FC Barcelona - Campeones de España y Europa!

Of all the players we have been link with for the forward line, he was the one i most wanted us to sign, so i'm happy, though it is a bit pricey.

think it would be a good move for bojan as well

Yes, that's what's in his favour - he's more versatile and better at playing in the wide channels than Aguero. I have no idea about Neymar.

Plus, don't forget his personality. When have you ever heard of him being involved in any controversy or drama? A goody-two-shoes, just what Guardiola likes.

Not gay enough for us though.

What else to say? We are the smartest, the cutest and the most good looking side in the world.

Puyol to have knee surgery in the summer to be fit for the start of the season.

when the knees start to go, its the beginning of the end, need to buy a defender to replace him in the future

Messiah wrote:Puyol to have knee surgery in the summer to be fit for the start of the season.

when the knees start to go, its the beginning of the end, need to buy a defender to replace him in the future

I think Puyol should retire from international football after Spains qualifiers. He's 33 now, and injury looks like it's taken it's toll (not necessarily in terms of his performances which have been very good when he's on the pitch, but in terms of time on the sidelines). He's won everything he can with Spain, and he'll be 35 come the next Championships. That should help extend his career with Barca a little.

I still think he is as good as any other Barca defender when fit, and is still first choice as a result, but it's clear a replacement needs to be found now. I don't think Fontas is/will be good enough as a first choice. Abidal is an option, but then you'd need to bring in a LB. Or of course bring someone in; but who?

Bartra/Muniesa I think have more potential than Fontas, but neither are ready.

Calidad wrote:

Messiah wrote:Puyol to have knee surgery in the summer to be fit for the start of the season.

when the knees start to go, its the beginning of the end, need to buy a defender to replace him in the future

I think Puyol should retire from international football after Spains qualifiers. He's 33 now, and injury looks like it's taken it's toll (not necessarily in terms of his performances which have been very good when he's on the pitch, but in terms of time on the sidelines). He's won everything he can with Spain, and he'll be 35 come the next Championships. That should help extend his career with Barca a little.

I still think he is as good as any other Barca defender when fit, and is still first choice as a result, but it's clear a replacement needs to be found now. I don't think Fontas is/will be good enough as a first choice. Abidal is an option, but then you'd need to bring in a LB. Or of course bring someone in; but who?

Bartra/Muniesa I think have more potential than Fontas, but neither are ready.

as it relates to a LB we have been link with Angel of Sporting, so that could mean abidal becoming a permanent CB if maxwell doesn't leave, which will leave one spot open at the CB position.

They're of course a few kids coming through who could fill the spot, as well as Botia and Sahko who names have been rumored about recently

Was wondering what, if any, improvements this Barcelona side may look to make this summer? Other than age, is there actually any players who could make this side better than it already is?

One I earmarked, given I'm a Spurs fan, is Luka Modric as a potential left wing improvement on Pedro. But then again, Pedro has been pretty awesome this season.

If Luka were to leave Spurs, I sincerely hopes he goes to Spain and not to United or Chelsea. Although it would be a devastating loss to the Premier League, I have such respect for him that it would be brilliant to see him playing with the very best and get the recognition he deserves.

And at Madrid, he could produce a potential partnership with Ozil (assuming Mourinho "allowed" for it) to go toe-to-toe with Xave-Iniesta.

Alternatively of course, at Barcelona I could see him fitting in seemlessly in that midfield, and probably as a less expensive alternative to Fabregas.

Would Barca fans welcome a player like Modric, or do you believe you have enough quality coming through Le Masia + current team to avoid having to make any big money signing?

We need more goalscorers in the squad, not Modric, even though I'm a huge fan of him. And if it comes to signing another playmaker, Cesc will always be the priority. Anyway, I don't think there'll be a signing in this area in the summer, due to the signing of Afellay and the emergence of Thiago.

I think we'll see one more attacker (Rossi), and a couple of defenders (Angel and a CB - Botia?). Milito, Jeffren, Bojan, Bartra, Montoya, Fontas, Jonathan dos Santos are all candidates to leave - the first two permanently, the rest on loan.


@Calidad: why do you think Fontas is not good enough to be a starter? Everything I've seen so far suggests he will make it. Calm, composed, decent physical attributes, good with the ball, and relatively versatile (CB or DM).

I massive fan of Modric, but he would not be an improvment on Pedro, has pedro gives us goals that i don't see modric replacing.

as it relates to who can improve the team, i don't think they're many players the could improve the starting XI, but the squad can be impoved up on in the areas of defence and the forward line. the midfield i believe is set, we have six players with the promotion of thiago for 3 starting places and six excelleent players i believe.

