liga : FCB-Zaragoza , Sunday, 25 Oct (21:00)

[mhrelayyan]

after the loss in the CL it is time to get back to winning against zaragoza , the team will miss alves due to injury which means that puyol will play in his position which leave a question mark on who will play in the center with pique , chygry is back to training so he might be on the bench since i feel that pep will let marquez start which means barca will have a weak link in the defence in the coming 3 weeks , hope that messi form is better and that ibra continue scoring .

[Culé]

Messi needs rest

[mhrelayyan]

Messi needs rest
the problem we dont have any player who can we rely on to play instead since iniesta is not in his best form yet .

[Barcelinha]

we're gonna get back in form. i feel it.

[Loves To Spooge]

Messi needs rest

i agree but they cant really afford to rest him now. Plus you lose a huge bit of spark when hes not there

[Viva Barca]

Yeah, but there's no spark in an off-form Messi.

He's been apparently exhausted in the last two matches. Totally shoulda been rested against Valenica, and maybe the Rubin matchw ould have been better.

But then agains, maybe he's ready for this one... I mean from Tuesday to Sunday is a pretty good duration between matches, given how the schedule has been at times. Look at Madrid, having to play Wednesday then Saturday. We've had more time to prepare for this one, and I think that's what the team's been needing... the chance to rest and prepare between matches.

I think we'll bounce back tomorrow. Things will be better :D

[xagasi]

Messi needs rest

No way, he just needs a hat trick, and another one for Ibra... but in a different game. :)
BTW, PUXA SPORTING!!!! :clap
Historically one of our friend teams, along with Osasuna, Real Sociedad and Tenerife, don't forget that!!!
http://www.elmundodeportivo.es/gen/20091024/53810589008/noticia/30-anos-del-asi-asi-asi-gana-el-madrid.html

[Fins Prompte]

good to see Sporting improve in their second season. So much for the epl noobs to pick on them this season. last season was 6-0 and 7-0 score lines, now, they have held madrid to scoreless draw and Barcelona beat them 3-0

[Stephh<3]

can't wait for the game tomorrow! i hope we win & get 3 pointss :)

[Gumball]

Its also good that sporting have prooven that you can still prform well in the league by going for the win rather than playing conservative yadda yadda

[mhrelayyan]

we need to win today with any result to take advantage of the points lost by real but i am afraid that puyol will not play with pique since both chygy and marquez are slow and make mistakes , cant believe why we dont have a replacement for alves other that puyol.

[Stephh<3]

lineup: Valdés, Puyol, Piqué, Chygrinski, Maxwell, Busquets, Xavi, Keita, Messi, Iniesta & Ibrahimovic.

Zaragoza: Carrizo, Paredes, Herrera, Pablo Amo, Pavón, Pulido, Abel Aguilar, Gaby, Pennant, Jorge López & Arizmendi.

[BarçaChica]

I see Guddy in the stands with Titi and the boys :D

[Loves To Spooge]

keita 1-0

lovely ball in from messi

[Stephh<3]

goalll! keitaaa 1-0 :D

[Gumball]

Messi crisis over, sets up for KEITEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!

[Stephh<3]

goallll!!!! zlatannnnnn!! 2-0 :)

[Manic Loop]

just too powerful but i'd argue maybe he shoulda done etter... but it was oast him before he knew

[Loves To Spooge]

2-0

what a strike that was from ibra

[Dragonlord]

what a rocket by IBRA! Carizzo should have probably done better, but such power behind it, seemed to get quicker and quicker towards goal. poor hands, missile shot.

[hijjawi]

2nd goal for BARCA. from IBRA. min.29
click here for the video (http://www.d1g.com/video/show/?id=3246436)

[Gumball]

oh ****, Alves is pissed

[Stephh<3]

GOALLLLL!!! keitaaaa 3-0 ♥♥♥

[Loves To Spooge]

3-0

zlatan sets up keita! :bowing

[Gumball]

Keita, one goal away from Crynaldo

[hijjawi]

3rd goal for BARCA. from keita min.41
click here for the video (http://www.d1g.com/video/show/?id=3246482)

[Vacilinha]

This is my analysis so far:

:bowing

[Casual33]

What crisis? The boys look pretty damn good so far. Good to see the sharp play from all over the field, the patience to find the right spots to attack, and the touches we've come to expect. All this against a team with all 11 players defending behind the ball.

