[retired_mystikalpharie]

Originally posted by Francis Cole:
Yovan - You have BarcelonaTV don't you?
How much B/C etc games do they show? The full games or just highlights

All the games, and full games. Barça B games are (almost) always live.

BTW, Barça Infantil have won the international tournament of León. They beat Eto’o’s foundation team 1-0 in the final, Bacary scored the goal. Etock, our best striker, didn’t play because he was grounded (?) by the club (had a fight).

Other teams in the tournament: Real Madrid, PSG, Schalke and Betis.

The AlevÃ*n team lost v Villarreal in the quarters of the XIV national tournament (7-a-side).

The teams: Primera división teams.

Both tournaments were (are) on national TV. The final of the AlevÃ*n tournament is later, Villarreal-R.Sociedad.

[retired_mystikalpharie]

Originally posted by Francis Cole:
Yovan - You have BarcelonaTV don't you?

Yes, I have. The channel is only decent though.

[retired_barbie34]

I wondered, when Barça take on these x players per year from the Eto'o foundation (there was about 6 this previous season they took on) how do they get around FIFA rules about the transfering of under 18's.

You might not know but it just puzzled me.

[retired_allyourkisses]

Great post.

All the players i wanted to see at Barca are now coming although enry is getting on a bit i still would have liked Palacio.

Anyhow Chivu is brilliant at both cb and LB. However, i still feel a right back is required a former Madrid player is being touted don't rate him much though Diogo. Yaya is a brilliant acquisition steel in Barca's midfield has never consisted since Davids left 2 years ago. Here's the signings i would make,

IN Chivu, Yaya Toure, Henry, Palacio, a decent right back, a keeper i doubt one is signed though, probably a utility back up midfielder along with probably a decent CB

Players i'd like to see go

Out Ezquerro, Oleguer, Silvinho, Motta

I know guily is definately off but he has been unlucky if Messi had not been here he would have been appraciated greatly. Edmilson is being touted around to Italian CLubs. Gudjohnson another unlucky fellow how can a player expect to replace Larsson and then Eto'o when he is not even an out to out striker. MArquez is another who may be sacrificed yet i admire his grit and determination. Deco has been discussed but i would love hm to stay.

The Press are convinced that one of Eto'o Or Ronnie will leave but both manager and chairman have ruled this out so we shall wait and see. I personally believe if Dos Santos and the other young prodigy can't remember his name lol , come into the senior fold i'd sell whoever Milan pay more for. I can't see Rijkaard start with Henry, Messi, Eto'o and Ronnie even though my heart wants to he always plays 3 so we shall wait and see.

There is no doubt more changes should have been made last year, and Rijkaard is a big soft and his tactics defy belief at at times he definately misses Tenk Cante. This is definately going to be a massive year in the transfer market, its a good this chelsea won't be involved i hope.

[mitch_mcintyre]

Originally posted by Gav Stone:
<BLOCKQUOTE>Originally posted by yovan:
<BLOCKQUOTE>Originally posted by Andy Jordan:
lineup amended:

Valdes, Zambrotta, Abidal, Puyol, Chivu, Xavi, Touré, Messi, Ronaldinho, Eto'o, Henry

Thuram has insinuated that Barça will play 4-4-2 (or 4-2-2-2). :thup:

It's not that unbalanced but we need two DMs or not play them against tough opponents. Messi is the younger and excellent to rape tired defenders in the second half.

Ronaldinho and Eto’o aren’t for sale. They were on Barça TV “cleaning� their image. Eto’o even said that Rijkaard is the best manager </BLOCKQUOTE>What a horrible use of the word 'rape' :eek:

Even with two DM's it still gives it an unbalanced look. Too many gaps can still develop in midfield or on the wings and the front four (if you like) may have bags of pace and skill and finishing, etc, but that is still too much talent and too much ego for the final third of a pitch.

If Barca had a clever coach, one who could maybe invent a system to cater for them, then yes, great. Rijkaard is just not that man though.

Perhaps one of the greatest things in Barca's favour is the African Cup of Nations, as it will rule Eto'o out for a while (assuming he still plays for Cameroon). Some creative squad rotation is going to be needed here, or injuries, or suspensions.

This is, of course assuming that Ronaldinho, Messi and Eto'o all stay in Spain. If one or two leave, then I will rewrite my words. If they stay, I expect Barcelona NOT to win a trophy.

It's like the Galaticos all over again, isn't it? </BLOCKQUOTE>

Rijkaard has done quite well in keeping those ego's down during his spell at Barcelona though.

Why is he not good enough to manage Barcelona? Great coaches have failed over there, and he's going into his fourth? season at the club, and when you look at the prizes they won during his spell he cant be all that bad can he?

[retired_barbie34]

BTW, Barça Infantil have won the international tournament of León. They beat Eto’o’s foundation team 1-0 in the final, Bacary scored the goal. Etock, our best striker, didn’t play because he was grounded (?) by the club (had a fight).

The Infantil A seem to have a good crop of players ready to move to up to Cadete - Bacary and Etock as you mentioned, but also Alcántara + Ella.

And anyone called Tina Tina deserves to make it.

[retired_barbie34]

Ezquerro's contract is up isn't it? So he'll go

[retired_hvporter]

Originally posted by yovan:
It’s not that difficult IMO, 6 “defenders� and 4 “forwards�.

Still horribly lacking in balance then.

Messi and Henry are injury prone.

Yes, one of the reasons I heard Arsenal were willing to let Henry go right now was because he is becoming more injury prone.

The problem of Real Madrid was that they didn’t replace Hierro and replace Makelele for Beckham. They won the CL with two attacking full backs (Salgado and Roberto Carlos), two defensive midfielders (Helguera/Conceiçao and Makelele) and 4 forwards (Morientes, Raúl, Zidane and Figo). A year later they replace Morientes for Ronaldo and won the league.

But not all four of them were used as true forwards, were they? Figo played out wide and Zidane in a midfield role. And in the semi-finals against Barcelona, they didn't play all four at once, did they?

[trotamundos]

Simply cannot wait for the season to start. Shame that Javier has left, but it was on the cards from about six months into his contract.

Mon the Barca. Screw Madrid.

[retired_mystikalpharie]

Originally posted by Francis Cole:
Sveinn Aron Gudjohnsen joined today (This week?) and will be in BenjamÃ*n B (I think/guess).

So even if Eidur goes there will still be a Gudjohnsen at the club

He is in the BenjamÃ*n B team but didn’t join today or this week. He joined at the beginning of the season.

There is an article about him in the Spanish version of the official site.