FC Barcelona Discussion

[SirBalon]

Eto'o didn't like Real Madrid much and his past there.  A bit like Luis Enrique...  But then again there's been others that have left Barcelona to go to Madrid with the same sentiment the other way around like Luis Figo (natural the way the fans treated him and continue to do so) and Ronaldo who for years didn't even want to mention Barça (has relaxed on that recently) but curiously had his greatest season of his career in Barcelona's colours.

[Carnivore Chris]

The best number 9 Barcelona have had over the last 20 or so years. Pep forcing him out was one of his(Pep's) low points without a doubt. It's clear that he is likely a pain to work with for managers at times due to his personality and stroppy attitude, but with him in the team, Barcelona would have likely gone all the way in the Champs league in 09-10 and done back to back trebles.

Edited May 14, 2018 by The Rebel CRS

[Carnivore Chris]

19 hours ago, Paulo Dybala said:

That's why the Guardiola Era FC Barcelona Team of 2008-2009 is considered and revered as Football Immortals. Rightfully so. 

Results, trophies AND the most beautiful technically proficient football the world's ever seen. I can wax poetic/wax lyrical about that team all day long.

The single most impressive "Greatest Season in European Football History". Not even Barca 2011 and 2015 come close (if we're talking about the overall efficiency, effectiveness, quality and beauty of football played).

It was incredible that season and you could almost predict it happening just by watching the team in pre-season.

Thierry Henry also had a very underrated season that year. Everyone will (rightfully) speak more of the likes of Messi, Eto'o, Iniesta and Xavi, but Henry had his moments and plenty of them that term. A quality performance at the Bernabeu in the 2-6 comes to mind, as does that cracking goal vs Atletico(I think it was). We didn't quite get to see the Henry of Arsenal, where he was one of the best players I've seen(and easily the best I've seen in the Premier league) but he still offered plenty and when I speak of Pep letting Eto'o leave as being one of his (very few) low points, one thing(of many) that he did get right was keeping Henry, but shipping out Ronaldinho and Deco. Most managers would have kept them considering how brilliant they were for the club, although by that point they were at an end(as you could see in the previous season) and Pep knew this. Not shipping them out would likely have been a massive error. As would have selling Thierry Henry as he complemented the young Messi and Eto'o perfectly.

As for this season, it can't be called a failure as 2 trophies were won when I bet most thought that it was set to be an awful season after the result in the Super Cup, but to lose that unbeaten run last night was disappointing after coming so close. Beating La Real's long running unbeaten record was still historic though in itself. Also atleast the team fought to try and come back and Coutinho showed that he has what it takes to step up when needed. The defence, as always, is the big worry for me as when it comes to the crunch they just can't defend.

Edited May 14, 2018 by The Rebel CRS

[Storts+]

Reports that we are very close to signing Riqui Puig! Thoughts @SirBalon @The Rebel CRS

Edited May 18, 2018 by Storts

[Samuel Eto'o]

On 5/14/2018 at 11:05, The Rebel CRS said:

It was incredible that season and you could almost predict it happening just by watching the team in pre-season.

 

That's right. I remember that preseason very well. Probably the one that left the biggest impression on me in recent years. By far.

2018-2019 jersey unveiling tomorrow at the famous 1992 Barcelona Olympic pools of Montjuïc. May be worn on the last match of the year vs Real Sociedad Sunday.

Pre-season[edit]

  Win   Draw   Loss

24 July 2008Friendly	Hibernian	0–6	Barcelona	[show]Edinburgh, Scotland

26 July 2008Friendly	Dundee United	1–5	Barcelona	[show]Dundee, Scotland

30 July 2008Memorial Artemio Franchi	Fiorentina	1–3	Barcelona	[show]Florence, Italy

3 August 2008US Tour	Guadalajara	2–5	Barcelona	[show]Chicago, United States

6 August 2008US Tour	New York Red Bulls	2–6	Barcelona	[show]East Rutherford, New Jersey, United States

16 August 2008Joan Gamper Trophy	Boca Juniors	1–2	Barcelona	[show]Barcelona, Spain

Edited May 18, 2018 by Paulo Dybala

[SirBalon]

7 hours ago, Storts said:

Reports that we are very close to signing Riqui Puig! Thoughts @SirBalon @The Rebel CRS

Sorry mate, from work an went to a dinner party and have only just sat down to be able to answer...  He's a fantastic young prospect and the whole of Spain know him like they know another number of youth players coming through the ranks.  Much is expected of him but the way the club is running things from board level these days, then I can see these gems go.  I only hope that if they do have to go that it's to actually play and not mess around on a bench.  You're talking about top quality youth here, not accumulating like Chelsea have done for years to loan out and disappear in some cases.

