Gerardo "Tata" Martino

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Flavia

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Gerardo Martino confident in strength of Puyol's spirit

David R. Jover
10/18/2013 13:00


The Argentinian manager is delighted to have been told that Puyol is ready to play

“Things weren't resolved last week, and neither is this a decisive week. They are all important matches, but things are only just starting”, he says


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Gerardo Martino has spoken on Friday ahead of the trip to El Sadar to take on Osasuna this Saturday at 20.00. He was all smiles as he announced that Busquets will start, and that Carles Puyol is “ready to play and if he has to go on for a few minutes, he will”.
Tata spoke about how impressed his has been with his centre back and captain’s attitude and “how excited he is to be back in the team. For somebody who has achieved what he has achieved and won what he has won, it excites me too. His spirit will make up for his lack of matches and being out for six months. It’s as if he was making his first division debut”.

Ignoring records

If Barça win in Pamplona, they will equal Real Madrid’s record of winning their first nine matches in 1968/69. But the FCB boss says that “they are always talking about the number of matches and records and things like that” said Tata, whose thoughts are entirely focused on beating Osasuna. “It doesn’t change the way I have been thinking for the last few weeks. What really matters is where we are at the end of the season, that’s all that goes down in history. Things weren't resolved last week, and neither is this a decisive week. They are all important matches, but things are only just starting.”

Having said that his team selection will be based entirely on what he thinks he needs to do against this particular opponent, he continued by observing that “Osasuna have improved in recent games. They have a strong spirit and you always need games like their last one to get back on track. They’re a team that’ll come out to get us and stop the ball from coming out.”

Adriano on form

With Jordi Alba side-lined at least until the next international break, Adriano Correia will continue to play an essential role in the team. “The new Jordi Alba injury was bad luck” says Martino. “Adriano is doing a good job and has had 15 days of rest, so he is in great condition to deal with the number of matches we have ahead. And if we do need to make changes, we have enough options to be able to do that.”
 

FCBarca

Mike the Knife
Alba's injury and Adriano's history must make Tata nervous...Wouldn't be too comfortable with Montoya, who has barely played, to fill in at LB in a tough stretch of matches
 

Xtroverto

Member
Alba's injury and Adriano's history must make Tata nervous...Wouldn't be too comfortable with Montoya, who has barely played, to fill in at LB in a tough stretch of matches

Puyol is alway an option on the left back, he has played fairly well there the few times he has been asigned that position.
 

Cule4life

The Culest
Why is Barca allergic to CBs? Whats wrong in making Pique fight for his place? Oh no he's catalan and untouchable

Get Balanta/Dede in January and make Pique work for his place and have cover in case Puyol is injured again
 

Catorce

Cruijff's Heir
Why is Barca allergic to CBs? Whats wrong in making Pique fight for his place? Oh no he's catalan and untouchable

Get Balanta/Dede in January and make Pique work for his place and have cover in case Puyol is injured again

In that case please sell Song immediately and make Mascherano backup for Biscuits.
 
cule4life i don't have the source with me but the rumour clearly is that no one will be signed IF Puyol doesn't get injured.

And I agree with selling Song once we get a cb. Mascherano can be Busquets' back-up, and since Busi plays most games he will very often remain an option for cb as well. We should get a good price for him too, 15-22 mil I would say
 

oz187

New member
Mascherano is a CB. He has rarely played DM for us. Song has played well at DM pretty much every time he's started. He should not be sold.
 

Icarium

Lifestealer
If we buy a good CB we should sell Masch not song, masch has never played in DM for barca. I know he is playing well now but he can be a bad player sometimes, song has delivered whenever he is called upon. He is a great passer and tall. I hope tata gives him some chances to prove himself, he is really a good player and has never really lived up to his potential. Once he adjusts to barca style i am sure we will see the best version of song just like alexis.

I also don't want to sell masch also he is best backup barca have right now. If barca should sell either of them then they should try masch in DM and then take a decision.
 
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Aryagorn

Improvin' Perfection!!
We could offload Masch if it were an established CB that we bought... But I am not sure if the board would do that in January. They would probably sign Balanta IF we are lucky. I know Balanta is an exciting prospect but it would be hazardous to offload Masch keeping all our hopes on a youngster, abeit an exciting one!
 

oz187

New member
Masch has been our best defender this season, he should not be sold. Either you sell Pique for underperforming, Bartra if he doesn't progress enough or you wait for Puyol to retire. To be honest, it seems with Barta progressing a fair bit already and Puyol taking lots of time to get his fitness back the emergency need for a centreback is gone. The club should not be buying players for the sake of it and look for someone of proven quality or maybe a highly rated youngster could be brought in I guess.
 

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