[ZicoZ]

Originally Posted by mel1213

Have to give big respect to Puyol, even more so than usual, because it's come out in the last few days that Puyol was funding Miki Roque's cancer treatments because Real Betis was unable to fund the expensive treatment because of the club's financial situation.

He met Roque while they were both at a hospital in BCN and Puyol found out that Roque's mother was from his town and Miki had been brought up in a town not far from there and the two Catalans built up a friendship that culminated in Puyol helping to pay for Roque's treatment.

Gracias Carles y DEP Miki

Yeah a true Barca and Spanish legend in waiting. .

Where do your loyalties lie for tonight's game ?

You have a few Madrid players on each side ..?

[mel1213]

Originally Posted by ZicoZ

Yeah a true Barca and Spanish legend in waiting. .

Where do your loyalties lie for tonight's game ?

You have a few Madrid players on each side ..?

I've always supported Spain so of course I'm going to support them ... just like when Spain played France with RM players in the team.

[ZicoZ]

Originally Posted by mel1213

I've always supported Spain so of course I'm going to support them ... just like when Spain played France with RM players in the team.

Decent match so far but hopefully Spain will sort themselves out in the second half

[JMTD]

Originally Posted by mel1213

Have to give big respect to Puyol, even more so than usual, because it's come out in the last few days that Puyol was funding Miki Roque's cancer treatments because Real Betis was unable to fund the expensive treatment because of the club's financial situation.

He met Roque while they were both at a hospital in BCN and Puyol found out that Roque's mother was from his town and Miki had been brought up in a town not far from there and the two Catalans built up a friendship that culminated in Puyol helping to pay for Roque's treatment.

Gracias Carles y DEP Miki

Lovely from Puyol.

Talk that United will play Barca on August 8th in a Friendly in Gothenburg. Apparently most of it has been agreed on

[ZicoZ]

Originally Posted by JMTD

Lovely from Puyol.

Talk that United will play Barca on August 8th in a Friendly in Gothenburg. Apparently most of it has been agreed on

Yeah , I think saw confirmation of the game on Sky Sports today .

[ZicoZ]

Slightly off topic ... but if Pirlo gets to take a penalty against Spain in the final ( God forbid ) ..

This is how you stop him

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3uAu...ature=youtu.be

[mel1213]

What, no post about Jordi Alba being confirmed as a Barca player, Zico?!

[ZicoZ]

Originally Posted by mel1213

What, no post about Jordi Alba being confirmed as a Barca player, Zico?!

I have seen the rumours tonight but I daren't post anything until I am certain ...

Hopefully it's true !!

[misawa97]

Great signing. His a fantastic player!

[Pee]

Originally Posted by ZicoZ

I have seen the rumours tonight but I daren't post anything until I am certain ...

Hopefully it's true !!

rumors? it's official, pending a medical. great signing, but at the same time I don't like that we've weakened the closest challenger to ourselves and Real even further.

[mel1213]

Originally Posted by ZicoZ

I have seen the rumours tonight but I daren't post anything until I am certain ...

Hopefully it's true !!

It was confirmed 2 days ago - they're just waiting for his medical when he gets back from the Euros. Even Pique has been tweeting about it.

[ZicoZ]

Originally Posted by Pee

rumors? it's official, pending a medical. great signing, but at the same time I don't like that we've weakened the closest challenger to ourselves and Real even further.

Originally Posted by mel1213

It was confirmed 2 days ago - they're just waiting for his medical when he gets back from the Euros. Even Pique has been tweeting about it.

I have a life outside DS and the Internet you know

[mel1213]

Originally Posted by ZicoZ

I have a life outside DS and the Internet you know

Nobody said you didn't but you've been posting tweets/articles about the rumours for weeks, I'd have thought you'd have seen the confirmations all over twitter and the internet

[ZicoZ]

Originally Posted by mel1213

Nobody said you didn't but you've been posting tweets/articles about the rumours for weeks, I'd have thought you'd have seen the confirmations all over twitter and the internet

Na worries , I've just had a stressful few days .. things to sort out ..... ....

[ZicoZ]

Interesting stats


Most chances created this Euro: Ozil 22 (5 games) - Xavi 20 (5) - Sneijder 19 (3) - Cassano 16 (5) - Pirlo 15 (5) [via @BarcaStatistics]

[ZicoZ]

Andres Iniesta wins Euro 2012 player award !

NDTV bit.ly/MNHORD

[ZicoZ]

Apparently we've lost Keita to the Chinese team Dalian Aerbin.

Undecided on this as he's a useful squad player .

[detroitcity]

Anyone know when the fixtures are announced?

I'm going back in late August, want to take in a match.

[mel1213]

Originally Posted by detroitcity

Anyone know when the fixtures are announced?