[El Profesor]

 

Does Dembouz want to reunite with Tuchel in Paris? That´d be an interesting negotiation considering the animosity between PSG and Barcelona boards, and also for @SirBalon ´s reaction, obviously. 

[SirBalon]

5 minutes ago, El Profesor said:

 

Does Dembouz want to reunite with Tuchel in Paris? That´d be an interesting negotiation considering the animosity between PSG and Barcelona boards, and also for @SirBalon ´s reaction, obviously. 

Yeah I read about his remark seemingly directed at Tuchel in one of Spain's websites this morning.  These things happen like when Messi seemed to be flirting with Chelsea some years back and even added them or something about them (I can't remember which) to one of his social media accounts.  I've learned (not just from that Messi scenario) to take these things with a pinch of salt and smirk at the journalist filling space with rather impotent, less intelligence to than normal young men with too much time on their hands which have to fill it with something.

Who knows...  As long as it's done cleanly and not behind anyone's back I don't care because fundamentally you don't want a player at a club that doesn't actually want to be there.  Not that Dembélé doesn't want to be at Barça because I don't know about that, but that the club ALWAYS comes before any player and definitely before this young man.  He needs to socialise and be a part of a group which seems to have been an issue of his even at BvB... This is a team sport!

[El Profesor]

6 minutes ago, SirBalon said:

Yeah I read about his remark seemingly directed at Tuchel in one of Spain's websites this morning.  These things happen like when Messi seemed to be flirting with Chelsea some years back and even added them or something about them (I can't remember which) to one of his social media accounts.  I've learned (not just from that Messi scenario) to take these things with a pinch of salt and smirk at the journalist filling space with rather impotent, less intelligence to than normal young men with too much time on their hands which have to fill it with something.

Who knows...  As long as it's done cleanly and not behind anyone's back I don't care because fundamentally you don't want a player at a club that doesn't actually want to be there.  Not that Dembélé doesn't want to be at Barça because I don't know about that, but that the club ALWAYS comes before any player and definitely before this young man.  He needs to socialise and be a part of a group which seems to have been an issue of his even at BvB... This is a team sport!

Barcelona needs money, right? Barcelona wage bill really needs some restructuring, especially if they want to complete the Griezmann deal, for what I´ve read. On the other side, PSG also needs money to balance their books, unless Neymar goes to Real Madrid, then I think a possible Dembélé move to PSG could make sense. In his home country, working with a coach he´s familiar, maybe he can feel more at ease to play his best football. Perhaps there is a fit that could end up benefiting all involved.  

 

 

 

[SirBalon]

9 hours ago, El Profesor said:

Barcelona needs money, right? Barcelona wage bill really needs some restructuring, especially if they want to complete the Griezmann deal, for what I´ve read. On the other side, PSG also needs money to balance their books, unless Neymar goes to Real Madrid, then I think a possible Dembélé move to PSG could make sense. In his home country, working with a coach he´s familiar, maybe he can feel more at ease to play his best football. Perhaps there is a fit that could end up benefiting all involved.  

 

 

 

Indeed Barcelona's wage bill is through the roof and that is something that's been thrown at the board time and time again where they defend it with their numbers at the end of every season by balancing the books and yet still making profits.  What's going on in the background though nobody knows because many of the people showing dissent are people in the know, not just journalists that do their own in depth investigation. 

All the same, Barcelona signed Dembélé and if they signed him it was because they (supposedly) done their research on the player like they've done in the past with others.  Obviously signing a footballer and that footballer fitting in to perfection offering you your needs isn't a science which is why top clubs buy top players with certain characteristics that on face value seem to provide what is required.

