F.C. BARCELONA Thread [Season 2007/08]

[KingPaulV]

hi , i just got back from "semana santa" vacations, and i found out its been a good week for valencia too, haha lol.

Big Al..you've been missed mate, quite an evenful week....

 

[big al]

thanks my friend..... its been a crazy week right? , to bad i miss it....

 

[MaestroZidane]

On a slow day... I'd though I post this.. Looks like Ronaldihno may be gone in the summer. But then again.. I don't know how credible these sources can be.

Report links Ronaldinho to Inter

Anthony Sormani, Special to SI.com, Goal.com


The Brazilian is having a miserable season at Camp Nou, and has struggled badly to demonstrate the kind of form that once made him the best player in the world.

Ronaldinho has spent long spells of the season out of the line-up, due to injury and poor form, and this has led to constant reports that he will leave Barca at the end of the campaign.

Sources in Italy claim that the 28-year-old will certainly move to Inter in the summer, with both the player's, and club's sponsor, Nike, financing much of the deal.

At the beginning of next week a meeting will take place between the Nerazzurri management, representatives of Nike, and Ronaldinho's agent.

Barcelona will not stand in the way of a sale, and a transfer price of €60m has been agreed.

The Catalan giants have asked for Inter goalkeeper Julio Cesar to be included as part of the deal, but they have been told by Massimo Moratti that this is an impossibility.

Instead veteran hardman Marco Materazzi, who was already pursued by the Blaugrana last summer, could be an alternative pawn.

 

[CarlosDanger]

Well...it sounds reasonable.

I can imagine Nike doesn't want their golden boy to be playing for an Adidas team (AC Milan)

But Materazzi?

Whatever...

 

[Xifio]

ye, read that article ... not so sure about the part-exchange bit ... anyway, I'd have to say it is very much a rumour now, but wouldn't be surprised if it happened either ... was hoping he'd break the World Transfer Record ... with €60m, he'd come in second to Zidane's -- which is circa €70m ...

Quaresma, van der Vaart, Diego, and possibly Huntelaar are just a few of the big names in smaller places who will definitely making the step up to elite clubs this summer ... so it is definitely a wait-and-see time for now ... the main managerial merry-go-round, meanwhile, will focus around Mourinho ... whoever he replaces will likely get a big appointment somewhere else -- e.g. Mour to Camp Nou, Frankie to the Bridge ...

because of all that, I think teams will wait till the end of the season and then name their coach (keeping the current one, or starting afresh), and then at the end of (or even during) the EUROs they'll fine tune the squad according to the coach's demands ...

I'm still inclined to think that a lot of teams could be in line for staff overhauls (major or minor) or even upgrades, including the coach and formerly major stars -- Inter, Milan, Barcelona, R.Mad., The Chels, Bayern, and then the slightly smaller yet quite significant Juve, Valencia, Sevilla, Spurs, Man City, L'pool ...

a headline reading "Exeunt: Ronnie, Deco, & Co." won't be a surprise ...

 

[Xifio]

Rafa, not José

Joan Laporta has laid the groundwork to make an official approach for Rafa Benítez as he does not want José Mourinho at Barcelona should Frank Rijkaard leave in the summer.

The Blaugrana supremo is believed to want to be prepared should the club's current coach opt not to continue next term after another difficult campaign in charge at Camp Nou.

While several names have already been throw in into the hat, El Mundo Deportivo believe that they have it on good authority that Benítez is Laporta's first choice.

Barça's board has been split over talk about a possible successor to Rijkaard with directors Ferran Soriano and Marc Ingla preferring Mourinho, while others see that as completely out of the question.

Laporta is one of those that does not want to see the Portuguese trainer return to the club where he once worked as a translator for Bobby Robson.

Moves have been made to discover if the current Liverpool boss would have any interest should the position be offered to him with the report suggesting that FIFA agent, Manuel García Quilón, being approached to find out.

Quilón told the club that Benítez is not considered to be unmovable by the Anfield club, but that he would not agree to any deal while Rijkaard was still in place.