I'm going back in late August, want to take in a match.

They're not usually announced till the end of July/start of August with the season starting on August 18th.

[ZicoZ]

Originally Posted by detroitcity

Anyone know when the fixtures are announced?

I'm going back in late August, want to take in a match.

This is all I've found so far ....

http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/calendar

[ZicoZ]

Well four more Barca B team players have today moved up to the first team squad !

Marc Bartra, Marc Muniesa, along with Martín Montoya and Jonathan Dos Santos, will be first team players starting this 2012-13 season .

[ZicoZ]

Originally Posted by detroitcity

Anyone know when the fixtures are announced?

I'm going back in late August, want to take in a match.

So far .....

Season 2012 - 2013

July

Hamburg SV - FC Barcelona Friendly - Tue 07/24/201218:00
Sél. Joueurs Locaux - FC Barcelona Friendly - Sun 07/29/201200:00
FC Barcelona – Espanyol Catalan Supercup - Tue 07/31/201221:45

August
PSG - FC Barcelona Friendly - Round 0Sat 08/ 4/201220:00
Manchester United - FC BarcelonaFriendly - Round 0Wed 08/ 8/201220:00
FC Barcelona - Real Sociedad League - Round 1 Sun 08/19/2012
FC Barcelona – Sampdoria Joan Gamper Trophy - Mon 08/20/2012
FC Barcelona - Real Madrid Spanish Supercup - Final 1st leg Thu 08/23/2012
Osasuna - FC Barcelona League - Round 2 Sun 08/26/2012
Real Madrid - FC Barcelona Spanish Supercup - Final 2nd leg Thu 08/30/2012

September
FC Barcelona – Valencia League - Round 3 Sun 09/ 2/2012
Getafe - FC Barcelona League - Round 4 Sun 09/16/2012
FC Barcelona - Granada C.F League - Round 5 Sun 09/23/2012
Sevilla - FC Barcelona League - Round 6 Sun 09/30/2012

October
FC Barcelona - Real Madrid League - Round 7 Sun 10/ 7/2012
Deportivo de La Coruña - FC Barcelona League - Round 8 Sun 10/21/2012
Rayo Vallecano - FC Barcelona League - Round 9 Sun 10/28/2012

[ZicoZ]

Things not looking exactly brilliant for Barca and new manager Tito judging by this Tweet .

Looks like we may be starting the season with Messi , plus injury prone Sanchez plus David Villa back after missing practically the whole of last season plus an out of form Pedro who can barely hit a cow's backside with a banjo .

Madrid will start with Ronaldo , Benzema , Higuain and de Maria at worst !!!

"With Afellay and Tello possibly leaving and Cuenca out at least until mid-September, B winger Gerard Deulofeu (18) could be promoted [sport]"

[mel1213]

This isn't (or shouldn't be) really news to Barca though ... it's not like Alexis just got injury prone or that they didn't know Villa would be rusty after a year out or that Pedro still hasn't stepped up properly. Most people could have told you this at the end of last season.

Barca choose to try promoting canteranos from La Masia before they buy players in - which is their choice and their preferred system but it often leaves them lacking in depth and squad strength, not for the first time and not for the last.

The fact that RM has a strong squad is because we know we need players and go buy the best players for the job without putting ll the pressure on our canteranos. Sometimes I'd like to see more cantera players promoted from the Castilla but I'd prefer we brought up a few of them to support a strong squad rather than bringing them up to *be* the strong squad in their first season in the senior team. That's our system and our choice, but you make it sound like a bad thing that RM has strong players because of the way our system works.

[ZicoZ]

Originally Posted by mel1213

This isn't (or shouldn't be) really news to Barca though ... it's not like Alexis just got injury prone or that they didn't know Villa would be rusty after a year out or that Pedro still hasn't stepped up properly. Most people could have told you this at the end of last season.

Barca choose to try promoting canteranos from La Masia before they buy players in - which is their choice and their preferred system but it often leaves them lacking in depth and squad strength, not for the first time and not for the last.

The fact that RM has a strong squad is because we know we need players and go buy the best players for the job without putting ll the pressure on our canteranos. Sometimes I'd like to see more cantera players promoted from the Castilla but I'd prefer we brought up a few of them to support a strong squad rather than bringing them up to *be* the strong squad in their first season in the senior team. That's our system and our choice, but you make it sound like a bad thing that RM has strong players because of the way our system works.

I intended quite the opposite to be honest .

The Madrid method is clearly a brilliant way to achieve success , I really think we are handicapping Tito and ourselves by not strengthening our attack . I'd dip into next season's bidget and get Neymar in straight away . I'd feel so much more confident then . I don't see Villa or Pedro tearing up any trees anytime soon, sadly . By Xmas I fully expect Madrid to be out of sight .