The Importance of Being Ernesto - The 2017-2018 Season thread [R]

I guess the final will probably be in The Wanda if Barca are in it. Actually the Wanda would be a good bet even if Barca aren't in it (might be difficult to fill the Bernabeu or Camp Nou for Valencia v Sevilla/Leganes).

 

This year, for the first time ever (?) they have already decided where the final will be and you are right, it's Wicked Wanda. But now that I say that, as I read it somewhere, I am having trouble confirming. But I'm sticking with that: http://www.eldesmarque.com/futbol/copa-del-rey/200402-la-final-de-la-copa-ya-tiene-escenario

 

The Wanda is very much looking to take some of the luster away from the Bernabeu. It already won the right to host the 2019 UEFA Champions League final and on March 17 will host the Spain-Argentina friendly.

 

Brought over from the Betis-Barca match thread.

For the record, Guillermo Gorostiza and José Iraragorri from the 1930-31 Athletic Bilbao team hold the mark by scoring in FIVE consecutive La Liga fixtures.
J6 (H) Arenas Club : Gorostiza (1), Iraragorri (1)
J7 (A) Real Madrid : Gorostiza (1), Iraragorri (2)
J8 (H) Espanyol : Iraragorri (2), Gorostiza (1)
J9 (A) Real Unión Irún : Gorostiza (2), Iraragorri (1)
J10 (H) FC Barcelona : Gorostiza (1), Iraragorri (1) <----- The famous 12-1 win by Athletic

 

Barca officials in Brazil to get Artur apparently .

Bring him home don't lend him back as rumoured suggestions

 

Hard to see integrating him into the team this season while we already have Coutinho, Dembele, and Mina to integrate and we still have an abundance of midfielders even after Turan and Rafinha left as Turan and Rafinha literally never played this season. So we have starters: Busi, Ini, Raki, plus Paulinho, Denis, Gomes, Roberto (also RB), Coutinho (also forward), Alena, plus players like Dembele and Deulofeu who can play a winger/wide attacking mid hybrid, and Messi who has a free role. So if he is to be signed now, I think it is OK to lend him back, or sign him now for June 30th.

Barca needs to vote on a new 4th captain. Pique seems likely choice to join Ini, Messi and Busi (replacing 4th capt. Masch). https://www.sport-english.com/en/ne...-should-replace-him-as-fourth-captain-6574417

 

Tbh, I always thought it was based on seniority by when the player arrived in the first team squad.

 

Gomes and Denis are still being linked with moves. and neither of them were selected for today's squad.
so it might still be possible. but there's also a bit of confusion over the number of non-EU players we have in the squad. we're only allowed 3 non-EU players, Yerry and Paulinho are non-EU for sure but i've seen conflicting reports over whether Coutinho has an EU passport or not. if he doesn't, then Arthur can't join yet until one of those three either leaves or gains EU citizenship (or if Arthur himself is eligible through his parents or something).

 

Gomes and Denis are not leaving (I'm fairly sure, there were rumors but not much of late, and Denis doesn't want to leave, and Gomes has been given some assurances from Valverde and a bit more PT in January to reassure him), only Deulofeu and/or Vidal might still leave and those are looking less likely as the window is about to close.

Also, Gomes is not in the squad as he has an illness and missed practice yesterday. Only Deulofeu and Denis were officially left in stands by coach. Not defending Gomes, just clarifying today's selection.

Good point on EU, Coutinho should be able to qualify seemingly but jumping from Italy to Spain to England to Spain does not help and he is listed as Brazilian without dual citizenship.

 

https://www.sport-english.com/en/ne...eaks-about-the-captaincy-of-barcelona-6585917
Pique --
"You (journalists) think the captaincy is very important. Everyone has their role in the dressing room and, captain or not, I will keep being who I am. At the end of the day, we're talking about the fourth captain, which doesn't have that much importance."

 

As far as wearing the armband, the fourth captain only really wears it in the Copa first leg Round of 32 against some Segunda B club when six first team players are required to play or Matchday 6 of the Champions League if the final group position had already been confirmed after Matchday 5.

 

Yes, he was back in 2008 before Masch arrived in 2010, and became an important part of the first team the same time as Busi did the same, first year of Pep. So it is not just years with the first team, or years starting, nor do you have to have La Masia roots (as Masch showed by leapfrogging Pique). But seniority with Barca and being a key player for Barca seem to be big factors, and there often is a La Masia thing too.

Besides Pique you could see Alba in the mix (starter since arriving in 2012, with La Masia roots), and non-La Masia players with a bunch of years here now include MAtS, Rakitic, and Suarez (all here since 2014). Eventually Roberto could be in the mix, last starter to emerge from La Masia.

