When? Wednesday, 13 May 2009, (22:00) Barcelona Time Wednesday, 13 May 2009, (16:00) North American Eastern Note: This thread is just an express one, it will be updated and upgraded later on today, I am sorry but I really have to go to work.
Wait, did you P-shop your own señal onto a Barca jersey??? nice. Amid all the hubbub over Real Madrid and Chelsea, I almost forgot about the 1st part of the Treble!!
Will Pinto get the nod? With Barça having advanced to the CL final, I think he will. I'm guessing that Cáceres' sending off in the semifinal 2nd leg will rule him out for this match. A shame because he started five matches in the rounds leading up to the final (both matches against Benidorm, both against Atletico and the Mallorca second leg)
Thanks for starting the thread up, as I have said elsewhere, with La Liga virtually secured, this is our 2nd most important game remaining. Also, we have been playing nearly all of our first team members at various points earlier in this competition. Finally, we can give plenty of Liga run to the non-starters who got us to this point. All of which is to say that I'd like us to field our best squad against Bilbao: VV Alves Puyol Pique Abidal Yaya Xavi Iniesta Messi Etoo Henry If Henry cannot go then either the usual Keita in mid and Iniesta up front, or let Bojan (or Hleb) in since they did help get us here. Rest folks versus Villareal, maybe: VV Puyol Caceres Pique Sylvinho Busquets Hleb Guddy Keita Bojan Etoo Etoo to get his form back and stay in the Pichichi race. I'd also like to see Etoo get all the PKs from here on out in Liga (Villa has had more than twice as many since Etoo splits his with Messi). All three of Hleb, Guddy or Keita can move forward but I kind of like all three of them supporting two more central strikers, not that we'll see this.
I think that the guys who got Barca this far in the CdR should play. It's all about fairness, teamspirit and the idea that everyone is rewarded for a job well-done. So, I would definitely play Pinto and I would start Bojan and Hleb as well. Otherwise it comes across as "thanks for the help lads, now there's the bench"...not a good message IMO.
I know, I am sorry for putting 'copyright' on these photos... I started doing it when I found ReMad copying my match thread photos and posting them elsewhere...
I think Barca should field the strongest team they can for the final, ok don't pick Valdes as in the other rounds, but otherwise go with the first xi. It's all about winning now, if the league is wrapped up on Sunday, then the double should be wrapped up on Wednesday, imagine the levels of confidence the team will have going to Rome.
Our senior squad did not get us here it was the likes of bojan pinto and others who got us here and its only fair if they finish it.
Yes for Bojan and Pinto, this is their tourny...They've earned! Pinto Alves-Puyol-Pique-Sylvinho Busquets Xavi-Kieta/Hleb Messi-Bojan-Eto'o bench Iniesta-Henry-Yaya, they gave a lot the past few weeks and we need to rest them!
-----------------Pinto------------------- Alves-------Puyol-----Pique------Sylvinho ---------------Busquets----------------- -----------Guddy-----Xavi--------------- Hleb--------------------------------Keita -----------------Bojan-------------------
OK, it is confirmed that Henry is likely to miss this and probably the next 3 Liga matches, really just hoping to be ready for Roma and Man U. So let's add Bojan to the first team I argued for earlier. And I don't really mind if Pinto gets the start either, since he has played all the Copa games. But I'd rather not start Hleb, Guddy, Busquets, Keita, etc. This remains our second most important match and Bilbao's most important match, and they won't be push overs. If we get a 2 goal lead, by all means bring in 3 more of our Copa warriors, but let's not forget how many Copa matches and minutes have already been logged by our first teamers just to get this far. They too deserve to play here, and our choices 12-18+ will have plenty of time to play in our last 4 Liga matches.
As throughout the CdR stages, the guys that got us here deserve to start. And as always, the big guns got their back coming off the bench in case things get hairy. I expect a "B"-side to play their asses off to bring home our first trophy of the season, and in case they falter, we got Messi, Iniesta, et al. to seal the deal. I expect a tough match, as Athletic have had their minds on this and only this for months. We may have to suffer through another one...
------------- Eto'o ---- Bojan ----------- Messi ----- Iniesta ------ Xavi ------------- Yaya Abidal ------------------ Alves -------- Pique --- Puyol ------------- Pinto Play the best team possible plus Pinto and Bojan. Those two deserve their chances in the final. This has been their tournament this season.
Yes, that's exactly what I am hoping to see too. VV has not played any Copa minutes and I also think Pinto is up to the challenge. And Bojan NEEDS reassurance/faith from Pep at 19 years old, after playing less minutes this year than last, in ways that Guddy, Keita, Busquets, Hleb should not.
Athletic resting virtually their entire first team in their match going on right now against Real Betis... ---------------- Armando ---------------- Bóveda -- Etxeita -- Ustaritz -- Balenziaga --------- Gurpegui -- Iñaki Muñoz -------- - Etxebarria -- Garmendia -- David López - ---------------- Ion Vélez --------------- Regulars we can expect to see in the final like Aitor Ocio, Javi Martínez, Yeste, Gabilondo, Etxeberria and Fernando Llorente are not even listed on the subs bench. lol Cannot take this team lightly.
This did the same (resting most players) before meeting Sevilla for second leg semi final, they end up winning 3-0! Martinez and Llorente both scored. So yah, we need to be careful!
Yes, seeing LPB's loss to Valencia today, sure there is a temptation to wrap it all up in grand fashion at home tomorrow, put it away without a doubt, let the starters be there to savor it, etc. BUT I say don't fall into that trap, if we can beat Villareal with Hleb, Guddy, Busquets, Keita, Caceres, Sylvinho playing, fantastic, but let's rest many of our big guns for the Copa, cause Liga is well and truly won whether we mathematically secure the title tomorrow or next week, but Copa is NOT yet won at all.
Nah, what Pep will most likely do is play a hybrid A/B team vs. Villareal to go for the title clinch. In any case, as we don't have a full squad due to injuries and suspensions, I don't think Pep can institute a hard policy. It has to be a player-by-player decision. The CdR regulars (Pinto, Caceres, Sylvinho, Bojan, Busquets, Guddy, et al.) deserve to start the final, even if it's vs. a rested Bilbao A-team. Team chemistry and politics takes precedence over playing our "big guns." I'd even venture to say we'd get a better performance out of the squad players. Poor Messi, Eto'o, Xavi, Iniesta, Dani Alves, and Pique have played quite a streak now at a clip of a game every 3 or 4 days...
It should be... ------------------Pinto---------------------- Puyol------Caceres-----Pique--------Sylvinho -----------------Busquets------------------- ----------Gudjohnsen----Xavi---------------- Hleb------------------------------------Keita -------------------Bojan--------------------