FC Barcelona Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread

AgileMyth · 12-08-2011 01:32PM

Raskolnikov wrote: »

A 4-3-3 of Valdes, Abidal, Pique, Puyol, Alves, Fabregas, Iniesta, Xavi, Messi, Sanchez, and Villa? Wonder how Pedro will feel moving from being a first team player to bench player. Also, one of Keita, Busquets and Mascherano will get almost no game time this season.

Doubt it. If you replace a defensive midfield player with Cesc the entire system will fall apart. Full backs won't be covered when they come forward. It won't work.
More likely hes back up to both Xavi and Iniesta, but will slowly replace Xavi over the next few seasons.

Raskolnikov · 12-08-2011 01:39PM

AgileMyth wrote: »

Doubt it. If you replace a defensive midfield player with Cesc the entire system will fall apart. Full backs won't be covered when they come forward. It won't work.
More likely hes back up to both Xavi and Iniesta, but will slowly replace Xavi over the next few seasons.

Fabregas can tackle though and can put in as good as shift as any player in the centre of midfield. It would be frightening to consider the possession statistics of a Fab/Xavi/Iniesta combination against some of the lower level La Liga teams.

gimmick · 12-08-2011 01:44PM

Wont happen that way. Fabregas will not be used in the DM position at any stage Id argue.

redout · 12-08-2011 01:49PM

gimmick wrote: »

Wont happen that way. Fabregas will not be used in the DM position at any stage Id argue.

Sure why would he when there is already 2 world class DMs in the team?

Would be a waste of his talents anyway - far more effective in an offensive role.

Him and Thiago will be doing a fair bit of rotation with Xavi and Iniesta though expect the regulars to be used for the big games - same goes for Masch and Busi.

Xavi, Busquets and Iniesta in still the first choice as far as I can see.

Davaeo09 · 12-08-2011 02:59PM

To be honest this has been the best thing that's happened for me all week! No more BS recycled journalism.

I for one cannot wait to see how quickly he will settle in. How Pep rotates the forwards/wide players/ mid-fielders this season. Iniesta and Thia-goal, as well as Affelay are well known for their versatility across the final third of the pitch. This and our slightly bigger squad will carry us over the line this season.

I said this before, maybe not on here but I am really impressed with the business done this summer, all things considered. I personally believe we are only short in one position and that's RB. The type of player Dani Alves is (RWB, sprinter) cannot play at 100% all season.. Do you fellow Cules feel Adriano is versatile enough to cover him? I think he looks allot less comfortable at RB than LB but that's to be expected.

Also, I wonder if Cesc's first appearance will be at the Nou Camp on Wednesday? is that possible? :pac:

eZe^ · 12-08-2011 03:40PM

MONTOYA FOR RB

redout · 12-08-2011 03:52PM

Davaeo09 wrote: »

I personally believe we are only short in one position and that's RB. The type of player Dani Alves is (RWB, sprinter) cannot play at 100% all season.. Do you fellow Cules feel Adriano is versatile enough to cover him? I think he looks allot less comfortable at RB than LB but that's to be expected.

Aye, I said this a couple of weeks myself - RB needs to be strengthened.

Dani Alves played the most minutes of all players last season.

I know he has 3 lungs apparently but the chap needs a breather from time to time.

Montoya only made 2 apps last season totalling 15mins so he still needs the sort of season that Fontas and Thiago recently had before he can realistically step up.

Didnt he break his shoulder in one of the last games of the season?

eZe^ · 12-08-2011 07:30PM

redout wrote: »

Aye, I said this a couple of weeks myself - RB needs to be strengthened.

Dani Alves played the most minutes of all players last season.

I know he has 3 lungs apparently but the chap needs a breather from time to time.

Montoya only made 2 apps last season totalling 15mins so he still needs the sort of season that Fontas and Thiago recently had before he can realistically step up.

Didnt he break his shoulder in one of the last games of the season?

He was amazeballs for Spain at the Euros this year, he has the quality to step up.

miralize · 12-08-2011 07:36PM

Adriano did well enough when filling in for Abidal last season, I'd imagine he'd provide adequate cover for the time being. Hopefully we see some activity in the area in January or Summer 2012.

Dolph Starbeam · 14-08-2011 09:37PM

Odd timing during the game but it is now official though we already knew

http://www.fcbarcelona.cat/web/english/noticies/futbol/temporada11-12/08/14/n110810118729.html

Turtwig · 14-08-2011 09:38PM

Mark! wrote: »

Odd timing during the game but it is now official though we already knew

http://www.fcbarcelona.cat/web/english/noticies/futbol/temporada11-12/08/14/n110810118729.html

Yeah, Arsenal choose a weird time to make the announcement.

Pepe LeFrits · 14-08-2011 09:41PM

Arsenal weren't playing.

redout · 14-08-2011 10:06PM

Anyways thought Alexis looked sharp - cant wait to see him when the team gets up to speed.

Noticed a big change once Xavi came on - looked like normal business had resumed.

Turtwig · 14-08-2011 10:15PM

redout wrote: »

Anyways thought Alexis looked sharp - cant wait to see him when the team gets up to speed.

Noticed a big change once Xavi came on - looked like normal business had resumed.

Agreed about Xavi he really does make Barca tick faster. Iniesta was immense all game tho. Mention him! Mention Him! Sanchez looked good alright and there was one occasion where if Messi was a little bit less selfish Sanchez could have been clean in on goal. Was it just me or did Villa not look happy with Pep when he was taken off?

redout · 14-08-2011 10:37PM

Malty_T wrote: »

Agreed about Xavi he really does make Barca tick faster. Iniesta was immense all game tho. Mention him! Mention Him! Sanchez looked good alright and there was one occasion where if Messi was a little bit less selfish Sanchez could have been clean in on goal. Was it just me or did Villa not look happy with Pep when he was taken off?