But to expend the life of Xavi, i can see cesc/pastore who we have been linked with recently has messi it seems really wants to play with him, could come in, so that would allow for us to rotate,iniesta,xavi and the other througout the season, with Kieta and Thiago coming in for a few starts, but primarily off the bench.

a player like alex sanchez who i think would be the best fit for the forward line, could do the same thing with MVP, but is seems pep is a fan of Gerard, so he doesn't want a player so young and in pretty much in the same vain.

so if we get a player for each position in the spine of the team

CB
cesc/pastore
Rossi/Sanchez

to improve the squad, the denisty would last for a long time indeed

Messiah wrote:

Calidad wrote:

Messiah wrote:Puyol to have knee surgery in the summer to be fit for the start of the season.

when the knees start to go, its the beginning of the end, need to buy a defender to replace him in the future

I think Puyol should retire from international football after Spains qualifiers. He's 33 now, and injury looks like it's taken it's toll (not necessarily in terms of his performances which have been very good when he's on the pitch, but in terms of time on the sidelines). He's won everything he can with Spain, and he'll be 35 come the next Championships. That should help extend his career with Barca a little.

I still think he is as good as any other Barca defender when fit, and is still first choice as a result, but it's clear a replacement needs to be found now. I don't think Fontas is/will be good enough as a first choice. Abidal is an option, but then you'd need to bring in a LB. Or of course bring someone in; but who?

Bartra/Muniesa I think have more potential than Fontas, but neither are ready.

as it relates to a LB we have been link with Angel of Sporting, so that could mean abidal becoming a permanent CB if maxwell doesn't leave, which will leave one spot open at the CB position.

They're of course a few kids coming through who could fill the spot, as well as Botia and Sahko who names have been rumored about recently

Oh yes, I heard about Angel; would be a shrewd buy at a modest price.

I would sell Maxwell in any event, he isn't good enough to be a first choice at Barca. Adriano is a much better player. Maxwell has never been the same player since his Ajax days.

Botia looks good though I think for his own benefit he should only leave if he gets first team football for his own benefit. Sakho I haven't seen much of, but I know he's not a ball playing CB, more of a physical-athletic one.

Noah und der Bale wrote:Was wondering what, if any, improvements this Barcelona side may look to make this summer? Other than age, is there actually any players who could make this side better than it already is?

One I earmarked, given I'm a Spurs fan, is Luka Modric as a potential left wing improvement on Pedro. But then again, Pedro has been pretty awesome this season.

If Luka were to leave Spurs, I sincerely hopes he goes to Spain and not to United or Chelsea. Although it would be a devastating loss to the Premier League, I have such respect for him that it would be brilliant to see him playing with the very best and get the recognition he deserves.

And at Madrid, he could produce a potential partnership with Ozil (assuming Mourinho "allowed" for it) to go toe-to-toe with Xave-Iniesta.

Alternatively of course, at Barcelona I could see him fitting in seemlessly in that midfield, and probably as a less expensive alternative to Fabregas.

Would Barca fans welcome a player like Modric, or do you believe you have enough quality coming through Le Masia + current team to avoid having to make any big money signing?

I think Modric is an excellent player, and one of the best up and coming CM's about. But he isn't on Fabregas' level yet, nor Alonso, and dare I say, I think Sahin and Banega are better talents too, let alone Busquets + Xaviesta. Modric I feel still struggles to impose himself in the big games and can go 'missing' I don't think he'd make a difference to the Barca side, and nor would take Madrid to the next level. I certainly don't think he'd do a better job than Pedro as a LW. Modric simply isn't productive enough to be compared to the likes of Snejider or Ozil either as AM's.

The midfield shouldn't be touched. They should stay clear of Fabregas, and rotate a little more with Afellay, Keita, Mascherano and Thiago.

The first choice defence is fine, but lacks depth. Milito is past it and on his way out. There's currently no reliable/trusted CB backup if one of Puyol/Pique are out unless Abidal is moved central. I do think someone is needed, but I don't know who. I do like Vertonghen but others have said he's not good enough. I would have went for Luiz last season tbh.

Up front is tricky. They lack depth, but that's because Bojan has stagnated a little. Whether Pep think he deserves another season or not I don't know, but if he isn't trusted then they need a backup, preferably someone who can fill in for all three positions. Afellay looks talented, but not a goal scorer. Someone like Aguero/Rossi/Sanchez would provide genuine competition for Villa/Pedro and will be realistic first team choices. Or they could go for someone happy to be a backup, but who can contribute when called upon. I don't know what the right thing is. I guess that's for Pep/the management to work out.

