The 2012-13 Season Thread | The Tito Era begins!

MavadoDribblez · Jul 7, 2012

Apparently there was a clause in his contract that allowed him to leave on a free: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/feedarticle/10325746

Best of luck to Keita....a true professional. Many teams would benefit greatly by having Keita as a starter.

unclesox · Jul 7, 2012

Sad to see him leave. Was quite reliable when called upon.

os_mutante · Jul 8, 2012

Farewell, Keita. Had a hell of a run here and you definitely deserve the big payday. Thanks for not making any European sides stronger also.

I wonder if Keita's team is in the same league as Drogba's Shanghai? Hmmm..

unclesox · Jul 8, 2012

At least we won't have to worry about losing anyone to the African Cup of Nations in January/February.

inswinger · Jul 8, 2012

os_mutante said: ↑

Farewell, Keita. Had a hell of a run here and you definitely deserve the big payday. Thanks for not making any European sides stronger also.

I wonder if Keita's team is in the same league as Drogba's Shanghai? Hmmm..
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Yes, indeed Keita will be facing Drogba's (and Anelka's) Shanghai Shenhua in the Chinese Super League. Plus, Seydou will joing ex-blaugrana Fábio Rochemback, who was one of the players Laporta inherited with a massive contract that he offloaded ASAP. So long ago, and yet Rochemback is a year younger than Keita.

So long, Seydou. One of the great unsung heroes of this historic period of the club. He probably won't get a tribute match, but I hope Dalian comes to play a friendly sometime so the Camp Nou can applaud him one more time.

inswinger · Jul 8, 2012

Hey, Iniesta got married! And that means... he may well be breeding soon, bringing forth another generation of midfield demigods!

Barça-related guests: Xavi, Piqué, Sergio B., Pedro, Puyol, Cesc, Messi, VV, Sammie Eto'o, Gaby Milito, Jorquera, Gaspart, Laporta, Rosell, Bartomeu, Guardiola (to the reception)

Here's Don Andrés walking the aisle with his mamá to the soundtrack from Gladiator

unclesox · Jul 8, 2012

^^^ I thought Don Andres already became a father a few months ago. I remember him doing the big belly and sucking thumb goal celebrations at one point last year.
Or am I thinking of another player?

EDIT:
From Twitter, @andresiniesta8
"Un dia increible! Recién casados. Amazing day! Just married."

manyfaces · Jul 8, 2012

unclesox said: ↑

I thought Don Andres already became a father a few months ago. I remember him doing the big belly and sucking thumb goal celebrations at one point last year.
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A baby girl named Valeria.

MavadoDribblez · Jul 8, 2012

Congrats to Don Andres. I guess my invitation got lost in the mail....yeah, that's it. haha

os_mutante · Jul 9, 2012

unclesox said: ↑

^^^ I thought Don Andres already became a father a few months ago. I remember him doing the big belly and sucking thumb goal celebrations at one point last year.
Or am I thinking of another player?

EDIT:
From Twitter, @andresiniesta8
"Un dia increible! Recién casados. Amazing day! Just married."

Click to expand...

Looks like his Euro "slump" didn't stop him from further scoring.

BocaFan · Jul 10, 2012

New La Liga fixture list is out: Barca opens at home against Sociedad. Throughout the season Barca plays the team that LPB played 2 weeks earlier. e.g. Madrid opens at home against Valencia, Barca hosts Valencia in round 3.

The first clasico is October 6-7 in Camp Nou. Return at Bernabeu on 2-3 March. I like how its earlier in the season this time so it won't interfere with the CL quarterfinals or semifinals.

Tough finish to the season. Atletico away in round 35, Espanyol away in round 37, Malaga at home on the final day.

Rana catesbeiana · Jul 10, 2012

Not that long until the Liga starts. I like it. Big season: time to start a Tito era with flying colours and take the title back.

Bootsy Collins · Jul 10, 2012

The Tito era begins with a poke in the eye from RFEF.

