Pick Your Barca Starting XI
Monday, 28 July 08, 02:42 PM
With Barcelona's squad near completion( I say near completion because of the uncertainty of Eto'o's future) it's time to pick who you think should be the starting XI, and what formation should be used. If you want, include a striker who could possibly replace Eto'o if he leaves.
Squad Members:
Goalkeepers
Victor Valdes, Jorquera, Pinto
Defenders
Abidal, Alves, Puyol, Pique, Cáceres, Sylvinho, Milito, Marquez
Midfielders
Xavi, Iniesta, Yaya Toure, Keita, Hleb, Crosas
Strikers
Messi, Eto'o, Henry, Bojan, Gudjohnsen
My Starting XI and Formation{4-1-3-2}
-----------------------------------------Valdes-------------------------------
---Alves------------Marquez---------------------Puyol-------------------Abidal------
--------------------------------------Yaya Toure-------------------------
------------Iniesta----------------------Xavi-------------------Hleb------------------
---------------------------Messi-----------------Eto'o-------------------------------
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Barca Latest!
Sunday, 27 July 08, 03:23 AM
Finally! Oleguer Presas has been sold. To me his sale has been long overdue due to the many defensive arrivals this summer and Oleguer's clumsy tendencies. Oleguer never looked to me like a defender who was up to Barca's standards and I'm glad to see him go.
According to reports Ajax and Barcelona have agreed to a transfer fee of 3 million euros for the player, and if the Amsterdam club qualifies for the Champions League in one of the next three seasons, an extra 2.25 million will be paid. Oleguer is the Dutch club's fourth singing of the summer.
In other news Eto'o is being linked with a move to Lyon that includes Benzema coming to Barca in a swap deal. Lyon president, Jean Michel Aulas is apparently very keen on bringing the Cameroon international to France, as the club is looking to strengthen their attacking options ahead of the Champions League. However this sounds like just another rumor, as Benzema is a prized possession at Lyon, but who knows, Eto'o is more prolific than the Algerian-Kabyle descendant, and Lyon as well as Barca could be tempted.
To cap off my post, I just want to give some hope to the Barca fans out there like myself, who want to see Eto'o stay at the Nou Camp. After Barca's thrashing of yet another Scottish side, this time running out victorious over Dundee United 5-1 in their second preseaon match, where Messi scored a hat-trick, President Joan Laporta was full of praise for Eto'o, commending him for his attitude and for just being a great player. When asked by the media if Eto'o would stay, the president sunned the question and raced away in a hurry according to reports. Seems like Laporta might be having second thoughts about offloading Eto'o, but only time will tell what the future holds.
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Barca Ready With Fresh Trezeguet Bid
Thursday, 24 July 08, 02:39 PM
Pep Guardiola is said to be a fan of David Trezeguet and subsequently the Frenchman has emerged as Barca's top target.
Barcelona was linked with Turin player earlier during the transfer season, but seemed to drop their interest due to Juventus' reluctance to sell the man who scored 20 goals last season and finished second of the top scorers in Italy.
Fresh reports have emerged that Barca is still interested in the player, and are ready to offer a fee in the region of 25 million euros.
Juventus could be tempted by such an offer because of Trezeguet's age, 30, and because of the striking options available with Del Piero, Amauri, Iaquinta and Giovinco.
Trezeguet has said that his desire to stay with the Old Lady and win something with the club he has been a player for since 2000. However it has been said that he has contacted good friend Thierry Henry, and asked him about Spanish football and life in the country.
With Eto'o still at Barcelona though, it's hard to see Barca making a move for Trezeguet. Let's wait and see what happens.
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Eto'o Wage Demands Hindering Move : Madrid Want Him
Wednesday, 23 July 08, 06:34 PM
Samuel Eto'o having been told that he is not in new coach, Pep Guardiola's plans is finding it difficult to exit from the Nou Camp.
Due to Eto'o's high wage demands to interested parties, said to be in the region 8.5 to 10 million euros, and Barca's valuation of the star of about 30 million euros, Eto'o is finding it very difficult to move on.
Questions have been arising about how serious Barca really is about letting the Cameroon international go, because of their high asking price for the player.
Eto'o has made it no secret that his preference is to stay at the Catalan club, and really is making no effort to leave for any club which he has no interest in joining.
Pep too has also recently said that finding a new striker is not an urgent matter because of the options available too him, including Eto'o.
Now Real Madrid, who Eto'o played for during his youth years is being once again linked with the versatile striker. Madrid coach Bernd Schuster, is said to be keen on brining Eto'o to the capital as a backup should Van Nistelroy or Raul get injured.
However due to Eto'o being very pro-Barca, and his high profile as a striker I personally don't see him playing as backup to anyone, therefore I deem this move as highly unlikely.
I, like many Barca fans, am clinging on to hope, and praying for an Eto'o stay.
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Who Should Barca Sign? Adebayor, Berbatov or Drogba
Monday, 21 July 08, 04:13 PM
Reports suggest that Barca are close to signing Didier Drogba from Chelsea. Drogba has pulled out of Chelsea's pre-season tour to the Far East due injury, and Barca are said to continue their interest by making a solid offer for the Ivorian. Drogba is said to be unsettled and looking for a way out of Chelsea within the next 10 days.
Barca are also said to be interested in Dimitar Berbatov and a possible swap deal could be on the cards with Rafa Marquez moving Tottenham.
Then there's Emmanuel Adebayor, who Barca have apparently lost interest in due to Arsenal unwillingness to sell the player. However with Samuel Eto'o likely to be sold in the coming weeks, Barca could use the funds to offer more for the player and tempt Arsenal to sell.
Personally I think Drogba would be a good signing, he is a crunch-time striker, he almost always scores when it's most important, however I don't know if he would fit into the Barca system, because Barca plays a completely different style to that of Chelsea. Dimitar Berbatov on the other hand I could definitely picture in the Barca system because of his delicate touch and skillful finishes. Adebayor too, I think would fit well as Arsenal plays a similar style to that of Barca.
So who do you think would be the perfect replacement if or when Eto'o leaves?
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On BARCA the best! Man U sorrow!