FC Barcelona Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread

dfx- · 08-11-2012 01:35AM

Iniesta was a strange one, almost subdued. The close control and touch and turns were there but seemed too cautious.

He had the beating of Mulgrew and Wanyama on breaks a couple of times only to stop and turn back slowing it down.

lubo_moravcik · 08-11-2012 07:50AM

Xavi: "The atmosphere was wonderful, the way the fans support their team... It's an example for all other teams." #fcblive #ucl

Tw Barcelona: "Congratulations to @CelticFC for well-earned victory a day after their 125-year anniversary. #FCBLive" [@fcbarcelona] #ucl

Vilanova: "I don't like to lose, but if we have to lose, let it be this way." #fcblive #ucl

Vilanova: "Congratulations to Celtic for the game, and to the Celtic fans for the spectacular role they play." #fcblive #ucl

Tw Bartra: "You can't always win, defeat at Celtic Park, but this will make us stronger! Great football atmosphere... #forçabarça"

Gerard Piqué ‏@3gerardpique

Unlucky that we lost even I think we played well. Happy to be back. No words to describe the atmosphere at Celtic Park.. #ChampionsLeague

gimmick · 08-11-2012 10:09AM

Once again I have to question the point of Sanchez. He is not good enough. Not even near it. He is lightweight, afraid to shoot and not particularly good on the ball. Hopefully a decent offer will come in for him soon and he can be let go of. Not a knee jerk reaction if you check my posts on him for the last 12 months.

On last night - disappointing but I would prefer lose that game than lose to Mallorca on Sunday. Barca will still win thegroup, so if anything, it will serve as a bit of a wake up call to the lackadaisical performances so far this season.

On the plus point of last night, I thought Bartra looked like he could develop into a top class player. Ok, he made 2 bad mistakes, but he is young and hasn't had a "real" centre half next to him in the first team yet. He would look a lot more composed next to Pique, Puyol or Abidal.

Davaeo09 · 08-11-2012 11:03AM

Starting to see what ya mean about Sanchez gimmick...

A question for everyone else who watched the game, did Barca seem afraid to use the ball through the middle? I know Celtic were deffending the area well but it seem as if certain players were afraid to try take on there marker, instead they'd pass the ball on well before the actual contact.

We need some one who will relish those physical duels.. badly.

dfx- · 10-11-2012 04:55AM

I don't think they were afraid, perhaps they were too slow to put it in there and get one-twos to open it up. Like the first goal for Iniesta at home to Celtic for example. I also don't think having Sanchez in there helped as an option through the middle.

Interview with Iniesta and Dr Lowe on the Guardian site.

dagdha · 11-11-2012 02:54PM

gimmick wrote: »

Once again I have to question the point of Sanchez. He is not good enough. Not even near it. He is lightweight, afraid to shoot and not particularly good on the ball. Hopefully a decent offer will come in for him soon and he can be let go of. Not a knee jerk reaction if you check my posts on him for the last 12 months.

As I said in earlier posts Sanchez really needs to get the finger out and find some form, I still think he is good and he is only 22/23 so he has time on his side but in this Barca team if you don't find form quickly there is plenty of other players ready to step in. I don't think his style of play is suited to the way Barca play, he would be alot more effective in a counter attacking team. He needs to take on more players and take more chances, I'll give him more time before I say he needs to be sold.

Villa has to start ahead of Sanchez today, I was surprised when he did'nt start against Celtic especially with the form he has shown in the minutes he has gotten since returning from injury.

miralize · 11-11-2012 02:56PM

Fairly early kickoff today 16:50, facing Fontas. Is he allowed to play for Mallorca?

dagdha · 11-11-2012 03:01PM

miralize wrote: »

Fairly early kickoff today 16:50, facing Fontas. Is he allowed to play for Mallorca?

I don't think there is a clause in his loan that says he can't face Barca. He said "it'll be special to face Barca" so I presume he is allowed to play although I don't think he has started too many games since the move but I could be wrong there.

dagdha · 11-11-2012 04:21PM

Villa and Fabregas start with Sanchez and Iniesta on the bench. Pique is back in the starting team which is good to see and Fontas is on the bench for Mallorca.

Barca line up:
Víctor Valdés, Dani Alves, Mascherano, Piqué, Jordi Alba, Xavi, Busquets, Fábregas, Tello, Messi, Villa.

Subs:
Iniesta, Alexis, Pinto, Bartra, Pedro, Montoya, Alex Song

The Floyd p · 11-11-2012 05:42PM

3-0 to Barca at HT! A brilliant FK by Xavi, fortunate goal by Messi and a great finish by Tello.