Johan Cruyff's opposition to Mourinho is strong and his influence over the board should be enough to see that the former Chelsea coach has no chance of taking over at the club.

I really wanted to see José at the helm ... but, if it's not going to be Mourinho, then it better be Rafa ... he did great at Valencia ... and if nothing else, at least we'll end up with a few Champions League trophies -- which is more than fine by me!

I just don't want to see Neeskens be promoted -- nothing against him, but I just don't think he's ready ...

anyway, as I said in my last post, there is a significant way to go before all this kicks in ... a lot can happen between now and then ... if our season to have some semblance of success, we need stability and short-term planning for now ...

the "wait and see" approach is definitely the way to go right now for the fans ...

 

[Arnau]

rafa dont have barça profile

 

[Xifio]

hahaha! Arnau, your sig is hilaarious! brilliant!

 

[Xifio]

cheers buti

meanwhile, in the news ...

Gaby Milito AND Carles Puyol are injured on int'l duty ... Milito with a groin strain in training, so he didn't even play in the Argies' match ... Puyol meanwhile went off after around 15 minutes in the Spain-Italy match going on right now ...

does this spell absolute disaster for our already injury-depleted squad? or is this a blessing in disguise?!

 

[Mr.Crosas]

Gai Assulin is amazing!
I watch the match between Israel and Chile in the stadium.
Gai replaced Yossi Benayoun(from Liverpool) in the 78 minute,and he touch the ball 2 or 3 times.
In this times,he did what every players in the match didn't do.
He passed many players(they felt down!).
The only way that Chile stopped him,is foul.

He is amazing,next year in the adults team!
I'll upload my close-up when he started to play(my Cam,and TV).

 

[Dytza]

Gai Assulin is amazing!
I watch the match between Israel and Chile in the stadium.
Gai replaced Yossi Benayoun(from Liverpool) in the 78 minute,and he touch the ball 2 or 3 times.
In this times,he did what every players in the match didn't do.
He passed many players(they felt down!).
The only way that Chile stopped him,is foul.

He is amazing,next year in the adults team!
I'll upload my close-up when he started to play(my Cam,and TV).

Yeah I knew this...He is brilliant...Search on youtube "Gai Assulin" and you'll see how football looks like at his age...I can't wait until he will play in the first team...He as the same style with Messi but is right-foot...I think in 3-4 years our attack will look somethink like this Gai - Bojan - Leo ..lol :Carlos*o:

 

[big al]

another overhype midget... messi was one in a million, neither bojan and dos santos have set the bar.....

on other games, my attention was specially in the croatia vs scotland game, cause i wanted to watch luka modric, man iam telling you this guy is the next big thing , i am glad barca are following him , such a complete midfielder, he has the agressiveness to take away balls like gattuso , and at the same time has the vision to set the attack like zidane, the guys reminds me so much of pirlo, but even better, we need to seriously consider signing him for next season, we wont regreat it.

 

[big al]

any news how much time puyol and milito are out... and also marquez?

 

[Xifio]

any news how much time puyol and milito are out... and also marquez?

Milito sufre un episodio de pubalgia y este jueves los Servicios Médicos del club le harán pruebas para determinar su estado.

so we'll find out later today about Gaby ... don't know about Puyol ...

 

[Xifio]

come on, we can't fault international friendlies ... it is just luck / fate / quantum physics -- whatever way you want to look at it ... I prefer the Q explanation, in case you are wondering ... but I know the pain you feel ... but I'm just a bit numb and indifferent after a couple of years of disappointments ...

also, I'm surprised someone (Arnau) hasn't come out with the traditional "God is Madridista" line -- as is the case every time something goes against us ...

 

[Arnau]

another overhype midget... messi was one in a million, neither bojan and dos santos have set the bar.....

on other games, my attention was specially in the croatia vs scotland game, cause i wanted to watch luka modric, man iam telling you this guy is the next big thing , i am glad barca are following him , such a complete midfielder, he has the agressiveness to take away balls like gattuso , and at the same time has the vision to set the attack like zidane, the guys reminds me so much of pirlo, but even better, we need to seriously consider signing him for next season, we wont regreat it.

come one, why we need a melon like modric if have players like messi bojan giovani gai tiago yago ...

