FC Barcelona thread

[Ridders]

Well done. Messi had a blinder, but you dominated us all over the park. I'm gutted obviously, but there is little shame in losing to such a good side.

As an aside, I thought the referee was excellent. There were a couple of decisions where I thought we were lucky to dodge yellows, but overall a calm sure performance and no major stuff-ups (which is you all can ask for from an official really).

Slipped my mind. Your absolutely right, i loved the ref for this game. Looked intent on letting the game flow, which added to the spectacle. The smile he had on his face at times indicated he was enjoying his time out there, which is good to see.

 

[Tommy Smith]

Ok since the match this morning ive become more and more in awe of Barca. You know you're something special when you make Man Utd look like Sheffield Utd.

In fact im so impressed with the way they played, and the way they emphatically proved that football is far and away the most beautiful sport in the world that im going to get a Barca shirt.

Now rest assured TT that this wont make me "Tommy Three Teams" or "Tommy Four Teams" (what number am i up to?). But ive just been so impressed with them this year and the fact that they may be regarded in time as the best club side over the last 20 years that im going to have to get a home kit as an admirer of the way they play the game.

Only question is what name to have on the back? Messi is the obvious choice but almost too obvious so im thinking about Xavi or more likely Iniesta. Any suggestions? It wont be Alves i know that much.

 

[Bulldog Force]

If anyone can find a music video clip of this game from someone like Ananth, please post it up here

Thanks.

 

[pennywisealfie]

Ok since the match this morning ive become more and more in awe of Barca. You know you're something special when you make Man Utd look like Sheffield Utd.

In fact im so impressed with the way they played, and the way they emphatically proved that football is far and away the most beautiful sport in the world that im going to get a Barca shirt.

Now rest assured TT that this wont make me "Tommy Three Teams" or "Tommy Four Teams" (what number am i up to?). But ive just been so impressed with them this year and the fact that they may be regarded in time as the best club side over the last 20 years that im going to have to get a home kit as an admirer of the way they play the game.

Only question is what name to have on the back? Messi is the obvious choice but almost too obvious so im thinking about Xavi or more likely Iniesta. Any suggestions? It wont be Alves i know that much.

Yeah man, its tough for me not to sound like an elitest here, but, watching Barca makes you appreciate football for the awesome game that it is. I really wish more teams play like them

 

[Mad Dogg]

As an aside, I thought the referee was excellent. There were a couple of decisions where I thought we were lucky to dodge yellows, but overall a calm sure performance and no major stuff-ups (which is you all can ask for from an official really).

Thats true. Both he and his linesmen were extremely good. There was one tight offside call against us that I think was wrong, but otherwise the only thing that I can think of is that he should've added more time onto the end of the match. There were three minutes injury-time, but the ball was only in play for about 60 seconds of that because of time-wasting. If the game was closer that would've been a big deal, although maybe he would've ended up adding further time if it were closer.

As far as I'm concerned, if he keeps up that level of reffing, he should get all the biggest games. We also had him for one (maybe both) of the Porto games, and he did well then as well.

 

[shiznit]

Wow... a great move for Barca coming up...

a swap deal involving Samuel Eto'o, Hleb & Cash for Zlatan Imbrahimovich. apparently Laporta has said the deal is done and there just going through the paperwork.

source: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=661520&sec=transfers&cc=3436

 

[Bulldog Force]

We are the greatest Football team on the planet at the moment. The 2008–09 La Liga, 2008–09 Copa del Rey, 2009 Supercopa de España, 2008–09 UEFA Champions League, 2009 UEFA Super Cup and 2009 FIFA Club World Cup are ALL ours

 

[Bulldog Force]

Nothing short of a 2-0 victory is required on Thursday against Sevilla.