But they signed him and they had the chance to sign others most namely Mbappé himself who went to PSG in the end.  They chose Ousmane Dembélé and it would seem very strange indeed if they sold him after one season considering it can take time to fit into the mechanics of the way Barcelona okay the game even under someone more pragmatic like Valverde... The base is till the same in the manner of playing. Neymar himself didn't hit it off in his first season and neither did others in the past.  But then again Ibrahimović was sold after one season although in that case there is the more than likely scenario that this was to do with his terrible relationship with Guardiola that was well documented.

Another thing is the Antoine Griezmann interest (actually more than just interest) which does leave the questions you are asking.  How on earth can you live with Messi, Suárez, Dembélé (who is he's gonna prove himself, he needs to play next season) and now Griezmann. I know giant clubs need depth and immense quality in that squad, but that seems over the top and we don't have to be that smart to see that.

So it may be true that someone has to leave and the one that's earned less stripes this season for a number of reasons has been unfortunately Dembélé.  Another thing is that if one leaves for Griezmann to arrive (hypothetically speaking because Antoine is still an Atleti player), I can bet you anything that even then we won't know if it's due to a backtrack and fix scenario rather than saving money on a salary.

[Carnivore Chris]

Going off what I've read in the media:- Why would a club spend 100 million on a 20 year old and then sell him a season later? It can take years for a player of such an age to adapt to a team. When buying a player so young then it's just as much about the future as it is the present. If a club expect a 20 year old to be ripping the world apart and be at the peak of their game in just 1 season, then they simply have no right of purchasing players of that age in the first place and should be banned from doing so. 

It's that defence which needs the most work. It's been the team's downfall this season and the main reason for the Roma and Levante results, which mesnt an early exit from the Champs league and history being prevented from being made. Such hard work was ruined by league 2 style inept defending. 

This club is starting to remind me of Chelsea when it comes to transfer dealings and young players. 

That board need to fuck off and there needs to be massive changes to staff behind the scenes. 

All these young players being bought from Brazil who never even come close to playing before being loaned out is ridiculous as well. There is something going on there and it has nothing to do with buying these players in order to play them and better the team. I expect the same from Arthur, what's the point? 

Edited May 19, 2018 by The Rebel CRS

[El Profesor]

5 hours ago, SirBalon said:

Indeed Barcelona's wage bill is through the roof and that is something that's been thrown at the board time and time again where they defend it with their numbers at the end of every season by balancing the books and yet still making profits.  What's going on in the background though nobody knows because many of the people showing dissent are people in the know, not just journalists that do their own in depth investigation. 

Pall the same, Barcelona signed Dembélé and if they signed him it was because they (supposedly) done their research on the player like they've done in the past with others.  Obviously signing a footballer and that footballer fitting in to perfection offering you your needs isn't a science which is why top clubs buy top players with certain characteristics that on face value seem to provide what is required.

But they signed him and they had the chance to sign others most namely Mbappé himself who went to PSG in the end.  They chose Ousmane Dembélé and it would seem very strange indeed if they sold him after one season considering it can take time to fit into the mechanics of the way Barcelona okay the game even under someone more pragmatic like Valverde... The base is till the same in the manner of playing. Neymar himself didn't hit it off in his first season and neither did others in the past.  But then again Ibrahimović was sold after one season although in that case there is the more than likely scenario that this was to do with his terrible relationship with Guardiola that was well documented.

Another thing is the Antoine Griezmann interest (actually more than just interest) which does leave the questions you are asking.  How on earth can you live with Messi, Suárez, Dembélé (who is he's gonna prove himself, he needs to play next season) and now Griezmann. I know giant clubs need depth and immense quality in that squad, but that seems over the top and we don't have to be that smart to see that.

So it may be true that someone has to leave and the one that's earned less stripes this season for a number of reasons has been unfortunately Dembélé.  Another thing is that if one leaves for Griezmann to arrive (hypothetically speaking because Antoine is still an Atleti player), I can bet you anything that even then we won't know if it's due to a backtrack and fix scenario rather than saving money on a salary.

 

Was Mbappé ever close to Barça? It seems to me that Mbappé was more of a Real Madrid mistake. They had everything lined up to sign him and apparently Zidane wasn´t enthusiastic about him. I believe this is something Real Madrid will regret for a decade or more. But if Barça had a chance to sign Mbappé and chose Dembélé, as much as I like Ousmane, this is a huge, huge blunder. I mean, even a brazilian peasant like me realizes that Mbappé is the most talented U-20 in the world and with his maturity, he is pretty much a certain commodity. 

