Really interested to see how our rhythm in midfield develops with Yaya back there.

Xavi and Iniesta should have more freedom and time on the ball, but we'll see if Yaya can accomplish that.

 

A must win game, What about Racing? They lost Zigic, any new faces??

 

LIGA|1R| Racing Santander vs FC Barcelona

Racing Santander vs FC Barcelona
EL SARDINERO | 19:00 | Aug 26, Sun​

Misses game:
Puyol, Edmilson, Gudjohnsen(injured)
Bojan(summoned to U17)
Dos Santos(NON-EU. He will be Spanish, 28, August)
Thuram(injured, uncertainty)

First game of 0708. We'll lost some players but I hope to win.

ossibility Line-ups:

-------------------Eto'o-----------------
Dinho-------------------------------Messi
-------------Iniesta-----Xavi-------------
-------------------Toure-----------------
Abidal-------Marquez--Oleguer--Zambrotta
-------------------Valdes----------------

I hope that Thuram will play.

Força Barça!

 

Nothing important, as far as I know, maybe only Argentinian Duscher from Deportivo. They are still looking for a replacement for Žigić, but didn't find yet another striker to complement Munitis.

 

I'm worrying about our CB.

 

Completely agree on the line-up, not much room for Rijkaard to surprise us. The obligatory second half subs will be Deco and Henry.

 

I hope Oleguer/Marquez can do a decent game without mistakes.

Can't we play with two CBs in such cirumestances? Or it is illegal in Barca?

 

Samuel will suffer from jetlag after the trip to Japan. I doubt he will start this one.

 

Samuel will suffer from jetlag after the trip to Japan. I doubt he will start this one.

Yes, Henry is very likely to be in the starting line-up.
I hope our CB's will be Thuram and Marquez; please no Oleguer, because he can cause much more damage at the CB position than at RB. :doh:

 

Nothing important, as far as I know, maybe only Argentinian Duscher from Deportivo. They are still looking for a replacement for Žigić, but didn't find yet another striker to complement Munitis.

Actualldy they did. They've signed the polish striker Smolarek from Dortmund. A new goal keeper from San Lorenzo de Almagro, Agustín Orion and a CB, Habib Bellaid, from Strasbourg.

Source

 

Racing are harmless now without their man mountain, we should put them away comfortably but obviously it's the first game of the season so you don't really know what to expect. I hope we go out there and set a good tempo early on, lay down the gauntlet for the rest of the season.

 

I'm worrying about our CB.

Well definitely our weakest link to be sure. Fortunately they shouldn't be tested too much. The lack of pace is what scares me most. I'm surprised no Milito. I can only assume it's down to the fact that he's not trained as much (recently that is) and that he's just getting used to the team.

Really interested to see how our rhythm in midfield develops with Yaya back there.

Xavi and Iniesta should have more freedom and time on the ball, but we'll see if Yaya can accomplish that.

Yes, you'll see. Just watch the match and you'll see. Yaya will be fine. After watching the Munich match I've come to the conclusion that he needs a little bit more freedom. Not a lot more freedom as I can see him snapping somebody's leg and I don't love his timing on all challenges. Still though, he seems timid to an extent on the ball (and even defensively). This guy has the skill to pass, dribble and hold the ball really, really well. I think we have more room to release Xavi and Iniesta a bit with Yaya now on board.

 

Gaby Milito is suspended due to picking up a 5th yellow card in the last game of last season.

 

i expect messi on the bench - cause of his copa america...

 

This should be a field day. I don't see what Santander can do to us without Žigić.

0-3.

 

Well definitely our weakest link to be sure. Fortunately they shouldn't be tested too much. The lack of pace is what scares me most. I'm surprised no Milito. I can only assume it's down to the fact that he's not trained as much (recently that is) and that he's just getting used to the team.

Milito is suspended for the first game. Why I don't know.

 

Milito is suspended for the first game. Why I don't know.

Maybe he got booked when he shouldn't have.

 

It's gonna be a tough game.

Away game
1st game of the season
Opposing team wanting to make a good start in front of their fans
Playing after an international break (possible injuries)
Nerves, unfamiliarity

It's going to be tough, I think we will win, but I don't expect an easy match at all.

 

Maybe he got booked when he shouldn't have.

Yeah but I don't trust spanish ref's. :smileani:

 

Milito is suspended for the first game. Why I don't know.

5th yellow card with Zaragoza in their last game of season.

 

what an unforgiving world

you'd think that new season means new start for everyone, you know blank white page, correct your errors, new starts.. but nooo

 

Henry will start, he's completed a full pre-season and needs more games under his belt to continue his fitness progression until he returns to vintage Titi (still a few weeks away), I can't see him benched at all.

Rijkaard will probably bench Messi, citing Copa America and a late pre-season as his reasoning.

 

Rijkaard will probably bench Messi, citing Copa America and a late pre-season as his reasoning.

for me this is also the most likely scenario, for logical reason he can bench messi now...

 

what an unforgiving world

you'd think that new season means new start for everyone, you know blank white page, correct your errors, new starts.. but nooo

That wouldn't be fair.

 

It would be logical not to transfer the 5 cards suspension to the next season. I'd understand a red card suspension, for it's a serious penalty. But this seems not good because the logic tells that Milito's next ban limit is 4 cards, which isn't because it's a new season. So "the new season" should mean that the player with 5 cards ban from the past one is free to play in it.