 

[Gnidrologist]

whyyyyy ???

****, always when we are in good form and madrid is sucking, comes these int matches and destroy everything :@

I'm wondering if you're being serious or just a dumb unssupecting troll.
Barca good form? Now?
WTF?
They're having the worst team play and individual performances since the Van Gaal era now. How does that equal good form?
Because you won Valladolid at Camp Nou in a very shoddy match, which could actually go either way if not for grat portion of luck?
Real crushed them 7 to nothing, remember? Despite the fact they also suck bigtime this season.

 

[Xifio]

I'm wondering if you're being serious or just a dumb unssupecting troll.
Barca good form? Now?
WTF?
They're having the worst team play and individual performances since the Van Gaal era now. How does that equal good form?
Because you won Valladolid at Camp Nou in a very shoddy match, which could actually go either way if not for grat portion of luck?
Real crushed them 7 to nothing, remember? Despite the fact they also suck bigtime this season.

there's no need for name-calling, especially in the accusative ... you have your opinions ... if you don't agree, you can either express it amicably or keep it to yourself ... trying to offend someone is completely unnecessary ...


anyway, let's get a few things straight ...

They're having the worst team play and individual performances since the Van Gaal era now. How does that equal good form?

Van Gaal era sucked? you mean his second second stint that lasted a few months? ye, no doubt ... but his first? with Figo, Rivaldo, and Kluivert in their prime, we played some great football! and the only reason Van Gaal left was because despite two league triumphs (including a league and cup double), we only managed to get to the Semis of the Champions League, and not win it ... if you didn't like our trademark attacking swagger and style, then fine ... but don't expect us to agree with you ...

Because you won Valladolid at Camp Nou in a very shoddy match, which could actually go either way if not for grat portion of luck?
Real crushed them 7 to nothing, remember? Despite the fact they also suck bigtime this season.

so Real scoring SEVEN when they were out of form had NOTHING to do with luck ... but Barcelona scoring 4 when out of form had EVERYTHING to do with luck? I watched both matches, and I know both scorelines were quite flattering on the night ... but your argument about "luck" seems quite the contradiction ...


but aside from all this discussion, let me remind you that this is the FC Barcelona thread ... Barça means a lot to some people, and it is very frustrating when things go unnecessarily wrong, and it is out of your control ... and if there is one place you are allowed to be completely and utterly focussed on Barça, it is here ... this is the place to discuss tactics, vent frustrations, celebrate achievements, and yes, you can even be emotionally biased once in a while ...

all are welcome to express their opinion ... but [personal] insults are completely out of order ....

 

[Mr.Crosas]

My line-up against Betis:
Valdes
Puyol,Thuram,Abidal,Zambrotta/Sylvinho
Toure
Xavi Iniesta
Bojan Eto'o Henry

Good luck!1 point please!

 

[KingPaulV]

so Real scoring SEVEN when they were out of form had NOTHING to do with luck ... but Barcelona scoring 4 when out of form had EVERYTHING to do with luck? I watched both matches, and I know both scorelines were quite flattering on the night ... but your argument about "luck" seems quite the contradiction ...

I have to check you on this one brother. The fact is that when we beat Valladolid up until the 30th minute of that first half it was indeed an even game and you could argue that luck played a part in our first goal, but after that it was a tactical blunder by Valladolid who decided to still attack and leave countering spaces against us that caused the scoreline. After the 30th minute to the last bell it was a training match for us and it could have easily been 9-0. If its one thing you should know about Madrid this year is that regardless of how poorly we play (which we do) we are lethal when a team lets us play the counter with spaces...

Whereas in your game against Pucela you guys actually were even with them and could have been behind all the way until the second goal. The other goals where not reflective of neither dominance nor better play on your part and where more the result of isolated individual class which obviously you guys have a lot more of than Valladolid. Anyway, my team sucks I should worry about them, but i just had to set the record straight