FC Barcelona Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread

miralize · 08-03-2014 09:28PM

Just after international break, bit of a flat performance, but this team is capable of bouncing back. We always have a bit of a sh*t spring.

Davaeo09 · 09-03-2014 03:20AM

I think certain players could really do with a good kick up the arse. As some people have said Messi is often way to static and Pedro/Sanchez and Cesc all suffer from that. When Messi was out Barca were more fluid. It seems like we rush the ball forward to himself and Neymar way too often and today they were both very poor. Messi is obviously Messi, and Neymar has huge potential but at times I wonder how serious they are about working for the team and not just them selves!

Also not sure if any body has heard but it sounds like Iniesta's wife has miscarried... a rotten thing to happen and I really wish them well, he seems like such a nice, genuine guy.

gimmick · 13-03-2014 11:04AM

Happy with last nights progress, but unless Barca draw Manyoo or Olympiakos in the QF, thats it for another CL season. I do not see Barca winning it outright anyway, but it would be nice to keep the semi final run going.

I thought Neymar was very poor again last night. I have been trying to look for his positives since signing, but honestly, I am not seeing them. Presumably its due to a bedding in period, but given the money he has cost, you are supposed to hit the ground running.

I hope he goes on to make the above statement look ridiculous.

Also, last night, I thought Mascherano was immense. Quietly got the job done, no fuss. More of the same please.

miralize · 13-03-2014 11:12AM

gimmick wrote: »

Happy with last nights progress, but unless Barca draw Manyoo or Olympiakos in the QF, thats it for another CL season. I do not see Barca winning it outright anyway, but it would be nice to keep the semi final run going.

I thought Neymar was very poor again last night. I have been trying to look for his positives since signing, but honestly, I am not seeing them. Presumably its due to a bedding in period, but given the money he has cost, you are supposed to hit the ground running.

I hope he goes on to make the above statement look ridiculous.

Also, last night, I thought Mascherano was immense. Quietly got the job done, no fuss. More of the same please.

Pique was also fantastic last night. Neymar was poor but he was showing glimpses of quality in the first half. He's just after coming back from injuries, he'll get better.

Xavi still annoys me sometimes. Multiple opportunities for the easy pass but he tries to overdo it, giving the opponent time to get back.

Iniesta was superb, especially given what he's been going through recently. Pure professional.

Davaeo09 · 13-03-2014 12:59PM

Also, Jordi Alba was beast for the 180+ minutes

It's worth noting than when both of our full backs stay back we are WAAAAY less leaky at the back. It's about picking when to get forward and our full backs certainly done that well!

Also Alves is some character really.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qtp1n8P8YEA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9j0HPZuOKQ

dfx- · 14-03-2014 07:52PM

Preaching to the converted obviously, but Barney Ronay, oft Barelona critic - describing them as a hamburger before the 2011 final - sees the error of his ways in Xavi...

http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2014/mar/14/xavi-barcelona-champions-league-spain

Turtwig · 14-03-2014 08:01PM

dfx- wrote: »

Preaching to the converted obviously, but Barney Ronay, oft Barelona critic - describing them as a hamburger before the 2011 final - sees the error of his ways in Xavi...

http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2014/mar/14/xavi-barcelona-champions-league-spain

Just saw that. That youtube link to his malaga pass still blows my mind!:eek:

dfx- · 16-03-2014 09:39PM

Think Iniesta's goal was my favourite today..

Turtwig · 16-03-2014 11:10PM

dfx- wrote: »

Think Iniesta's goal was my favourite today..

Tello's, for me.
Had to add the "for me".

MisterAnarchy · 17-03-2014 01:18AM

Barca warming up nicely for El Classico next weekend ,hopefully its a cracker.
Nice to see the match is a night kick off ,8pm Irish time .

Talib Fiasco · 17-03-2014 12:38PM

Probably not the proper place for it but it's probably the most fitting thread, but Rivaldo has announced his retirement at 41...such a legend...was always a hero of mine growing up. He was unstoppable on his day and was such a joy to watch all throughout his career.

And who can forget this performance, probably the best hat-trick of all time given the context and quality of goals.

Ulysses Gaze · 17-03-2014 12:43PM

Talib Fiasco wrote: »

Probably not the proper place for it but it's probably the most fitting thread, but Rivaldo has announced his retirement at 41...such a legend...was always a hero of mine growing up. He was unstoppable on his day and was such a joy to watch all throughout his career.

And who can forget this performance, probably the best hat-trick of all time given the context and quality of goals.

The third goal is one of the greatest I have seen.

Only a special player could score that.

Harvey Low Fat Milk · 17-03-2014 01:17PM

Ulysses Gaze wrote: »

The third goal is one of the greatest I have seen.

Only a special player could score that.

