Double your Treble, Double Your Fun: The 2015-16 Season Thread, Part One

That includes national team goals, I take it? Cuz that hurts Suarez and Neymar, obviously. The ranking for club goals only would see Ibra and Lewa fall off the charts.

 

The more realistic Messi return plan is discussed below as well as how Messi is now chomping at the bit as he edges towards health:

In fact, since the first day of Messi’s recovery the word has been that the player has matured and was clear that it was not worth taking risks. Therefore, he was not expected to turn to the field of play until he was 100 percent fit.

However, with each day that passes on the calendar, Messi has more and more motivation to be at the Bernabeu, to not miss out, to help his team… It is a gesture which you have to applaud because very few have that capacity for sacrifice, but you it also breeds worry inside the club because it could end up with unnecessary consequences.

The ideal scenario the club have been working towards after confirming the knee injury - remember they sent out a statement explaining Messi would be out for between seven and eight weeks - was that he would play a few minutes in the return leg of the Copa del Rey against Villanovense. A game with few demands, so that he could then be ready for Valencia at Mestalla.

This way, Messi would have a week longer to train with the group and to arrive back on the pitch 100 percent, with the necessary rhythm. If in the end he appears in the Clasico, there’s no doubt that he would be taking a risk, above all because he would have had no more than two sessions, in the best case scenario, with his team-mates. That’s not enough to go into a game as demanding as the one against Madrid in peak condition.

From Sport cover story.

Of course in the truly ideal even if Messi is cleared for Clasico he starts on bench and team gets a nice lead and he is not needed and/or gets to come out with low pressure. I can dream right?

 

It is tough to really have an opinion on how soon Messi should return to matches, as we don't have a solid grasp of how fit he is exactly. That said, I'd rather he stayed out of matches two, three weeks late than one week too early. Of course, he could have a relapse (or a new injury to another part of body) anyway even if he'd return to fitness extra carefully, but we can either take a slight risk or not take it. I think if this Clasico was a CL final, I'd take the risk, but this is the autumn Clasico, and either way the result goes, we're fine, so I think we can afford to not take the risk.

It's nice to say "we won't take a risk with an early return" when the injury is fresh, but not nice to then actually take the risk when the time comes to either take it or not.

 

Yeah, he should only be on the bench if he is 100% healed. And if that's the case, he should start.

The pressure to start him though is somewhat reduced now -- Madrid need a result more than Barca. Even though, naturally, it would be great to be 6 points up with the away clasico done with.

 

What has possibly taken them this long? Does this mean a hearing or just now finally filing the official appeal?

Barcelona will on Monday or Tuesday appeal to CAS against Fifa's stand on not allowing the registration of Arda to replace Rafinha. [md]

Wow, training with the group already, that's a great sign:
Messi, whose recovery from a knee ligament injury is going as planned, has completed the training session with the group today. [md] The players who didn't join a national team have been given three days off. They return to training on Monday.

Great news if true: Grimaldo (Barcelona B): "Barcelona have the option to extend my contract for a year, but they didn't yet tell me anything." [rac1]

Spanish U21 team up 3-0, first two by Deulofeu, 3rd by Inaki; Denis and Deulofeu started, Denis then subbed off, Munir still on bench in 62nd minute.

 

Full-time: (U21) Spain-Georgia 5-0. Deulofeu scored 1-0 2-0 5-0, Denis was subbed off in min 60 (3-0), Munir was subbed on in min 70 (4-0)

 

is that Bilbao's Inaki Williams?

 

why did they wait so long?

 

Leo did this yesterday too, it will be a real challenge to keep him on the bench IF he gets medical green light pre-Clasico: http://www.sport-english.com/en/new...trains-again-saturday-despite-day-off-4672413

 

Various Barcastuff tweets - lots of support for Paris of course from our players and teams:
FIFA VIRUS REPORTS LOOK GOOD: Tests showed that Busquets, subbed off out of precaution on Friday, has no injury. Will stay with ESP, but it's expected he won't play. [md]
Mascherano ended ARG game against BRA with cramps. It's not yet clear if he will be available for the game against COL on Tuesday. [ole]
Bartra: "Subbed off? Misunderstanding. I got a knock, told Pique, who told coach. But I was fine. A bit surprised when I still got subbed."
Sergi Roberto, who is spending the weekend in Paris, is staying inside, following recommendations by French government. [sport]
MISC:
Welcome to the club Junior, the 11th player with 11 in 11: 11 Barcelona goals in 11 first Liga rounds: Vantolra Martin Cesar Kubala Evaristo Stoichkov Romario Ronaldo Eto'o Messi Neymar [via mrchip]
Barcelona only consider buying a forward in January. Luis Enrique only wants Nolito, club is offering him less expensive alternatives [rac1]

Valdano (ex-Real Madrid): "Facing Suarez drives every defender mad. Always moving, always an eye on the goal. He's as intense at toothache."

After appointment of Eusebio as new Real Sociedad coach, B players may join them on loan. Samper and Grimaldo could be options. [md]

 

MSN in 2015 : 121 goals. Barca scored 158

Rest of Europe
Bayer 122
City 118
Real 110

 

Barca avoids the big agents, Mendes et al: http://www.sport-english.com/en/new...sees-the-squad-stay-free-agent-sharks-4704019

Posted this in transfer thread by mistake, at least Busquets and Alba get love here, but no love for Bravo. How the heck did Iker and Keylor both get nominated?
http://www.espnfc.us/uefa-champions...-shortlist-ronaldo-messi-neymar-suarez-rooney

 

Lowe defends Busquets after non-inclusion amongst 12 best midfielder shortlist. At least he made the other list (UEFA not FIFA if memory serves and 55 players instead of 40 shortlisted, poor Bravo could not even make that one): http://www.espnfc.us/spanish-primer...ergio-busquets-as-vital-as-ever-for-barcelona

 

Yeah, the Busquets omission is ridiculous. They make themselves look stupid by stuff like that.

As for Ballon d'Or top three: it's Messi, Cristiano and Neymar. I suppose it's one of the three possible ok trios, as I think after the obvious winner Messi, any two of Cristiano, Neymar and Suarez would deserve a top three spot, but voters vote like they do, and if it's Suarez who is left out, so be it.

 

I think Santos gets some money for Neymar being top 3

 

2 Million euros to be exact

 

La Liga awards

Best forward and best player : Messi



Best South American player : Neymar



Best GK : Bravo



rest of the awards :

Best Goalkeeper: Claudio Bravo (Barcelona)
Best Defender: Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid)
Best Midfielder: James Rodriguez (Real Madrid)
Best Forward: Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
Best Coach: Luis Enrique (Barcelona)
Best African: Sofiane Feghouli (Valencia)
Best South American: Neymar (Barcelona)
Fans' Player: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
Best Player: Lionel Messi (Barcelona)



Bonus :