and he can take on a player. Personally I think he's a better fit for Van Gaal's Man Utd than Di Maria was and, imo, he should make a good impact in the Premier League.

dfx-

Turtwig wrote: »

What about Messi, Iniesta, Xavi and Busquets when their team was at their peak?

Christ some of those plays could have been painted on a tapestry. They were that good.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zY3HEajlmi4&t=13m47s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9g3yDlbD0EI

gimmick

Traore signs for Villa? Aston bloody Villa on a 5 year deal.

Andersonisgod

gimmick wrote: »

Traore signs for Villa? Aston bloody Villa on a 5 year deal.

That's what we do now apparently, we sell our best academy prospects. Anyway this deal isn't as awful as first feared (though it's still pretty bad). €10 million, €2 million in add ons, a 5 year contract that includes a buy back clause that is valid for 3 years and also includes first option on the player too.
I'd have much preferred him spending a year on loan with a team in La Liga (there would have been no shortage in takers) or for him to just become a permanent member of the first team squad now but alas it wasn't to be.

Turtwig

He's not good enough to make the first team. Giving Barca's relegation to 3rd division he had to move.

Andersonisgod

Turtwig wrote: »

He's not good enough to make the first team. Giving Barca's relegation to 3rd division he had to move.

I'd say with Pedro moving on there would have been a decent amount of gametime for him in the squad. I think he's a better bet than Munir or Sandro.

MisterAnarchy

gimmick wrote: »

Traore signs for Villa? Aston bloody Villa on a 5 year deal.

Unfortunately we are going to see more and more of this nonsense happening due to the humongous tv money that the English teams get.
Its all about the money now .

gimmick

Whatever about the money in the EPL, I was hoping if he did leave he might sign for someone good. Villa are not that.

Andersonisgod

Lads the Barcelona game tonight vs Athletic Bilbao, is it on Sky Sports 5 or is it behind the red button cos it isn't listed yet Barcelona's Facebook say it's on Sky Sports 5.

Turtwig

SS5 showing on my listings anyway.

JPA

gimmick wrote: »

Whatever about the money in the EPL, I was hoping if he did leave he might sign for someone good. Villa are not that.

Don't give out about Villa, give out about Barca clearing out their academy.

Turtwig

Sky have changed their listings. Red button Now.
(Rain delays in tennis)