Now get Messi out!

[BarçaChica]

I'm in love again :wub
I just want Lio to score

[Loves To Spooge]

I'm in love again :wub
I just want Lio to score

i wont messi to score too, hasnt had a goal for a wee while now.

[Stephh<3]

i want iniesta too score :)

[Gumball]

Keita hattrick for me munnnnn

[Stephh<3]

zlatan! zlatan! 4-0 (:

[Loves To Spooge]

zlatan :bowing

[Gumball]

third time lucky Ibra 4-0,

Iniesta uses his strength :)

[hijjawi]

4th goal for BARCA. from IBRA. min.55
click here for the video
(http://www.d1g.com/video/show/?id=3246620)

banned goal for BARCA. min.53
click here for the video (http://www.d1g.com/video/show/?id=3246610)

[Gumball]

come on, Messi deserves a goal

[hijjawi]

nice chance from messi min.68
click here for the video (http://www.d1g.com/video/show/?id=3246651)

[Gumball]

4-1 undeserved goal

[Stephh<3]

goall!! messii! 5-1 (:

[Gumball]

Zaragoza goal, irrelevant, Messi gol

[hijjawi]

1st goal for zaragoza from lopez min.77
click here for the video (http://www.d1g.com/video/show/?id=3246682)

5th goal for BARCA. from messi min.80
click here for the video (http://www.d1g.com/video/show/?id=3246689)

[Stephh<3]

hattrickk! keitaaa 6-1 (:

[Gumball]

Hattrickkk, Keiteeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[BarçaChica]

Keita is teh seks

[hijjawi]

6th goal for BARCA. and hatrick for keita min.85
click here for the video (http://www.d1g.com/video/show/?id=3246702)

[Gumball]

Keita is teh seks


Keitee >> C.ron

wee wee!!?!?!

[BarçaChica]

Si si :wub

[Casual33]

Wow a Keita hattrick. Never thought I'd see this day. I'm mad about the goal given up and the general sloppy and lazy play the D showed late on but its hard to complain about scoing 6. This kind of performance has to remind you of just such dominating performances last season, and thats a good thing

[illmatic]

press barca and they dont score , lay off them and get thrashed , hmmm great tactics by the zaragoza manager

[Loves To Spooge]

press barca and they dont score , lay off them and get thrashed , hmmm great tactics by the zaragoza manager

were you saying that after the CL final?

[Gumball]

were you saying that after the CL final?


most likely not

[avi]

two words... you MACHINES!

[Vacilinha]

press barca and they dont score , lay off them and get thrashed , hmmm great tactics by the zaragoza manager

You're so intelligent.

[illmatic]

were you saying that after the CL final?


no we all thought fergie had his tactics spot on in the match forum after that game :rolleyes:

[Loves To Spooge]

no we all thought fergie had his tactics spot on in the match forum after that game :rolleyes:

you should go into football management mate.

all those managers who had to watch their sides thumped by barca last season could use your help

[Vacilinha]

you should go into football management mate.

all those managers who had to watch their sides thumped by barca last season could use your help

Not only by Barça, but Aston Villa as well.

[Gumball]

no we all thought fergie had his tactics spot on in the match forum after that game :rolleyes:


Aparently the great Hiddink at Chelsea had it spot on too in the semis

[Fins Prompte]

wow, gotta give it up for Keita. Really seems more relaxed this season than last season and great job by Ibra. Was onside for other calls too. Where are the Eto'o whiners now? 13 mil and he has not scored in a month. Yeah, we sure will regret selling him to Inter.

