Pre-season friendlies 14/15

[Flavia]

Is anybody going to watch Volerenga-Barca?

I will. Chat will be open too.

 

[Corb]

Is anybody going to watch Volerenga-Barca?

It's on TV so maybe I'll be watching.

 

[DonAndres]

Is the squad for the Voleranga game the same as the Bayern one minus Song?

 

[instinct]

Is the squad for the Voleranga game the same as the Bayern one minus Song?

I thought Song is available? At least Barcastuff/Cope said it:

Alex Song didn't train with the group yesterday evening because of some thigh muscle discomfort, but he's available for today's game. [cope]

 

[Flavia]

Is the squad for the Voleranga game the same as the Bayern one minus Song?

Yes, the same. But Song will be there too.

---

Valerenga v FC Barcelona: Second test in Oslo

www.fcbarcelona.cat
07/27/2013 10:30

On Saturday evening (19.00, TV3 & GolT) Barça play the second game of their preseason after two days of training in Oslo and with Tata Martino watching from the stands

Like in Munich, just 12 first team menbers are available, who are joined by 11 from the reserves

There will be a minute's silence before the match in memory of the victims of the Santiago train accident, and the FCB players will wear black armbands


Barça 2013/14 face their second test of the preseason on Saturday night in Oslo against Valerenga. The game kicks off at 19.00 in the Ullevaal Stadion, and is the first match after the official presentation of Gerardo Martino as the new first team manager. The Argentinian is travelling to Norway, but after making initial contact with the players, he is expected to watch the game from the stands. At his Friday press conference, where he was joined by director of sport Josep Maria Bartomeu and director of football Andoni Zubizarreta, Martino spoke about how much he is relishing the opportunity to manage such a magnificent team.

23 men in Oslo
The same 23 players are available for the game with Valerenga as appeared midweek against Bayern Munich. Only 12 of these are from the FCB first team, with the other 11 drafted in from the reserves to boost the numbers at the disposal of Jordi Roura and Rubi, who are overseeing affairs until Martino definitively joins the staff.
Barça opened their preseason schedule with 2-0 defeat at Bayern. Despite so many of the Barça team being relatively inexperienced youngsters, they managed to compete admirably well against the side that recently won the Champions League. But there is still room for improvement in terms of match fitness and sharpness up front, and the Valerenga game will be a very useful test for working on such aspects.

Training routine in Oslo
Barça arrived in Oslo on Thursday morning, and have continued with the same training schedule as before. Shortly after landing, the players made their way to the Bislett Stadion for a session behind closed doors, and there were a further two sessions on Friday. The morning’s session, at what will be the venue for Saturday’s match, was open to the public and drew a crowd of 1,500 people, while the final preparatory session before confronting Valerenga was back behind closed doors at the Bislett Stadion.

 

[Darko]

Is anybody going to watch Volerenga-Barca?

Yes!

I do not agree with selling Mascherano. He is not a CB, period; but Masche played there because the team needed it. The Argentine NT needs desperately CB's, but Mascherano never played in that position. He can get away with the lower 15 teams in la Liga and/or the first rounds of the copa or CL, but not as the competition gets tougher. Masche is too short and to slow for CB - he is a DM!!! However, he has been a lifesaver for Barca even in a limited role.

Pep has tried Sergio at the CB position, but has failed miserably. Would you also say, sell Busquets and get a CB?

Pique is too slow. With the more competitive teams, we are in trouble. I agree that we need 2 CB's and not just one. I did not watch or record the CL games against Bayern. I knew we were in trouble.

Hektor

Exactly,Mascherano is not a CB and at DM we have 2 players who are better than him,so I dont see one reason we should keep him(if we get 2 CBs)...

 

[Antimadridista1]

#11FCB: Pinto, Montoya, Bartra, Mascherano, Adriano, Song, Dos Santos, Sergi Roberto, Alexis, Tello y Messi

Let's explose them !!

 

[Elite-BkD]

How long until it starts?

 

[BarcaVillain]

45 mins

 

[ShandyFFM]

I really happy that we have a new coach imo its super important to have one and even more some new players so we can keep up the competition. Too many players feel to comforable in their positions at the moment that why there is no improvement. New players will give us more competition and a new coach although to earn a place in the first 11.

 

[CatalinR10]

 

[Hektor]

It has nothing to do with Busquets,it has to do with the fact that if we don't play him as CB which i wish about it from long time ago,there will be 2 backups for defensive midfield position.So Song or him need to go.Mascherano never actually had the qualities or the style to fit to a a barcelona midfield, he was pretty sloppy.He only played very few games as DM in 2010-2011 season before he started playing as CB...

Mascherano is playing out of position, because the team and Pep asked him to! Yet you are not recognizing it. I have no idea why we got Song instead of a CB. That was a screwed up by Vilanova or Pep. There is a commentator in Beinsports that hates Mascherano that game long criticizes Masche for his tackles and defensive play. That is all he talks during the game and he is full of it. On the other hand, Pique does the same tackle as Mascherano, in the box, and the same commentator has nothing but praise for Pique.

Mascherano is not going anywhere, because what he means to Barca in and off the field. Song, on the other hand? He will never be called for the Argentine NT, if he qualified for it.

Hektor

 

[CatalinR10]

Jordi Quintilla was the only player from the 23-man squad who didn't play today. #fcblive

 

[Stric]

How'd it go? I missed the game.

Damn, our new home shirt just look better every time I see them.

 

[ShandyFFM]

Not sure why we doing this pre season. Normal teams go to a training camp but we are going on a world tour for promotion and money. Not sure if it would be better to let this money go and do a propper preperation for the long season like Bayern and Dortmund does. No wonder those teams were fit like none other.