Fiorentina – Barcelona; 2:45pm EST TODAY, Barça TV
By: Isaiah | July 30th, 2008Barça take on Fiorentina in Firenze, Italy today at 2:45pm EST. This will be a much tougher test for the team than Hibs and Dundee were, but we get Xavi, Iniesta, and Puyol back from their vacations. The team might be without Messi and Eto’o, the former who is going to play in the Olympics (thus giving me a reason to watch them) and the latter might be held out for medical reasons after colliding heads with Victor Sanchez in practice.
Either way, it should be an entertaining game and I’ll be following all the action on Radio Barça, which is available on the official site. If anyone has direct links to sites that are streaming the game, please let us all know in the comments.
And if you missed it because it’s squirreled away beneath this massive post, check out the Silva-Arshavin post.
Category: Team News
Subscribe
|
Print
|
Share
      |
Comments
-
I’m really impressed by Pique’s setup for the Puyol goal. He controlled it very well and kept his head better than any central defender normally would.
Even more impressive still was our little Bojan’s finish. That kid amazes me with the head on his shoulders. He was built to score goals. He never seems to lose his cool or miss chances. I have a feeling that he could score a lot of goals in La Liga this season. I don’t think he’ll set the Champions League on fire but he could surprise me. He just seems to get the ball in the box regardless of who’s around.
Jeffren’s goal was well taken also but I’m not as excited as I was about Giovani. I still don’t know why we let him go.Posted from
Ireland
-
Laporta ruled out a move for Trezeguet
http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=798015
We seem to have accepted Eto’o as a stayer. I can’t say that I’m unhappy about this. I like him, he scores, he runs and he works like a mule. Remember all those times that Rijkaard swapped him and Ronnie to help out defensively? He has been almost a left back in some CL matches.
Arshavin’s agent says that he expects Andrei to join Spure this week. I’ll be very annoyed unless someone is signed.Posted from
Ireland -
This is the second excellent showing for Pedrito. He was schooling for-real Serie A defenders with his moves and ball control. His passes were spot on, and he integrated well into the first team. I could see him moving up, for sure.
What I really liked about Guardiola’s starting XI (well, the for-real first-teamers) was the size and strength. to be able to roll out Pique, Keita, Puyol, Yaya and Abidal….wow. When Keita and Yaya were in and playing, the midfield was on lockdown, as predicted when we signed him.
Later in the game, as more subs came on, things looked a little funky. But Alves is that missing link for Messi, who is so dangerous when he gets the ball just outside the 18, instead of having to run it up the pitch. And Keita’s presence atop Yaya means that Xavi is an offensive player again.
That might have been Gudjohnsen instead of Hleb on the giveaway. I thought it looked a little thin for Gudjohnsen, and I was working while having the match streaming. I’d be a lot happier if it wasn’t Hleb. I’m one of his defenders.
I think that Jeffren is more exciting than Dos Santos. Same with Pedrito. Maybe if Guardiola had been able to get hold of Dos Santos before he lost his mind, it might have been different. As it was, money and ego got the better of the talented Mexican.
All in all, I was extremely impressed. And this team hasn’t even really learned to play together yet. Alves’ passing is first-rate, making him a real threat on that right side. And Abidal….well, he had a really good match, including two excellent crosses.
Could it be that Guardiola will be the biggest difference this season?
Posted from
United States -
Hey, don’t call him Pedrito any more. Now that he’s playing with the big boys, he wants to be called Pedro
Jeffren and Pedrito have lower ceilings that Giovani, but, given what we’ve seen so far, could very well develop into nice players (like the Oleguer of 3-4 years ago, for instance, or like Gabri).On a pessimistic note, don’t forget how awesome we were in friendlies last season too.
Posted from
United States -
I hear you, Citizen. I was at the 5-0 Inter demolition. It was crazy. I floated out of the Nou Camp, believing that we weren’t going to lose a match all season.
Whoops!
The difference this year is the pace of play and the ball movement. They didn’t play like we’ve seen them play this year, except in stretches, and even then we never got full-effect Xavi, because he was mindful of the counter. Not this year. Also, players such as Alves, Keita and Hleb mean that Messi gets the ball closer to the box.
Last year things fell apart as injuries and dissent reared their heads. No Ronaldinho, no Deco, no Eto’o, no Messi. Hard to play like that, particularly with the lack of depth. We’re deeper this season, and don’t seem built around a single player. Things didn’t stop when Messi exited the match. That makes me more optimistic about this coming season.
The Gamper match will be a good test.
Posted from
United States -
hey all where can i watch a replay of this game, on the net?
Posted from
Australia -
I have a question for Kxevin, and I know this is totally off topic:
Did you apply to become a socio by mail or did you actually do it at the Nou Camp when you were there? Just wondering, I’ve applied by mail and it’s been a couple weeks. I thought if you did apply by mail you might know how long it takes to send the membership package. They have charged my credit card so I at least know that’s a good sign.
Posted from
Canada -
By mail, Charlie. Be patient, as it takes a while. If you’ve ever been to Barcelona, you know….the lads aren’t exactly speed demons.
I’ve forgotten how long mine took. It’s been quite a while. But I was actually able to e-mail them and get my member number and key to purchase tickets before the membership package actually arrived.
I think that the mails from Barcelona to wherever you are tend to be molasses like. One year, I received my new card within a week of it being posted. Another year, it took almost three weeks.
Posted from
United States -
Ahh ic. Thanks man. I don’t ever really trust the mail so sometimes I just assume it’s been lost, but it’s good to know that they can take a while. Maybe if I don’t see it in a week I’ll email them for my info.
Does the membership # and key change every year?