Great job overall and not easy goals at all, so not sure what notorious is talking about when they came from 2 set pieces, 1 counter attack and the other two were nice passes from the wing.

[Gaucho]

To be honest, The Great Hiddink did had his tactics spot on, Chelsea could've gone to the finals if it wasn't for some details like Drogba finishing his chances.

[Ashraf]

To be honest, The Great Hiddink did had his tactics spot on, Chelsea could've gone to the finals if it wasn't for some details like Drogba finishing his chances.
Yea and a couple of penalties :laugh
http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00798/Michael_Ballack_280_798021a.jpg

[Vacilinha]

To be honest, The Great Hiddink did had his tactics spot on, Chelsea could've gone to the finals if it wasn't for some details like Drogba finishing his chances.

That's a myth. Hadn't Essien scored that amazing goal it would've been a whole different game as well. That goal was an important detail for example.

Anyway, credit to Hiddink for his tactics. It's just that many people make it look as if it were just his tactics and then just our good luck that saved our ass. Essien's goal was also a matter of luck for Chelsea, which had a huge influence on the development of the game.

[Gumball]

To be honest, The Great Hiddink did had his tactics spot on, Chelsea could've gone to the finals if it wasn't for some details like Drogba finishing his chances.


after the Abidal red card, it was all wrong from Hiddink

[Ashraf]

Still can't stop laughing at this :D

http://i43.tinypic.com/14ui442.jpg

[Vacilinha]

Yea and a couple of penalties :laugh
http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00798/Michael_Ballack_280_798021a.jpg

:laugh

Yeah, it's really funny.

http://mcxsummerdays.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/barcelona-campeon-champions-2009.jpg

[Loves To Spooge]

Still can't stop laughing at this :D

http://i43.tinypic.com/14ui442.jpg

classic :dk

[Ashraf]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkhQZNHcxmE a hip hop remix :D

[xagasi]

What a game!!! and in Madrid the press was talking about our "crisis", the "end of a cycle"... LOL :laugh

[xagasi]

press barca and they dont score , lay off them and get thrashed , hmmm great tactics by the zaragoza manager

The best post of the month!!! :clap

[Dragonlord]

keita + ibra fantastic, great production. missed the second half unfortunately, but good stuff. good to see the fight back in the team after that loss, keep it going.

[Vacilinha]

Edit: wrong thread.

[Vacilinha]

Btw, Busquets finally had a good game!

[Fins Prompte]

Btw, Busquets finally had a good game!

yeah, he didnt make us miss Yaya and good for Yaya he deserves a breather. Seems like everyone get their ass in gear for this game but it helps it was back to back at home and no traveling.

Still not sold on Chygry and I hope he plays better in the copa del rey game seeing as I prefer Puyol and Pique rested. Maybe can get a RB from the Athletic squad and not have to play Puyol at all.

next up....the dreaded away trip to Cultural Leonesa :fergie

[Vacilinha]

Yeah, Puyol, Piqué, Xavi, Messi, Ibra and Iniesta are not going to León. Montoya would be a good option for the RB.

[Fins Prompte]

oh, pep already announced who is not going?

[xagasi]

Yep, those 6 are on holidays until next Wednesday.

[Fins Prompte]

muy bien. bring up the kids. Hopefully Johnathan has recovered from his injury

[abdulelah]

Congratulations for the great win cules

Johnathan I think he play last match , when barcelona B win 0-2
________________________
the problem is the RB ?

[mhrelayyan]

what a match for barca , we came back to winning in style , keita was in great form , he is amazing since he can score from headers and he can go forward , ibra finally showed me for the first time that he is near his best form , what a FK it was , as for messi he is back to his form too , the defence was not tested , busqets had a good game too , it is good that we are alone at the top with a 3 points margin. all the starters should be rested and not called to the copa del rey match this week.

[Barcelinha]

i saw the 1st half and missed the 4th goal. but what a gaaaaaaame.

the boys were on fire and Keita :muchbowin

great game. :dk

[Blaugrana87]

Great game!

