The Youth Thread | Even our kids win trebles | Barça B in La Segunda & other Blaugrana Kids

One more article regarding that win and Xavi Simons, a Dutch born 12 year old Barca starlet named after Xavi Hernandez: http://www.sport-english.com/en/news/barca/xavi-simons-the-star-barcas-liga-promises-success-4785286

 

Seung Woo Lee can play again (turned 18), funny article especially the last paragraph about "swagger": http://www.sport-english.com/en/news/barca/seung-woo-leeturns-analysis-future-crack-4796793

 

Lots of departures from Barca B, in some cases of players we thought might make the leap (Grimaldo at least was sold, but Bagnack merely rescinded and at one point it looked like he might be the next La Masia CB to make the leap to rusting away on the first team bench (see Bartra, Fontas, Muniesa, etc.) but also rescinded were Babunski, Ondoa, Pol Calvet). Some have already Barcastuff note: barcelona are rescinding contracts of b players because they have too many players and need free spots to register the new signings

Barcelona are trying to convince B keeper Jose Suarez (20) to accept contract rescission. Player doesn't agree with condidtions. [md sport]
Barcelona have deal with B midfielder David Babunski (21) to rescind his contract. Player has several offers, from Spain and abroad. [sport]
Contract of B centre back Macky Bagnack (20) has been rescinded. Player doesn't agree with conditions and could take legal action [sport md]
Contract of Barcelona B winger Aitor Cantalapiedra (19), who made his first team debut in the Copa this season, has been rescinded. [rac1]

Calvet and Ondoa happened last week.

 

Another contract rescinded, another once touted youngster gone: Official: Barcelona confirm that the contract of B midfielder Lionel Enguene (20), whose contract was rescinded, has joined Turkish team Antalyaspore (20)

 

Sad story from SPORT, so many of these were promising starlets once. Dongou perhaps the most. At least Kapoum is still with us and looks promising. Initially I was reading Barca would have a buyback for Dongou but then I just saw contract rescinded:

Cameroon forward Samuel Eto'o left Barcelona in 2009 with a legacy of 129 goals and many other fond memories. But as well as what he brought to the team, he left Barcelona some sporting children. A group of young Cameroonese players, brough through the Samuel Eto'o foundation, who hoped to become first-teamers.

Through the years they have dropped away and now, after a cull of youth players, only Wilfrid Kaptoum and youngster Alexis Meva are left at he club. The exodus started in 2014, with Ebwelle signing for Valencia, Adre Onana leaving angry with the club, Armand Ella, Gael Etock and Olivier Moussima leaving without a new team to go to.

The earthquake started recently though. With Gerard Lopez's B team regenerating, after the end of the FIFA ban, there ahs been a revolution. Jean Maria Dongou, Lionel Enguene, Macky Franck Bagnack and Joseph Fabrice Ondoa have all left, having been at the club many years.

Dongou has already signed for Zaragoza, while Engene joined Antalyaspor, a Turkish side, where Eto'o is at the moment. The goalkeeper Ondoa had his contract rescinded and signed for Nastic, while Bagnack is taking Barcelona on over his sacking.

 

Tw Samper: "After 8 years by your side, it'll be tough... Few teammates like you. Forever grateful, my brother "
in new Zaragoza jersey:

 

Barcelona B midfielder David Babunski (21), whose contract will be rescinded, travelled today to Serbia to join Red Star Belgrade. [md]

One more of the sweeping changes at Barca B, he was with La Masia since 2006 and already reps Macedonian NT since 2013.

 

The transfer of Monaco (on loan at Arouca) centre back Borja Lopez (21) to Barcelona B will be announced tomorrow. [rac1] He previously moved from Gijon to Monaco for 2.2M in 2013, has repped Spain at U-18, 19 and 20 level. http://www.transfermarkt.com/borja-lopez/profil/spieler/214770

 

Official: Barcelona announce that the contract of Barcelona B winger Maxi Rolon (21) has been rescinded

 

Pretty interesting idea, Llagostera potentially to work out arrangement with Barca to borrow players, complicated by the fact that the idea would be for them to be a bridge between Juvenil A and Barca B, but currently they sit a division higher than Barca B, Liga Adelante. http://www.sport-english.com/en/news/barca/llagostera-close-effectively-becoming-barca-4866059

 

Streak continues: Full-time: Hercules-Barcelona B 0-2. Goals > Perea (0-1), Atienza (og 0-2)

 

Look I would be kidding you if I said I had a handle on all the reasons so much talent left La Masia in the past 9 months but man this win streak is heartening and we have a chance to make the playoffs yet, where 6 weeks ago we were in the relegation zone, so all hail the newish coach, the new players mixing with what remains of the old players:
http://www.totalbarca.com/2016/news/barca-b-roundup-reserves-make-six-row/ last paragraph:
Gerard was of course referring to Barcelona B’s playoff chances at this stage of the season. The reserves haven’t mathematically secured safety yet, but with the relegation zone now 13 points away, avoiding relegation remaining as the objective would be a lack of ambition. Barça B’s sights should now be fixed on the playoffs, which are currently just 5 points away. There are some crunch matches against top teams coming up, but who would bet against Gerard’s side? After all, no team has picked 18 points out of 18 over the past six matchdays, nor has any goalkeeper in the league gone 592 minutes without conceding like Barça B’s Ortolá. Whether people like it or not, Barcelona B is currently the team to beat in Group 3 of the Segunda División B.

