The Barcelona Club House

[ulizinho]

Finally Barca's new calendar is online
http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/calendar

Tue 07/24/2012 18:00
Hamburger SV - FC Barcelona

Sun 07/29/2012 00:00
Sél. Joueurs Locaux - FC Barcelona

Catalan Supercup Tue 07/31/2012 21:45
FC Barcelona - Espanyol

Sat 08/ 4/2012 20:00
PSG - FC Barcelona

Wed 08/ 8/2012 20:00
Manchester United - FC Barcelona

Joan Gamper Trophy Mon 08/20/2012
FC Barcelona - Sampdoria

[Mucho]

Now that Barca made it´s 1st movements with the signing of Alba and the adios of Keita, seems like Barca is looking for a polivalent CB and that would be it apart from the guys that get 1st team contracts coming from the B-Team (Montoya, Bartra, Dos Santos and Muniesa I think it was).

It´s clear that whoever comes will have to accept (at least for a while) to be 3rd or 4th choice only. Hummels and Martinez sounded very strong (Martinez still does) but their exorbitant price is a huge handicap for a benchmarker.

I´d like to throw in a name that afaik hasn´t been mentioned at all but imo fullfills all requirements that Barca is looking for, though I don´t know his contractual situation tbh. He´s young, tall, very fast good passing and should be cheap (less than 10 mio) and knows the primera divison.
It´s Cristan Zapata from Villareal who can play as CB or RB. He had some problems at the beginning to adapt but all in all was very solid from midseason on. He´s got a little bit of the same problem as Pique namely focusing but remember he would be 3rd or 4th choice only.
If Barca works on his deficits he could be a similair case as Pique, coming as a benchmarker to become a very important player, at least in the future. He and Pique got the same age as well. It´s obviously just speculating by me but if it would happen (don´t think so as he hasn´t been mentioned at all as I said) it could pay off in the end.
Typical silly season talking but it´s been a little quiet here lately due to the break.

[Redbullsnation]

why the hell Barca needs ANOTHER CB?? They have Fontas, Puyol, Pique, Abidal, Macherano, Muniesa, and Busquets (mainly a DM, but still)!!!

[Mucho]

they´re looking for one. If they need it is another question. And Abidal is VERY unlikely to come back, at least this season.

[devilsarcade]

Barcelona kick off the season with a home game against Real Sociedad and then on the 7th week of the Liga season we get the 3rd El Clasico (1st of the Liga) on the 7/10/12 at the Camp Nou. The final game of the season is against Malaga.
The two Spanish Super-Cup El Clasico's will take place on Thursday 23rd (Camp Nou) and Thursday 30th (Bernabeu) of August

[devilsarcade]

[ulizinho]

Barcelona kick off the season with a home game against Real Sociedad and then on the 7th week of the Liga season we get the 3rd El Clasico (1st of the Liga) on the 7/10/12 at the Camp Nou. The final game of the season is against Malaga.
The two Spanish Super-Cup El Clasico's will take place on Thursday 23rd (Camp Nou) and Thursday 30th (Bernabeu) of August

And I will be there from 4 to 12 October. Guess it's impossible to get tickets at a reasonable price, but I surely will enjoy the mood (depends on the standings)

[ulizinho]

You don't understand a word the coaches, players, stadium speaker say?
Just found a "Complete Course for Beginners" in "COLLOQUIAL CATALAN"
it's a 300 pages ebook and a book, you'll find a free pdf under the above mentioned URL

Diverteix-te i bona sort!

[matt_aut]

Fifteen minutes into the game in Morocco and Barcelona leading Casablanca 1-0. Really bad kickoff time, even worse than in the upcoming spanish supercup.

Lineup: Pinto, Alves, Bartra, Mascherano, Adriano, Dos Santos, Sergi Roberto, Rafinha, Alexis, Messi y Afellay

Messi!! 34', 0-2
0-5 at halftime (two times Alexis and a Messi hattrick). A first half manita against a club that finished 4th in their league this season.

[ulizinho]

Greatest 45 minutes since the cup final, hattrick by Messi and 2 great goals by Alexis. I'm curious about the changes now.

[matt_aut]

Not a single substitute at halftime.
Evening Uli! Entertaining first half, a great appetizer for the start of la liga season. And please no injuries!

Three more goals in the second half (Dani Alves and Sergi Gómez and Deulofeu after many changes). Fun to watch, even if I don't understand why they had to play that late.

[ulizinho]

See you next sunday for the first real test against Paris SG

[TheHurtLocker873]

See you next sunday for the first real test against Paris SG

Nah mate. The first real test come on the 8th against United.

Joking aside tho. I'm looking forward to that game. I don't read too much into pre season warm up friendlies. But we did beat you 2-1 in washington last year.

[ulizinho]

Nah mate. The first real test come on the 8th against United.

Joking aside tho. I'm looking forward to that game. I don't read too much into pre season warm up friendlies. But we did beat you 2-1 in washington last year.

I don't care if MANU wins every single test match from now on as long as they remain helpless in UCL finals

[TheHurtLocker873]

I don't care if MANU wins every single test match from now on as long as they remain helpless in UCL finals

Ok enough said...

[ulizinho]

Someone on barcaforum.com found a picture of young Francesc Vilanova

[devilsarcade]

Two English news reports on Cristian Tello today:



You would think they would find out who he actually is before reporting...

[Redbullsnation]

gonna be an interesting season for Barca w/ Alba on the helm

3-5-2??
Puyol-Busquets-Pique
Alves-Xavi-Iniesta-Alba
Messi
Sanchez-Villa

[Mucho]

It would be great seing these players in the starting 11 though I can´t imagine them playing in this formation. Busi and Pique in a defense of just 3 would be suicide as both are too slow.
I wonder if Alves and Alba will play together regularly as both are very small for defenders. I hope so as they´re both fantastic full backs but it would defo be bolt
Asuming these 11 play I think it would be more like:

Alves-Pique-Puyol-Alba
Busquets
Xavi Iniesta
Messi
Sanchez Villa

So far Tito hasn´t played once with a defence of 3. And of course Villa is not yet ready to play 90 mins. I hope he´s got a strong comeback. His injury was pretty severe so it won´t be easy for him.

[ulizinho]

Trofeo Gamper lineup
Starters: Pinto, Montoya, Planas, Fontàs, Espinosa, Sergi Roberto, Afellay, Bartra, Deulofeu, Dos Santos, Villa
Reserves: Oier, Balliu, Sergi Gómez, Ilie, Lombán, Dongou, Román, Patric, Lobato, Araujo, Grimaldo
I'll take a short look, but we have to wait some years still before this not surprising barca B + X lineup is worth watching

Boys look good, but surely a little to unexperienced to win after the very early 0-1. Adéu, goodbye