If Griezmann comes to Barça, Dembélé leaves, I think. Either in a permanent transfer or in a loan. He is too good to be benched. 

I´ll probably get burned by this opinion of mine, but I´ll say it: the Coutinho signing doesn´t make sense to me. He was not the player Barça needed to replace Iniesta. Dude builds his plays to finish it himself. Why would you want such a player in a team that has Messi?

 

43 minutes ago, The Rebel CRS said:

Going off what I've read in the media:- Why would a club spend 100 million on a 20 year old and then sell him a season later? It can take years for a player of such an age to adapt to a team. When buying a player so young then it's just as much about the future as it is the present. If a club expect a 20 year old to be ripping the world apart and be at the peak of their game in just 1 season, then they simply have no right of purchasing players of that age in the first place and should be banned from doing so. 

It's that defence which needs the most work. It's been the team's downfall this season and the main reason for the Roma and Levante results, which mesnt an early exit from the Champs league and history being prevented from being made. Such hard work was ruined by league 2 style inept defending. 

This club is starting to remind me of Chelsea when it comes to transfer dealings and young players. 

That board need to fuck off and there needs to be massive changes to staff behind the scenes. 

All these young players being bought from Brazil who never even come close to playing before being loaned out is ridiculous as well. There is something going on there and it has nothing to do with buying these players in order to play them and better the team. I expect the same from Arthur, what's the point? 

Agents, Chris. Those dudes know how to put their players in the right places. Remember when Juan Figger basically controlled Real Madrid´s transfer police? They went from him to Jorge Mendes. The Henrique and Keirrison deals are some shady, shady stuff. Everyone in Brazil, even at the time, knew that they were not good enough to play for Barça. Traffic made a good profit on them. Same thing with Douglas. The only one I can understand is the Marlon one. He has potential. 

Arthur is different because he was scouted by almost every big european club. He chose Barcelona. He had many options. I don´t know if it´ll work for Barça, but at least this is not Douglas. He is a real talent.

 

 

 

 

By the way, @SirBalon,  take a look at it. Apparently this is a Whatsapp message from the Barcelona group about Dembouz: 

 

 

Edited May 19, 2018 by El Profesor

[DeadLinesman]

3 hours ago, The Rebel CRS said:

Going off what I've read in the media:- Why would a club spend 100 million on a 20 year old and then sell him a season later? It can take years for a player of such an age to adapt to a team. When buying a player so young then it's just as much about the future as it is the present. If a club expect a 20 year old to be ripping the world apart and be at the peak of their game in just 1 season, then they simply have no right of purchasing players of that age in the first place and should be banned from doing so. 

This is why Barsa, Madrid, United, Citeh, Bayern etc should be banned from buying 20 year old kids and fucking them off.

[Samuel Eto'o]

Footyheadlines got it right yet again!

I like how they showed all Barcelona districts in the video. In fact, there are exactly 10 red stripes on the blue background, each one representing one Barcelona district: Les Corts, Sants-Montjuïc, Sarrià-Sant Gervasi, La Barceloneta, Sant Martí, Ciutat Vella, Gràcia, Horta-Guinardó, Nou Barris and Sant Andreu.

CONFIRMED: The new kit will be worn tomorrow in the Camp Nou vs Real Sociedad. La lLga made a special exemption for this to happen. Finally the La Liga bosses do something right!  

Dembele staying then???

Griezmann's already here it seems!

Edited May 19, 2018 by Paulo Dybala

[Samuel Eto'o]

 

[Stan]

well that's one way of doing a kit reveal  

[Samuel Eto'o]

The only First Team player at the reveal.

 

[Samuel Eto'o]

All the lads showing off the new kit in the link below.

https://www.fcbarcelona.com/club/news/2017-2018/fc-barcelona-unveils-new-nike-kit-for-201819-season

Edited May 19, 2018 by Paulo Dybala

[Samuel Eto'o]

I love it. As classic as you can get in this day and age!

https://store.nike.com/gb/en_gb/pw/fc-barcelona/ofi?intpromo=CDP-DUAL%3AP1%3A20180519%3AGFB%3ASHOPTHECOLLECTION&ipp=120

Looks lean and mean. Hungry.

