FC Barcelona Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread

redout

FC Barcelona has given FIFA the official list of 23 players that will represent the Club at the World Club Cup from 16th to 19th December in the UAE.


There are 21 players from the senior squad and 2 from the reserves, Rubén Miño and Jonathan dos Santos. The full squad list is as follows. Valdés (1), Alves (2), Piqué (3), Márquez (4), Puyol (5), Xavi (6), Jeffren (7), Iniesta (8), Ibrahimovic (9), Messi (10), Bojan (11), Miño (12), Pinto (13), Henry (14), Keita (15), Busquets (16), Pedro (17), Milito (18), Maxwell (19), Jonathan (20), Chigrinskiy (21), Abidal (22) and Touré Yaya (24).

PHB

Pique is an outstanding player, was always sad to see him go.

redout

Puyol has today said "El Clásico is 50-50" as far as he is concerned and current league position is not important.

Xavi on Real Madrid "They have been victims of our success - they have had to spend a lot of money in order to counteract us."

redout

PHB wrote: »

Pique is an outstanding player, was always sad to see him go.

Massive mistake. I said it at the time and again since in the United forum and was always laughed off with Johnny Evans crap and that he wouldnt get a game with Rio and Vidic. Look at Evans last season with 30 odd appearances.

Since the guy left he has established himself as a regular in Barca's treble winning team and the Spanish national side. They guy is the future of both the Barca and Spain defence. He still has alot to learn but looks certain for great things. Fergie must honestly be kicking himself that he let him go. I know the guy wanted games but the way it panned out last season with injuries no doubt he could have got in the side like Evans. In fact he was already ahead of him in the pecking order.

eZe^

Also, Pique has a knack for goals, he is a goal scoring centre back for sure. 4 goals in 13 games for Spain ffs! He'll be Barca and Spain's next Puyol. Busquets is some dirty player when he wants to be too, he gave Messi the Souness treatment in the Argentina - Spain game.


DELIGHTED to see Milito in the squad for the CWC, he may not be a permanent fixture, but the last time I remember him was in 2006/ 2007, which is crazy. Glad to see him recovering.

redout

Ibrahimovic: I want to win it all

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is without doubt one of the world’s most gifted footballers. In recent years, the sight of the Swedish forward in full flow has been guaranteed to put fear into defenders at both club and international level. Yet even after helping Inter Milan monopolise Serie A, it was not immediately clear how his unique talents would fit in at new club Barcelona.

In a few short months at the Catalan giants, however, Ibra’s all-round displays have quietened even the most vehement of doubters. Ahead of his most pivotal period since joining Barça, with matches against both Inter and Real Madrid to come this week, before December’s FIFA Club World Cup 2009, Ibrahimovic spoke exclusively to FIFA.com.

FIFA.com: Zlatan, you are already a key player at Barcelona despite having been at the club for just a few months. Did you expect to adapt so easily?
Zlatan Ibrahimovic: I didn’t expect the season to start like this. I wanted to start as well as possible but I thought that it’d take me a while to adapt. You don’t normally start firing on all cylinders in your first week at a new club. But my team-mates and the coach helped me so much, and they still do. And when you’re out on the pitch, playing alongside people this talented means you only need to worry about doing your own job right. Everything else just comes naturally.

You had a freer role at Inter, while at Barcelona it seems that you have more tactical restrictions placed on you.
First of all, we played 4-4-2 at Inter and here the formation is 4-3-3. There’s also a big difference in terms of the two clubs’ mentalities. Here I’m playing up front as a No9 but the coach gives me the freedom to drift wide left or wide right, as long as I get one of the wingers to fill in for me. At Inter I was more isolated, so there was more space for me to move around in attack.

You’ve played under great coaches at both teams. How do Josep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho differ in their approaches?
The main difference is that Guardiola is more active, by which I mean when he explains something on the training pitch he can physically demonstrate what he’s looking for, because he was a top-class player. Mourinho never played at such a high level, but both have a great attitude and a huge desire for success. They’re both able to explain very clearly what they want and are direct when dealing with players. They’re both winners.

