PBP: La Liga J27 | Racing de Santander v FC Barcelona | 11 March 2012 [R]

Yay, thanks for getting this up so fast, don't want to stop thinking about football after today's/tonight's game.

I know that Pique misses this via red card suspension - fortunately only 1 game. Question marks are whether Puyol and/or Abidal can play in his place? I'm guessing 1 or both will be OK to go. Other injury questions are Thiago - hopefully ready but unsure; and Alexis - likely not ready yet.

Worst case would be if none of the above can go in which case we start Bartra or Muniesa at 1 CB slot next to Masch (youth option) or play Keita at DM and Busquets next to Masch at CB (veteran option). Given our away struggles Pep probably goes with the veteran option but, again, I feel pretty sure that either Puyol or Abidal or both will be ready to roll.

 

yea, pedro needs all the minutes he can get at this point. his energy and movement seemed to be coming back at moments yesterday, he really needs to get his deadly finishing touch back though.

otherwise, he might have some very difficult decisions to make this summer, i'm kinda worried about pedro tbh. alexis has earned himself a starting spot, as has cesc, and tello and cuenca have both played themselves into contention also. with competition like that (not to mention the eventual returns of villa and afellay) pedro could really struggle.

in his current form, pedro can't match tello's speed, cuenca's dribbling, cesc's passing, or alexis' work rate ... and those were among his strong points last season. the best thing he's got going for him is that he should be the best finisher of that bunch (apart from villa). i really really hope he proves me wrong.

 

No Piquè?

La muchachada del Barça gritó cientos de veces, miles de veces eso de "¡Madrid, cabrón, saluda al campeón!" en la calle, en el estadio, en los bares, en balcones y terrazas. Parecía lo prioritario. Eso no puede ser sano.

Antonio Robles

 

Red card.

 

right i forgot

 

Carles Puyol, though without medical clearance, is the main novelty on the list of 19 footballers. The squad named is as follows: Valdés, Pinto, Dani Alves, Fàbregas, Puyol, Xavi, Iniesta, Messi, Mascherano, Keita, Sergio Busquets, Pedro, Adriano, Cuenca, Tello, Montoya, Bartra, Sergi Roberto, and Muniesa.

Read more: http://www.totalbarca.com/#ixzz1ojkYp23c

 

This match is on at 1 PM in the Eastern Time Zone, which means its on at 10 AM on the West Coast in North America. Daylight savings time changes are happening in North America tomorrow. I confirmed with goltv Canada's website.

 

Thanks for the timing confirmation, I was in a hurry when I posted the travel squad summary and link to TotalBarca. To be very clear NO Thiago, NO Abidal, NO Alexis BUT Puyol traveled and IF he gets medical clearance could play (but likely just on the bench I'm guessing). They join sidelined Pique (red card) and longer term injured Villa, Affelay and Fontas.

So we either see the double DM at CB tandem: Masch and Busquets (in which case Keita plays DM in front of them - possibly even winding up as part of a 3 midfielder defense when Adriano and Alves both bomb forward). Or Masch starts alongside Bartra or Muniesa.

Frankly this could be a team of 9 or 10 "midfielders" plus Valdes; the only true forward, if any, being one of Pedro, Cuenca or Tello. Obviously Messi and Cesc can be considered midfielders at times; so too can Alves and Adriano; similarly all of Keita, Masch and Busquets are either originally DMs or, in Keita's case, "box-to-box" MFs turned DMs.

 

Gilmango, thanks for the update. It almost seems as though it will be Busquets and Masch in the middle of the D. I really think that Pedro should play, although Tello is clearly the most in form of the three true forwards you mentioned. I feel that Pedro needs some confidence, and he needs a string of matches to do that. I have a feeling that it will be Cesc, Messi and Pedro up front, with Tello ready to come in as a sub in the second half. That leaves Xavi, Iniesta and Keita in the midfield.

I think Keita has been very good in his last two appearances.

 

Nah, no need to apologize, clearly none of us thought about it until today.

 

Barcelona lineup: Valdés, Alves, Puyol, Mascherano, Busquets, Xavi, Iniesta, Cesc, Pedro, Messi and Cuenca

 

Referee will be Sr. Carlos Del Cerro Grande... from Madrid.
(Last weekend's ref v Sporting Gijon - Velasco Carballo - was also from Madrid, FWIW)
This is the 35 year old's first season in the Primera... although he was awarded the 'Golden Whistle' last season for being named best referee in the Segunda.


No idea why I'm going to the trouble of posting this info?

 

Really glad Puyol can play but surprised Adriano is not out there. If Alves pushes up as usual then our D will be Masch-Busquets dropping back and Puyol. A bit worrisome but I feel pretty good that we will score 3 (or more) with this line-up. Excited for an early game.

 

Very interesting lineup, its been a long time since we played with three at the back. Also surprised to see Cuenca and not Tello, but hey, what do I know about being a manager? One thing Im happy about is that Cuenca's inclusion ensures that Iniesta will be playing in the midfield and not as a winger. Does anyone know if Sanchez will be back next weekend? Not too sure that it matters at this point, he could probably wait until the next match rather than rush back.

I'm not sure if this is across every cable provider, but I know right now there is a goltv free preview....so if you don't usually have the channel just check. Maybe you'll get lucky and not have to watch a stream. Unless of course, you already have goltv.

 

Ray Hudson is making me do it (though I am getting paranoid about big brother checking these and shutting stuff down): http://www.rojadirecta.me/goto/calciolinkita.ucoz.es/ch3.html

fingers crossed for the game and no shut down above

 

Let's do this Barca!

 

Morning everyone.

Decent stream: http://www.rojadirecta.me/goto/afecedeportes.blogspot.com/