Hmmm. Don't forget that he is not in our first team, but our B-team. In the B-team he would probably start almost every game, same can not be said for any club he goes to. I think it would really benefit him to be playing in the Barca system so he can improve his passing game. Plus, I think Tito wants to have him play a similar role to Thiago 2 years ago, or Montoya, Tello and Cuenca last year, letting him play a couple first team games here and there whenever convenient. As long as we don't sell him with a buyback...

Ok guys, I hate to be the bad guy, but I think some of these comments are going to far... Bartra for 80mil? I know some of it is toungue in cheek, but the idea that Bartra will solve all of our problems is a little risky. I mean, we are one injury/suspension away from having no proven substitutes on the bench for CB. Pique, Puyol, Masche. Any one of the three is out, and we will have a long period of slight discomfort. Bartra is very good and I think he will be a great player, but just because he had a good game against a weak club like Rafa doesn't mean we can rely on him for extended periods of time. It is sorta weird to me how easily and quickly some fans change their minds. After the Hamburg game everyone here was saying that we wouldn't win anything without signing another defender, that Bartra was nothing special, etc. Bartra has a good game, everyone is saying that we don't need to sign anyone anymore. I PROMISE, *PROMISE* that if Bartra has ONE bad game in the next preseason game, it will be back to "OMG we are doomed, tito will win nothing, Bartra is sh*t, we need a defender!!!!!!!!!!!"

I really like Bartra and I think he is really good, but I am just saying that to have only 4 CBs, a B-team player being one of them, is slightly risky. I really don't rate Fontas tbh, he has some work to do, not to mention the fact that he has been out for 6+ months will only worsen his performance. Tito and his staff see these players everyday, so if they think that the 4 defenders is enough, fine by me, but otherwise I think it would be really worthwhile to think about one more defender, or CB/DM hybrid. I am still against Martinez, I was thinking more of a cheap option, like Botia, Romeu, or whoever else is available.

OR, *if* Abidal returns to full fitness, and is able to play for us again at a high level, then we would have 5 CBs, and would be all set again.

I bet this would have been a very different team with Thiago. You could see they were playing very fast, but it looked a little sloppy and desperate at times. Thiago would have provided the calmness and assurance, not to mention dictate the play.

This team failed today, but they do not need to worry, I can tell there is going to be a golden generation coming up for Spain. This youth team is completely overloaded with talents, like Muniain, Mata, Adrian, Isco, Martinez, Alba, Thiago, Montoya, Botia, De Gea, Dominguez to join Busquets, Cesc, Pique, and not even mentioning the players that are too young to be there right now... Spain's glory days are far from over.

Over two games I didn't see anything from Martinez to merit a 40 million euro pricetag, not even 20 million. I mean, most players in the squad played better than he did today and I bet a great deal of them would cost less than 20 million euros. I really think we should look cheaper for a DM/CB.

On the bright side, now Alba, Tello, and Montoya will come home early. I don't know whether or not they will participate in the preseason, but it would be great if they did. About the Olympics, I think Brazil are my favorite team to win now. Uruguay also look strong, but a large part of that is because of their overage players, meanwhile all of Brazil's stars are actually in the age limit. UAE have actually looked surprisingly good too.

Alba didn't play badly. When the season starts, we will see just how influential Alba will be in the attack, he will rack up goals and assists galore. Him linking up with Messi, Iniesta, Villa/Pedro/Sanchez will make mouths water and opposing defenders cry. It is a shame he can't be taller, though, but alas...

Also, I am unclear: Is Spain officially out now, or is there still a chance for them?

Wow. Now Mata knows how it felt for the Barca players, having to fight against the clock, and bullsh*t like timewasting, bus parking, diving, physicality, referee decisions, and bad luck.

I am a Barca fan before anything else, but Tello imo doesn't deserve to start. Munian is like 5x better, and on the other side there are Mata, Isco, Adrian, Herrera who are all far more technically gifted. Plus, with such brilliant fullbacks as Alba and Montoya, they do not need an out and out winger, but players that can cut inside.

Wow... I only tuned in for the last 10 minutes of the Brazil game and Neymar was incredible. Plenty of insane dribbles, and to top it all of a nice backheel assist. This guy isn't like Cristiano, he can dribble. 1 year ago I doubted his ability to play outside of the Brazillian league, but he seems to proving himself all over the place. *If*, and just *if* we are going to get him, I hope that we have already payed/agreed for him, because his price is just going to inflate even more the longer we wait.

Maybe I am wrong, but it sounds like Javi Espinosa? Pale skin, black hair, central attacking midfielder, very talented playing style compared with Modric, Silva, Ozil, etc.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbggTAaUkiQ

Wow. A hattrick for Messi, plus uncountable key passes from him too... and the scary thing is, he looked casual, even laid back today. Just imagining him when he is not returning from an injury, surrounded by better players, and actually at 100%... just scary. I wouldn't have thought it would be possible for him to top 73 goals. But then again, people said the same thing about 58 goals. And 47 goals. This is insanity. Anyway, great to see the team put a resounding answer straight down the throats of all of the pessimists who were already calling for Tito's head and announcing the end of an era, just a couple of days ago. I know that Tito and Barca will do great things this year.