And how about on a personal level?
I think that both have a good relationship with their players, they’ve very professional. I can’t speak for anybody else but I always got on extremely well with Mourinho. Just as I do now with Pep.

Have any of your new team-mates really surprised you?
No, because I already knew how they played. The likes of (Andres) Iniesta, (Lionel) Messi, (Thierry) Henry, (Yaya) Toure and (Seydou) Keita are so good that I knew all about them even before I’d been on the pitch with them. That’s why I wasn’t taken by surprise, it’s a real honour to be playing with them.

You have joined a team where the level of expectation is huge. Are Barça capable of repeating last season’s treble of La Liga, Copa del Rey and UEFA Champions League?
I want to win everything, whichever club I play for. That said, repeating the treble will be a tall order. That would need the team to play at its very peak for two seasons in a row and I think that’s very difficult. On the other hand, we’re very strong mentally and we’ve got last year’s experience under our belts, so why not?

How do Barcelona manage to keep performing to such a standard, particularly with the physical demands involved?
We work really hard. There’s a fine balance made between training and matches. We have a group of specialists at Barcelona who prepare everything to make sure that we aren’t put under too much strain and we go into matches in tip-top shape. When you’re playing at this level you know that the games will come thick and fast, that’s why the right physical preparation is so important.

In December you and your team-mates are set to take part in the FIFA Club World Cup in the United Arab Emirates. What would winning that competition mean to you?
The Club World Cup is something that so many players want to win, while remaining a competition in which relatively few take part. Barcelona have that opportunity now and we’re really fired up for it. Particularly because it’s a trophy we haven't won yet. It’s one of the main objectives for the club, players and fans this season.

With Sweden having missed out on a place at next year's FIFA World Cup™, could this December’s tournament be your chance to prove yourself on the world stage?
It was disappointing not to have reached the World Cup with Sweden, so the Club World Cup is very important for me. I treat every competition I take part in as vital, and I always want to win. And this tournament even more so. I’m going to be excited to be there and I’ll do everything I can to help my team to success.

Does that setback with Sweden still rankle?
It was a shame. I’ve already appeared at two World Cups and two EUROs and I love tournaments like that. That’s why it hurts not to be in South Africa. But I’ve also got to be realistic, I play for a national team that isn’t a global powerhouse. We’re never among the favourites to win and though we’re usually able to do enough to qualify, this time luck was against us.

Will we see Zlatan Ibrahimovic grace the FIFA World Cup in future?
At the moment I’m sticking to my decision not to play for Sweden anymore, but nobody knows what can happen in the future, so I’m not ruling anything out for the time being. We’ll see what happens.

Returning to the present, you are set to take on old club Inter this week. How does that make you feel?
Inter are a very good team and this is a vital match in which we have no margin for error. If we win then we’ll take charge of the group. So far we’ve had a lot of bad luck in our Champions League games. It’s a very big game for me and I’m in an optimistic mood, I believe that it will turn out the way I want.

Then on Sunday 29 November comes El Clásico against Real Madrid. You’ve quite a week ahead.
Of course it’s a very important game. Not just for us, but for the club, the supporters, even for the neutrals and the world at large. Nobody is indifferent to this match. We’re playing at home and I’m sure we’re going to win.

Is a repeat of last season’s 6-2 scoreline at the Bernabeu possible?
I don’t know if it’ll be so one-sided, I don’t even think about how many goals we’ll score. But Barcelona have a very attacking mentality and I’m sure that we’ll win and score plenty of goals.

From Fifa.com

gimmick

What now for Henry. He was abysmal again last night after a very poor showing previously against Inter. He looked completely shot of confidence. What is the ebst course of action? Drop him for a few games so he has to work his way back into the side, or allow him play and get his confidence back that way? I would certainly go with the former option as the likes of Pedro and Bojan, for my money, are just better options for that position at present.

Id say Busquets was given the bollocking of his life after the game last night. Peps reaction was priceless. He looked absolutely furious. Rightly so. What a daft booking to get.

gimmick

Seems Gabi Milito is finally cleared for a full return. Possible start against Xerez on wednesday? Great to have him back

http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/english/noticies/futbol/temporada09-10/11/n091130108070.html

Also, Rafa Marquez has signed a new deal until 2012

http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/english/noticies/futbol/temporada09-10/11/n091130108077.html

fillmore jive

Doesn't get old does it?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoWSP1k-OmQ

Frisbee

I love the commentator's technical terminology.

