gdp's Comments

totalBarca : Training for the Clásico

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 18:50:55 +0000

Good to see them stretching their hamstrings :)

totalBarca : Picture of the Day: Bow to the king!

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 21:20:04 +0000

On a relative basis maybe DiveMaria is worse now, but on an absolute basis, he still spends plenty of time hitting the deck,when better is defined as going from worse to bad it's no reason for reward.

Sent from my iPad

totalBarca : Picture of the Day: Bow to the king!

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 11:14:28 +0000

The guy should really try to stay on his feet and quit getting caught in these embarrasing photos - maybe it will shame him into staying off the ground every minute or so

totalBarca : Caption this: B-boy Sergio and Iniesta

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 21:14:18 +0000

Busi: Hey Andres, I was just trying to do that move you do when you flick the ball over the defender... yeah, I think I almost have it...no wait

totalBarca : Caption This: Coentrao, Pepe and Alexis

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 00:08:52 +0000

To the music, Alexis: Fame!, fame, I'm gonna live forever, Pepe, Coentrao(backing vocals): I'm gonna learn how to fly, high...

totalBarca : Guardiola: "After everything we have done, everything seems little"

Sun, 4 Dec 2011 19:04:33 +0000

We discussed in my household this morning and came to a very similar selection - our only remaining challenge was that we wanted to see Mascherano, but where? DM, or CB....Tough choices. Don't envy Pep.

totalBarca : Man of the Match: FC Barcelona 4-0 Rayo Vallecano

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 05:00:55 +0000

Sanchez, Masch, Iniesta in that order

totalBarca : Quote of the Day: Dani Alves

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 14:50:57 +0000

Interesting quote, would love to have been a fly on the wall in that discussion. Would really like to know what he said. Maybe, re-fasten your seat-belts, here we go.

totalBarca : Man of the Match: FC Barcelona 0-0 Sevilla FC

Sun, 23 Oct 2011 03:44:22 +0000

Ok, c'mon. It is Iniesta I know as soon as it isn't Messi we freak out here and start adding the other team to the list, but Iniesta has been MOTM the last two matches.

totalBarca : The Goals: FC Barcelona 3-2 Real Madrid

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 03:20:44 +0000

Me too - it is downright Mythological what we're watching.

totalBarca : Stat of the day: Can the Copa America redeem itself?

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 12:43:46 +0000

The other thing I have been thinking is how much futbol can you play non-stop, absolutely continuously without losing some motivation in some competitions. Really, these guys are not getting a break - coming off a world cup summer last year into a demanding season in multiple competitions (for some of them) and then right back into a summer of tournaments - the schedules are grueling and daunting. This looks like a vacation practice tournament, where some want to win and play for country and others are trying to get through it while trying to recoup for other priorities - you would have to prioritize your challenges and decide where you are willing and able to give your all. I know they are professionals, but in sport, there is a need for ebb and flow of exertion and recovery. Couple that with the amount of individualistic, look at me, kind of efforts that come out of some National squads and you get - humdrum futbol. This seems to me to be tarnished by fatigue and individualism... not by our guys (except maybe some of the fatigue aspect), but by their teammates.

totalBarca : Caption This: Mascherano and Milito

Fri, 8 Jul 2011 03:35:10 +0000

Masch: No, no, no... I didn't say Simon says

totalBarca : Arsenal reject £27m bid for Cesc

Sun, 26 Jun 2011 15:38:04 +0000

Here are my reasons, which I'm sure you won't agree with, but I am convinced from this discussion that there is much more chance of me be swayed to an alternate point of view than you - so this will be the last I'll say on the matter, and catch you later on another thread.