Posted from
Canada -
goal.com says that Iniesta is in line for Ronnie’s vice captaincy spot. He is Blaugrana through and through, so maybe its not a bad move. When King Carles retires (God help us that day), either Iniesta or Xavi should be captain, so to give Iniesta some experience too is a good move. I thought it would’ve gone to Marquez. He’s been here for a while, and he’s the Mexican captain, so he has experience. Still, three catalan captains is just brilliant.
We have played some brilliant football, and as long as Keita and Yaya stay fit, and our defence is strong (we have a great mix of youth and experience this year, so I’m pretty confident), we won’t be letting any goals in. Hell, the ball won’t even go past the half-way line. And our attack should be great, too.
Pedro has really impressed me too. He should definitely be promoted. He would really add depth in attack, and with his potential, he should be able to tear apart some of the weaker liga sides.
And Kxevin, I noticed too that our game was still phenomenal when Messi went off. That is really great to see. We don’t want to become like Arsenal was in Henry’s last years there, when whenever he got injured they didn’t have a chance against anyone.
Posted from
Australia -
We shud not be really happy about this result..Fiorentina did not start with many of their regulars, like that Pazzini guy and then Montolivo and then there is this LB Vargas who they say is as good as Alves is as a RB…
Posted from
United Arab Emirates -
i didnt get to watch the match.
did either henry or eto’o play?
Posted from
United States -
ballbeav, neither played.
Since the Ogre has left, who is our back up for Alves?Posted from
United Arab Emirates -
Pique can play right back can’t he?
Posted from
Australia -
The membership number (numero soci) changes annually. Your key (clau) never does. You also get a PIN code that you will need to buy tickets, etc.
Don’t know that we have a backup for Alves, which is kind of disconcerting. Pique can float, I think Caceres can as well.
Hey, was the look on Puyol’s face after that goal great, or what? It was mixed with relief and joy, since I’m sure every player has nightmares about missing a sitter such as that one.
JC, we should be very happy about this result. The quality of play from our end was high and remained high throughout the various substitutions. The one-touch passing and off-the-ball movement were also very good.
Exhibitions are for working out the kinks in a lineup. Fiorentina has had a lot of turnover in the offseason, as we have. Were it a real match, we wouldn’t have been starting Pedrito in such an important position, and Messi wouldn’t have been playing striker. Both teams were experimenting.
Pazzini was indeed in the side, as was Felipe Melo. Ditto for their first-choice keeper, striker and defenders. That was definitely a real Fiorentina side, which is why the match got a bit….erm….scrappy.
Reports are that Spurs have agreed to personal terms with Arshavin, but Zenit is proving the sticking point. Imagine that.
Posted from
United States -
You’re right, Jake. The qualities that Guardiola are trying to instill in the side remained intact no matter who was in there. They played hard, battled for possession everywhere on the pitch and played one-touch football whenever possible. You didn’t see a lot of that annoying dicking around with the ball as we did so much last year, except from Iniesta. Gotta talk to that lad.
The midfield was the most exciting part of that match for me. Don’t know how many of you got to watch it, but Fiorentina almost gave up on playing the ball out of back. Almost every time they tried, either Keita or Yaya would come up and essentially bull-rush the guy playing the ball out, threatening possession and making him play back to the keeper for a blast downfield.
Posted from
United States -
Hey Kxevin (or anyone else who subscribes to it), how much does Barca TV cost? It’s so hard to watch matches here in Aus, but I’m pretty short in the cash department.
Posted from
Australia -
Oh wait, just looked at the site and I can’t get it in Aus
Posted from
Australia -
Wait again, I wasn’t looking at online, and I just saw the prices. Problem solved!
Posted from
Australia -
I’ve decided that the worst way to experience a Barça game is via Radio Barça. They’re terrible radio commentators. Are they the Barça TV commentators as well? That would make more sense because they describe what’s going on about as much as TV commentators…
When Puyol scored, it took them a full minute to acknowledge that the ball had actually gone in. So it was as if I was supposed to have seen it happen. Instead I had to infer and that’s not so good for radio commentary.
Posted from
United States -
We’ll find out tommorrow who Barca will play in the CL qualifiers. If it goes well expect Laporta to drop the Messi thing. It should be fine though. Let Messi enjoy himself and come back with a gold medal and continue the winning trend for the season.
Over at Pep’s place he has details of the pre-agreement with Palacio that was supposedly agreed in January. €11million and a three year contract with fourth as an option. Interesting, he can play wide as he has done with Boca. They could wait until after the Gamper and hope that he kills in that match so that he would be a bigger name after it. It wouldn’t be a bad idea.
Posted from
Ireland -
oleguer had a nice goodbye letter to the fans, ending with the following sign-off: “So, it’s only left for me to say to you that i will be among the millions of anonymous voices to celebrate together the successes of the team of my dreams.”
guess you can still be a barca fan when they dump your ass.
but seriously, in his letter he expresses his awareness of both his virtues and limitations as a player, so he understands that it’s time to leave…out the front door, hopefully with a nice bowl of fruit and candies or something.Posted from
United States -
Oleguer always was a very well-spoken and well-written individual and I can’t say that I’m not impressed with this latest offering. That line about the team of my dreams is brilliant in both English and Spanish.
I’ll write up a goodbye post for all the players who have left, don’t worry, and I’ll definitely include Oleguer.
Posted from
United States -
Never listened to the Radio Barca commentators, so I don’t know. Doesn’t sound like the same guys, however. The BarcaTV commentators are on the ball, even picking up substitutions that weren’t being announced by the stadium folks and whatnot.
Posted from
United States -
You can watch the last three Barca Pre-season matches at tve.es
Click on “a la carta” and peruse the huge menu list of archived programs they have. TVE and RTVA are really setting the bar by posting for free all of the programs that they are…amazing….
Posted from
United States
Read the rest of the comments
Comments are closed
Home 
