Transfer News: Jeffren and Jonathan dos Santos

It's been a slow transfer season FCB but here recent headlines:

Jeffren and Jon dos Sanots are set to leave FCB for greener pastures with bids tabled by Bolton Wanders (Euro 6 million for Jeffren) and Real Zaragoza (Euro 1 million for Jon), respectively.  This time however, FCB's lawyers have taken a page from Madrid's and inserted buy back clauses that allows FCB the opportunity the right to repurchase the youngsters services for a reasonable amount.

I personally would have preferred pushing them up the ladder and have them play with some of the senior players in the Copa del Rey to sharpen their skills within the organization.  But the buy back clause is goof enough for me.  Too bad, we didn't do the same with Nolito or Soriano (the Segunda Pichichi)...

On a separate matter, International Spanish Left-Back (ahm, ahm) Capdevilla is set to leave Villarreal on a free transfer.  With the problems we're having in Defense, I would think that this would be an excellent FREE opportunity?

Sometimes I wonder at the goings-on @ FCB...

Anyway, now that Argentina is out, at least our three Argentinian Ms (Messi, Mascherano, and Milito) are not injured, yet!  I was impressed by Caceres composure in heading the ball for the 1st goal assist and his penalty kick that eliminated Argentina

For more info click this page --> Bolton have bid for Jeffren accepted by Barcelona | tribalfootball.com
See also --> Real Zaragoza offer accepted for Jonathan dos Santos
For more info --> Capdevilla to leave for free

Thiago renews his contract

Wonderful news everyone,

Thiago has put the rumors of his impending transfer to rest by renewing his contract till 2015 raising his buyout clause from Euro 30 million to 90 million.  All the best!

For more info --> Thiago renews his contract until 2015 | FCBarcelona.cat

Roma secure Barcelona's Bojan Krkic for €10m

Bojan has secured a move to AS Roma under Luis Enrique's stewardship with a buyback clause.  All the best Bojan.

For more info click: Roma secure Barcelona's Bojan Krkic for €10m - report - Goal.com

Final thoughts for the season

I love the fact that people blame Barcelona for giving the Big Mouth (aka, Mourinho) a taste of his own anti-football medicine, not realizing that Madrid's Special Mistake (aka, Mourinho) was the one that tarnished the image of Spanish football overall and of Madrid in particular when he chose to counter Barcelona's style with aggressive tactics especially in light of the 5-0 humbling.  When Madrid snatched a draw and subsequently lifted the Copa del Rey, commentators were VERY quick to applaud his special ability to neutralize Barcelona's style of play.  It seems logical that coming to the CL, Pep knew that the only way to win was to get down and dirty with a mad genius obsessed with defeating Barcelona.  To prove my point, just look at the magnificent style of play in the final; no yellow cards for the first 2/3s of the match even though Valencia should have received a yellow.  Both teams played beautifully and both deserved to be in the final, the better team simply won, even SAF acknowledged Barcelona's performance.

One more thing, the team's spirit was displayed when Abidal who is not the second, third, or even fourth captain, was handed the captain's armband so that he may lift the CL cup in recognition of his ordeal with his liver cancer and his commitment to the club - Actions speak louder than words and on that day everybody knew what "mes que un club" meant.  What's your team's motto?  Now do you know why I and the rest of the world love Barcelona?  Think about.  Thank you.

We are the champions!

Congratulations to FCB, the best in Europe, once again in the new Wembley as they were in the old!!!

Good bye Mourinho

Good bye...

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