So here we go, time to start a new season! It's been a great summer of football with the eurocup and the Olympics about to start, but the real excitement begins tomorrow when FCBarcelona takes on Hamburg in their first preseason game.
I've been a little surprised by the summer transfer action (or lack thereof). The biggest change we're going to see is the manager switch from Pep Guardiola to Tito Vilanova, although the players are promising that this will not change the playing style very much (if it ain't broke don't try to fix it). Tito's got some big shoes to fill, but hopefully taking a manager from inside the club will pay off once again. With much love I have to say "adios" to Seydou Keita and a giant welcome to super stud Jordi Alba. I can't wait to see Jordi tearing up the left side of the pitch the way he did in the eurocup. There's still talk out there about picking up another player or two, the most possible being Javi Martinez from Bilbao. Personally, I'm quite happy with what we have and would love to see some of the younger players get a chance at the central defense position.
Speaking of what we have, I have to say welcome back to David Villa. I definitely missed him during last season and hopefully he'll play a big part in the 2012-2013 campaign. Some players are at the top of their game, Lionel Messi broke the all time record for goals last season and other players like Javier Mascherano, Xavi Hernandez, Sergio Busquets, and Andres Iniesta are consistently among the best in the world. Others like Pedro Rodriquez and Gerard Pique have been in a bit of a slump and are going to have to pick it up a little to contribute more this year. It will also be great to see the three second year strikers Isaac Cuenca, Cristian Tello, and Alexis Sanchez back on the pitch. It's going to be a great year!
We've got some big preseason games coming up against teams like Paris Saint Germain with new signings Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva, and the always brilliant Manchester United. Don't forget the Catalan Supercup against hometown rival RCD Espanyol!
So with the beautiful memory of Messi's goals and the heartbreak of the Champion's League semifinals and not lifting the La Liga trophy still fresh in my mind I'm really looking forward to getting started tomorrow against Hamburg. With only 10 of the first team players suiting up tomorrow (unfortunately Jordi Alba won't be there) it looks like we'll get a chance to see some of the younger players get a chance.
Get out your new kits and fire up the television, it's gonna be another great season in Barcelona!
Love this blog! Visca Barça!!
ReplyDeleteGRANDE, GRANDE, GRANDE!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteTRIPLETE, TRIPLETE, TRIPLETE!!!!
Un tribunero(Jordi)
Great blog!!! You look like a journalist.
ReplyDeleteI've good feeling for this year, We need another player to complete our defense but not Javi Martínez. He's too much expensive, and there are a lot of other players like him more cheaper than the young spanish player.
I'm going to keep writing in this Blog but now it's time to enjoy the summer, the pre-season and the young players like Deulofeu, Sergi Roberto, Rafinha, Bartra...
Good Start! Visca Bleedingblaugrana!
ReplyDeleteCRW! :)
good start for tito! deulofeu looks to be bursting on the scene. i hope he gets some playing time this season. it's going to be tough with the like of alexis, pedro, cuenca and tello on the wings. but i bet tito gives him some minutes when he's needed. i'm worried about the young guys in defense getting minutes for development this season though. bartra looks a beast- as does the right back montoya. if they aren't getting minutes, they can't develop into players the calibre we're looking for to play in those spots (i.e. javi martinez). i hope muniesa is ok. poor kid. he has bad luck. remember his short lived champions league debut a couple of seasons ago? harshly red carded within minutes of coming on.
ReplyDeleteOK. so here are my hopes/predicitons for the rest of the transfer window: sell affellay now to anybody who wants him (we only paid 3 million for him, we'll surely make a profit)! sell jonathan dos santos to malaga. send tello and/or cuenca out on loan. don't buy javi martinez and stick with la masia to fill in for the starters.