I believe we have a short to mid term depth problem even in midfield, not in numbers, as seems to often be thrown up \"look at the all\", but with who these players are, and the need to carry the weight of the club. I believe he has that leadership capability, demonstrated across his career, and specifically with even more potential for this given the context of the club, sorry can't separate that.�
I suspect Xavi's mileage is wearing and he will not be able to compete regularly across all competitions beyond this year (if this year; see both Xavi and Puyol last year, these guys are getting worn out)� Thiago is 2-3 years away from fully baked in my opinion, he can't carry the first team yet.
We are competing in multiple competitions, our players are supporting international duty with the Euro qualifiers, the club world cup again, etc.� We may be forced to prioritize which competitions we want to win without additional depth at all positions (again not numbers, type and quality)
I believe Fabregas is a highly creative midfielder, with a strong record of creating opportunities and providing assists, we need creativity against the gauntlets we're always trying to run.
I believe, my opinion, that his vision and reading of the game is better than he is able to demonstrate at Arsenal, I've watched him a lot, and believe he is extremely clever, doesn't always have the support to capitalize on this at Arsenal.
His shooting/scoring potential is often underestimated and I believe he would provide and additional scoring threat from the midfield (similar to what Iniesta possesses but is reluctant to often use - I know this is a role thing) when needed and can move forward very effectively.
It brings an opportunity for not just rotational depth given the number of competitions, but provides additional formation options against vary tactics that could provide situational alternatives as needed with more sources of shots and opportunity creation.
His training at Barca is a benefit, and by no means the only reason, but differentiates the choice for me amongst other comparable options

I agree the price being asked is too high, if passions get in the way of reason it is a mistake to pay \"Because he is ours\", I'm not in this camp at all.� If he can be had a price comparable to other similar quality targets, I'd take him - all other things more or less equal, because I believe an advantage in adapting.
For those who suggest waiting until his contract runs out, I actually believe we won't need him then because Thiago will be fully baked, and Messi may be dropping more into the midfield.� For me the question is do we have who it takes in the interim, I don't believe so.� If we can find a suitable alternative option that can assimilate quickly enough for much less money that provides high quality depth at midfield, I would take it.� I have not been convinced by the adaption of other players not brought up in this thing, that someone will adapt as quickly as needed for this mid term 2-3 year window, or that a better cheaper option has been brought forward all things considered.� I think this is the complication in this matter.� Can someone else adapt fast enough, while the next best option in the pipeline matures and have us keep winning giving the age and increasingly stretched nature of some of our cornerstones?� I think there is a gap in the pipeline in midfield, and there may be other ways to close, I haven't been convinced yet.

I suspect you'll pose better/cheaper options on some but not all of these criteria, and that's fine.
We can agree to disagree, if I decide otherwise I'll be the first to say new info changed my opinion.� This debate hasn't convinced me so far that he may not be the best choice, for now.
Cheers

totalBarca : Arsenal reject £27m bid for Cesc

Sun, 26 Jun 2011 03:41:30 +0000

If they haven't done what you suggest, and we have no way of knowing whether they have or haven't, and they are doing this for the reasons you suggest, of course it would be foolhardy, hands down, how could you not agree with that - I'd give you that all the way. I just respectfully would disagree that the club is being that narrow minded. I doubt Pep and Cruyff were discussing their swing much on the golf course. I suspect this is better thought out than that, and that the reasons may not be clear from where we sit - I have a little more faith that the desire to bring him back extends beyond he's a buddy... and all that said, they may conclude your POV is correct! - and I'd be fine with it. I have no compelling need to see him come back, but I trust that this kind of expenditure must, must, go beyond - he's a friend, and be rooted in some strategy or need. Otherwise it would be the height of irresponsibility, and there is no track record of that - failed experiments? Yes, but irresponsibility - just isn't characteristic.

totalBarca : Arsenal reject £27m bid for Cesc

Sun, 26 Jun 2011 03:28:03 +0000

It also doesn't mean he won't fit.� This is exactly why if you decided he was the man for the job you'd have to bring him back before he was needed to rinse the EPL and rekindle his roots and reorient his play.� Would it work?� I don't know - have to leave that to judgment of the team, if it's worth the gamble.� I doubt very much that he is not capable of a possession game, his control and vision are good enough for it, but the pace of play and build up in his current environment aren't conducive to it.� I get your concern with the price tag - it's valid and worth careful scrutiny. But I think we've already made it clear we won't pay any price - so, unless we go back on our own word, it doesn't seem to be that big an issue, clearly we seem focused on paying what we can afford.

