tBtorontofan says:

yes the machete!!
he definitely will be playing on wednesday

to be honest with you, I think he will be starting left back instead of puyol as he will have more speed than puyol as puyol is just returning from injury.

but wow, all 3 of our left backs injured……that is astonishing.

Write_theFuture says:

Oh yeah, and it looks like Mascherano is starting at LB. This is reassuring, because I frankly cannot see him being dominated, even by Ronaldo or Di Maria. Or, maybe we will have a different system, with three centerbacks, and play like this:

Pedro———-Villa————Alves
————————Messi———-
————-Iniesta——————–
——Busquets——Xavi————-
——————————————-
Puyol——Mascherano—Pique-
——————————————
—————Valdes—————–

Pedro and Alves would play wide but also cut in at times, Xavi and Busi would dominate the midfield and spray passes around the pitch Iniesta and Messi would roam around the midfield and pop up unexpectedly, and Villa would return to his role as a central striker, since he has been disappointing on the LW recently. We need Villa in the middle, for more goals. Then we would have a backline of Puyol, Pique and Mascherano (how can that line be penetrated?) with Busquets for extra assurance, giving alves extra freedom to go forward. Pique and Masche may also go forward at times too.

Can't wait for Wednesday!

bojan aka B9 says:

imagine a CB partnership of him and abidal damn that would be amazing, the two beasts a death trap for any striker. he as really proved a worthy buy great job mascherano

Just_a_fan says:

FCB's new superman, lol
Machete http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0985694/
What a beast !!
he impressed me with every single interception, he can read the game perfect even better than Ya Ya(we miss you Toure)

Just_a_fan says:

FCB's new superman, lol
Machete http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0985694/
What a beast !!
he impressed me with every single interception, he can read the game perfect even better than Ya Ya(we miss you Toure)

Just_a_fan says:

FCB's new superman, lol
Machete http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0985694/
What a beast !!
he impressed me with every single interception, he can read the game perfect even better than Ya Ya(we miss you Toure)

greyfox7 says:

I like that formation. I would add though for subs put iniesta up front and afellay in his place in midfield. Take out Busquets and put on Keita. Then Fontas in for Puyol only if the score is good and rest him.

Just_a_fan says:

… and Villa scored !!
Dear David, you must remind everyone in madrid that Who's top scorer in spain's history, you gave them so much joy in the WC it's time for some PAIN !

Hexacampeon says:

i can´t watch the vid!

Anonymous_69 says:

I was looking forward to see him form a double pivot with Busquets on Wednesday, but it looks like he will be needed at LB. Abidal was our defender of the season by far before his tumor, stopping any attacker that came near him. Masch now is doing a terrific job, and even though he is a midfielder, he also has been our best defender recently. An Alves-Puyol-Pique-Masch defense is about as close as we can get to the Alves-Puyol-Pique-Abidal defense. Man, I would have liked to watch the best Masch and the best Abidal playing together, the other team would never get a shot!

BARCA11 says:

WOW! Masch is showing what he did at Liverpool! Possibly better! We should proud to have a player like him in our squad, then again we are Barca lool hope he plays on wednesday!
VISCA EL BARCA! My personal X11 against Madrid:
………………….Valdes………………..
Alves Pique Mascherano Puyol
…..Xavi……..Busquets…..Iniesta
…MESSI………VILLA…………Pedro

guestcule says:

he is doing so well. the year of mascherano! what a BEAST!

@baonerges says:

if we pair mascherano and messi on the left whoever madrid's playing on that wing will be effectively pinned back.

between that threat and the threat of alves, i feel it'd be a good way to nullify counter-attacks from the flanks, and if busi can stifle ozil, we'll have a pretty good balance on the field.

Mony says:

Loving how the fans cheered him for his play.

Loving that the fans have warmed up to him now.

hector says:

I know the injury problems are alarming, but I feel that as long as we have Xavi-Iniesta-Messi Barcelona is going to win. In 2009, Barcelona defeated Man United with Alves TOURE – Pique – SYVINHO and we completely dominated the final. Mascherano is far more capable than a 35-year sylvinho and Puyol at his natural position, and then if Puyol and cannot make it Busquets could drop back to CB and playing Keita at DM… or Xavi at DM plus Iniesta and Thiago/Affelay?

Point is, even without Puyol we have suitable options and depth and we will be favored as long as the core of our team, xavi iniesta messi alves is healthy.

Visca Barca

ramiz says:

very well said. we did great last transfer window. Although pep has mad a lot mistakes in transfer window, people tend to forget this is his only THiRD season as a coach at this level. but pep is used to this by know. he was under appreciated when he was a player and now he is under appreciated as a coach. He is simply barcelona's legend.

Pedrito17 says:

Machete!the next Balon d'Or winner!

HieiFCB says:

3:35 – Gonna bring you down, LOL…
Masche brought the player down and it just goes with the music, nice job Allas

Gladys says:

So lovin' Masch, not just for his amazing tackles, but for his mature, captain-like spirit– working so hard even when others maybe seemed a little tired and lackluster. Pep knew what he was doing in the fall. And Allas, great choice of music– The Killers are one of my favorite bands (and the perfect Barca soundtrack).

CLONED_WARRIOR says:

haha masch in this pic "there goes my life!"

messicarril says:

I think machete and/or Puyol should be on the side of cristiana cause he is good at just running (no skill, no talent) and they are the only ones who ca stop him.
Mascherano did a heck of a improvement from the beginning of the season: he wasnt always good, but now he is superman!