Rana catesbeiana · Jul 10, 2012

^ Yeah. That's so lame. In what sort of professional circle can you attack someone like that and it's nothing. I can only imagine the outburst of LPB fans if Pep had done to LPB's assistant coach what Mou did to Tito. It sounds like a joke, something that obv can't happen.

But hey, at least they let Tito off the hook as well.

os_mutante · Jul 10, 2012

But the RFEF is supposed to be biased towards us...

Well, the ban was only in the Supercopa. Wouldn't you rather have Mourinho present for these clasicos? I would.

They should have banned him for two games in the league. Clasicos or not, the Supercopa is ostensibly a pre-season friendly and it would have been more meaningful to ban him those first couple weeks.

Bootsy Collins · Jul 10, 2012

os_mutante said: ↑

But the RFEF is supposed to be biased towards us...

Well, the ban was only in the Supercopa. Wouldn't you rather have Mourinho present for these clasicos? I would.

They should have banned him for two games in the league. Clasicos or not, the Supercopa is ostensibly a pre-season friendly and it would have been more meaningful to ban him those first couple weeks.
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It was an absurdly weak punishment as it was. To me, this sends the message that his routinely appalling behavior is above even the weakest of reprimands.

After all, this is who we're talking about:

BocaFan · Jul 10, 2012

os_mutante said: ↑

Well, the ban was only in the Supercopa. Wouldn't you rather have Mourinho present for these clasicos? I would.
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I would rather La Liga not cement its reputation as a mickey-mouse league. Someone could make a flying challenge from behind and break Messi's leg and it won't even result in a suspension at all? That's comforting to know...

Rana catesbeiana · Jul 10, 2012

I don't mind a Mourinho around, but I'd like that people who are shown in television etc as football pros would be smart enough to behave at least somewhat. A coach running to gouge an eye in the heat of the match of the opponent's coach being a-ok? Doesn't belong to top football. The upside in this is that at least it wasn't one of our staff to make his club look stupid.

Gilmango · Jul 10, 2012

I guess this is not a huge shocker but always nice to see some top players transfer to Barca without demanding absolute top dollar wages (e.g., Alba, Cesc, Masch, Sanchez, Abidal, Adriano) and similarly La Masia products don't demand top dollar once promoted and becoming starters or near starters (e.g., Busquets, Pedro, Thiago). Mind you they are all making great money, especially in contrast to the bleak Spanish economy.

Also kind of nice to see a 24 person squad (25 names on the list but I'm assuming Abidal doesn't get back on the pitch).

unclesox · Jul 10, 2012

The release of the full Liga schedule also brought other calendario news.

The two Supercopa ties will take place on Thursdays - August 23 in Barcelona and August 30 over there. August 30 will also be the drawing for the group stage of the UEFA Champions League.

2013 will begin on January 5/6 with J18 (home to Espanyol).
The Copa del Rey quarterfinals will take place on January 9 (1st legs) and 16 (2nd leg).
The semifinals will continue the following two midweeks, January 23 (1st legs) and 30 (2nd legs).

The Copa del Rey final has a set date of Saturday 18 May.
The following day, Sunday the 19th, will be Jornada 37. However, the two Copa finalists will have their J37 fixtures brought forward to Wednesday 8 May to avoid having to play on consecutive days.

With the Champions League final being played on Saturday May 25, Jornada 37 will be played four days later on Wednesday the 29th. This is the only scheduled midweek date for La Liga matches.

