Countdown To Wisla Test
Saturday, 09 August 08, 09:51 AM · Comments (19)
With the crucial Champions League qualifier against Wisla Krakow just four days away Barça returned to the Miniestadi this morning to continue preparation for the match. Barça will also have a training session this afternoon at 18.30. Tomorrow the players will train only in the morning (9.30) but on Monday they will return to the routine of training twice a day. Today's sessions are expected to be light given that the players are still recovering from the effects of jet lag but the intensity of the sessions will increase towards match day.
For many this game may seem like a pushover but the importance of the game is undeniable. Should Barça slip up and get knocked out it would be a sporting, financial and institutional disaster. Joan Laporta may have his days numbered as he needs to hear the voice of the members assembly which has been set for August 24. A failure to win the first leg would undoubtably have a negative effect for Laporta which could see him being forced to resign.
However, the signs from the preseason are positive, and even without Leo Messi Barça should be capable of establishing at least a two-goal lead to take to Poland for the second leg. It's going to be very interesting to see the starting lineup that Pep Guardiola chooses for the game. In attack the most important decision is whether Guardiola picks Eto'o or not. It now seems that Eto'o is set on staying at the club and Guardiola has said he will treat the striker as "one more" which could be taken in many ways, but I feel Guardiola will go for Eto'o for this game.
There is of course the chance that Hleb is chosen again as a false centre forward interchanging positions with the wide forwards. This, however, seemed to work best with Eto'o in the first against Red Bulls when the two players swapped position to great effect. There is also a good chance that Guardiola will insist with Thierry Henry on the left though the Frenchman has been disappointing so far this preseason, the alternative would probably be Andres Iniesta which would allow Toure and Keita to play in midfield with Xavi. Less likely is the option of Jeffren Suarez who has impressed with the first team, there seems more chance that if any of the youngsters gets a game it will be Pedro on the right side in place of Messi, though Guardiola also has the option of either Hleb or Bojan on the right.
If Iniesta plays in midfield with Xavi then Guardiola will have to choose between Keita and Toure Yaya for the defensive midfield role. It seems as if Toure may need a bit more time to reach full fitness and Guardiola gave the role to Keita in the two games in the USA.
In defence the main decision seems to be who will play alongside Carles Puyol in the middle, I think Alves and Abidal are almost certain starters as full backs. For experience Puyol's partner is most likely to be Rafa Marquez, though I have to say I have liked Gerard Pique so far and he looks to be very good bringing the ball out of defence. In goal it will be a massive surprise if Valdés doesn't get picked. Despite a shaky performance against Red Bulls he is still the most consistant of our keepers, and I back him all the way.
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ive always wandered why readers here and @ goal.com think bad of valdes,
since ive been following barca since 06 i never really saw any major mistakes he made until i watched some games of the 03/04,04/05 season's on barca tv and wow he made a few blunders that were cause for concern but over time i think he has improved drasstically and i see less blunders from him recently if any at all i would' go and buy another keeper since there arent that many world class keepers around (ask milan)
and on wislaa really i don't know whta the fuss is about really i mean who are this guys anyways they havent been inthe champions league in a loong tyme
if at all it will be a walk in the park
oh nic could you please shed some light on this members assembly who are they and is it like an annual meeting or what
If Guardiola insists on including "crap" like: Valdes,Abidal,Marquez and Henry as starters , you might as well forget about winning anything at the end of the year . These players don't even deserve to come off the bench ,let alone start . Their negatives far outweigh their positives. I think their problem could be traced to low IQ !!
Even if Guardiola fields a team of youth players we'll probably win!!! 
blaugranaboy - "henry again is the reason for all problems"
That statement is a bit naive mate and I respect your opinions 
Does Henry pick the team? No Pep Guardiola does. Im not blindly defending TH14 but it is a silly thing to say imo. I agree it would be a mistake to sell Eto obviouisly but then again what manager would say that before seeing him play in their new system is beyond me. Eto's strike rate is phenominal despite his injuries and if Guardiola insists on playing 4-3-3 then Eto is fundamental to it.
I personally beleive Iniesta is wasted wide-left so to put him there instead if Henry would probably yeild the same result. I still beleive Toure-Xavi-Iniesta/Hleb is the strongest line-up with Henry-Eto-Messi up front. I believe lack of squad discipline especially off-the-ball movement was the reason for Barca's downfall. Pep Guardiola is responsible for the team now. If Henry does not perform, he should be dropped, he has played average at best during pre-season but I do not beleive Bojan is ready for the intensity of the big games and the u21's Jeffran and Pedriot need to gradually introduced not thrown in the deep end. Unless Barca sign a new forward I think Barca have the quality andnow at last strength in depth to challenge for every trophy and I like Pep's new system and I told you Hleb would be great for Barca 
Pep decides the team and we should respect that. I know one thing for sure fellow Barca fans, it will be a very exciting season and I think we should just get behind the team and give them the support they need. Anyone against that is NOT a real fan.
Forca Barca
lol. fair enough titi. before i posted it i read it over and was going to remove that. it was a bit of a far fetched statement. he isnt the cause of all problems, quite a few though. what i was alluding too was being worried iniesta doesnt start as regularly as he deserves. it seems pep likes keita, so im a tad worried keita, xavi and yaya will dominate mid. honestly, i know iniesta is better in the middle but he does very well on the left there cutting in. much better than henry has for damn sure. iniesta has much better dribbling in small space, passes more, better vision: he will provide and create way way way more than henry. henry isnt even fast anymore. yuck, im sick of him. but yes i admit my statement before was a bit exaggerated.
i didnt think hleb would be bad, just wants my first choice. i think he will be better than at arsenal. i just wanted others more. but i defintely think he will contribute.
can someone honestly tell me why everyone talks crap about marquez??
honestly dont u guys think he could be a backup for milito?
he has done his job this prreseason i think hes goin to be back in shape this season.. but why does everyone think so little of him like if he was suppose to play for like wisla and not for barca
someone tell me!!
19 Comments · Add yours
it is going to be interesting who is picked. and thankfully it seems etoo is goign to say. i also read that pep has lost faith and confidence in henry, but it didnt seem that credible, nevertheless id be happy if that was true. i hope iniesta doesnt get pushed out the team and frankly he really should be a regular. henry again is the reason for all problems. if he was gone then iniesta could gladly slip into that left sided attacking spot with hleb being his regular backup. he could even be asked to play the right. i also read we may get rid of jeffren after interest has come from valencia/sevilla. i hope its not true though, he seems a great talent, fast and confident.
it just sucks we have abidal. he makes me so angry. i havent been able to see preseason but even in brief highlight clips he looks bad. the 2nd goal was red bulls was totally his fault, he just stopped running. i wanted to put my hand through the screen and punch him in the face.
im not going to be overconfident in this game and the players better not be. its going to be a proper step up form preseason american teams. and they are going to be motivated and prob will try to crowd us out at home and go for a draw. but i still see us winning.
Sometimes when big clubs meet these teams before regular season starts they also aproach lesser teams as if its a preseason match, but as Blaugranaboy said i hope Barca don't aproach this match too overconfident, because even Barca B team should be able to win this team "no disrespect here, all respect to Winsla". But nevertheless i hope Barca take this match serious 'look on that great upset, what had happend to Rangers'