Picture of the Day: 2010 – An unforgettable year
2011-12 Home Jersey Leaked?
Yet another image surfaced recently that may be the shirt our Barca boys are wearing next season. This new design features nine red stripes on a blue background. The sleeves are a solid blue and the collar is red. In a new twist, the stripes appear to change width depending on their location on the shirt. On the wearer’s upper right, the red stripes start out thicker and get progressively thinner. The blue stripes work in the opposite fashion, starting at the widest on the lower left.
This image appears to be a prototype as it still features the UNICEF logo on the front. However, a more updated version appears on the cover of El Mundo Deportivo. More news to follow as we get it.
Friday morning training
The first team gathered on Friday morning, beginning at 11am, for their final training session of the calendar year. Eighteen first team players plus three reserves (Vázquez, Bartra and Thiago) worked in the rain at the Ciutat Esportiva.
The Front: El Mundo Deportivo (31.12.2010)
HAPPY NEW YEAR, BARÇA!
Piqué drinks a toast to a better 2011 and says: “Wembley is one of my dreams“.
Milito and Bartra, options against Levante.
Top secret: Arrives a very innovative new jersey design.
There will be football matches on January 2nd.
Basket: Barça thrashes Madrid
Best of 2010: Offside and more
After examining the best events that took place on the pitch this calendar year, we’ve decided to explore our favourite moments off the pitch. What offside moment captured the attention of our writers and editors? What do we consider to be the craziest transfer rumours that have arisen this year? We’ll also briefly turn to the dark side with our lowest moments of 2010, but never fear, we’ll move away quickly back to the lighter side of things! Visca el Barça!
Thursday training, part 2
In preparation for Sunday’s match against Levante, and also to get all the players back to match fitness after their week off, Guardiola held two training sessions on Thursday. The later session, held in the afternoon at 18:00, proved to be much like the training held in the morning.
The coaching staff worked with 18 first team players as well as Thiago, Miño and Bartra from the reserves. Newcomer Ibrahim Afellay, who trained for the first time with the team on Wednesday, already appears to be a fully integrated member of the team, adding to the positive atmosphere and garnering the smiles of the other members of the group.
English clubs eyeing loan bid for Oriol Romeu
Spanish radio station Com Radio claims that several English Premier League clubs, including Newcastle, Everton and Blackburn, would be interested in signing Barcelona B midfielder and Spanish youth international Oriol Romeu (19) on loan. Continue reading »
Thursday training; Milito and Jeffren cleared to play
The team held their first of two Thursday training sessions this morning at 11:00 at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper, their second day of training following a week off for the holidays. Three reserves – Miño, Bartra and Thiago - joined the session which was buoyed by the news of both Jeffren and Milito receiving their medical clearance to play.
Cartoon of the Day: Sport
Rosell: My wish for the New Year is just that Barça wins Cup, Liga and Champions.
Florentino: I just wish that Barça doesn’t win Cup, Liga nor Champions.
The Front: El Mundo Deportivo (30.12.2010)
HELLO, AFELLAY!
Ibi trained yesterday for the first time and run alongside the rest of the team in Ciutat Esportiva.
Pep welcomed him. He proved to have Barça’s DNA when they played to pass the ball.
Puyol, KO.
Krkic: “My best is yet to come“
La Masia proves to be better than the “white factory”.
The Front: Sport (30.12.2010)
CLOSED DUE TO STRIKE?
The Audiencia Nacional announces today whether if there will be football on January 2nd or not.
AFE and FLP have not reached an agreement. Any solution was found during yesterday’s conciliation meeting, so it will be the law who decides.
La Liga’s ending matches could be delayed three weeks.
Barça keeps its planning. Bojan stated that “all the football players support the AFE” and asked to play on January 3rd.
Afellay already knows his team mates.
Puyol ten days KO due to injury.
Team returns to training without Puyol and Messi
Barça trained on Wednesday, which was the team’s first session after a week of Christmas holidays. The session was marked by the absence of Carles Puyol, who will be out seven to ten days with an injury. Messi was also missing, having been given a few extra days of vacation by Pep Guardiola.
Bojan: “My best is yet to come”
Before the first training session after the holidays, FC Barcelona striker Bojan Krkic (20) held a press conference in which the forward discussed a number of topics. One such subject was his part as the grand protagonist of Catalunya’s 4-0 win over Honduras on Tuesday, which led Bojan to note that he needs ”trust and tranquility” to play his best football.
Video of the Day: Pep Noel
Pep Guardiola is like Santa Claus, he gives us many presents. He not only gave us six titles in his first season and the best football team in the world. In 2010, thanks to his “generosity”, we could enjoy the Liga championship and a Supercopa. Guardiola gives titles but also opportunities to the cantera. Pep is very generous to supporters as he gave us the best football ever, and a triumphant Barca. One of his best gift this year was the historic “manita” against Real Madrid, 3 other “manitas” and an 8-0 victory against Almeria. He always has kind words for his rivals and former players, even when they criticize our Mister. Gifts for everyone and a special gift for Messi this year: some extra free days to spend with family. Pep Noel, Papa Guardiola the most generous man in the football world.
GIVEAWAY CONTEST: CP5 Sport Watch
Want to wear the watch seen all over Spain? totalBarça is excited to bring you our very first GIVEAWAY CONTEST! The great team over at CP5 has been awesome enough to donate a CP5 Sport (from the official Carles Puyol watch line) watch for us to give to YOU, our fantastic readers!
