FC Barcelona - Campeones de España y Europa!

muniesa out of the U20 world cup with yet another injury, it will be a shame if injury stopped him from fulfilling is undoubted potential

Still think that Rossi would be a better fit than Sanchez, as he's more used to the patient attacking build up, than Sanchez, who's used to quick counter attack in Udinese, as well as Chile NT. Plus he would be a better long term relationship for Villa.

Wouldn't be surprised if Rossi's transfer would be blocked because Villarreal wouldn't agree to Barca demands of paying for the transfer over a next few years.

Rossi is a low risk, med payoff transfer, he would have surely fitted into the team seamlessly. sanchez on the other-hand is a high risk, high payoff transfer, if he gels it will be worth every penny.

i think pep went for sanchez, because he is use to the high pressure game from chile and Udinese, so he won't have any trouble adapting to the system in that respect.

that combined with the fact that we have only one dribbler in the front line and sanchez would add that has well which means when he and messi's starts team will have to be doubling up on them both, as one defender can't mark them, thus freeing up more space for the rest of the team.

rossi would have fitted in almost two well in the system which is what went against him really, he wouldn't have added anything new to the team, he would just be a younger version of villa.

sanchez gives pep a few more tactical options.

Messiah wrote:we are being linked with mexico U-17 striker Carlos Fierro, we don't have that many young center forward coming through so i would take a chance and see how he develops.

He looked very good at the U17 WC.

Barca B update

Official Transfers:

- Nolito to Benfica ( free-transfer)
- Vazquez to Brugge

Also, Official: Abraham (LB), Edu Oriol(Winger) and "Benja"min Martinez (Forward )will not be part of Barcelona B Squad for next season as announced by the Club
-----------------------



Transfer In

7 Juvinel A players will be promoted to barca B, plus the signing of Lobato and Femenía

those promoted are: Gerard,Rafa(will both rotate between Juvinel A and Barca B),Sergi Gomez(RCB,19), Oriol Rossel(Defender, 18), Balliu (RB, 19), Espinosa(19, Midfielder.

Squad as of now

Forwards: Tello(19), I. Cuenca(20), Carmona(23), Soriano(25), Saul(25), Deulofeu(17), Lobato(22). Soriano likely to leave, another fwd could be signed.

Midfield: O. Romeu(19), Ilie(20), Gustavo(19), S. Roberto(19), Espinosa(19), Riverola(20), Rafinha(18), J. Dos Santos(21) (likely to be sold)

Defence: Montoya(20), Dalmau(19), Bartra(20), S. Gomez(19), Munies(19), O. Rosel(19), Armando(25), Planas(20), Balliu(19).

Gk: Mino(22), Oier(21), Masip(22).

won their first pre-season game 8-0 against L'Escala, Tello (hattrick), Kiko, S.Roberto, Bartra, Soriano, Riverola scored.

first half team

Oier

Balliu,Bartra,Rosell,Planas

Riverola,Gustavo,SRoberto

Kiko,Saul, Cuenca

2nd half

Masip

Dalmau,Bartra,Armando,Balliu

Riverola,Romeu,Lobato?

Tello,Soriano, Cuenca

Likely first XI at the start of the season

-------------------------Oier/Mino

----Montoya(20)----Bartra(20)---Gomez(19)---Muniesa(19)

--------------------------Romeu(19)

--------------Roberto(19)----------------Espinosa(19)

----------Kiko--------------?------------Tello


So young, yet so talented

all our players out of the copa now, good for the club a bit of extra rest and messi will comeback extra motivated.

only sanchez left and he will make it to the final

Slightly off topic, but I'll be in Barcelona for a few days (my first trip there), leaving tomorrow. Anything in particular I have to see outside the usual tourist spots? Thanks for any suggestions.

It's kinda ironic, I have been to a few traditional 'football cities' lately, e.g. Milan a week ago, but all of them during the summer break with no football in sight.

Damn, I had forgotten that most (if not all?) Barca fans on here aren't actually from Barcelona.

If I didn't know the city so well, I'd ask Manchester United fans for a London tourist guide...

Jaimito el Crack wrote:Personally, I'm still hoping the Bojan-to-Roma deal falls through.

Me too.

Who's that in the pic?

Jaimito el Crack wrote:

The great Joan Laporta = the BOSS

el puto jefe

according to pozzo the sanchez deal is done, happy to have this player here, he has bags of potential and if he works hard and he does seems to be a hard worker, then he will do well with such a great supporting cast around him, if we get cesc as well, i fancy pep to give it another season.

Sanchez official... 26m and 11m in add ons... a bit expensive, but he looked a lot better than most in the Copa America.

oriol romeu to chelsea, knew his days were numbered the moment we signed mascherano, but as i said then an excellent DM who will make it at the higest level

Messiah wrote:oriol romeu to chelsea, knew his days were numbered the moment we signed mascherano, but as i said then an excellent DM who will make it at the higest level

To me he looks like a more physcial version of Busquets with a similar passing range and ability on the ball.