"he absolutely wellied it."

:pac:

Slash/ED

gimmick wrote: »

What now for Henry. He was abysmal again last night after a very poor showing previously against Inter. He looked completely shot of confidence. What is the ebst course of action? Drop him for a few games so he has to work his way back into the side, or allow him play and get his confidence back that way? I would certainly go with the former option as the likes of Pedro and Bojan, for my money, are just better options for that position at present.

Id say Busquets was given the bollocking of his life after the game last night. Peps reaction was priceless. He looked absolutely furious. Rightly so. What a daft booking to get.

Can definitely see Henry sitting out the Xerex game anyway, unless he doesn't feel Ibra can play two games so close together, but I'd imagine Pedro will start. I'd like to see more of Bojan, for me he looked alot better the few times he's played this season, I can see him getting a lot of time in the world club cup anyway.

The worrying thing about Henry isn't just that he seems to be low on confidence, he seems to have lost his pace and that can't entirely be put down to form...

Kirnsy

great win for barca. stupid red card for busquets was matched by the dolphin headed one's effort late in the game.

beautiful goal. any chance of converting dani alves into a right winger? seems to me he's more effective there (or at least away from barcas goal !) and ibra's finish was mesmeric.


ps congrats to messi for a well deserved Ballon D'Or. I think it should have been a Barca 1-2-3 though with xavi AND iniesta in there too.

gimmick

gimmick wrote: »

Seems Gabi Milito is finally cleared for a full return. Possible start against Xerez on wednesday? Great to have him back

To answer my own question, no, Milito will not be involved tomorrow night.

I would imagine his playing time will mostly be in the Copa and maybe the world club cup as he has alot of match fitness and awareness to catch up on.

redout

Things going from bad to worse for Keirrison after Benfica have said they no longer want him after failing to impress since the start of the season. He has only played 200 mins and scored no goals. Problems no doubt for Pep and rumours of a possible return to Brazil for the youngster on loan which would be a backwards steop no doubt.

redout

Lots of possible chopping and changing for the Barca side for tonights game against Xerez. Pique doesnt travel, Busquets suspended. Reports that Puyol could be rested and Chygrynskiy, Marquez, Maxwell and Toure could all feature as could Pedro and Bojan at the expense of Ibra and Henry.

kinaldo

Just wondering what Barca fans think of how possibly their greatest ever team measures up to the current Spanish national team...

Obviously Barca make up half the Spanish side, but if marking both out off say 100, which team you reckon would score highest?

It essentialy comes down to Messi and Ibra vs Villa and Torres, but then Spain also have Casillas and Fábregas to call on.

The amount of trophies that Xavi and Iniesta are likely to have racked up by the summer, in a 2 year period, is simply incredible.

Not tempting fate or anything...

gimmick

redout wrote: »

Lots of possible chopping and changing for the Barca side for tonights game against Xerez. Pique doesnt travel, Busquets suspended. Reports that Puyol could be rested and Chygrynskiy, Marquez, Maxwell and Toure could all feature as could Pedro and Bojan at the expense of Ibra and Henry.

I know Xerez are cannon fodder this season and all, but Barca have been poor away this season, so i hope too drastic changes are not made. That said, I do hope both Pedro and Bojan start.

Might be an idea to try Henry tonight to maybe give him a bit of confidence back?

redout

kinaldo wrote: »

Just wondering what Barca fans think of how possibly their greatest ever team measures up to the current Spanish national team...

Obviously Barca make up half the Spanish side, but if marking both out off say 100, which team you reckon would score highest?

It essentialy comes down to Messi and Ibra vs Villa and Torres, but then Spain also have Casillas and Fábregas to call on.

The amount of trophies that Xavi and Iniesta are likely to have racked up by the summer, in a 2 year period, is simply incredible.

Not tempting fate or anything...