 

Our kids did what Louis Van Gaal's men could not do, beat Midtjylland, 3-1, and now they are through to the final 8 is the UEFA Youth CL: http://www.sport-english.com/en/new...ids-into-last-eight-uefa-youth-league-4921813

Real Madrid, Zagreb, and Chelsea (after PKs over Valencia) are also in the final 8. We play @ Zagreb next (who beat Anderlecht 0-2 on March 8th.

Tomorrow: PSV v Roma; PSG v. Middleborough; Pribram v. Benfica; and Lyon v. Ajax.
http://www.flashscore.com/soccer/europe/uefa-youth-league/fixtures/

 

So quarterfinals appear set BUT Chelsea did NOT actually win the PK shootout: Valencia's first goal was ruled as hitting the post, in fact it scored and hit off a small diagonal post well inside the goal (see video) link. Valencia is protesting. Shootout ended at 4-5 but was really 5-5. Ridiculous, Valencia is appealing.

Whether or not anything comes of appeal here's the next round:
Chelsea (or possibly Valencia if replayed) host Ajax;
Zagreb host Barca
PSA host Roma
Real M host Benfica

 

UEFA have dismissed Valencia's protest.

"UEFA hate England"

 

Barca B's 6 game winning streak ended but with a 3-3 draw so still undefeated in 7 straight matches and hoping to make the playoffs if they can keep that up. Two goals for Romera then a booming lefty free kick from distance by Gumbau. Video with story in link: http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football...oyano-fc-barcelona-b-a-point-in-el-collao-3-3. We are 12 above relegation and 6 away from playoffs, hosting the group leader next, Villarreal B: http://www.betexplorer.com/soccer/spain/segunda-division-b-group-3/

It would be especially nice to make playoffs and advance as Real Madrid are making playoffs in their group at this point.

 

So Barca B is back to its winning ways, beat the leader Villarreal B 1-0, and is now just 3 points away from the playoff places! I think that makes it DWWWWWWDW in last 9 matches where they shot away from relegation and now closer to playoffs! http://www.totalbarca.com/2016/youth/barca-b-roundup-back-winning/

 

Finally a detailed piece in English about the house cleaning which took place a Barca B this January (when the transfer ban lifted). I think best summed up by the phrase desperate times call for desperate measures. Hard to argue with results since then (though training to play in "barca style" and develop the handful of "pearls" who might become first teamers also is a priority). http://www.totalbarca.com/2016/news/barca-bs-winter-renaissance-3/#more-187195

Unfortunately they just suffered their first loss in about 10 games to Club Lleida Esportiu 2-0, they are 6 points away from playoffs, tied for 8th, top 4 in playoffs, they lost to the 5th placed club. On a brighter note Lee got his first minutes for Barca B (he could not play till January). Also the other team scored after fouling our keeper (Ortola) and then at the end of the match when a PK was wrongly called on Samper (who played twice in one weekend).

Eight matches left, 4 against teams ahead of them (tougher but also let them 'gain more ground'), 4 against teams behind them.

 

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U12 use that goal ? how on earth the GK supposed to block anything high , all goals would be lobs

 

quick update, Barca B is saved from relegation but could not keep the winning streak going and looks to not make the playoffs for advancing either, too bad, but they should be in the mix next year now that they turned things around after the transfer ban ended

In UEFA youth league they lost in the quarterfinals (like the big squad) to Anderlecht who then lost to Chelsea, final will be Chelsea v. PSG (who beat Real Madrid): http://www.uefa.com/uefayouthleague/season=2016/matches/round=2000705/index.html

 

A decent look at possible future La Masia CBs of the future (so long Bartra, Muniesa, Fontas, Botia, Bangnack, etc, etc.): http://www.sport-english.com/en/news/barca/who-will-the-next-puyol-pique-from-masia-5180093

 

An interesting look at the class of 1995 which had such promise but only has 2 players left at Barca - Munir and Samper (it also mentions the class of 1991 in passing):

http://www.sport-english.com/en/new...-dream-barcas-last-special-youth-team-5188054