totalBarca : Arsenal reject £27m bid for Cesc

Sun, 26 Jun 2011 03:24:03 +0000

Clearly, you can't take him just because he fits in the locker room, I've already agreed with that and said it - \"all other things close to equal\" (of which there are many considerations) you'd have to consider it, or be foolish not to...
Also, while you don't believe the position \"needs filling\" it looks like the management and staff of the club may believe it's time to start building out depth around some next generation leadership in the role.� I suspect they may know something or have plans and concerns that warrant the pursuit,... or all their good judgment and success must be a fluke??

totalBarca : Arsenal reject £27m bid for Cesc

Sat, 25 Jun 2011 15:36:03 +0000

His being a product of the youth system is a factor, not the only factor. It's fair to argue about how much weight it should carry, but cant be ignored. Ruling him out for that reason, and the choices he made is equally lacking in objectivity as wanting only for that reason. If it were me having to choose a player I'd look at all the factors and if the player was in my top tier of choices, AND had a history and understanding of the club philosophy and culture, I'd have to give it serious consideration all other things close to equal.

If we are to believe some quotes from former players (and read between the lines for press distortions) it's reasonable to conclude part of what makes Barca work beyond the technical brilliance of the players is \"the feeling\" in the locker room, and history and relationships play a part in being able to assimilate that. So while other players are as good or better (though his stats re: assists suggest he's clearly among the best playmakers) his background de-risks some of those issues. That level of familiarity that they have means something. Can't disregard it.

totalBarca : Arsenal reject £27m bid for Cesc

Sat, 25 Jun 2011 15:23:03 +0000

Well then we might agree more than we could know. Because some of his most recent comments being reported as authentic about his longing for London supposedly being made at an Arsenal training center press conference were pulled from a fantasy or parody interview on the Dirty Tackle blog (meanwhile he was in Indonesia at the time) Not everything is at it appears in the press. Where he ends up will tell the story, not the papers.

totalBarca : Arsenal reject £27m bid for Cesc

Sat, 25 Jun 2011 01:20:54 +0000

I can agree with waiting a year as you say. I just think it inevitable and imminent. That's absolutely fine and reasonable to wait a year, so we differ on price not principle? My prodigal son reference is a footballing not emotional one - he understands the system at an intuitive level and is tested at the highest levels of play. But I think he is the short/mid term best bet to lead the midfield, along with Iniesta. There are other top quality players as you note, but I sure looks like the pursuit is based in a belief by the staff that he can lead the team in ways the others can't. I personally would also rather see as fortify the attack in the short run. I also think that the publicly stated budget numbers are not the limits we have at our disposal for spending, that is a negotiating tactic. Nobody announces their actual budget at that level of transparency, that just doesn't make sense... With the revenues of this club, and the valuation of the team, there is more than 45M Euros available and I think this will be clear soon. Cesc left because there was at one time barely enough room for Cesc. Let's hope Thiago doesn't choose the same course, I think that would be a mistake too.

totalBarca : Arsenal reject £27m bid for Cesc

Sat, 25 Jun 2011 01:07:36 +0000

There is no way to convince someone that this is a good move if they are in the other camp, reasonable people would have to agree to disagree on this. There are other suitable subs perhaps, but I'm not thinking of it that way, I am thinking about it more from the standpoint of bringing him back and re-acclimating him to his roots to take over a key and critical role in the midfield. The Barca midfield ticks and dominates because it all Masia trained, they have a tacit understanding of how each other play you can't teach (see nearly every striker we buy). Right now it's Xavi, Iniesta, and Busquets and Messi when he drops deep, all Masia trained. It's a key to the way Barca plays. Why would the staff and leadership keep going back and revisiting trying to bring him back if there were as people say other suitable options for the mid term? (long term, we have Thiago) Apparently they are not satisfactory, or this would be a none issue. I don't think we're buying a sub. I think we're attempting to bring back a the quickest and highest probability approach to sustaining and advancing the system. I think it's a major miscalculation to view this as attempting to buy an expensive sub.