FC Barcelona - Campeones de España y Europa!

Hope he's ok soon. Not just a good footballer, but a great person.

The news seems to be that it's non-malignant and he'll be back within 5-6 weeks. Hope that's true

Hope everything goes well for Abidal

Luis wrote:Hope everything goes well for Abidal

The surgery was a 'success'

On another topic; I wonder how much Barca can expect to get in terms of player sales in the Summer? Possibilities include Jefferen, Caceres, Henrique, Kerrison, Hleb, Maxwell & Ibrahimovic. Surely we're looking at 40-50+m Euro there?

Fontas has been promoted. Looked decent in games like Shaktar + Betis. Looks composed, but perhaps a little slow? Thiago will also be promoted next season, and hopefully Pep DOESN'T use him sparingly, and will thus get to start the odd game against 'weaker' opposition, as well as be a regular sub for Xaviesta to allow them some rest.

I would loan Bojan out for a season.

Who needs to be brought in? Maybe a CB or LB (if Abidal moves central) and a ST/FW and that'd be it I think.

Won't get much for Jeffren, he'll probably go in a 2m euro with buyback option after 2 years kind of deal to Getafe or Sporting or wherever Luis Enrique takes over.

I think the contracts of Caceres, Henrique, Keirrison, Hleb are all finishing or will have just 1 year left. Anyway, none of them will be worth more than 5m euros each. I'd be surprised if we get more than 10m for the 4 of them combined.

Milito too, just 1 year on his contract but will almost certainly leave on a free or for a minimal amount.

Not sure if the rumoured bids for Maxwell are true, and whether he really will be sold or not.

Ibrahimovic will go for the same price agreed last year, 28m euros IIRC.

So in total I expect player sales to earn the club about 35m euros.

IMO the 2 priorities are a right sided forward (Pato, Nilmar, Sanchez are the names being linked), and cover in defense...whether that cover is a RB, or a CB, or a LB...all depends on Abidal's status, Fontas' progress, the decision on Maxwell, and Alves' contract renewal (which I do think will happen in the end).

And I do think they're going to go back for Cesc, but if that's true, then Afellay should be sold...not enough room for so many midfielders.

Do you want the club to go for Cesc?

I don't think Pato is realistic. Nilmar, I think is excellent though I would personally like to see him stay at Villarreal, who have a small but very talented squad. Sanchez would be fantastic purchase, at least on paper, though seems to be more strongly linked with Utd + Inter. Btw when you say right sided, do you mean right footed or someone to play on the right?

I don't think Nilmar has a workrate to fit in Barcelona system, Rossi on the other side

They need a right sided forward because "Pedro isn't good enough"!

Jaime wrote:

They need a right sided forward because "Pedro isn't good enough"!

To be fair, Barca has only two players who can play as wide forwards in "false 9" system, and with Villa only being able to play on the left, Pedro being able to play on either side right sided forward makes sense.

So is Sanchez right or left footed then? I thought he was right footed?

stinger wrote:

Jaime wrote:

They need a right sided forward because "Pedro isn't good enough"!

To be fair, Barca has only two players who can play as wide forwards in "false 9" system, and with Villa only being able to play on the left, Pedro being able to play on either side right sided forward makes sense.

True, but you don't pay 25m for a player to sit him on the bench or send him on loan.

Oh wait.

Barcelona do.

All the time.

I would go for an LB, and a two footed winger... If Bojan leaves or is reroled to a winger, then I would go for a back up striker.. If Jeffren leaves, then the left side should be covered by Villa, Afellay, Iniesta and Maxwell. However we are short on the right side since Pedro is the only one that plays there and Messi is wasted there.

LB dream would be Bale, but I doubt that.. Winger/striker, well Neymar, Sanchez would be good but I think it will be somebody lower profile.

My personal fetish would be Pastore.. I would loooooooove to see him join but it would brake Thiagos progression. I dont think we need a CB (especially if Abidal is reroled and Milito stays) but Kjaer would be nice since he can play the ball.