Great to see Pique back

Turtwig · 11-11-2012 05:48PM

That fortuitous goal by Messi is his 75th in the calendar year!:eek:
He's now equal with Pele's record.

miralize · 11-11-2012 05:51PM

Tello is doing very well. That stamp on Mascherano's heel looked sore as fook.

Turtwig · 11-11-2012 06:05PM

Another Deportivo game on here.
3-2.:D:D

dagdha · 11-11-2012 06:21PM

4-2. Messi gets his second and surpasses Peles record, great finish to the goal.

miralize · 17-11-2012 07:25PM

Messi has such a good first touch.

1-1. Zaragoza got a great equaliser

miralize · 17-11-2012 07:29PM

Song getting his first goal for Barca!

2-1

MaroonAndGreen · 18-11-2012 01:14AM

what did the game finish tonight?

miralize · 18-11-2012 01:17AM

3-1

Messi with 2, Song with 1

dfx- · 18-11-2012 01:31AM

...and Puyol back..

Seaneh · 18-11-2012 03:05AM

gimmick wrote: »

Once again I have to question the point of Sanchez. He is not good enough. Not even near it. He is lightweight, afraid to shoot and not particularly good on the ball. Hopefully a decent offer will come in for him soon and he can be let go of. Not a knee jerk reaction if you check my posts on him for the last 12 months.

I agree completely.
When you guys were in for him and it was rumoured it was between him and Pastore, I said pastore would be a better signing for any team because as a winger Sanchez is too greedy and can't cross the ball and as a central player he just doesn't have the technique, passing ability or brain. He's a small fast player, he's basically the Chilean Theo Walcott, against **** teams his speed will make him look great but against any half decent team he just looks a bit like a headless chicken. He never looks up either, once he starts running, it's tunnel vision until he loses possession. On top of all that, he's not even a good finisher.

jaykay74 · 19-11-2012 10:03AM

New shirt sponsors for Barca from next season.

Qatar Airways will become the main shirt sponsor of Spanish football giants FC Barcelona from the 2013-14 season, it has been announced.

Sandro Rosell, president of FC Barcelona, said in a statement posted on the club's official website that Qatar Airways was “an ambitious brand with global aspirations, always committed to achieving the utmost excellence in its field".

He added: "These are objectives with which FC Barcelona fully identifies.”

http://www.arabiansupplychain.com/article-8169-fc-barcelona-qatar-air-ink-sponsorship-deal/#.UKoDOOS9axw

gimmick · 19-11-2012 10:08AM

I thought it was a 6 year deal with the current lot?

jaykay74 · 19-11-2012 10:12AM

gimmick wrote: »

I thought it was a 6 year deal with the current lot?

Part of the same deal maybe. Just taking the charity name "Qatar Foundation?" off the shirt to to replaced by Qatar Air.

dfx- · 21-11-2012 04:28AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ff2rkqz3P4c

Magnificent

miralize · 21-11-2012 06:54AM

Dolph Starbeam · 26-11-2012 11:51AM

Barcelona field entirely homegrown team

http://eurosport.yahoo.com/blogs/pitchside-europe/barcelona-field-entirely-homegrown-team-093237514.html

M4_20121126_0943_25th-November-2012-v-Levante_Barcelonas-homegrown-XI.png

M4_20121126_0943_25th-November-2012-v-Levante_Barcelonas-homegrown-XI.png

Seaneh · 26-11-2012 12:06PM

Mark! wrote: »

Barcelona field entirely homegrown team

http://eurosport.yahoo.com/blogs/pitchside-europe/barcelona-field-entirely-homegrown-team-093237514.html

3 of them never would have become the players they are if they hadn't left Barca, one of them was even dumped by barca because he was "too short".

Seaneh · 26-11-2012 12:07PM

miralize wrote: »

Puyol, the only real man there.

Shower of jessies!

gimmick · 26-11-2012 12:30PM

Seaneh wrote: »

3 of them never would have become the players they are if they hadn't left Barca, one of them was even dumped by barca because he was "too short".

But they still came through La Masia. Pique was got back for a song. The other 2 were well paid for alright, but c'est la vie.

Davaeo09 · 26-11-2012 03:49PM

great performance last night, in the first half Levante packed the edge of the area, but once the second half started Iniesta pulled out a sensational through pall to put Messi through on goal. From then on it was all Barca.

Pique looked back to good form last night 97% pass accuracy and made allot of good tackles, covered allot of ground. I still reckon he has a long way to go until he is back to his best, but he's getting there.

Cuenca was back in training as of this morning I believe. He hasn't played at al for us this season, along side the return of thiago, this is some good news!

On the bad news front, dani alves is out for 12-16 days with a thigh strain.

FC Barcelona Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread

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