Hey! Whoa! Preseason! Barca v L.A. Galaxy, 10 p.m. CT, Fox Soccer Channel
By: Kevin | August 1st, 2009
It’s kinda funny when the best player in the world isn’t a whole lot bigger than the kids who idolize him. 
I’m just saying.
Barca’s United States tour kicks off in earnest tonight vs David Beckham, Landon Donovan and the Los Angeles Galaxy. If it isn’t a sellout it’s pretty close, and it should be. After all, how often does the best team on the freakin’ PLANET come to your backyard?
Alex and Tomatutomate already got some love from The Yaya. Now I want some goals from our lads. Recall that the last Euro powerhouse (AC Milan) that rolled into the Rose Bowl rolled out with a draw. But I want some stompin’ put down. I want us to play, at least for a few minutes, like the best club in the world, just to make everyone understand.
Then let the substitutions begin.
As I’ve said in the past, lord knows what the starting lineups will be. But Marquez is ready for action, and Maxwell has also gotten the green light from the medicos. And the kids are also at the ready. For those who have forgotten, Fontas, Muniesa, Dos Santos and Jeffren are rolling with the big boys these days. Pedro! is already on the main squad.
(Alex or Tomatutomate, can you toss Jeffren a comb? That rooster thing he has going….I dunno.)
The usual rules of pre-season friendlies will be in effect: Don’t embarass your hosts; don’t get injured, let them see the stars; make a fat wad of cash.
The end.
P.S. You Comcast users who might be programming directly from the guide, beware. It still has this match as being a half-hour long, from 10-10:30CT. I know that friendlies are informal, but man!
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Er…sorry about the double post, my browser acting up (40+ tabs open…)
Anyhow since I already offered my condolences to Sir Robson in the Caceres+Hleb post, I’d like to direct you to what one cule had to say about his time here. I think if we see that time logically, we’d agree too.
Here: http://xtratime.org/forum/showpost.php?p=5053676&postcount=27Posted from
India
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4am GMT I think cesc pistol
Posted from
United States -
Hey, you GolTV folks who are also Arshavin fans (this means YOU, BA
) should check out the Arsenal v ATM match in the Emirates Cup. Arshavin comes on, bangs in a couple of goals, including one that I will have to get out my protractor, physics books and 1-800-ASKPROF to find out how in the hell he scored.Posted from
United States -
I will also take a moment, having just watched that Arshavin goal again, to say that he might have been worth the valuation that we weren’t going to pay for him. I know that he wasn’t going to be a starter, etc, etc. But he’s a very impressive player, without a doubt.
Posted from
United States -
I can’t find any evidence that Assulin is on the tour, Cesc Pistol, despite what the official site said about him joining the group.
The best tour pics can be had at the official site, but you have to choose the Catalan version. The U.S. version has poorer offerings. The Catalan site has better photo galleries, etc.
Posted from
United States -
And hey, has anyone noticed that on Wikipedia, all entries about Barca have the Spanish flag attached, as opposed to the Catalan one?
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United States -
Cesc, there are pics here, http://www.elmundodeportivo.es/web/gen/20090730/galeriahq_53754469392-1.html
http://www.sport.es/galerias.asp?idioma=CAS&idgaleria=1228&nombreSeccion=BAR%C7A
Almost everyday, there are fantastic photos here, http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/sow/gallery;_ylt=AkeBDxNLaEUY5CM5kFibNlEHNgU6
And on the official website, of course.
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I can’t wait! And I hate that the game is at 10pm.
Is there gonna be a liveblog? I can host it this time.
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Maxwell, Marquez, and Henry have all been given the medical green light, so we might get to see some minutes out of them. Good news. I really want to see Maxwell play.
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United States -
Kxevin, I noticed sometime last summer on Wikipedia that, in the squad member listing, someone had switched the Spanish flags on the team to Catalan flags for Xavi, Puyol, etc. They were changed back within an hour. I’m not sure how often this happens, but it seems as though that is the accepted standard. Athletic Bilbao is the same way.
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Thanks for that info, Chi_Jason.
OhYes, Isaiah tends to think that LiveBlogging is a season thing, and I tend to share that worldview. It makes real matches more special, and all.
