gdp's Comments

totalBarca : Sánchez to recover in Chile

Sat, 1 Oct 2011 04:42:47 +0000

Indeed. I can't wait to see him firing on all cylinders on our wing. It would be great if he and Pedro could tie for third highest goal scorers of each season (behind Messi and Villa), for many, many historic seasons to come. All the best from our frontline MVPs (Mess, Villa, Pedro and Sanchez)

totalBarca : The Highlights: FC BATE Borisov 0-5 FC Barcelona

Sat, 1 Oct 2011 04:38:57 +0000

See TB post: http://www.totalbarca.com/2011/news/sanchez-to-re... "... hopes to have Alexis recovered in time for the next World Cup qualifier date in November. This may be too optimistic, though, considering he would probably have just starting to play again for Barça..."

totalBarca : The Ratings: FC BATE Borisov 0-5 FC Barcelona

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 22:04:15 +0000

I pretty much agree. Ratings seem fairly over-inflated. Considering the quality of the opposition, our players weren't especially high achieving. Seemed to me they were (according to their highest standards) just fairly average against BATE. The energy level and intensity was quite muted; of course, it really didn't need to be anything but.

totalBarca : The Barça jersey's true weight

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 00:25:40 +0000

Poorly designed shirt - no doubt about it. Rather ridiculous that our players had to endure it through a dozen games before its problematic quality was taken seriously. We should have the best shirt in the world, regardless of its environmental impact. Regarding environmental problems, keep things in perspective... it ain't football players shirts which are causing climate change.

totalBarca : Villa: "I try to always help the team"

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 00:14:58 +0000

Villa seems to be a really nice guy. He doesn't look happy all the time, but he deserves to be. I hope he finds it (happiness) both on and off the pitch. I haven't heard him make excuses for his goal droughts, and you'd think he has a legitimate one in the fact he's playing a new position (winger) on a (last year) new team. But instead he just hung in there and contributed effort, effort, effort and crucial goals at crucial times. We can't really ask to too much more than that. :D

totalBarca : Rosell, Bartomeu and Zubizarreta visit Afellay

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 00:06:14 +0000

So much potential and the poor guy hasn't really had a sustained opportunity to develop/show it yet. I think the visit from the "brass" is a good thing. Likely they told Affellay that his future is secure with the club and that he can look forward to his opportunities next season. That would be a very relieving and inspiring thing to be told, and it show the heart of the brass is not simply obsessed with the bottom line. And that's a good thing!

totalBarca : The Pictures: FC Barcelona 8-0 CA Osasuna

Sun, 18 Sep 2011 21:49:25 +0000

I'm sure many of us were hoping the same thing (Madrid lose, Ronaldo no score) and our hopes can true. Great weekend for Barca! B)

totalBarca : The Ratings: FC Barcelona 2-2- AC Milan

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 16:43:41 +0000

"Abidal - 6.5 ... until the last minute of added time, where he naively conceded a corner that resulted in ... tying goal." This reminds me of our clearing. We seem to create (willingly take on?) situations in which one bad pass (or mistake of some sort) results in the opposition getting a scoring opportunity (or worse, a goal). Maybe its not the Barca way to give the ball a big kick into midfield, but sometimes that appears to me to be far preferable to risking an extra pass or dribble deep in our end. I recall Pique giving a big clearing kick a few games back and I sighed a big sigh of relief. It didn't make me feel less of Barca, or that we had suddenly reverted to English play style. It simply made sense. I much preferred the immediate feeling a safety that such a clearing kick brought. Whereas I'm getting way too stressed in how long it sometimes takes our defenders to get the ball our of our end. Why the risky play? Hasn't it cost us enough. Surely Abidal could kick the ball to touch (or midfield) a bit more often. Had he done so in this game there would have been no corner kick. It might be ugly, but I'd take effective and ugly over conceding a preventable goal anytime.

totalBarca : Post-match Review: FC Barcelona 2- 2 AC Milan

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 16:07:02 +0000

I feel similar to nagra.

totalBarca : Happy 2nd Birthday, totalBarça!

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 15:50:33 +0000

Cheers barcacanada. Glad to find there's more to Albertans that tar sands obsession ;) Seriously! respect from the boonies of eastern Ontario.

totalBarca : totalBarça Anniversary Special: Xavi's Other Passion

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 15:47:40 +0000

Mushroom forager - very cool! Kudos to Xavi on that. Here's hoping younger fans emulate him on that

totalBarca : Puyol: "If we continue to work, the results will arrive"

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 15:42:27 +0000

Puyol says we're not so good off dead ball plays - such as the start of the game? or defensive corners? Well, against Milan, yeah... twice. But seriously, that goal at the start of the game was kind of flukey. It was a defensive mistake, likely because the defenders weren't zoned in immediately, however it was the 5th fastest goal in CL history, and really isn't indicative of our overall (lack of CL quality?) defensive capacity. It really was kind of a fluke. Caught us sleeping, yeah, kind of. The corner kick tying header, now that is a concern. Even game commentators note our corner kick (both offensive and defensive) weaknesses. We do lack a big guy whose head can consistently reach up to the ball.

totalBarca : totalBarça Anniversary Special: Meet the tB gang!