Temporada 2012/2013

JULY (pre-season)
.. Tue 24: pre-season (A) Hamburg SV
.. Thur 26: Olympic Football Tournament begins
Sat 28: pre-season (A) Ittihad Riadi in Tangier, Morocco

AUGUST
Sat 4: pre-season (A) Paris Saint-Germain / Olympic Football quarterfinals
.. Wed 8: pre-season, (N) Manchester United in Gothenburg
Sat 11: pre-season (A) Dinamo Bucharest / Olympic Games football final
.. Wed 15: FIFA international date
Sun 19: J1 (H) Real Sociedad
.. Mon 20: Trofeu Gamper (H) Sampdoria
.. Thur 23: ScE-1 (H) Real Madrid
Sun 26: J2 (A) Osasuna
.. Thur 30: ScE-2 (A) Real Madrid / UCL group stage draw

SEPTEMBER
Sun 2: J3 (H) Valencia
Fri/Sat 7/8: FIFA date/World Cup qualifying
.. Tue 11: FIFA date/World Cup qualifying
Sun 16: J4 (A) Getafe
.. Tue/Wed 18/19: UCL-M1
Sun 23: J5 (H) Granada
.. Wed 26: ---
Sun 30: J6 (A) Sevilla

OCTOBER
.. Tue/Wed 2/3: UCL-M2
Sun 7: J7 (H) Real Madrid
Fri/Sat 12/13: FIFA date/World Cup qualifying
.. Tue 16: FIFA date/World Cup qualifying
Sun 21: J8 (A) Deportivo
.. Tue/Wed 23/24: UCL-M3
Sun 28: J9 (A) Rayo Vallecano
.. Wed 31: ---

NOVEMBER
Sun 4: J10 (H) Celta
.. Tue/Wed 6/7: UCL-M4
Sun 11: J11 (A) Mallorca
.. Wed 14: FIFA international date
Sun 18: J12 (H) Real Zaragoza
.. Tue/Wed 20/21: UCL-M5
Sun 25: J13 (A) Levante
.. Wed 28: ---

DECEMBER
Sun 2: J14 (H) Athletic Bilbao
.. Tue/Wed 4/5: UCL-M6
Sun 9: J15 (A) Real Betis
.. Wed 12: CdR-8th1
Sun 16: J16 (H) Atlético Madrid
.. Wed 19: CdR-8th2
Sun 23: J17 (A) Real Valladolid
Winter break - International friendly featuring Catalunya

JANUARY
Sun 6: J18 (H) Espanyol
.. Wed 9: CdR-Qf1
Sun 13: J19 (A) Málaga
.. Wed 16: CdR-Qf2
Sat 19: African Cup of Nations begins in South Africa
Sun 20: J20 (A) Real Sociedad
.. Wed 23: CdR-Sf1
Sun 27: J21 (H) Osasuna
.. Wed 30: CdR-Sf2

FEBRUARY
Sat/Sun 2/3: African Cup of Nations quarterfinals
Sun 3: J22 (A) Valencia
.. Wed 6: FIFA international date
Sun 10: J23 (H) Getafe / African Cup of Nations final
.. Tue/Wed 12/13: UCL-2R1
Sun 17: J24 (A) Granada
.. Tue/Wed 19/20: UCL-2R1
Sun 24: J25 (H) Sevilla

MARCH
Sun 3: J26 (A) Real Madrid
.. Tue/Wed 5/6: UCL-2R2
Sun 10: J27 (H) Deportivo
.. Tue/Wed 12/13: UCL-2R2
Sun 17: J28 (H) Rayo Vallecano
Fri/Sat 22/23: FIFA date/World Cup qualifying
.. Tue 26: FIFA date/World Cup qualifying
Sun 31: J29 (A) Celta

APRIL
.. Tue/Wed 2/3: UCL-Qf1
Sun 7: J30 (H) Mallorca
.. Tue/Wed 9/10: UCL-Qf2
Sun 14: J31 (A) Real Zaragoza
.. Wed 17: ---
Sun 21: J32 (H) Levante
.. Tue/Wed 23/24: UCL-Sf1
Sun 28: J33 (A) Athletic Bilbao
.. Tue 30: UCL-Sf2

MAY
.. Wed 1: UCL-Sf2
Sun 5: J34 (H) Real Betis
.. Wed 8: J36 for CdR finalists
Sun 12: J35 (A) Atlético Madrid
Wed 15: UEFA Europa League Final in Amsterdam
Sat 18: CdR-F
Sun 19: J36 (H) Real Valladolid
Sat 25: UEFA Champions League Final in London (Wembley)
.. Wed 29: J37 (A) Espanyol

JUNE
Sun 1: J38 (H) Málaga
June 15-30: FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil

NOTE: La Liga dates are initially listed to be played on Sundays but the confirmed dates for specific matches in each jornada are usually confirmed at least 2 weeks in advance.