Posted from
United States -
is it 10:00 yet
Posted from
United States -
Thanks alot guys for the reply and links. Because I don’t understand spanish well I tend to be hesitant to frequent EMD & Sport daily…Then I realise I missed out on some real gems. Anyways, is there a good translator you guys have that both makes sense (unlike google) and is fast? (unlike some regional catalan ones)
It’s 9:30 AM for me so I assume that you guys are -6 from GMT. Which time zone in US is that? Central?
Streams should be available at both myp2p.eu and rojadirecta.com
Regarding Gai: It could be a typo by the club, though if I remember correctly his name wasn’t there initially but now is…(him being excluded caused quite a stir among those who followed Atletic, so I remember…)
The legendary Barcoslav gives his opinion why: http://xtratime.org/forum/showpost.php?p=7221400&postcount=83 with which I agree.
Though I feel it’s unfair to Gai as while they put him on the pitch in Wembley, he was effectively not there. I say that because he was hardly given the ball at all, he had to fall back really deep to obtain the ball and while he tried bringing the ball out by 1-2s, he was failed by his teamates in that he didn’t recieve a successful pass back. Not once.
Anyways I’ve said throughout the past season that Gai needs more playing time and hence needs to stick with Atletic specially because of his injuries last year but also because he lacks a bit of maturity.
Hoping for a good game today, it’ll be nice to see the main squad play again. How I wish we could play Zlatan now!
BTW that made me think…Gamper is gonna be completely sold out. Not only will there be City and their big money signings but it’ll be Zlatan’s first game in Blaugrana. If they can get 60,000 people to watch him do keepy-uppies imagine how many there will be for an actual game!
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India -
Yes, the Gamper will be even MORE insane than it usually is. I’m breaking my streak of attendances by not being able to go this year, and I’m seriously bummed about it.
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United States -
On my way to the game! The last time I saw Barca live was at Camp Nou in 1995. Too long. I am looking forward to seeing the starters and the new blood. ¡Que guay!
Posted from
United States -
Quote from the main site from last year:
“Income from the stadium went down 3.2 per cent compared to last year and Boix explained that the main reason for that was that the figures “from the low attendance for the Gamper game”, Boix said. That match, in which every seat was on sale, was effected by the fact that Pep Guardiola’s side had played their first match of the season in the Champions League qualifiers only the week before.”
Source: http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/english/noticies/club/temporada08-09/02/n090220107160.html
Combining this with what I said about the Gamper trophy in my last post this may have significant positives to us in terms of revenue and profitability.
Personally, even though I have looked at alot of the financial statements directly and have atleast to some extent understood the way tickets are sold and hence Matchday revenue is generated; I cannot say how one match has such a huge impact on our financials. If someone can explain it to me I would be most thankful.
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India -
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Cesc Pistol, for most match days, season ticket holders account for a significant percentage of the seat availability. Some members turn them back for resale on certain match days, helping the club. Others just don’t bother, and don’t show up.
On the up side, a half-empty stadium, fiscally, isn’t really half-empty. But for a match such as the Gamper, in which every is for sale, the revenues can be substantial. Multiply 96,000 butts by 50-80 Euros and you start to get a picture.
It’s the rare match in which every seat is for sale. The previous season’s Gamper against Inter was much better attended than the Boca match. It was crazy.
So that’s my explanation, for what it’s worth. It might be crocked, but it makes sense to me.
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United States -
Ok every one send “wakeup” vibes to Alexis
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…if you can watch Spanish, the first jtv stream is great!
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United States -
First of 7 goals
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…oh shit…I’ve been icemelled!!!
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I WILL PUNT A BITCH IF YAYA IS HURT
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i am at the rosebowl… Enjoying the atmosphere… Its impressive…
OMG… There is no american flag being flown in the rosebowl… Just a digital one on the jumbotron. Sadness…
Posted from
United States -
Hardly a vintage display but there were some positive signs. A few comments:
1) Pedro was VERY impressive
2) Maxwell looked EXTREMELY comfortable on the ball. It’s hard to believe this was his first match for Barca. I don’t think he put a foot wrong all game. I actually think he and Abidal could play on the field together.
3) Jonathan played like he belonged there
4) Muniesa continues to impress. Fontas wasn’t bad either.
5) Xavi picked up right where he left off.
6) I’m very worried about what will happen when Yaya is at ACN. The easy with which LA waltzed towards goal was very alarming in the second half
7) Henry still isn’t fully fit.
Guddy was easily the worst player on the field all night.
9) How much do you think Donovan would cost?Posted from
United States
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