 

Edited May 19, 2018 by Paulo Dybala

[SirBalon]

6 hours ago, El Profesor said:

 

Was Mbappé ever close to Barça? It seems to me that Mbappé was more of a Real Madrid mistake. They had everything lined up to sign him and apparently Zidane wasn´t enthusiastic about him. I believe this is something Real Madrid will regret for a decade or more. But if Barça had a chance to sign Mbappé and chose Dembélé, as much as I like Ousmane, this is a huge, huge blunder. I mean, even a brazilian peasant like me realizes that Mbappé is the most talented U-20 in the world and with his maturity, he is pretty much a certain commodity. 

If Griezmann comes to Barça, Dembélé leaves, I think. Either in a permanent transfer or in a loan. He is too good to be benched. 

I´ll probably get burned by this opinion of mine, but I´ll say it: the Coutinho signing doesn´t make sense to me. He was not the player Barça needed to replace Iniesta. Dude builds his plays to finish it himself. Why would you want such a player in a team that has Messi?

 

Agents, Chris. Those dudes know how to put their players in the right places. Remember when Juan Figger basically controlled Real Madrid´s transfer police? They went from him to Jorge Mendes. The Henrique and Keirrison deals are some shady, shady stuff. Everyone in Brazil, even at the time, knew that they were not good enough to play for Barça. Traffic made a good profit on them. Same thing with Douglas. The only one I can understand is the Marlon one. He has potential. 

Arthur is different because he was scouted by almost every big european club. He chose Barcelona. He had many options. I don´t know if it´ll work for Barça, but at least this is not Douglas. He is a real talent.

 

 

 

 

By the way, @SirBalon,  take a look at it. Apparently this is a Whatsapp message from the Barcelona group about Dembouz: 

 

 

Real Madrid could've indeed signed Mbappé but Florentino was (unusually) being directed by the coaching staff in that they didn't want to upset the double La Liga and Chanpions League winning apple cart.  Infact during the winter transfer window just gone Kepa was about to be signed and Zidane even went public so as this didn't occur.

The Mbappé Barcelona connection happened hours after the Neymar deal went through in his move from Barça to PSG... Mbappé met with Robert Fernández in Paris who was also shuffling the Seri deal and they elected to go for Dembélé... Infact a big deal was made about this in the Catalan sports media at the time and it can be googled.

All of that is inconsequential now because what's done is done.  What I don't understand if there's an inkling Dembélé could leave is that they aren't being brought to account. Barcelona is a fan run club and those over 150,000 members can give substantial problems to the present tenure as did Angel Cases on Rosell who has been ruined by a guy that owns a pharmacy.

[Samuel Eto'o]

The strip to win the Champions League in Madrid in.

Unite the 10.

https://www.nike.com/gb/football/bootroom/t/fc-barcelona-201819-home-kit/

 

 

Edited May 19, 2018 by Paulo Dybala

[Samuel Eto'o]

[Carnivore Chris]

21 hours ago, DeadLinesman said:

This is why Barsa, Madrid, United, Citeh, Bayern etc should be banned from buying 20 year old kids and fucking them off.

I could understand mate, but you can clearly see the talent the lad has. When playing around Messi(where he has space to exploit) he has looked like he has genuine world class talent at times. He looks the business when playing alonside Messi and Coutinho, as the 2 players get him on the ball and create spaces for him, although expecting him to be the one to take games by the scruff of the neck is too soon, as he's still learning and developing his game. Neymar wasn't that great when he first signed either, as it takes time to fully adapt, especially if you have had injury set backs and have trouble with the language barrier.

This is why European football gets worse all the time. It's not that talent isn't being produced, but they are all leaving for the same clubs and in many cases they aren't utilised properly or aren't shown enough patience.

 

 

Edited May 20, 2018 by The Rebel CRS

[Samuel Eto'o]

Starting to get excited. Suarez was absolutely instrumental in the treble winning season of 2015. This guy may very well be the one to help us get our third in 2019 Can see Griezmann Messi Suarez playing well together. Great players always do. 

 

Edited May 20, 2018 by Paulo Dybala

[Spike]

Embarassing. I hate how people photoshop other jerseys onto players. If you are the superstitious type it ,eans the transfer wont happen