He's the player that got me interested in Barcelona as a team and he was also immense in the World Cup in 2002.

gimmick · 17-03-2014 08:53PM

Seems Martino is leaving at the end of the season. Presser happening right now.

Edit: board are denying it. Esport are the ones behind the claim.

Turtwig · 17-03-2014 08:54PM

gimmick wrote: »

Seems Martino is leaving at the end of the season. Presser happening right now.

Jesus! Seriously?
He wasn't doing a half bad job.

Agueroooo · 17-03-2014 08:55PM

gimmick wrote: »

Seems Martino is leaving at the end of the season. Presser happening right now.

Just read that.

any idea who might take over?

gimmick · 17-03-2014 08:55PM

Just edited above. The board are denying. It's just one tv station reporting it.

MisterAnarchy · 17-03-2014 09:02PM

Jernal wrote: »

Jesus! Seriously?
He wasn't doing a half bad job.

Bizarre really,4 points off the top of the league ,in the Cup final and in the quarter finals of the Champions league.

Meanwhile in Manchester ,a manager completely out of his depth is breaking all sorts of unwanted records and is safe in a job.:mad:

Ulysses Gaze · 17-03-2014 09:03PM

MisterAnarchy wrote: »

Bizarre really,4 points off the top of the league ,in the Cup final and in the quarter finals of the Champions league.

Meanwhile in Manchester ,a manager completely out of his depth is breaking all sorts of unwanted records and is safe in a job.:mad:

That's football for you!

Turtwig · 17-03-2014 09:06PM

MisterAnarchy wrote: »

Bizarre really,4 points off the top of the league ,in the Cup final and in the quarter finals of the Champions league.

Meanwhile in Manchester ,a manager completely out of his depth is breaking all sorts of unwanted records and is safe in a job.:mad:

Crucially they've looked more defensively solid than I've seen them in a few years. He made Barcelona steely again and they're considering sacking him. I sincerely hope it's more a case of him not liking the attitude he's been treated with all season by the media and the possibly the zealot players.

miralize · 17-03-2014 09:07PM

United could do so much worse than Martino.

I'd rather he not leave, he needs at least 2 seasons to make his mark. He'll always be compared to Pep, but he's done fantastic with what he has, in terms of defensive players & getting new ideas across. The media makes him out to be unhappy, and if he is, thats his right to.

But if he isnt unhappy, give him an actual window to buy a player he thinks we need. Thats his real test : can he spot quality Barcelona need.

Ulysses Gaze · 17-03-2014 09:32PM

miralize wrote: »

United could do so much worse than Martino.

I'd rather he not leave, he needs at least 2 seasons to make his mark. He'll always be compared to Pep, but he's done fantastic with what he has, in terms of defensive players & getting new ideas across. The media makes him out to be unhappy, and if he is, thats his right to.

But if he isnt unhappy, give him an actual window to buy a player he thinks we need. Thats his real test : can he spot quality Barcelona need.

I guess all this will depend on the results of Barca Presidential elections.

Any word on this? Any chance of Laporta running again and winning?

JPA · 17-03-2014 09:48PM

Jernal wrote: »

Jesus! Seriously?
He wasn't doing a half bad job.

Almost common knowledge I would have thought.

Andersonisgod · 18-03-2014 06:34PM

1-0 to Barcelona Juvenil A, against Arsenal. Munir's pressing pays dividends.

ronjo · 18-03-2014 06:36PM

Andersonisgod wrote: »

1-0 to Barcelona Juvenil A, against Arsenal. Munir's pressing pays dividends.

How poor are Barca at playing from the back though? Lost posession at leastb5 times in first 20 minutes.

greendom · 18-03-2014 06:39PM

Andersonisgod wrote: »

1-0 to Barcelona Juvenil A, against Arsenal. Munir's pressing pays dividends.

no mention of the Arsenal missed penalty or how well they had been playing?

Andersonisgod · 18-03-2014 06:39PM

ronjo wrote: »

How poor are Barca at playing from the back though? Lost posession at leastb5 times in first 20 minutes.

It's been sloppy at times but I can't criticise them, they believe in playing a certain way and they stick to it. Though at times it has been risky and has occasionally led to trouble, when they have beaten the Arsenal press though they are in at the back four.

Andersonisgod · 18-03-2014 06:41PM

greendom wrote: »

no mention of the Arsenal missed penalty or how well they had been playing?

Ye they had done well but now Barcelona are going through the gears and the quality of Adama is being felt.

Turtwig · 18-03-2014 06:41PM

greendom wrote: »

no mention of the Arsenal missed penalty or how well they had been playing?

Were you expecting impartiality from AIG?

Andersonisgod · 18-03-2014 06:41PM

Jernal wrote: »

Were you expecting impartiality from AIG?

Ah very harsh Jernal, I've given them their due.

FC Barcelona Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread

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