Thu, 8 Sep 2011 15:48:01 +0000

Yes, good idea to introduce the great people who run this blog. I like the inclusion of pictures, and the manners of "ladies first". This blog's writers and producers certainly deserve the recognition, and I'm certainly another of TB's readers who is interested in this bit of background and humanization. Thanks!

totalBarca : totalBarça Anniversary Special: Meet the tB gang!

Thu, 8 Sep 2011 15:43:07 +0000

Looks like Pedro - true. If I was shown the picture, and asked what player it was, I'd certainly say Pedro. However, because I knew it was a picture of Hady19, I didn't come up with the resemblance until it was pointed out by scout. Also, congratulations on your membership with the Total Barca team. It is great to see your contributions and hard work and dedication at such a young age. Such qualities will do you well in life. As well, you say you learned the language and culture of Catalunya (or Spain?) as a result of your interest in Barca team and being impressed by your father's stories of his years living there. I find your motivation to learn, and your achievement of learning, amazing. Congratulations!!!

totalBarca : Mourinho's antics inspire a firestorm of criticism

Sun, 21 Aug 2011 12:55:09 +0000

What bothers me, and worries me, much more that Mou's disgusting behaviour, is the fact that so many of Madrid's players are willing to play like thugs against Barca. THAT (Madrid's thug-like attacks) is what's ruining, if not Spanish football, then surely the El Clasico magic. Our great players should not have to risk injury in the form of deliberate assaults whenever they begin to win a match against Madrid. Offering up violence and intimidation as a form of football tactic is entirely unacceptable. The literally pummeled Messi throughout the match - kicking, elbowing - in a manner that is likely to cause serious injury eventually. If the Spanish League is not willing to take a principled stand against Madrid's unacceptable play, then somehow Barca needs to make a very strong statement of outrage. In fact, I wish we could boycott playing against Madrid so long as their thug-tactics remain. For me, it takes the joy out of the game, and it even ruined my ability to enjoy the Super Cup victory because I was so appalled by what I'd witnessed. Incident after incident will eventually lead to serious injury. Why should we have to suffer serious injury before responsible authorities step in with sanctions that finally bring this crap to an end?

totalBarca : Barça to travel to Madrid on Saturday

Sat, 13 Aug 2011 20:35:46 +0000

It is absolutely awful to use the term rape for a team's performance in a sporting match. It is equally as wrong as the racism that most appear to be against, but it isn't challenged the way racism is. Sad to see acceptance of using language in a manner which reflects, and perpetuates, a culture of violence, in particular, the physical domination of women.

totalBarca : The Highlights: Audi Cup Finals: Bayern Munich 0-2 FC Barcelona

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 13:37:27 +0000

Indeed. Next is ManU on Saturday is USA. And ManU is coming off 4 solid performances in the States already. I wish we were able to warm up on Club America and Guadalajara prior to the Red Devils, however the schedule says otherwise. Hoping this Challenge turns out to be good preparation for the Super Cup.

totalBarca : FC Barcelona & UNICEF fund early HIV diagnosis laboratory in Swaziland

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 13:10:02 +0000

True, true, true! It is good to keep "things" in proper perspective from time to time. And at this time, I believe 10 more sample testing labs would make a much better contribution than one Fabregas. I'm impressed to see Barca involved in projects such a HIV testing in Africa.

totalBarca : Transfer Madness: Did we really just sell Bojan Krkic?

Tue, 26 Jul 2011 12:03:32 +0000

Too bad Cesc didn't go to Arsenal under the same terms Bojan has gone to Roma.

totalBarca : Picture of the Day: Alexis arrives in Barcelona

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 02:13:32 +0000

The fact that he is so genuinely happy when standing in front of the silver barca crest makes me feel he's truely grateful and appreciative of this wonderful opportunity before him. He looks to me like he'll give his very best to make the very best of the situation. He does not look at all arrogant... and that's a very good thing. I think he's going to enjoy being a member of the team, and play for the team, rather than his own glory. For some reason, I feel better about this acquisition from seeing Alexis' expressions upon arriving at FCB.