As a unit Barca are more devastating than La Furia Roja. Fab doesnt even get a starting berth because they cant accommodate him in the national side. He makes appearances but never makes the 11 when there is a full squad to choose from.

kinaldo

redout wrote: »

As a unit Barca are more devastating than La Furia Roja. Fab doesnt even get a starting berth because they cant accommodate him in the national side. He makes appearances but never makes the 11 when there is a full squad to choose from.

Are they really more devastating though?

I mean, this is the Spanish team which destroyed Guss Hiddink's Dutch conquering Russian side by an aggregate score of 7-1 at the European Championships, have won 10 out of 10 in World Cup qualifying, and are breaking all sorts of records.

What's more, under del Bosque they continue to get better.

That they can't accomodate one of the top 10 players in the world simply speaks volumes.

redout

kinaldo wrote: »

Are they really more devastating though?

I mean, this is the Spanish team which destroyed Guss Hiddink's Dutch conquering Russian side by an aggregate score of 7-1 at the European Championships, have won 10 out of 10 in World Cup qualifying, and are breaking all sorts of records.

What's more, under del Bosque they continue to get better.

That they can't accomodate one of the top 10 players in the world simply speaks volumes.

I think Spain can only beat them in defence (with two Barca CB mind).

Messi or Silva (Messi)

Ibra or Villa (depends what system you want)

Alves or Ramos (Alves for me. Scores, more involved with attack. Helps Messi no end. Not red card prone. Both are slack defensively)

Valdes or Casillias (both are capable but have weaknesses)


you could go on and make more comparisons. Bottom line for me is that Barca are a club - Spain a national side. More cohesion for club than country.


Russia - Slovakia . very hot and cold to be honest

yahoo_moe

I know it was a 50-50 first team/reserves that started last night but Barca would want to step up their away form fairly sharpish. Yes, they're still unbeaten and top of the league but if they keep up this habit, it might cost them.

They were lucky that Xerez were completely toothless last night (although that Orellana chap on the wing looked like a prospect).

Having said that, they won with 3 of their best 4 attackers playing just 90 minutes or so between them and without using their two best centre-backs so it was a job well done. Lovely finish from Ibra too.

redout

Both Messi and Ibra are going to start tonight after being left on the bench mid-week.

Barca are on track to make history if they win the FIFA Club World Cup this month by becoming the first side to will all competitions they entered in a calendar year.

Pep on Barca record against tonights opponets: "The best way to tackle this game is by giving it great importance. Depor is a team that is very, very good. We play at a venue where in the last 17 years Barca has only had three wins. This says it all. A win here would be important but there is a long way to go."

Also travel problems for the team ahead of tonights game: Barcelona are scheduled to play Deportivo La Coruna at 21:00 tonight, but their preparation for the match has been hampered after their plane was forced to turn around mid-flight.

According to El Mundo Deportivo, there were some pressurisation problems that forced the pilot of the plane to turn around 20 minutes into the flight and return to Barcelona.

However, the problem was identified as being a poorly closed door in the plane's hold and, all being well, the team should be in La Coruna by 15:00 CET.

redout

Messi finally got his hands on the prestigious Ballon d'Or this morning in Paris


felicitats

redout

Pep the comedian LoL

eZe^

Hopefully the first of many golden balls for Messi. :p

kinaldo

Hard to believe that Michael Owen is a previous winner.

eZe^

kinaldo wrote: »

Hard to believe that Michael Owen is a previous winner.

It's amazing to think that 12 of the last 14 winners have all played some portion of their career at either Barcelona or Real Madrid. I think the figure is 14 of the past 18 FIFA WPOTY awards. They must be the most attractive clubs in the world for big name players.

kinaldo

eZe^ wrote: »

It's amazing to think that 12 of the last 14 winners have all played some portion of their career at either Barcelona or Real Madrid. I think the figure is 14 of the past 18 FIFA WPOTY awards. They must be the most attractive clubs in the world for big name players.

Yeah, except that doesn't really surprise me. No two clubs can match Barcelona and Madrid.

redout

kinaldo wrote: »

Yeah, except that doesn't really surprise me. No two clubs can match Barcelona and Madrid.

In what way exactly ? If you mean based on success then

Real Madrid yes.

Barcelona ? More successful clubs around.

