Preview: Barça - Valladolid
Saturday, 08 November 08, 04:17 AM · Comments (28)
We are back to waiting until the day of the match for Pep Guardiola to announce the squad for the game. It should be announced within the next couple of hours after this morning's training session which has been set for 11.30. What is sure is there will be no Andres Iniesta, out for six to eight weeks, and no Eric Abidal who will be out now for probably at least another three weeks if he doesn't eventually need surgery on his knee.
Guardiola will probably choose between Thierry Henry and Alex Hleb to replace Iniesta on the left side of the attack, while at left back he will choose between Sylvinho and Carles Puyol. Seydou Keita has been declared fit again and may be included in the squad, and Victor Valdés should make his 200th appearance for Barça in goal.
Valladolid are currently 14th in the table on 10 points, but showed how dangerous they can be last week by coming back from 0-2 down at home to Sevilla to win 3-2 with two goals from substitute Cannobio. Last season Barça won the corresponding fixture 4-1 with two goals from Bojan Krkic.
Please forgive me if the blog is a bit below it's normal standard this week as I am temporarily without an internet connection which means I need to go down to an internet cafe to write. Hopefully normal service will be resumed as soon as possible.
Possible starting XI: Valdés; Alves, Marquez, Pique, Puyol; Xavi, Toure, Busquets; Messi, Eto'o, Henry.
My prediction: Barça 3 Valladolid 0
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----------------------Valdes-------------------------
-----------------Puyol---Marquez-----------------
---Alves-------------------------------Caceres----
-------------Busquets----Toure-------------------
---------------------Xavi----------------------------
-----Messi----------------------Henry-------------
---------------------Eto'o---------------------------
My prediction: Barça 4 Valladolid 1
--------------------------- Pinto----------------------------------------
---------------------Pujol-------Pique--------------------------------
------Alves----------------------------------------Caceres-----------
--------------------Busquets----------Toure-------------------------
---------------------------------Xavi-----------------------------------
----------------Messi------------------------Hleb---------------------
-------------------------------Eto'o-------------------------------------
Barca 3 - Valladolid 1
I luv barca barca win 3 nil
28 Comments · Add yours
Barcelona 2 - 0 Valladolid
i really hope Hleb gets the start on the left wing, he is far more naturally suited to that than Henry is. and also, if we arent going to start him NOW when our star Iniesta is injured, why the hell did we buy him? what is his purpose on this team? frankly if i was him id be feeling a bit useless, he has thus far been made to look very surplus to requirements and very average compared to what we have already (barring his injury). and for left back, one can bring another transfer into questoin, Caceres. firstly we paid a fortune for him, and thus far is looks a waste, not that he has been bad, just that we about 100 defenders. why buy him and then play Puyol left back? i find all this a bit odd. i would clearly play Caceres left back, if he can do so (which ive read he can), and not use a 36 (or so) yr old sylinvho. not that i am criticizing pep at all, and no matter what he does we will prob still win, but even if we win, one has to consider some of these issues.
the amount of defendres in question really boggles my mind, when all fit we have all competing for the center, puyol, marquez, milito, pique, caceres (who has admitted center is his favorite), and henrique coming in. honestly thats so exaggerated. puyol has easily 2 good yrs left. if i was pep id def be plannin on letting marquez go sooner than later.
on the game, i dont predict, thats such a frivilous exercise. i reckon we will win though, they have to bounce back from the CL and show themselves they are still that good and we need to get in form for the end of the month EVEREST schedule.