Abidal returns from liver surgery and CL formation

Hey hey! Foxsoccer reports that Abidal is back...

Based on this info: Pep will probably go for the following formation:

F:    Messi, Villa, Pedro
M:   Iniesta, Xavi,  Busquets
D:    Puyol, Pique, Mascherano, Alves

Reserves: Abidal, Afellay, Keita, and a Team B GK.

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The Big Mouth's team is missing his key defensive components (Pepe and Ramos) and will have to rely on a more attack-minded formation as follows:

F:      Hinguin
W:    Di Maria & C. Ronaldo
M:     Alonso & Ozil/Kaka
DM:  Diarra
D:     Marcelo, Carhalvo, Albiola, Arbeloa

Reserves:  Benzema, Adebayor

This formation should be countered by our previous Clasico formation with Busquests and Keita, which this armchair manager would like to look like either 4-4-2 (Iniesta as a midfielder) or 4-3-3 (with Iniesta out on left to toy with the thin Madrid defense)

F:    Iniesta, Messi, Villa/Pedro/Afellay
M:   Xavi, Keita, Busquets
D:    Puyol, Pique, Mascherano, Alves

With Afellay and Pedro coming with 15-30 minutes left and Abidal in the 90th minute.

Visca Barcelona and enjoy the game!!!

See this link --> Barcelona's Abidal returns from liver surgery

CL Line-up

Hello all,

Unless Pep decides to pull a Mourinho-style fast one about Iniesta's availability, the line-up will probably look like this:

F:  Pedro, Villa, and Messi
M: Afellay, Xavi, Busquets
D:  Puyol, Pique, Mascherano, Alves

Reserves:  Keita, Milito, Fontas, Thiago, and Afellay (if Iniesta actually plays).

Pep could also play a 4-4-2 formation to counter a defense-orientated midfield (see below) with this line-up:

F:   Villa and Pedro
M:  Afellay, Messi, Xavi, Busquets
D:   Puyol, Pique, Mascherano, Alves

Big Mouth's line-up should look be what I dub (unless someone else has already beaten me to it) the "Christmas tree" formation: 4-2-1-2-1.  Without Carvalho and Khideira, the line-up is:

F:                         Adebayor
W:           Di Maria                Ozil
AM:                       Alonso
DM:         Pepe                     Diarra
D:        Marcelo Albiol  Ramos Arbeloa



It will be a difficult game, visca Barcelona!

4 more Clasicos, any one?

Hidy-ho,

Well...

Let's start with the expected Saturday line-up:
F:   Messi, Villa, Pedro (a.k.a., MVP, as fellow www.BarcelonaFootballBlog.com colleagues would say)
M:  Xavi, Iniesta, Keita
D:  Adriano, Pique, Busquets, Alves

Madrid should field a "familiar" team to hide a potentially different CL line-up:
F:    Benzema
W:  De Maria, Cristiano
M:  Xabi, Ozil, Khidera
D:   Marcelo, Carvalho, Pepe, Ramos

Reserves: Kaka for Ozil or Xabi, and Higuain or Adebayor for Benzema, and Diarra for Khidera.

Both coaches have declared their intentions to send in their best players and the Big Mouth has all his strikers on the ready (the Frenchman, the Togolese, the Portuguese, & the Argentinian).  I expect a tough game, in which the Big Mouth's battle tactic is to weaken FCB as part of his overall CL/Copa del Rey War Strategy.  Imagine, FCB without an injured Messi or a Xavi, or Pique for the next 3 weeks.  It will be easy for Ramos and Pepe to squash the smaller FCB player.  Moron-hu plays defensive football and will give the nod to his players to be "extra" physical.  I hope the referee will be able to keep Madrid under control, especially in front of their crowd.

Personally, I would be happy to concede a draw against a maturer Madrid team and focus our strength on the CL, for if the Big Mouth can't make it to the CL, he'll make sure that FCB will pay the price.  I can imagine him plotting his "scorched earth" plan; FCB will be so weak by the time they get to the final (if they do), even the opponents B team will give FCB a hard time.

On the other hand, a simple 1 goal victory at White Castle's (not the burger joint) would strike a severe mental blow to the Madridistas, who are desperately seeking revenge for the past 5 losses and especially for the last 5-0 humiliation, in order to believe in themselves again.

Copa del Rey:
I think that team B got the Copa and deserve to play the Copa even if they do get mauled:

F:     Afellay, Jeffren, and an MVP component (I feel sorry for Bojan, he's just so unlucky)
M:    Thiago, Dos Santos, and Keita
D:     Maxwell, Milito, Fontas, and Alves
KG:  Pinto

I say let's give this bone to the dogs, even though I think that this dog is smart enough to not take the bait and is OBSESSED in the T-Bone steak, the Champions League, after having tasted it twice before.

Champions League:
The loss of Moron-hu's rock in defense Carvalho is a severe blow, especially with hot-heads Pepe and Ramos.  This aspect should lessen the severity of our own losses in defense (Puyol and Abidal) rendering Madrid prone to our attacks.  Recall that Madrid's players are not used to playing on three fronts at the same time.  We have to win in the first leg when Madrid is without Carvalho!!!

Expected FCB CL Line-up:
F:    Messi, Villa, Pedro
M:   Iniesta, Xavi, Mascehrano
D:    Adriano, Pique, Busquets, and Alves

I have to admit, I did not think that the Big Mouth could bring the players this far.

Overall, we only need to win 2 of the 4 four games but not the Cope del Rey.