Juve, Liverpool, Bayern, AC Milan, Ajax all more successful. Man Utd more or less match them for league titles and European cups won.

kinaldo

I mean the two as a couple (which is why I said no TWO clubs can match them), and a combination of everything - city, climate, success, stadia...

flahavaj

kinaldo wrote: »

I mean the two as a couple, and a combination of everything - city, climate, success, stadia...

I knew Guardiola was good but I never knew he controlled the weather as well.:pac: What a man.

redout

kinaldo wrote: »

I mean the two as a couple (which is why I said no TWO clubs can match them), and a combination of everything - city, climate, success, stadia...

Turin, Milan.

kinaldo

flahavaj wrote: »

I knew Guardiola was good but I never knew he controlled the weather as well.:pac: What a man.

Or perhaps you're missing the original point made, that all the best players end up at either Barca or Madrid at some stage. Their career moves aren't entirely based on football. For example, I don't think Madrid and Barcelona would attract so many Brazilian superstars if they had a Manchester climate.

kinaldo

redout wrote: »

Turin, Milan.

Stadium wise Turin can't compete.

Success - 12 European Cups shared between Barca and Madrid, plus 49 league titles.

So which two clubs from Turin and Milan can match that?

redout

kinaldo wrote: »

Stadium wise Turin can't compete.

Success - 12 European Cups shared between Barca and Madrid, plus 49 league titles.

So which two clubs from Turin and Milan can match that?

Turin and Milan can boast 46 league titles and 9 European cups between AC and Juve which I would hardly call dwarfed by the Spanish duo.

As regards stadiums the Stadio delle Alpi (which is being rebuilt) and the San Siro are two of the most famous stadiums in world football.

flahavaj

kinaldo wrote: »

Or perhaps you're missing the original point made, that all the best players end up at either Barca or Madrid at some stage. Their career moves aren't entirely based on football. For example, I don't think Madrid and Barcelona would attract so many Brazilian superstars if they had a Manchester climate.

Or maybe I was just making a light hearted comment.

kinaldo

redout wrote: »

Turin and Milan can boast 46 league titles and 9 European cups between AC and Juve which I would hardly call dwarfed by the Spanish duo.

As regards stadiums the Stadio delle Alpi (which is being rebuilt) and the San Siro are two of the most famous stadiums in world football.

12:9 is a pretty sizeable gap. I think you are clutching at straws in trying to argue two clubs that can match Barcelona and Madrid, but that is just my opinion.

Also, every Juve fan has always hated the Stadio delle Alpi, which was only built just prior to the 1990 World Cup if I'm not mistaken. I don't know what makes it so famous, it's (or was) usually more than half empty and a cause of embarrassment to such a famous club.

kinaldo

flahavaj wrote: »

Or maybe I was just making a light hearted comment.

good old internet

redout

kinaldo wrote: »

12:9 is a pretty sizeable gap. I think you are clutching at straws in trying to argue two clubs that can match Barcelona and Madrid, but that is just my opinion.

Finals can go either way to be honest. No guarantees there at all.
I really dont think there is as big a gulf as you make out. A quick glance over the history of the European Cup shows that Real and Barca have made 18 European Cup final appearances between them but Juve and Milan also have 18 European Cup final appearances between them.

redout

and when it comes to records in European Cup finals how badly does Juve have it. 7 appearances with 5 defeats. Even Barca have a poor 3 wins from 6 appearances. Only Milan and Real Madrid boast good records.

redout

Here is another interesting one for you. Whilst trying to find confirmation that AC Milan are the most successful side in the world in terms of international competitions won I found this.

World-wide Ranking for international official titles won by a club

AC Milan - 18 (3 Intercontinental Cups; 1 FIFA Club World Cup; 7 European Cup-UEFA Champions Leagues; 2 UEFA Cup Winners' Cups; 5 UEFA Super Cups)
Real Madrid - 15 ( 3 Intercontinental Cups; 9 European Cup-UEFA Champions Leagues; 2 UEFA Cups;1 UEFA Super Cup)
FC Barcelona - 13 (3 European Cup-UEFA Champions Leagues; 4 UEFA Cup Winners' Cups; 3 UEFA Super Cups; 3 Fairs Cups)
Juventus - 11 (2 Intercontinental Cups; 2 European Cup-UEFA Champions Leagues; 1 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup; 3 UEFA Cups; 1 UEFA Intertoto Cup; 2 UEFA Super Cups)

I make that 29 - 28 in favour of the Italian duo. Take from that what you will. I think that what we can say is that there are no other two sides that have dominated both domestically and internationally as the above duo's.