Can i just say that i'm happy with Zlatan currently taking the free-kicks? Alves' free kicks are aweful, just like his crossing. We just need someone to cross instead of Alves now..

[Culé]

Keita's 2nd goal was the goal of the match IMO..

It all started when Keita won the ball IN OUR PENALTY BOX then started off a slick move involving a normal Xavi pass( for Xavi normal would involve a pirouette, spotting a run with his chameleon eyes..thanks Ray Hudson..and then nonchalantly flicking the ball feeding the run making opposition defenders say, "Dude, you have got to be ****in kidding me how did you get the ball there? How?") and Ibra peeling off in the left wing (who says he can't play wing) and putting in an inch-perfect cross for who else Keita..a 70 yard run and a splendid goal for a splendid splendid player..

I dunno about you guys but I am getting a Keiteeeeee jersey next...He has truly won me over and I don't miss Deco any more

iVisca Barca!

[Barcelinha]

just remember guys. I loved Keita first :salute

[Culé]

aUTSYTkeulo

[mhrelayyan]

Great game!

Can i just say that i'm happy with Zlatan currently taking the free-kicks? Alves' free kicks are aweful, just like his crossing. We just need someone to cross instead of Alves now..

i am sure if alves played he would have took the FK :cool i hope they let ibra do it also.

[Fins Prompte]

I think Ibra's second goal had the most work involved with Iniesta fighting off 2 players and then passing it to keita

[mhrelayyan]

I think Ibra's second goal had the most work involved with Iniesta fighting off 2 players and then passing it to keita

the same for keita goal since he moved from midfield and the ball went to ibra then back to keita again to score :clap

[Fins Prompte]

Yeah, Puyol, Piqué, Xavi, Messi, Ibra and Iniesta are not going to León. Montoya would be a good option for the RB.

Montoya y Bartra deben incorporarse hoy a la concentración de la selección sub'19 para disputar el minitorneo clasificatorio para el campeonato de Europa que les impedirá jugar los dos siguientes compromisos

With Lucho's squad missing like 9 players because of international callups or injuries, who can the club promote for the copa del rey games :ninja

[mhrelayyan]

:laugh

[Walker]

Easter island nose's freekick was a beauty

[Barcelinha]

i see a pig in the caricature. :laugh

[Blaugrana87]

i am sure if alves played he would have took the FK :cool i hope they let ibra do it also.
True but Alves shouldn't. I've been annoyed by his free-kicks ever since halfway last season really, what do his free-kicks offer us? He always goes for his own success (never to assist someone else) and 95% of his free-kicks end up in the stands. How many has he scored in the last 10 months? Like 2? It's simply not worth it, we may as well give the ball to our opponent right away, Alves' free-kicks are just a waste of time and nothing more.

While his crossing has been off-par too

Like i said some while ago, fortunately Alves defends well and he has a great stamina (he is everywhere), attackingly he doesn't add much to the team.

[Gumball]

Disagree, he has had some Minty performances this season

[Vacilinha]

Like i said some while ago, fortunately Alves defends well and he has a great stamina (he is everywhere), attackingly he doesn't add much to the team.

:o

He hasn't been great lately, and in fact I didn't vote for him in the players of the month thread because of it, but as I was saying, :o.

And I'll add this too: :o.

Love this smiley. :o

[Blaugrana87]

Disagree, he has had some Minty performances this season
Overall he isn't even close to the level he reached when he had just joined us. Anyway i'm not saying that he has been crap or anything, but some parts of his game (his crossing and free-kicks like i said and i'll add another one: he loses the ball far too often) really have to improve, it annoys me every match again. Oh and a 4th one: why does he have to attempt 2 shots from a long distance every match again?

I love the way he runs etc he always keeps going, but attackingly he should do much better. Not just this season but ever since march really.

[Culé]

just remember guys. I loved Keita first :salute


not just Keita but the entire team

[Vacilinha]

You bitch.