 

The 2nd half surge in a chart. plus the article link: https://www.sport-english.com/en/ne...-the-second-half-kings-under-valverde-6592855

 

So Shitmes was apparently in the hospital for intestinal problems... Ohh shit!! [emoji23][emoji23] You can't make this stuff up!

 

So is Dembele ...what's your point !?

Gomes couldn't have played any worse than Sergie Roberto or Vidal tonight ...

 

have to agree there, thought Roberto and Vidal played good to very good in a tough match, various player ratings tend to support that, not bashing Gomes just defending to Barca players who played well as they usually do when given minutes

 

Calendario update...

FEBRUARY 2018
Sun 11: J23 (H) Getafe 16:15
midweek 13-15:
Sat 17: J24 (A) Eibar 16:15
Tue 20: UCL-2R1 (A) Chelsea 20:45
Sat 24: J25 (H) Girona 20:45
Thur 1: J26 (A) Las Palmas 21:00

MARCH 2018
Sun 4: J27 (H) Atlético Madrid 16:15
Wed 7: ScCat (N) Espanyol 18:45
Sat 10: J28 (A) Málaga
Wed 14: UCL-2R2 (H) Chelsea 20:45
weekend 17-18: J29 (H) Athletic Bilbao
midweek 20-22:
weekend 22-24: FIFA calendar
midweek 25-27: FIFA calendar

APRIL 2018
weekend 31-1: J30 (A) Sevilla
midweek 3-5: UCL-Qf1
weekend 7-8: J31 (H) Leganés
midweek 10-12: UCL-Qf2
weekend 14-15: J32 (H) Valencia
midweek 17-19: J33 (A) Celta
Sat 21: Copa-F (N) Sevilla
midweek 24-26: UCL-Sf1
weekend 28-29: J35 (A) Deportivo

MAY 2018
midweek 1-3: UCL-Sf2
weekend 5-6: J36 (H) Real Madrid
Wed 9: J34 (H) Villarreal
weekend 12-13: J37 (A) Levante
Wed 16: UEL-F in Lyon
weekend 19-20: J38 (H) Real Sociedad
midweek 22-24:
Sat 26: UCL-F in Kiev

 

APRIL 2018
weekend 31-1: J30 (A) Sevilla
midweek 3-5: UCL-Qf1
weekend 7-8: J31 (H) Leganés
midweek 10-12: UCL-Qf2
weekend 14-15: J32 (H) Valencia
midweek 17-19: J33 (A) Celta
Sat 21: Copa-F (N) Sevilla
midweek 24-26: UCL-Sf1
weekend 28-29: J35 (A) Deportivo
MAY 2018
midweek 1-3: UCL-Sf2
weekend 5-6: J36 (H) Real Madrid
Wed 9: J34 (H) Villarreal

Club officials from Barcelona and Sevilla have scheduled a meeting at RFEF headquarters for Monday 12 February to discuss options on when and where to play the Copa del Rey Final.

Barcelona are looking ahead at potentially playing the Copa Final on the proposed Saturday 21 April and then possibly having to play a Champions League semifinal first leg three or four days later.
In addition, the proposed April 21st Final would see Barca's J34 home match against Villarreal being moved to 9 May, three days after El Clasico.
With all this in mind, Barca will ask if the Final not be played on 21 April although no alternative date has been suggested.

Barcelona are also willing to accept the Wanda as the venue for the Final although they will state their preference of staging the match at the Bernabeu. Real Madrid have already stated publicly that their stadium is not an option. Atlético Madrid appear ready and willing to host the Final on Saturday 21 April with their J34 Liga fixture against Betis taking place the following day, Sunday 22 April.

Sevilla have offered the Final be played in Seville at either their own Sánchez Pizjuán or the bigger La Cartuja Olimpico. Valverde has already said that Barca will reject this proposal.

The Mestalla has also been mentioned since Valencia will be away to Celta on J34.

 

Don’t see the date of the CdR final changing. Those are a pair of pretty lame reasons given by Barca.

 

I agree that the move of Villarreal to May 9 three days after El Clasico as a reason is a bit lame.
But I'd rather try to avoid playing the Copa final 3-4 days before a potential Champions semi first leg, if possible.

But I agree that 21 April will likely win out, probably at the Wanda.

 

Copa del Rey Final confirmed for Saturday 21 April at the Wanda.
Three J34 fixtures are affected by the Copa Final.
Sevilla-LPB and Atlético Madrid-Betis will be played on Wednesday 9 May.
The date for Barcelona-Villarreal has yet to be officially confirmed.


Daniel Angelici, president of Boca Juniors, said on Monday that the club will be the Gamper opponent in August. Boca are now captained by ex-LPB Fernando Gago, feature the return of 34 year old Carlos Tevez following his spell with Shanghái Shenhua and are now coached by club legend Guillermo Barros Schelotto.

 

Why hasn't Barca suggested camp nou? or the stadium in Cornella [emoji23]