₦airaland Forum

Mcleo007:
Correction bro, Sanchez rarely tracks back, something that occasionally puts his side in trouble back at Udinese. Hope he emulates the hard-working Pedro who doesn't feel reluctant to track back whenever the need arises.

Here's what Pep had to say about him:

"He is very young, he can play in three position on offense, he puts a lot of intensity in his defensive duties"

source
He backtracks like he invented backtracking.

Oriol Romeu set to join Chelsea. . . Another Cesc case in the making.

Chelsea are set to seal the signing of Barcelona youngster Oriol Romeu.
The 20-year-old is set to finalise a move to Stamford Bridge with Chelsea offering €5million.
Barca sources have confirmed to skysports.com that talks are on-going but a deal is imminent.

I remember saying on our old thread, when Busi was stalling on signing a new contract, that we should sell Busi to United who were offering £30m for him and promote Romeu. I've seen him play couple of times for Barca B and he was part of the Spain team that were in Nigeria in 09 for the U-17 world cup and also part of the silver winning u-19 Spain side in France last year along with Sergio Canales. He's really something special and the fact that Chelsea wants to sign him says a lot too.
I'd have loved us to keep him as he'd be an able replacement for Masch in the not to distant future. Good thing is that we've got a buy-back on him(I think for the next two seasons).
Hopefully, he succeeds at Chelsea and we buy him back.

AjanleKoko:
Bojan officially signs for AS Roma. See details here on TotalBarca.

It's a good move for him. He'd better take his chance. Football is cruel but so is life. I think the guy made his first team debut way too early. Maybe not, who knows.
It's the pressure that comes with being part of such a brilliant group. I hope Luis Enrique can get a rise out of him.

With Sanchez arriving, Jeffren may well leave. Hard to see him getting more minutes. Personally i think he's a glass-man, picks up injuries way too easy.
He needs to be loaned, but within Spain.

Sad to see Bojanito go but it's needed. Wish him the very best. . . Great deal by the way - €12m with an option to buy him back for €13m(expires in 2013). Seems like we've smartened up in transfer dealings. A case of been once beaten and being twice shy.

Stealthy:
Finally, it's official: We've got Sanchez.

I really like Rosell - we got Sanchez for a good price, considering the current market and the fact that Sanchez had so many other suitors. Laporta would have paid the 37.5 m in cash immediately, rather than 26m + 11.5 in variables.

Good guy: Man City was offering him a bigger salary than Barca, but he still chose to come here.

Good buy: Now we have game changers on the bench. Can't wait to see this guy combine in various formations with MVP. Now we have MVPS

That was a steal. Rosell just pulled off one of the biggest heist in the history of football. I was first against the deal because of the rumoured 40m we were gonna pay but I think it's a fantastic deal now.
Sanchez, probably, was the most wanted guy this summer and to get him for the price we got him is really a great business.
  He's an excellent winger. He is bringing a lot of pace into our side which is something we currently lack. Lots of tricks as well. He does a lot of backtracking too which makes him the ideal Barcelona man. He loves to cut-in from the flanks and shoot(something we hardly ever do) and he shoots quite well. He can also play as a centre-forward.
His stats last season for Udinese were bloody impressive:
Apps: 27(4)
Goals: 12
Assists: 6
He was the best player in Serie A last season.
Can't wait to see him in action. Hopefully, he'll hit the ground running.

^^ Add Mou and you have a military grade explosive.

Pharoh:
I am doing good and you?, yeah been a while but i do come around sometimes but just to view and read comments.

you guys finally got sanchez so now looking forward to add cesc and neymar to the squad before the transfer window ends.

Neymar ke? I thought you guys were the ones chasing 'peacock head'

I Do - Colbie Caillat

Tears Dry On Their Own - Amy Winehouse

Yes, we need a science board and also a brands & marketing board.

Run Mou, run
[img]http://www.whoateallthepies.tv/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Pique.jpg[/img]

Mou speaking after the Galaxy match:
"I always like to play the Galaxy", Mou said.
"They want to play football. They don't like to play a defensive match, they want to give a good game to the fans, and because of that, that is the kind of team I like in pre season. They are not obsessed with the result".

Bukola Babes up for sale
http://www.completesportsnigeria.com/news/2011/07/lagos-four-others-bid-for-bukola-babes

The mesmerizing Messi, all day, everyday.

^^Argentina scored 14 goals in the 1986 world cup. . . There's still time for Messi, he only just turned 24. Maradona was 26 at the '86 world cup.

Playing as a CB, one poor control, one poor pass, one second loss of concentration and you are instantly punished. As a CB, your touch and passing must be faultless.
Besides, playing as CB is the most physically demanding part of the gme.

coogar:
maradona did in 86, garrincha did in 62.