[Loves To Spooge]

True but Alves shouldn't. I've been annoyed by his free-kicks ever since halfway last season really, what do his free-kicks offer us? He always goes for his own success (never to assist someone else) and 95% of his free-kicks end up in the stands. How many has he scored in the last 10 months? Like 2? It's simply not worth it, we may as well give the ball to our opponent right away, Alves' free-kicks are just a waste of time and nothing more.

While his crossing has been off-par too

Like i said some while ago, fortunately Alves defends well and he has a great stamina (he is everywhere), attackingly he doesn't add much to the team.

ill go with that.

the vast majority of his free kicks are abysmal.

Now i know this is only one free kick from ibra, but either way id like to see him get a run of taking them, just got a feeling he could do more with them other than blast them into the stands which is where mot of alves' end up.

Ive been critical of keita but i think hes put in a couple of brilliant performances this season, none more so than yesterday where he was brilliant, goals aside even.

[xagasi]

i am sure if alves played he would have took the FK :cool i hope they let ibra do it also.

I don't think so, Ibra shot a similar FK against Rubin Kazan and Dani Alves was there, wasn't him??

[xagasi]

Great game!

Can i just say that i'm happy with Zlatan currently taking the free-kicks? Alves' free kicks are aweful, just like his crossing. We just need someone to cross instead of Alves now..

Don't you like his crossings???
I find them the best ones we've had in many seasons, right now I can't remember any other LB o RB in our team able to make them.



True but Alves shouldn't. I've been annoyed by his free-kicks ever since halfway last season really, what do his free-kicks offer us? He always goes for his own success (never to assist someone else) and 95% of his free-kicks end up in the stands. How many has he scored in the last 10 months? Like 2? It's simply not worth it, we may as well give the ball to our opponent right away, Alves' free-kicks are just a waste of time and nothing more.

He already scored 1 FK this season, a great one against Atlético Madrid in the League.
And you have to consider he just shoots the ones from 35-40 meters, not the ones in front of the area, and the alternative to his FK's is just a pass to anyone around there and start a new play again, so for me his FK's are really worth it, we get some goals at the end of the season from nowhere.

QDsyxo--FY8

[Blaugrana87]

Now i know this is only one free kick from ibra, but either way id like to see him get a run of taking them, just got a feeling he could do more with them other than blast them into the stands which is where mot of alves' end up.

Exactly. I also remember a few other good free kicks from Zlatan (Serie A) so hopefully he can score a bunch more :)
Don't you like his crossings???
I find them the best ones we've had in many seasons, right now I can't remember any other LB o RB in our team able to make them.

He already scored 1 FK this season, a great one against Atlético Madrid in the League.
And you have to consider he just shoots the ones from 35-40 meters, not the ones in front of the area, and the alternative to his FK's is just a pass to anyone around there and start a new play again,
I remember a couple great crosses indeed but most of them end up in the middle of nowhere. I guess it's either everything or nothing in his case. I just wish he wouldn't shoot that many to the stands, sometimes it seems like he just isn't focussed.

Already 1 goal? You sound impressed. Like i said, i think since march he has hit 2 of them, that's not worth it. You think there isn't an alternative? What about crossing them to the penalty area, instead of just going for his own success? ;) With Pique, Keita, Zlatan, Puyol i bet you we would have scored at least 5 goals since march. Perhaps more, that's way more dangerous.

I really hate it when players shoot from 35-40 meters, what are they expecting? Do they think that the goalkeeper is an amatuer? Or blind? From that distance GK's usually have enough time to react on the shot. While 80% off the shots are wide anyway, so the player simply ends up giving the ball to the opponent. It's like the english long ball tactic, it's too opportunistic for my liking.

[Gaucho]

You of all people here should remember Arie Haan and what his long distance shots did for Holland. ;)

[Blaugrana87]

There are always exceptions ;)

Players like Sneijder, Gerrard and C.Ronaldo have amazing long shots.