Do Barca have a buyback?

Calidad wrote:

Messiah wrote:oriol romeu to chelsea, knew his days were numbered the moment we signed mascherano, but as i said then an excellent DM who will make it at the higest level

To me he looks like a more physcial version of Busquets with a similar passing range and ability on the ball.

Do Barca have a buyback?

they are trying to include one, but i don't see chelsea willingly agreeing to one.

Mark Bolton is tweeting that he has a 'source' in Spain that says Barca claim they will be signing Cesc Wednesday...Seems a bit bold, what are the chances of that coming to a conclusion so quickly?

Well, Bartomeu is in London. Now that Guardiola is back, I think they are genuinely making a push to sign Cesc and close off the squad.

Spending will be 26m (up front) on Sanchez and 45m on Cesc. Earnings are 12m from Bojan, 5m from Oriol, 1m from Jonathan dos Santos, 2m from Jonathan Soriano, etc. to give a net figure of around 50m euros, which is close to the club's budget for transfers this summer (45m euros).

plus 5 million from jeff

with this signing complete our forward line looks sorted for years to come, with Messi and Pedro 24, while sanchez is just 22, there is also deulofeu, who will be coming through in a few seasons(needs to work on his work rate though) and if bojan does well at roma. the club will only need to spend to bring in a different tactical option.

if we get cesc thats the midfield too, Iniesta 27.cesc.24,busquets,24,thaigo,20.

we are looking good for the future, may spend a bit of sahko for the defense, but the club should stop spending huge for a few summers.

Bojan to have his medical at roma tomorrow

Hem fet un.. wrote:Sanchez official... 26m and 11m in add ons... a bit expensive, but he looked a lot better than most in the Copa America.

Best player in Serie A 2010-11. You got yourself an excellent player. Gifted, works very hard, excellent attitude.

The only problem is that his fav position is identical to Messi's... You have probably got yourself a perfect back up for Messi, but how will they all fit in together? Will Villa be sacrificed, or Pedro, to accomodate Sanchez?

bluenine wrote:

Hem fet un.. wrote:Sanchez official... 26m and 11m in add ons... a bit expensive, but he looked a lot better than most in the Copa America.

Best player in Serie A 2010-11. You got yourself an excellent player. Gifted, works very hard, excellent attitude.

The only problem is that his fav position is identical to Messi's... You have probably got yourself a perfect back up for Messi, but how will they all fit in together? Will Villa be sacrificed, or Pedro, to accomodate Sanchez?

No one will be sacrificed, we will go into the season with a squad of 18-20, with 5 players for 3 spots up front, so their will be a lot of rotation, he will of course replace villa in the starting XI in the next two seasons, but for now, its rotation, don't see him affecting pedro position in the team much(though jaime would love the idea), as pedro works as hard has he does, but is much better in front of goal.

bojan to roma for 12 million euros, barca have a buy back option in 2012/13 season for 13 million

Not an option... we have to buy him back for 13million... effectively we are loaning him out for 2 seasons and paying 1 million to do it.. but I guess his salary is off our books.

Messiah wrote:

bluenine wrote:

Hem fet un.. wrote:Sanchez official... 26m and 11m in add ons... a bit expensive, but he looked a lot better than most in the Copa America.

Best player in Serie A 2010-11. You got yourself an excellent player. Gifted, works very hard, excellent attitude.

The only problem is that his fav position is identical to Messi's... You have probably got yourself a perfect back up for Messi, but how will they all fit in together? Will Villa be sacrificed, or Pedro, to accomodate Sanchez?

No one will be sacrificed, we will go into the season with a squad of 18-20, with 5 players for 3 spots up front, so their will be a lot of rotation, he will of course replace villa in the starting XI in the next two seasons, but for now, its rotation, don't see him affecting pedro position in the team much(though jaime would love the idea), as pedro works as hard has he does, but is much better in front of goal.

Of course someone will be sacrificed. You can only put 11 in the pitch ffs. It's all well and good to say rotation etc etc but you only have to look at the 'Fantastic Four' and remember all of Henry's sulking and frowning when Rijkaard was leaving him out because he wouldn't play Henry-Messi-Ronaldinho-Eto'o at the same time. Pep ain't gonna play Alexis-Villa-Pedro-Messi especially not in an important game. Which are exactly the sorts of games that all the big players want to play. Same goes for you midfield with Xavi, Iniesta, Cesc, Busquets, Thiago, Mascherano, Keita. Pedro is the natural player to fall out of the XI because you don't spend 47 million on a player to leave him in the bench. Well, actually. Pep might. Or maybe he will just loan him out for the next 5 years.