Maradona won the '86 world cup single-handedly but what are we gonna say about the contributions of:
Jorge Valdano - 4 goals and 1 assist.
Burruchaga - 2 goals and 2 assits, including the winner in the final.
Pasculli - Scored the only goal against the cantenacio playing Uruguay in the second round.
Maradona scored 5 goals and made 5 assits, wrecked England and all but are we gonna say others contributed nothing towards Argentina's '86 world cup success?

maradona won the world cup. . . .messi has not won anything for argentina and he's 1/10th of the player he is when playing for argentina. goes to show without xavi and iniesta, leo messi is nothing. without messi, the duo have won european championship/ champions league(2006) and a world cup for spain. it seems messi actually needs barcelona than barcelona need messi.

Argentina scored 5 goals before they got k/o'd out the copa, three of the goals were made by Messi.

Centre-back is the most difficult position to play in. The role of a CB has changed these days. Most teams like to build their attack from the back. Long gone are the days where all you need do as a CB is hoof the ball.
E.g of modern CB's are Gerrard Pique, Thiago Silva, David Luiz. . . They are actively involved in their team's play.

The easiest position to play is forward.

Train on a Track - Kelly Rowland

I got this from Barcaforum. . . Pre-season fixtures:

1- Saturday, 23 Jul (20:30)
Hajduk Split-FCB. Friendly match (Split)

2- Tuesday, 26 Jul (18.15)
FCB-Internacional de Porto Alegre. Audi Cup (Munich). 1/2

3- Wednesday, 27 Jul (hour to confim)
FCB-Bayern/Milan. Audi Cup (Munich). 2nd game

4- Sunday, 31 Jul (1.00)
FCB-Manchester United. US Tour (Washington DC)

5- Thursday, 04 Aug (2.00)
FCB-Chivas. US Tour (Miami)

6- Saturday, 06 Aug (22.00)
FCB-America. US Tour (Dallas)

7- Monday, 22 August
Barcelona vs Napoli (Joan Gamper Cup)

dademola:
like someone rightly pointed out, messi is talented, bt ya'll hav to admit d barcelona factor. Argentina may play in a manner dt may not bring out d best frm him bt not witstanding, ts obvious he's more suited to d barcelona stlye of play. Look at someone like eto'o. He delivers consistently for both club and country, even though, to me, he is d only star in cameroon. Dia are so many players who single handedly deliver for both club and country, and to me, dat is one of d hallmarks of a great player. To futher buttress ma point as per barcelona, if messi and david silva of mancity swap clubs, i believe messi wont be missed in barcelona. I cant vouch for messi performin d same feat for mancity. Pls i'm nt sayin silva is betta o, bt i'm emphasiszin d influence of em xavi and iniesta @barca.in barcelona. I cant vouch for messi performin d same feat for mancity. Pls i'm nt sayin silva is betta o, bt i'm emphasiszin d influence of em xavi and iniesta @barca.

Are you sure about that?

http://www.goal.com/en/news/1717/editorial/2011/07/02/2555464/he-has-done-his-best-leave-it-to-the-rest-cameroon-fans

It could still change since the transfer window's still open.

Andre Uweh:
^^^
Why is it a big news (Stanley Okoro).

Because Stanley Okoro is 'Little Messi'

Group B results:

MC Alger 1 vs Esperance 1

Al Ahly 3 vs Wydad Casablanca 3

Bukola Babes 1 vs Crown FC 0

Zamfara United 1 vs Heartland 0

Ocean Boys 3 vs Lobi Stars 0

Rangers 4 vs Niger Tornadoes 0

George Akpabio of Plateau United now tops the scorers chart with 14 goals after netting a brace against Wolves.

medjai:
Kano Pillars 3 vs Dolphins 2

Pillars fans twice invaded the pitch in this game. It could have ended in a draw. Pillars were awarded two penalties in injury time. Sunday Rotimi saved one and Pillars scored from the other. NPL should look into this match.

Dis Guy:
how many more games to go??, it's getting really tight!

some teams might just 'allow' Dolphin steal points away especially team near their states

That Kwara utd game against Bukola babes look suspect to me, Saraki was present at the match!!

5 rounds of games to go. The league should end in about two to three weeks from now.

dominique:
not even an awaay draw this weekend. na wa o.

I wither o!

Brazil out of the copa too

Congrats to Japan. A deserved win. They've been the most entertaining side in this tourney.

There's little Messi can do all by himself. Teams win tournaments. No individual can win a tournament on his own.

Bad result from Enyimba. They should be looking to pick up maximum points in their home games. They have two North African teams in their group and it's not easy picking up points in that region.

In the other game in the group:
Raja Casablanca 0 vs Coton Sport 0

Plateau United 2 vs Warri Wolves
0

Sharks 1 vs Gombe United
0

Shooting Stars 1 vs Kwara United
0

Kano Pillars 3 vs Dolphins 2

Sunshine remain on top, tied on same number of points as Dolphins but with a better goal difference. They've both played 32 matches.