[xagasi]

I really hate it when players shoot from 35-40 meters, what are they expecting? Do they think that the goalkeeper is an amatuer? Or blind? From that distance GK's usually have enough time to react on the shot. While 80% off the shots are wide anyway, so the player simply ends up giving the ball to the opponent. It's like the english long ball tactic, it's too opportunistic for my liking.

Totally disagree, the alternative to a shot that 3% of the times (and I'd say the % is higher) ends in a goal is a pass to start a play in the midfield that 0.5% of the times ends in a goal.
So I clearly go for the 1st option.

And you should say the same for the corners then, do you prefer a short pass and start a new play again???
I prefer all of them like the 1st or 6th goal yesterday... a cross to the area and see what happens, 80% of the times you give the ball to the opponent, 15% someone connects a wide header or it's stopped by the GK, but a 5% of them end in a goal.

[Blaugrana87]

Totally disagree, the alternative to a shot that 3% of the times (and I'd say the % is higher) ends in a goal is a pass to start a play in the midfield that 0.5% of the times ends in a goal.
So I clearly go for the 1st option.

And you should say the same for the corners then, do you prefer a short pass and start a new play again???
I prefer all of them like the 1st or 6th goal yesterday... a cross to the area and see what happens, 80% of the times you give the ball to the opponent, 15% someone connects a wide header or it's stopped by the GK, but a 5% of them end in a goal.
I think you didn't get my point. I'm not talking about starting a new play, i'm talking about crossing the ball to the strikers instead of attempting a shot from 35-40m ;)

[xagasi]

I think you didn't get my point. I'm not talking about starting a new play, i'm talking about crossing the ball to the strikers instead of attempting a shot from 35-40m ;)

OK then, that's a good option too, but the chances of scoring this way are similar to a direct shot.

In 8 league games we have scored 2 goals this way, not so bad.

And if they try them it's because Guardiola and Vilanova want that and they practise those kind of shots while training, in fact Pep talked about that in the press conference yersterday, and if Guardiola says so... :bowing

[Blaugrana87]

What about crossing the free kicks when the distance to the goal is more than 25-30m, and attempting a shot when the distance is shorter? That's IMO what we should do.

If Zlatan keeps his current level up, he should take those short free kicks. Xavi is a good player to cross the ball, perhaps Alves too (if we can stop him from going for his own success).

[Gumball]

Nobody should tell Alves what to do, the worst thing we could do is try and change him, when he is in form he is just as deadly as Xavi and Messi. He currently hasn't been in such form like las season, but his crosses sure looked deadly in the Gijon game early this season. Also when it comes to those energy draining matches, Alves will still be running riot down the right side all night long.

His freekicks may be in accurate, but hey when they end up on target they beat the keeper 99% of the time. Marquez is also great at FKs

[Fins Prompte]

I blame the ears operation.

[Barcelinha]

that could be right! he used his ears like bats do, as a radar, and could guide the ball.....

[Blaugrana87]

Haha ^ :D

One last addition to the Alves discussion, if he wasts most free kicks we get (and i think we can see 2 goals in 8 months as wasting it), it makes it very lucrative for our opponents to tackle our players. Let's say Xavi has the ball, their LB tackles him, we get a free kick, Alves shoots the ball to the stands and it's a goal kick. How does that help us? Fair enough if it only rarely happens, but a few times every match? If i'd play Barça, i'd just tackle their players all game long.

I've been annoyed by it for months, i guess i'm one of the few though, or perhaps i was too spoiled by Ronaldinho's free kicks :ninja

[Fins Prompte]

to be fair, xavi usually takes the close ones and alves takes the long distance ones. I have no problem rotating it and allow Rafa to take some too. I think Ibra and Alves can share the long distance ones

[xagasi]

I've been annoyed by it for months, i guess i'm one of the few though, or perhaps i was too spoiled by Ronaldinho's free kicks :ninja

Did you enjoy Ronald Koeman's FKs???
The best ever.

[Blaugrana87]

Did you enjoy Ronald Koeman's FKs???
The best ever.
I'm too young to really remember them but yeah, he was amazing ;)

Vs Sampdoria :dk