Btw if anyone ever wonders why I take a lot of interest in Barca, my Grandad was half Catalan...They also play great football/

@Kas

I have no substance to back that up really, it's just what I feel. I don't think he Barca's long term solution as a first choice CB. He looks solid enough, but a little slow - I just don't think he quite has that level in him to be a Pique or Puyol but perhaps he'll prove me wrong.

Signing Cesc would be such a mistake, mainly for him I suppose. He's good, but no way near the level of Xavi, Iniesta or Busquets for the time being.

Busquets is criminally under-rated because he's such a tit. Only has himself to blame I suppose but his performance last night was up there with any performance from a holding midfielder I've ever seen. Fucking brilliant.

Cheers Kas/Messiah/Calidad - interesting to hear how Barca fans will improve on this team.

Seems clear not much tinkering is necessary currently.

I just came across this little gem from Valdano

"Barcelona F.C. has become an alternative Saturday night entertainment. People now say to their partners..' What shall we do tonight? Catch a film, go out for a meal or watch Barca on the tele.? ".

Stumbled upon this by chance on the zonalmarking website so some of you mau have already read it:

https://2img.net/r/ihimizer/img704/8788/marcotti1.jpg Original article

http://www.zonalmarking.net/2010/05/04/how-the-2000s-changed-tactics-1-the-fall-and-rise-of-the-passing-midfielder/

And illustrating the football in what has really only occurred in the last three years - Barca's first champions league win and Spain winning the european cup.
Zonal marking touches on the irony of it all. Think you can take it even further. If Guardiola had a coach like himself, he probably would've been a feature in the Barca side up to and including his first champions league victory. The idea of Xavi still having a role when he's 37 seems pretty likely.

Also think it illustrates how this Barcelona side are better than the Galacticos. Both in what they've done, and also, if the two teams were to play. The galacticos would not know what hit them.

Some of the players went to the Shakira concert yesterday. Pique certainly had a good time.

According to sport the three main targets for the summer transfer market are

Rossi
Sanchez
Cesc

now their are a couple of things i see wrong with this

the first is pretty obvious why would be want to buy both rossi and sanchez and if by translation isn't wrong thats exactly what i saw, these players added to MVP, would be too much i think and we will be doing a Madrid or City and just buying players that we don't really need.

the 2nd thing is that they are saying Botia may be included in the rossi deal to bring down the price to about 25m. now i personally would be pissed about this, has i was looking forward to see botia return home this summer.

rossel also claims he is not willing to pay no more than 25m for cesc which is a bit of a joke in today's market has much has i hate him.

it is also being said the william of shahktar is the back up if we don't get Rossi or Sanchez

They definitely won't sign more than 1 of those 3 players. Apart from William, the other name being linked is of course Pastore.


btw, I think the main reason for signing Angel and getting rid of Maxwell is not because of the latter's performances, but because of his agent: Raiola. I'll be glad once no more of his players are at our club

Has anyone followed Botia regularly? What sort of a CB is he? I know he is highly rated, but is he fast/physcial; a ball playing CB?

Although still very naive I like the look of Amat at Espanyol. Very elegant.

There's an argument for going for Botia rather than a more expensive option (a la Caceres, Chyggers etc) Aside from getting the very best at huge prices (Vidic, Silva, etc) a cheapish or even youth product may be the better bet than going for a middling sort of buy in the 10-15m mark who may well fail anyway. In all honesty there are hardly any standout options in the market at the moment for CB's who are realistic/affordable.

Perhaps Pique, Puyol, Abidal, Botia, Fontas/Barta (loan one of them) would be sufficient.

the deal for angel is off according to sport the clubs couldn't come to an agreement.

Botia is a pique type defender, but not has good a passer, but more physical, not fast but he reads the game well so it makes up for his lack of pass.

their is a new argument that pep is not looking for a specialist CB, since he has abidal,masch and busquets that can play competently at the CB position which is way they were being linked with Angel to back up the LB position when abidal has to move to the center.

i doubt we will be signing a CB this season, based on the news through the wires, Pep will reply on Pique and Puyol, with abidal,mmasch,busquets and Fontas backing them up.

would like to see botia back put pep doesn't seem to rate him.

a few good articles on the bbc

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/jonathanstevenson/2011/05/proud_guardiola_nears_end_of_b.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thefootballtacticsblog/2011/05/barcelona_provide_a_coachs_dre.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/european/8545070/Alan-Hansen-Barcelona-are-the-greatest-but-my-Liverpool-would-have-tested-them-more.html

How highly do you guys rate Pep then ?

The main core of this group of players have won major trophies under
-Aragones
-Del B
-Rijkaard

and now Pep

I guess that is part of the reason he will eventually want out. It is barely even a challenge anymore (there is only possibly Kas left on planet earth who thinks it is ). Do these players even need a coach ?

video showing some of man utd tactically mistakes against us