AjanleKoko:

Modric is a good player.
Methinks Mou is beginning to fancy himself, as he has won the league now. Must be dreaming of playing his own brand of fantasy footie.

I bet Modric will spend most of the time on the bench

Modric is good, no doubt but he'll only make sense as a backup for Xabi. A Modric/Xabi double-pivot is calamitous IMO. Xabi has since evolved from that ball-winning enforcer of years back and plays mainly as a CM. It's Khedira who does all the dirty job in the middle of the park. Modric is also a CM and doesn't strike me as that kind of player that will push and harry, run from box to box, tackle, intercept, win balls... So, Madrid will be playing with two CM's more or less and no natural DM if they play a double-pivot of Xabi/Modric. A midfield trio of Xabi/Modric/Ozil will easily get overrun.

Maybe he is being signed as a backup for Xabi. He was hardly rested last season. They literally ran him to the ground last season. He was a dead man walking during the latter stages and his performance really dropped... The CL semis vs Bayern for example. But then, why splash the cash on Modric if only as a backup when you already have Sahin, Granero, Diarra? The way I see it, it's a lose-lose for Madrid.

Spain beat Greece 1-0. Jese Rodriguez from a Deulofeu assist. They've successfully defended their U19 title.

Quality generation of youngsters Spain have got here. The Spanish dominance isn't ending anytime soon.

AjanleKoko: In other news, Afellay is being offered to Arsenal and Inter. Arsenal might just bite. If they do, they have much better potential for the winger, who showed surprising energy in the unfortunate Oranje Euro campaign, despite being out for a long time. If he goes, there might be some consideration to get a forward

I was actually thinking Afellay could do a job for us the coming season. I like what I saw at the Euros. One of the few Dutch players that didn't suck monkey balls and that's despite him not being totally match fit after a lengthy spell on the sidelines. Would love us to give him a chance really.

There is also talk of Bojan going to Newcastle. I wish I could say this was a good move, but it looks like the young man's career is set to go further south. I'd rather he stayed at Roma or returned to another La Liga team

I hope he continues at Roma. He didn't do too badly with Roma last season. Scored 6 or 7 goals despite not getting so much play time(played less than 1k minutes). He'd hardly get a chance to play at Newcastle. At this stage in his career he needs to be playing regularly. With Roma having a new coach who's from the Eastern Bloc and Bojan also paternally from Serbia, I think things could just work out for him. Borini, who was the one keeping him out of the team, has already been signed by Liverpool. He could have a bigger role to play at Roma the coming season.

It's also rumoured that Barca might buy back Oriol Romeu, but I doubt it. I'm not sure we need him either, as JDS can play pivot pretty good, as well as right-back

Seconded

Tito's not saying much re transfers is he? At least he is doing his best to keep his team intact for the preseason. Luckily neither Alba nor Thiago is going for the Olympics, but at least we've contributed some players to that campaign.

Alba's going to the Olympics. I don't know why we didn't stop him. Now he won't be available for pre-season.

Tello and Bartra are also going.

What are y'all going after Modric for? Another central midfielder? Are you guys trying to pull a 'Spain' and play 6 midfielders next season?

Truth is, I don't see how he will significantly improve your squad. Seems to me like another pointless signing.

Mundo Deportivo reporting that Ajax are interested in signing Muniesa as a replacement for Vertonghen.

I'd rather we kept Muniesa and Bartra and sold or loaned out Fontas but then, good move for everyone concerned, I guess. Muniesa is a good kid and will be at a solid club in a competitive league who play in a manner that will lend itself well in the event of a possible return.

.

Hope y'all have been following the Euro U-19s. . . What an enthralling game, phew! Spain 3 - France 3. Spain won 4-2 on penalties.
Spain are through to their 3rd consecutive U19 finals. Spain officially own football. They are dominating at every level. . . This U19 side are just head and shoulders above their peers. They totally dominated France who are bigger guys. Spain have the youngest squad in the tournament. 6 of their players were born in either 94 or 95 and the left back, our own Grimaldo is 16 unlike the French who were all born in 93. Their defence is shyte though. All of France's 3 goals were from defensive blunders.