Glico Man

The thing about Juve though is that for all their success they are still not the biggest club in Turin, and the Delle Alpi is relatively empty at home games in relation to Barca and Real who, even when playing the so called "smaller" clubs get around 100,000 and 75,000 respectively.

redout

aaronh007 wrote: »

The thing about Juve though is that for all their success they are still not the biggest club in Turin, and the Delle Alpi is relatively empty at home games in relation to Barca and Real who, even when playing the so called "smaller" clubs get around 100,000 and 75,000 respectively.

Barca had an average crowd of around 67,000 last season. The Camp Nou is seldom ever sold out. Neither is the Santiago Bernabéu.

Mitch Connor

correct re Real, not so Barcelona http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Average_attendances_of_European_football_clubs

United with the highest average attendance (:D)

Barcelona with an average of 25k empty seats. Shame on them

Glico Man

Mitch Connor wrote: »

Barcelona with an average of 25k empty seats. Shame on them

Dead handy when going over for a home game though.

Went last year to the Barca-Depor match and got great seats

redout

Mitch Connor wrote: »

correct re Real, not so Barcelona http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Average_attendances_of_European_football_clubs

United with the highest average attendance (:D)

Barcelona with an average of 25k empty seats. Shame on them

Aye the Barca one is somewhat distorted by the fact the first half of the season was as per usual with the latter months being near virtual sell-outs of over 90,000+ for all games when folk began to realise they were on the cusp of greatness last season.

Mitch Connor

redout wrote: »

Aye the Barca one is somewhat distorted by the fact the first half of the season was as per usual with the latter months being near virtual sell-outs of over 90,000+ for all games when folk began to realise they were on the cusp of greatness last season.

ah - so the barcelona fans are fair weather fans. Més que un club, eh:p

redout

The top Spanish teams fans are very odd like that. Totally opposite of England were the likes of Old Trafford, Emirates, Anfield etc are sold out every season regardless of how the team has done.

redout

Mitch Connor wrote: »

correct re Real, not so Barcelona http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Average_attendances_of_European_football_clubs

United with the highest average attendance (:D)

Barcelona with an average of 25k empty seats. Shame on them

Different figures given here.

http://www.european-football-statistics.co.uk/attn/2000/aveesp.htm

kinaldo

redout wrote: »

Here is another interesting one for you. Whilst trying to find confirmation that AC Milan are the most successful side in the world in terms of international competitions won I found this.

World-wide Ranking for international official titles won by a club

AC Milan - 18 (3 Intercontinental Cups; 1 FIFA Club World Cup; 7 European Cup-UEFA Champions Leagues; 2 UEFA Cup Winners' Cups; 5 UEFA Super Cups)
Real Madrid - 15 ( 3 Intercontinental Cups; 9 European Cup-UEFA Champions Leagues; 2 UEFA Cups;1 UEFA Super Cup)
FC Barcelona - 13 (3 European Cup-UEFA Champions Leagues; 4 UEFA Cup Winners' Cups; 3 UEFA Super Cups; 3 Fairs Cups)
Juventus - 11 (2 Intercontinental Cups; 2 European Cup-UEFA Champions Leagues; 1 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup; 3 UEFA Cups; 1 UEFA Intertoto Cup; 2 UEFA Super Cups)

I make that 29 - 28 in favour of the Italian duo. Take from that what you will. I think that what we can say is that there are no other two sides that have dominated both domestically and internationally as the above duo's.

It's not really interesting for me at all. As I said, I think you're really clutching at straws.

Boca Juniors also have as many (or more) international trophies as AC Milan.

Honestly, who cares about European Super Cups and losing finalists.

And what was that point you made about Juve having a world famous stadium?