Thing is we cant really have any complaints.

Pep has only had the full squad together once since pre-season began on 18th July and that was friday!

Time to get the heads down with the first important match against Malaga only a week away.

Cant wait to see Malaga - the arab has brought some decent players to the club.

Cazorla, Demichelis, Joaquín,Toulalan, Mathijsen, RVN, Baptista.

Good manager - quality players = hopefully seeing them push for Europe.

Iniesta as you said looked his usual self - I love that chap.

I think Villa thought Alexis was coming off and not him.

gimmick · 15-08-2011 10:29AM

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Medical is happening as we speak.

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Equium · 15-08-2011 10:54AM

redout wrote: »

Good manager - quality players = hopefully seeing them push for Europe.

Not exactly sure how that equation works!

Anyway, it should be interesting to see where Fabregas fits in. Although nowhere near the class of Xavi, I can see them rotating quite a lot. Thiago has the ability to do that job but for the moment I don't think he dictates the game enough. Hopefully that comes with experience.

In my eyes that leaves one position that needs strengthening: Centre back. Mascherano, Busquets and Abidal can of course cover but it's not ideal. Fontas is a little inexperienced too.

gimmick · 15-08-2011 11:15AM

373685443.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAJF3XCCKACR3QDMOA&Expires=1313407867&Signature=XOh15cD4Oj7bk%2F3TKgo%2BdmfePjQ%3D

Who's a happy boy?

miralize · 15-08-2011 11:25AM

gimmick wrote: »

Who's a happy boy?

Sandro's a happy boy!

redout · 15-08-2011 11:49AM

Blatter · 15-08-2011 11:55AM

Apologies for the sideway pic

Kissing the badge..

redout · 15-08-2011 12:03PM

€29m apparently with a possible €5m in variables.

€55m for both Alexis and Cesc would seem a bargain considering both were quoted around that figure separately.

Some great business done this summer - well done Sandro, Zubi.

redout · 15-08-2011 12:46PM

First quality image I have seen - he just said he is fit in the conference - debut wednesday?

miralize · 15-08-2011 01:37PM

More

I'm hopeful he'll be given some gametime at least, perhaps a full 90 like Alexis last night, but I don't know how fit he is

Big Pussy Bonpensiero · 15-08-2011 01:44PM

Only Catalan with a tattoo?? Didn't even know he had one till I saw them pics^

redout · 15-08-2011 01:48PM

miralize wrote: »

I'm hopeful he'll be given some gametime at least, perhaps a full 90 like Alexis last night, but I don't know how fit he is

He said during the press conference that he was fit - I would imagine its up to Pep now.

Messi threw-up during last nights match - doesnt sound good.

That was Messi's 11th goal against Madrid - 7 have come at the Bernabeu.

eZe^ · 15-08-2011 01:52PM

THFC wrote: »

Only Catalan with a tattoo?? Didn't even know he had one till I saw them pics^

Valdes has one.

gimmick · 15-08-2011 01:54PM

Ya, I was thinking he has an uncanny knack for scoring against them.

Happy with last nights match, but I really hope we dont see Abidal and Masch together for any important matches at CB. They looked very ropey to say the least. Adriano was poor enough as well last night.

I liked what I saw of Sanchez, but he seemed to have a knack of being slightly offside a lot of the time. And they were silly offsides where he just moved too early. When he gets int the rhythm of the team he will cause trouble for the opposition.

Considering barca were without 5 first choice players for the main part of the game last night, you can only be happy with the performance, especially given the fact that that was The Dictatorships strangest side.

If The Dictatorship play like that this season they will be extremely hard to stop. Looked very fluid.

Looking forward to the season ahead.

redout · 15-08-2011 02:18PM

gimmick wrote: »

Ya, I was thinking he has an uncanny knack for scoring against them.

Happy with last nights match, but I really hope we dont see Abidal and Masch together for any important matches at CB. They looked very ropey to say the least. Adriano was poor enough as well last night.

I liked what I saw of Sanchez, but he seemed to have a knack of being slightly offside a lot of the time. And they were silly offsides where he just moved too early. When he gets int the rhythm of the team he will cause trouble for the opposition.

Considering barca were without 5 first choice players for the main part of the game last night, you can only be happy with the performance, especially given the fact that that was The Dictatorships strangest side.

If The Dictatorship play like that this season they will be extremely hard to stop. Looked very fluid.

Looking forward to the season ahead.

The way I look at it is so:

As you said they fielded their strongest side.

Madrid were fitter, have been in pre-season longer, playing at home and still couldnt muster up a victory.

Barça on the other hand were missing their spine with the absence of Xavi, Busquets and Pique not to mention Puyo.

Fielded yet another makeshift CB pairing with a DMF and a LB.

I honestly thought normal order was restored once Xavi came on after the equaliser.

Barça started to gain control and upped the possession.

The purpose of the Supercopa is to give Pep 2 more opportunities to regain their fitness/sharpness - the real football begins on 21st Aug in Malaga.

Glico Man · 15-08-2011 02:28PM

As much as I like our business this summer, I'd still like to see a proper CB brought in. As much as Masch and Sergio are capable of playing there, I'd much rather a strong CB. Although I'm also wondering what's happened to Marc Muniesa?? Was heralded as the next Pique no more than 2 seasons ago but haven't heard much since, other than a few paper stories linking him to United.

FC Barcelona Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread

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