FCBTEX · Jul 10, 2012

Sad to see Keita leave but can't fault a player for wanting one last payday. Best way for Tito to "poke back" against Mou is to beat them in the Supercopa.

Gilmango · Jul 11, 2012

unclesox said: ↑

The release of the full Liga schedule also brought other calendario news.

The Copa del Rey final has a set date of Saturday 18 May.
The following day, Sunday the 19th, will be Jornada 37. However, the two Copa finalists will have their J37 fixtures brought forward to Wednesday 8 May to avoid having to play on consecutive days.

MAY
.. Wed 1: UCL-Sf2
Sun 5: J34 (H) Real Betis
.. Wed 8: J36 for CdR finalists
Sun 12: J35 (A) Atlético Madrid
Wed 15: UEFA Europa League Final in Amsterdam
Sat 18: CdR-F
Sun 19: J36 (H) Real Valladolid
Sat 25: UEFA Champions League Final in London (Wembley)
.. Wed 29: J37 (A) Espanyol

JUNE
Sun 1: J38 (H) Málaga
June 15-30: FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil

NOTE: La Liga dates are initially listed to be played on Sundays but the confirmed dates for specific matches in each jornada are usually confirmed at least 2 weeks in advance.
Click to expand...

Great compilation of info as always. The extra info text is off from Calendario and I think the latter is correct: Jornada 36 (not 37) gets moved back 1.5 weeks to Weds the 8th of May, so as not to conflict with J36 on 19th of May. (I like that they moved it back 1.5 not just .5 weeks; also like that they worked it so it would work around CL and Europa schedules no matter what, though a team playing the Europa Final then the CdR final might not be too pleased at the lack of spacing).

unclesox · Jul 11, 2012

Gilmango said: ↑

Great compilation of info as always. The extra info text is off from Calendario and I think the latter is correct: Jornada 36 (not 37) gets moved back 1.5 weeks to Weds the 8th of May, so as not to conflict with J36 on 19th of May. (I like that they moved it back 1.5 not just .5 weeks; also like that they worked it so it would work around CL and Europa schedules no matter what, though a team playing the Europa Final then the CdR final might not be too pleased at the lack of spacing).
Click to expand...

Based on this SPORT article, the only matche(s) from Jornada 36 that would be brought forward to Wednesday 8 May would be those involving the Copa finalists.
The remaining slate will still be played on the same weekend of the Copa final (18/19 May).
Jornada 37 is the only full round of matches that will be played during midweek.

"En Primera división sólo habrá una jornada en miércoles, que será la penúltima, el 29 de mayo. El calendario contempla una variación para los equipos finalistas de la Copa del Rey, que jugarán sus partidos de la jornada número 36 de Primera o 39 de Segunda el miércoles 8 de mayo."

EDIT:
Just noticed that, indeed, I originally posted Jornada 37. Yes, I had meant J36.

Gilmango · Jul 11, 2012

Always a fun graphic, looks like basically since Nike got the contract (in 1997) the home jersey changes every year as it is a huge profit center (for Nike and FCB both):

unclesox · Jul 11, 2012

Gilmango said: ↑

Always a fun graphic, looks like basically since Nike got the contract (in 1997) the home jersey changes every year as it is a huge profit center (for Nike and FCB both):
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I'm fairly certain that Kappa put out a new kit every season during their brief spell as kit provider ('92-'97?). Some of them were horrendous. I never got into the Kappa era. The only Kappa product I have is a jacket from the '96-'97 season. The dude on the left is wearing the kind I have...

The jacket is stuffed away in a box somewhere.
The guy wearing the jacket in the image above is stuffed as well.