 

[Twizzle]

should get it easy, we are no where near full strength and haven't been for a month

Sevilla dont have the depth that Barca does

 

[pennywisealfie]

why 2-0? i havent kept up with the league since the winter break

 

[Twizzle]

the viral infection has wiped out most of our backline not to mention injuries and Kanoute is in Africa

its almost a reserve team

 

[Twizzle]

oh, and apparently Navas, Navarro and Fabiano are out as well

and Zakora is in Africa

I could go on but I think you get the picture

 

[pennywisealfie]

riiight, thanks man. I like Sevilla, so i hope the young (or not so good) players lift

 

[Bulldog Force]

Well thanks to the aggregate away goal, we'll won't go back to back in winning all the titles this year. We've been eliminated by Sevilla thanks to them scoring 2 away goals, and us only getting the 1.

But what a year it's been for Carles Puyol, leading his team to world footballs very first (and probably only) sextuple streak. He's lead the team to win:

• 2008–09 La Liga
• 2008–09 Copa del Rey
• 2009 Supercopa de España
• 2008–09 UEFA Champions League
• 2009 UEFA Super Cup
• and 2009 FIFA Club World Cup

On top of that, he's enjoyed success with the Spanish National Team, helping them win the European Championships for 2008, and helping Spain claim World 31 Ranking.

This feat will probably never be equaled again.

 

[Matt23]

Financial problems at Barca?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/8797183.stm

 

[WireMan]

Big time.

Not playing players, crying off to the Bank for another 100million.

Its why they voted against the tv deal for the whole league not just individual clubs.

Without the exclusive tv deal, Barca would be finished.

 

[Bulldog Force]

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/b...c-fabregas-chase/story-e6frf9if-1225897858936

Barcelona debt hits Cesc Fabregas chase


BARCELONA's very public pursuit of Cesc Fabregas has hit yet another stumbling block - the club's debt is even bigger than thought.

The club has made no secret of their desire to bring the Arsenal captain back to the Nou Camp, yet have been unable to bring the Gunners down from their lofty valuation.
Club vice-president for economic affairs Javier Faus has revealed today that Barca lost more than $110 million last season as they romped to a second successive domestic title.
The previous board, led by Joan Laporta, had announced the club was about $17 million in the black at the end of their mandate in late June, but a new audit carried out by Deloitte for Sandro Rosell's team has revealed a far less healthy scenario.
The new audit shows Barca's net debt is about $635 million.
'The figures presented by the former board don't reflect the real image. They have cheated,' Faus said.

'There is a structural problem. The sporting excellence in the last few years has not been reflected in economic excellence.
'The new board's goal is to bring economic excellence alongside sporting excellence.'
Barca recently took out a loan of $223 millon after falling behind with the payment of player wages at the end of June.
Central defender Dymtro Chygrynskiy was also hastily sold to Shakhtar Donetsk to raise much-needed funds for the club.
Nevertheless, Barca have already signed striker David Villa this summer for around $58 million a figutre they must expect to exceed should they want to complete the deal for Fabregas.
Barca are considering a frugal move for Villarreal veteran Marcos Senna to replace Yaya Toure, who left for Manchester City.
The cut-price move would maximise funds to sign Fabregas, but Barca board spokesman Toni Freixa admitted the Gunners remained in no mood to negotiate.
Reports in Catalonia claim a secret deal for the 24-year-old has already been struck, but Freixa said: 'Arsenal don't want to sit down and negotiate with us.
'It's not a problem with the wishes of Cesc or of Barca - they simply don't want to negotiate.'

Probably a lost cause now. Cesc might very well stay with Arsenal. The transfer fee of Villa certainly didn't do us any favors. Can't see how this will. Don't know what we'll get from Toure going to Man City. Doubt it's anything astounding.

 

[Ridders]

It's staggering that Barca incurred such a significant loss last season. Thought that the high transfer fees paid last season for the likes of Ibrahimovic and Chygrynskiy may have been a reason but even that doesn't explain the cash flow issues.

 

[CC_Eagle]

I'm still astounded at the fee they paid for Chygrynskiy.

Especially considering he was sold 12 months later back to Shakhtar.

 

[andrew057]

I wonder if Platini will threaten to kick them out of the champions league :roll: