Actually he would have been a great sub for busquets protecting a 3 man defence,playing better than what xabi alonso can ever do like a QB.But his physical form was not as good for him to continue just like Motta,what a player.If he played i am not sure we sould have comeback.
Great summary of the 3 options re Deulofeu: http://www.sport-english.com/en/new...ase-and-barcas-chances-re-signing-him-5959241
Interesting little Bojan update, he has now scored in the 4 top leagues in the world, joining an elite group, and is the first Spaniard to do so. http://www.sport-english.com/en/new...ic-makes-history-with-bundesliga-goal-5989737
Giovanni van Bonckhorst in tears as he today clinched the title with Feyenoord. It has been decades ago that the champion was on top of the table from the start on. Giooooo...Champiooooon
I'm surprised that his name has not come up more in discussions of who should coach Barca next, though I suppose that's partly down to him not being a La Masia product, joining Barca a bit late, being fairly new to coaching, not Spanish, etc. Congrats on the closest of triumphs, wire to wire, 1 point lead at the end (over Ajax).
Dani Alves scored the winner in a 2-0 game for the Coppa Italia over Lazio. Good for him. Could another treble be in his future...?
Great column written by Dani Alves: "The Secret" https://www.theplayerstribune.com/dani-alves-juventus-the-secret/ He still loves us.
Live on facebook as I post this: Legends game, 1992 Barca v Benfica (the team they beat in the semifinals. Pep is there. Zubi, Koeman. Not sure if Laudrup is there. Don't recall Romario being on the team then. Cruyff should be there, dammit. https://www.facebook.com/fcbarcelon...¬if_t=live_video¬if_id=1497124981776879
Wonder where Ibra will end up in a couple of months time ?? Sign on again at ManU - says he waiting to see how they start off the season ... or back to PSG to play with Neymar and Alexis Sanchez
Instead of Assulin, you should write Abidal, alphabetical order...Ab... Zubizarreta could be instead of Zabmrotta...Zu... Or you could write Paco Bru, since he belongs to the first Barcelona squad. https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paco_Bru Interesting, couldn't find the last player after Zubizarreta who was in the team. Players who played for Barcelona and AC Milan. Usually, they mention Ajax as some kind of alliance. https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Categoría:Futbolistas_que_han_pasado_por_FC_Barcelona_y_AC_Milan
Ah, but you see I began this thread began in May 2012, and Abidal was very much still a Barca player then (he left after the following season (out of contract June 30, 2013). So the names you see reflect players who had left in the recent past back in May 2012. But you are right, if we started the thread again, Abidal to Zubi would be a great title. Came here to post about this horror collision for Pedro with Ospina, really not what you want to see in a preseason friendly. Pedro has multiple facial fractures (and a concussion too I would imagine but could be back playing with a mask on in 10 days). Conte called it an accident and said he was not mad at Ospina:
Amazing player ... still nobody does that "roll over the ball" trick all these years later.. Can't think of any other player quite like him at all ... imagine what he'd be worth nowadays I reckon he's in my top 3 of all time ... with Zidane and Zico .
Wow, US Treasury Department charges Rafa Marquez with laundering drug money: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/09/sports/soccer/rafa-marquez-mexico-drugs.html
This was the year I lived in Barcelona and became a culé. So thanks for posting this. I keenly remember that demolition of ManU at the Camp Nou, but overall Barça just sucked that year, I remember well. We finished 4th in La Liga, but won the Clásico in the Camp Nou 1-0 with a thundering Nadal header. I was way up in the nosebleed seats for that one. Then at Canaletas in the Ramblas for the near-riot celebrations. LPB still won La Liga, but it was a big middle finger to them and cathartic send-off for Cruyff and end of the Dream Team era.
Wow, that's a bit of a shock in terms of his age (35 is old for football but much less so for keepers). It really makes me wonder what would've happened if (1) he never got injured (would he still be playing for a big PL club?), or (2) he never decided to leave Barca (in that case they only bring in Bravo or MAtS but not both and he could still be the GK here or at least the experienced back up). Instead he announced he was leaving then got injured and never landed a great 2nd opportunity as an older keeper in a new league where he probably struggled with the language.
He's rich ..... Why struggle on ?? I still wonder if Zidane regrets retiring when he did . I bet he could still play now and not look out of place .