We want to see you get creative with our captain – Carles Puyol’s number, 5. Look for the number 5 in your everyday life (street signs, money, etc.) take a picture of you with it and submit it in to enter the giveaway.
Contest details and rules after the jump!
Cartoon of the Day: Sport
Cristiano Ronaldo: Asking for health, money and love to the New Year is not for me…I always ask for the same: (tough) abdominal muscles, money and a giant mirror to look at myself during 24 hours a day.
The Front: El Mundo Deportivo (29.12.2010)
SUPER BOJAN
Krkic lead the festival of La Selecció with two goals and two assists to Sergio García and Coro.
28.150 spectators vibrated with emotion in Monjuïc with Catalunya’s football exhibition.
Catalunya 4 – 0 Honduras
Cesc, the number 4.
The Front: Sport (29.12.2010)
INIESTA, MAN OF THE YEAR
2010 has been his year; he is one of the best players of the world.
About to get the Ballon d’Or. His goal in the World Cup’s final has made him the favourite to win this award.
Catalunya 4 – 0 Honduras. Bojan leads the big beating by Catalunya. The blaugrana striker scored two goals and assisted the other two.
Barça starts to train again today.
Cesc threatens: “We are now a great team.”
We’ve got mail: Penya-Barca Dallas
It’s always so great to hear the formations and successes of Penyas. Here is a nice message we received a while back from one in Texas!
If you and/or your Penya want to be mentioned in future ‘”We’ve got mail” features, just give us a holler at web[at]totalbarca.com.
Best of 2010: Performances
After exploring the best goals and goal celebrations, now it’s time to turn to the best performances of 2010. What was the best team performance, the best showing by an individual, and who does the totalBarça team consider the most improved player? Find out below, and have your say by voting in the poll and voicing your thoughts in the comments.
Highlights: Catalunya 4-0 Honduras
In Tuesday’s 4-0 victory for Johan Cruyff’s Catalan team against Honduras, FC Barcelona striker Bojan Krkic (20) had a hand in all the goals, assisting the first two then scoring twice.
Cruyff’s Corner: The team that’s worth millions
The following is a translation of Johan Cruyff’s weekly article in El Periodico. The original can be found here.
Johan Cruyff’s key points.
With the current state of their game and the results that Barca enjoys, the board has alternatives to the idea of selling the shirt
I always write my articles from my reflections. This past year a lot of things have happened in Barca. Of these, three times, three decisions, which are above all else. One, the election of the new president; two, to bring to justice the former [president] for economic reasons; and three, sell the shirt. I respect the majority decision of the socis to elect the new head of the club. But if for nothing else, I just want to talk about the other two points.
Live: Catalunya vs. Honduras
Catalunya vs. Honduras
December 28, 2010 @ 19:00 CET - Convert to your local time
Venue: Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, Barcelona (Capacity: 55,926)
Barça players: Valdes, Puyol, Bartra, Fontas, Busquets, and Bojan
FC Barcelona Chat: http://apps.facebook.com/fcbarcelonachat/ (direct chat through Facebook)
Direct link: http://fcbarcelona.hopto.org
Click here to chat!
Links can be found after the jump!
News Round Up, December 28th* – Ibra to Madrid and more
With the holiday break, news from the Spanish sources has been scarce. So totalBarça brings you a round up of several stories for Tuesday, December 28th.
Pique out of Catalunya squad with injury
As Catalan paper Sport reports, FC Barcelona Gerard Pique will not play as part of Johan Cruyff’s Catalunya team when they face Honduras on Wednesday. Pique has been dropped at the last minute, owing to an injury.
Cartoon of the Day: Sport
Make the iMOUcentada*
Cut it out and glue it to some merengue friend.
(on the paper doll: “Come outside the bench, Mourinho!”**)
*Today, December 28th, is the “Santos Inocentes” Day in Spain. It’s just like April Fool, so the tradition is to make any kind of jokes, but the most traditional joke is to glue a paper doll like the one in the picture (without the big hand, though) in someone’s back.
* “Inocentada” is like “April Fool’s joke”
** This is what Camp Nou chanted at the end of “el Clásico”, when Barça was already winning by 5 – 0 and Mourinho was sat down in the bench.
The Front: El Mundo Deportivo (28.12.2010)
PEP, OK
His contract renewal is agreed and Barça just have to wait for Guardiola to sign when he thinks it’s best.
The agreement follows the annual formula wished by Guardiola: 1+1+1.
Sergio Busquets 2015, about to be signed.
The socios give Rosell a 7 (out of 10), want to sign Cesc and there’s some disagreement about Alves.
Arsenal 3 – 1 Chelsea. Festival by Cesc’s Arsenal.
The Front: Sport (28.12.2010)
COMING BACK TO SCHOOL
Villa travels through his childhood alongside Sport.
Holidays in Tuilla. Villa doesn’t forget Barça even being on holidays. “We’re hungry and we want to win all of the titles“
Matches played on January 2nd are in danger! AFE demands the suspension of all the matches played on this day, included the Barça-Levante one.
Friendly with three champions. Catalunya – Honduras (18h)
Afellay: “I’m crazy about playing alonside Messi and Iniesta.“
