The Barcelona v Real Madrid thread

[Arn]

I just wanna add my 2 cents on why these 2 clubs are the richest in the world. Ticket prices for this match ranges between 60 Euros to 325 Euros & that's face value! Hospitality starts @ 885 Euros all the way to 1,762 Euros!!
And we thought the likes of Chelski were charging a lot.
The reason I know this is because I'm going tomorrow night - it's DEFINITELY a one off for me!!

The individual TV deals is the big reason. They earn something like double to what the top clubs in the PL get from the deals.

[cream]

Would be curious to see if Mourinho could win a league title with a team that weren't expected to win it, or any team they that would've won it regardless of him being there or not.

[Arn]

Iniesta injured and won't play against Real.

[Rudo]

Iniesta injured and won't play against Real.

[Arn]

Probably means Keita, Busquets and Xavi in central midfield.

I would say that it makes Real favourites to go through.

[Rudo]

Keita's **** isn't he?

[Chazza]

A few tweets floating about that Pep has launched into Mourinho in the Press Conference

[Shaggy]

Yeah said something like "He's won trophies and I can learn things from him on the pitch. Off it, not so much"

[Darkon]

Keita's **** isn't he?

not really no, he would be a first team player in about any other team than barca.

[Arn]

Keita is a very good player but Barcelona won't be able to play their usual possession game.

Masch would be a better replacement but he will most probably play central defender.

Changes the game plan completely for Barcelona.

[cream]

Keita is a very good player but Barcelona won't be able to play their usual possession game.

Masch would be a better replacement but he will most probably play central defender.

Changes the game plan completely for Barcelona.

Don't be silly.

[Chazza]

Yeah said something like "He's won trophies and I can learn things from him on the pitch. Off it, not so much"

DickinsonTimes Matt Dickinson
"Jose is the f+++ing boss in here. I won't argue with him. I'll just see him at 8.45pm tomorrow" - guardiola
1 minute ago

[Rudo]

No chance of Mascherano coming in for Iniesta?

[certifiable]

Seems to be lots of talk in Spain of Barca being completely fatigued at this crucial stage of season.

To back it up revista la liga just showed some stats which were (from memory)


Mins on pitch for barca/madrid forward players over last 10 games (all comps)

messi 819
villa 796
iniesta 785
xavi 751

Madrid
ozil 637
alonso 606
ronaldo 563
di maria 556

Presenter mentioned that Guardiola chose to sell players at start of season
and decided he was happy to go with a squad of only 19 players for the season.
He also has chose to keep to a constant 11, even not replacing them when they've been 4 and 5 nil ahead in games, as they have few times this season.

He posed question: Is guardiola guilty of "gross mismanagement" of team.
Ballague, the guest, agreed with the assessment, and said that lately it's affecting them in 3 ways:
They're not passing the ball as quickly as earlier in season.
They're not making the same amount of off the ball runs as earlier in season.
And that the familiar barca pressing of opposition has become non existant.

I seen them in the copa del ray, and I'd agree that those 3 factors were hugely missing compared to earlier in season.

I'm a huge fan, and not only want them to hammer madrid ala last league encounter, but would love to see them issue utd a similar trouncing in the CL Final, but the above has me worried!

Could Guardiola have exhausted the squad at exactly the wrong time?
What's peoples opinions?

[Baracus]

Seems to be lots of talk in Spain of Barca being completely fatigued at this crucial stage of season.

To back it up revista la liga just showed some stats which were (from memory)


Mins on pitch for barca/madrid forward players over last 10 games (all comps)

messi 819
villa 796
iniesta 785
xavi 751

Madrid
ozil 637
alonso 606
ronaldo 563
di maria 556

Presenter mentioned that Guardiola chose to sell players at start of season
and decided he was happy to go with a squad of only 19 players for the season.
He also has chose to keep to a constant 11, even not replacing them when they've been 4 and 5 nil ahead in games, as they have few times this season.

He posed question: Is guardiola guilty of "gross mismanagement" of team.
Ballague, the guest, agreed with the assessment, and said that lately it's affecting them in 3 ways:
They're not passing the ball as quickly as earlier in season.
They're not making the same amount of off the ball runs as earlier in season.
And that the familiar barca pressing of opposition has become non existant.

I seen them in the copa del ray, and I'd agree that those 3 factors were hugely missing compared to earlier in season.

I'm a huge fan, and not only want them to hammer madrid ala last league encounter, but would love to see them issue utd a similar trouncing in the CL Final, but the above has me worried!

Could Guardiola have exhausted the squad at exactly the wrong time?
What's peoples opinions?

I said something similar a couple of months back. I was shocked that we has not resting or subbing key players when the majority of the games where won and the players where playing as if it was a stroll in the park. Its not surprising at all.

A good manager but still alot to learn in the transfer market and rotation.