Deulofeu was outstanding. Probably MOTM. Scored two goals and also the winning penalty. He could have scored 4 or 5. He was really wasteful in front of goal. I don't think he will stay in Barca B beyond this coming season. There's still some aspects of his game that he needs to improve upon though. He sometimes comes off as selfish. He'd rather go on a Messi-esque run than play a simple pass and also his decision making is rather poor.

Grimaldo is also another outstanding player. A very quality left-back. He assisted one of Spain's goals with a super cross. He has been one of the best players at the tournament so far.

Spain play Greece in the final on Sunday who they earlier defeated in the group stage 2-1.

^^We're on the same page, man. Martinez is a very good player but we don't need any signings and especially not at that price.


La Liga fixtures are out. We begin the season vs Sociedad at Camp Nou. The first classico is at home in week 7.

AjanleKoko: Pity about Keita.
Word is, the club is searching for a replacement for him. I see no point in that, as we have so many guys coming in from Barca B. Masch and Dos Santos can support Busi. Good thing we don't play with a double pivot (though I suspect that Tito will be more defensive minded in this first season than Pep )

I hear we are planning a move for Martinez as a replacement for Keita. Really quality player and very versatile - can play as CB and DM but Athletic are demanding some crazy transfer fee in the region of €40m. I also don't see any point in signing a replacement for Keita. He hardly played anyway. He didn't even play up to the requisite number of minutes that would have earned him a new contract so why splash the cash on a replacement?

Don't see the need of signing a CB either when we have Pique, Masch, Puyol, Fontas + Bartra, Muniesa are joining the first team.

JDS or Roberto as replacement for Keita. Fontas, Bartra, Muniesa, as extra cover for CB.

I've been very impressed by this Jese Rodriguez kid at the Euro U-19s so far. The kid is real quality. Alongside Deulofeu, Torres, Grimaldo and Suso, he has been the best player. He's currently top scorer with four goals after just two matches.

Keita announces he won’t be at Barça next season

www.fcbarcelona.cat

07/07/2012 21:56

FC Barcelona thanks Seydou Keita for his service to the Club

Keita leaves after four years at the Club, having won a total of 14 titles

Seydou Keita has announced this evening that he won’t be staying at the Club next season.

FC Barcelona thanks Seydou Keita for his services to the Club over the years and wish him professional and personal success in the future

Four years, fourteen titles

Seydou Keita is leaving Barça after four years at the Club which have seen him win 14 titles. Keita wore the number 15 shirt under Pep Guardiola and in his time at the Club won three league titles, two Champions Leagues, two Spanish Cups, two World Club Cups, three Spanish and two European Super Cups.


Thanks for everything Keita.

Now that we've got Alba, I don't think our defence still needs any reinforcements. I don't think we still need to sign any centre-back especially as Bartra and Muniesa are getting promoted.

chucky234: Iniester did well at the just concluded Euro 2012 but I don't think he was the best players as he struggled in the first game against Italy as well as the game against Croation where Luka Modric took the shine away from the Spanish midfield.
Pirlo was brilliant all through and be the best player based on his consistence throughout the tournament,he was simply majestic.

Are you sure you followed the games because in those matches you talked about, Iniesta was voted Man of the Match.

The MVP award was a straight fight between him and Pirlo but he put on a show last night(was voted Man of the Match) while Pirlo was just lost in Spanish triangles. Perhaps, that tilted the award his way.

Campeones, campeones, ole ole oleee.

Viva Espana. Somos los mejores. Hi3tory

Viva España. . . .Let's make hi3tory

Alba in. . .Subject to medical.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/feedarticle/10310891

AjanleKoko:

You don finally succumb
We should fine you and all the other tall-brute campaigners

Lol. We will still feed him small beans sha for height.

My MoM alongside Ramos for last night's game.