All the best!

Barcelona's Shakhtar line-up

OK folks, with the return of Xavi and Pedro, here's FCB's expected CL line-up:


F:       Messi, Pedro, and Villa (but prefer Maxwell wide left to counter the condensed mass of defenders on the edge of the box)
M:      Xavi, Iniesta, Mascherano
D:       Adriano, Pique, Busquets, Alves
GK:    Valdez


Alternatively, Iniesta can play out wide left with Kieta/Afellay in the mid-field.


Let's make this very clear, Shakhtar is dangerous! Even Cruyff, has expressed his fears.  Why? They've got Brazilians everywhere, everywhere!!!


Thanks to Mistress Kari @ Barcelona Football Blog, I can share this analysis with you:


See this link --> Who Are Shakhtar and What Can We Expect?


First, Shakhtar have a disciplined back line led by Dymtro Chygrynskiy who spent a season with FCB recently & is complemented by their Croatian version of Dani Alves, Darijo Srna.


Second, Shaktar employs 2 defensive mid-fielders who are complemented by two Brazilian wingers who will track Alves & Adriano and thus possibly reduce their contributions.


Third, our back-line has been our Achilles Heel and it will fall upon Mascherano to stop Brazilian attacking midfielder, Jadson, from creating fast and dangerous counter-attacks.


Fourth, Brazilian Luiz Adriano has been spectacular in the lone striker position!  He will cause problems for Pique if he is not at his sharpest (best not to have Shakira in Barcelona or Europe for that matter).


Thus, any FCB onslaught will most probably be countered with 8 players in defense to contain Messi & company in the 1st half.  That will mean that FCB will have possession but remain susceptible to speedy counter attacks & long-range attempts (effective against Valdez).


In summary, FCB will have to maintain control over the ball, keep pressing, play out wide to counter the condensed formation in the box, and stay alert in the back for any sudden counter attacks.  FCB will have to win at home (and win big)!


Happy hunting gentlemen and good luck.

Barcelona's expected line-up at the El Madrigal

OK, based on our current injuries and with an eye towards the Champions League game, here is my line up:

F:     Afellay (L), Villa (C), Bojan
M:    Iniesta, Keita, Mascherano
D:     Adriano (L), Pique, Busquets, Alves (R)
GK:  Valdez

Reserves: Messi, Thiago and Jeffren

El Madrigal is a difficult stadium with an even more difficult crowd (kudos to the Villarreal fans for their loyalty) as such I would like to see the team play a physical first half (Keita and Mascherano) and slow the tempo of the game but bring in the heat in the 2nd half with Messi and Jeffren, if needed.  I would like to see Messi saved for the CL game later in the week and not risk an injury especially after the last scare.  I've included Afellay after his strong showing in the Euro qualifiers (I hope he shines and stays with the team).

For Villearreal, Nilmar and Rossi will want to impress Barcelona and show what they're made of.

Prediction? Based on the above and the fact that we don't do good when we come back from international games, I think it will be a hard earned draw...

Enjoy the game!

Adjustments | Barcelona Football Blog

I saw this excellent post on Barcelona Football Blog and wanted to share it with you:

See this link: Adjustments | Barcelona Football Blog

I want to focus on two things that I have been driving me crazy, especially if we are to continue to play across three tournaments, international friendlies, and international qualifiers:

1. CF: I agree that we need someone upfront, someone physical but older and wiser who can keep the opposing defensive line busy while he coldly passes the ball to an unmarked player to finish off the opponents (ala Larsson in the CL finals).

If you recall (assuming that I am can still recollect as well) Larsson, that great Swedish striker who come on in the 2nd half of the 2006 CL final, kept the defense busy with his intimidating presence and sneaked two magnificent assists against a 10-man but determined Arsenal.  We need some elder and intelligent striker, who knows that he is part of a team and must play his role.  Larsson did the same for Man. U when he went there on loan in 2007.  We had a wonderful experience with Larsson, we tried to do the same with Henry (he is excused for his marital problems) and thought that Ibrahimovic would do the same but found out that he was not mature enough yet (maybe after Ibrahimovic leaves for the EPL he can return more mature???).

So where can we find someone like Larsson, who is physical, mature, and has CL experience? Only Herr Klose fits the bill.  I think this more important than acquiring the services of Rossi, Nilmar, or Neymar.  A distant second is on the form of Trezeguet, aided by his compatriot Abidal, assuming his wife allows him to leave her home town.

2. CB:  We lost two versatile defensive players last season, Marquez and Toure, but did not replace them with any one.  Sure Adriano can play CB but he is more effective as a LB and Pique has been lost without Puyol.  Milito is washed up and Busquets is a short-term solution to a long-term problem (Toure was more versatile).  Let's face it, Madrid has a stronger back 4 while our defensive line is very thin.

We need someone who is physical and tall (ala Pique).  Demichelis, currently playing for Malaga, expressed his desire to leave and is a viable possibility.  I am not familiar with the EPL but FCB can scout for an older ELP CB who wants to play in La Liga.

One last pressing matter, CESC.  FCB doesn't need him!  Spain did not need him and La Masia can deliver more Xavis and Iniestas.  Plus, why bring back someone who had not loyalty when he was young and hand big $$$ to Arsenal for their efforts.  Recall Arsenal just replayed the scenario with a Barcelona youngster.  In addition, Cesc has seen an increasing number of injuries over the past few years and take it as a sign of his durability of lack thereof.

Your opinions?