Kjaer does look very suspect playing in Bundesliga, there's not much good when central defender can pass, but can't actually defend.

I think Cesc would still fit in well, but I would not be pleased if we pay big money for him. I'm happy to wait a couple of seasons till his contract is nearing its end.

When I say "right-sided", I do mean someone who can play on the right, doesn't have to be right-footed. It's not just in attack, the team in general is filled with players who are more comfortable on the left. Adriano is the theoretical backup to Alves, but has been more comfortable when he plays LB than RB. Similarly, there's no genuine backup to Xavi as the "right-sided" CM. Iniesta and Afellay both tend to operate in the left side. I suppose this is where Cesc or Thiago would come into play.

Rossi is indeed a better player than Nilmar, and I would welcome his signing. Fights for the ball, good skill and control, great finishing. Plus he can play anywhere across the front 3. Just mentioned Nilmar because that was the latest rumour going around, although there was one story earlier in the year about how Guardiola really likes Rossi.

Not convinced by Sanchez or Bale as transfers...both are young, exciting players with huge potential, but the price tag is ridiculous. And they are both very "direct" players - in a way it's good to have that in our squad (we've seen the benefit from Pedro or Villa's runs stretching the opponents' defense) but not sure it fits our normal style of play too well.

There will definitely be one big star signing, but I think we should expect some "surprise" transfers, like Adriano last summer. Keep your eye on those players who are on a free or just have 1 year left. That's the tactic employed to great success by Rosell.

Zubizarreta has confirmed that Abidal is done for the season but that he should be ready to return to action by the start of the 2011/12 campaign.

Dani Alves has agreed to extend his contract till 2015


More than the fact that player is staying, I'm happy that this will *finally* put an end to the non-stop "what's the latest on Alves' renewal" story and quotes that have been in the news *every day*.

Is there anyone besides me who think that Podolski would do very well in Barca system as a wide forward?

*Villa back up* Why not...

Hlebagone wrote:*Villa back up* Why not...

Hmm, thought more about Podolski as a backup for Pedro (who can play on either side) and Villa

Strikes me as another Bojan. ie. mentally weak, but with a more powerful/accurate shot.

So...Villarreal away, after an int'l break, and Messi may have an injury.

Let's just give them the 3 points already

With the injuries it's a perfect time to start Afellay after two excellent games for the Netherlands in the week.

--------------Valdes
Alves---Pique--Milito---Adriano
--------------Busquets
------------Iniesta--Keita
Bojan--------Villa------Afellay

Messi, Pedro, Maxwell are supposedly all injured. Xavi and Masch played both games in the week, but no doubt Guardiola won't play the above lineup as he doesn't really like resting players.

Pedro and Maxwell will be fit, Messi is still an unknown. Bojan is injured.

So we definitely won't see that lineup. But yes, Afellay deserves a start.

Yes, he deserves, but not at this game.
Unfortunately, if there are no other options, he have to start.
But without Messi, Xavi, Pedro, "Bojan" to step in and Milito instead of Puyol or Abidal, things don't look good at all.
I hope for a draw.

Rosell, when asked about the Copa final:

Pongo un 5-0 en la porra para no perder costumbre

What a fucking idiot
Looks like he too has succumbed to Laporta-itis. Now the Madrid press will have a field day. And you can expect more than one jibe from Mourinho about it too.

fcb wrote:Rosell, when asked about the Copa final:

Pongo un 5-0 en la porra para no perder costumbre

What a fucking idiot
Looks like he too has succumbed to Laporta-itis. Now the Madrid press will have a field day. And you can expect more than one jibe from Mourinho about it too.

And who was it? Hlebegone (?) who was saying he liked Barcelona because they weren't arrogant!

Mourinho is right, if he said something like this Barcelona would be crying for him to be imprisoned. Apparently Jose has posted Rosell's quote in the dressing room. Ooooooh!

After several years on this board, pretty sure it wasn't me!

I think it was Kroos.

Luis/Kroos, one of the two..

Oh yeah it was Kroos! Sorry Hleb!