Yaay! another final. . . . I'm ecstatic. After 44 years without a trophy and another 24 years without a s/final appearance, Spain are through to their third final in a major competition in the last four years. How things change. I remember I hated the phrase "perennial underachievers" that used to open any story about Spain. Spain are serial winners now and I expect this Spanish dominance to continue for a very long time. One only needs to take a look at the quality of players coming out the youth teams(Euro U 19 & U 21 champions) to know what I'm talking about.

Congrats Spain. The better team on the night and. . . . Ramos, que grand cojones! That was a penalty and half.

sebod: i am so much eager to see jordi Alba in that beautiful jersy knowing fully that he's catalan and barca product. I also wish we could sign Thiago silva from Milan to cover up for our defensive flaws knowing well that we lost last season to defensive problems.(puyol,abidal,pique were injured for most part of d season).with the injured players such as Villa,Afelay and Pedro gaining fitness coupled with our young products coming up,we will regain our supremacy in the world of futbal.

Alba has really impressed me this Euros. He's very good going forward. He links up excellently with Iniesta on the left. I mean, their combo has been so devastating that Blanc thought the only way he could stop them was by playing two RB's and it still wasn't enough to stop them as they combined well to set up Spain's first goal vs France.

He has pace as well so he is always quick to recover whenever Spain loses the ball. Very good at covering spaces.

I think we should just pay what Valencia are asking and get it over with.

We've signed Joan Angel Roman from Man City reserves on a free transfer for the B team.

Quality youngster. Impressed me a lot during the Next Gen series even though City were abject.

Lots of quality in the B team now. Roberto, Espinosa, Illie Sanchez and now Joan Angel in midfield looks really deadly. There's Deulofeu and Rafinha up front and with the promotions of Dongou, Grimaldo, Miguel Angel from the Juvenil A side and a couple other signings still to be made, I expect them to perform a lot better than they did last season.

sinistyle: Pirlo's penalty, woof! Best I've seen

You definitely haven't seen this.

Ezequiel Calvente's 'switch-hit' penalty vs Italy in 2010 Euro U-19's.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ultDaICPTB4

Spain vs Portugal will be a very tight game. It could go either way. Portugal are that kind of side that can really trouble Spain - physical, aggressive, fast and very good on the break.

chic2pimp:

The second best Midfielder of the past 10 years. Only Xavi is better.

You must buy this year's Juve scudetto season. Dude was absolutely sensational.
One of the most dominating performance by a midfielder Serie A has seen in Decades. Phenomenal!!!

He was fantastic for Juve this just concluded season. He had the most key passes in all of Europe's major leagues and he has brought that form to the Euros. He has been carrying Italy so far.

The Alba deal is done. It would be announced after the Euros.

Nice one España. Vamos. . . . Somos los majores

Ronaldo: "Fans chanting 'Messi' when I missed big chances? This time last year, Messi was out of Copa America. That's worse, no?"

I wonder what Dayokanu has to say about those Ronaldo's misses which were far easier than Torres'

This night belongs to Sheva

I thought Alba was solid yesterday vs Italy. Yeah, he let in a few crosses but overall he did pretty well. We didn't see the best of him going forward as Spain needed spare men at the back against Italy's two strikers.

Italy were a pleasant surprise. I was expecting a blowout by Spain. They didn't cede the midfield to Spain and allow them to just dominate.

The game was ridiculously open. I haven't seen any team look this good against Spain in a very long time.

dayokanu: Maybe its the skill-less Lampard, Drogbas witchcraft, Sturridges Selfishness, and Chelseas lack of flair thats to blame for wasting 3 100%chance where he is given the ball and allowed to run at the last man

Those were difficult chances. Much easier chances were missed in the game. Buffon did an amazing job to come out and stop him because he knows Torres loves to round the keeper. The 2nd chance was even harder. Very few strikers would score that. Yeah, he could have passed to Navas instead of trying to lob the keeper but he deserves credit because he created the opening, playing a 1-2 with Xavi. Spain were much better after he came on. His movement greatly troubled Italy's backline. They could hardly cope with his movement.

I'm really not expecting much from Germany. I don't see them going very far.