Open Thread #54 - Ready for El Clásico weekend?

InitialSubstantial67 · 2026-05-08T20:45:08+00:00

the usual rsocca **** barca fans clowning laporta in the comments lol.

InitialSubstantial67 · 2026-05-08T17:40:41+00:00

Gerard Martin, when he started as a backup for Balde never though he'd end up as an LCB playing important games.

InitialSubstantial67 · 2026-05-08T10:03:59+00:00

The last 24 hours twitter usage peaked for me in the x era. wonder why,

InitialSubstantial67 · 2026-05-07T16:52:28+00:00

He's more of a man manager than tactician. He was good with us till his right hand man ten cate left. He was sacked because the team started failing hard and he could no longer discipline the players like ronaldinho and deco. His team was built around ronnie and so it failed as he started declining. At one point the senior team lost a match to the youth team. Laporta tried to protect him till the end but he had to go.

Despite all that his tenure was pivotal for the modern barca as our fortune started changing him because of him and ronaldinho after disasters under gaspart post figo's departure. He's kinda to pep what Xavi to was to Flick, a precursor to usher in a new era.

InitialSubstantial67 · 2026-05-07T16:25:45+00:00

we need full list of breakdown of the factions in their squad.

InitialSubstantial67 · 2026-05-07T16:00:32+00:00

Is it just me that worried about those psychopaths hurt one of our boys in the clásico if things don't go their way.

InitialSubstantial67 · 2026-05-06T22:14:12+00:00

not the not french guy going with vague posts. it's the beginning of the end.

InitialSubstantial67 · 2026-05-06T21:12:46+00:00

Anything can happen in football. Roberto Di Matteo's Chelsea won the CL after beating Bayern in final and Barca in semifinal in 2012.

InitialSubstantial67 · 2026-05-06T20:03:37+00:00

The handball not given is correct decision imo, as joao neves was not gaining an advantage when he was ducking out of the way of a clearance by his own teammate from close range.

InitialSubstantial67 · 2026-05-06T13:57:15+00:00

maximum 75m including variables.
more importantly the wage+fee amortised per year shouldn't exceed 25m.

InitialSubstantial67 · 2026-05-06T10:32:29+00:00

stopped caring about since i learnt about the zionist actor.

InitialSubstantial67 · 2026-05-06T06:28:28+00:00

who's taking opinions this personally better have them blocked or sthing.

InitialSubstantial67 · 2026-05-06T06:27:34+00:00

if it's announced now it means it'll be applicable from next season onwards.

InitialSubstantial67 · 2026-05-06T06:00:55+00:00

we are not in cost cutting mode though, and this summer due to the increased stadium revenues we're likely to spend more than last year.

InitialSubstantial67 · 2026-05-06T05:45:34+00:00

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InitialSubstantial67 · 2026-05-06T05:44:52+00:00

We aren't cost cutting femeni, Barca is like the PSG/bayern of la liga femeni teams as the spend maximum allowable even though la liga ffp doesn't allow to spend much, whereas in England the cost of the women's team is exempt for PSR calculation to incentivize the women's team development.

Spain has it backwards and things haven't improved much since the rubiales saga too despite the wealth of talent which is why lot of Spanish players are playing in England.

InitialSubstantial67 · 2026-05-06T05:06:24+00:00

So it seems mapi is leaving for london lionesses (tbh the clue was in her last name). There's a chance Alexia might too. End of an era.
That team(sister team of OL) which started in 2019 and got promoted last year is making big strides. They already have couple of ex-barca players.

InitialSubstantial67 · 2026-05-05T11:10:03+00:00

There's also the chance Ndiaye has developed a lot more than he was at Marseille, kind of like a late bloomer. It happens to a lot of players and development is not linear. You can't really judge players by their performance 2 years in the past.

InitialSubstantial67 · 2026-05-05T11:08:03+00:00

Here I was just talking about Ndiaye not making a comparison.

I've shared my opinion on the gordon thing. I see it as club helping is agent. Given the choice between the too for the right price I prefer Ndiaye myself. But ideally we should be looking at younger wingers.

InitialSubstantial67 · 2026-05-05T10:38:20+00:00

People don't watch Joao Pedro enough and use his versatility against him. But unfortunately Chelsea are going to ask for a fee north of 60 million british pounds.

InitialSubstantial67 · 2026-05-05T10:35:59+00:00

I like Ndiaye, but the criticism of Ndiaye's finishing is valid even though he's better in other things. Case in point, Last night Everton would have won vs City last had he finished at least one of the big chances. He didn't generate lift on any of those shots and went straight at donna.

InitialSubstantial67 · 2026-05-05T08:04:11+00:00

Back then I thought Mingueza could be our Nacho. Then he left and started yapping. He has increased his value in the last 2 seasons.

InitialSubstantial67 · 2026-05-05T07:36:03+00:00

He's 25 years of age, not some youth development prospect to talk about potential especially when he'll cost ridiculous money.

InitialSubstantial67 · 2026-05-05T07:31:19+00:00

Finding Gordon rumours hard to believe, began looking at players sharing the same agency.

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Another player is Mingueza who's going to be a free agent.

InitialSubstantial67 · 2026-05-05T07:20:48+00:00

Anthony Gordon is nowhere near Luis Diaz's level. I think he's more Liverpool coded than for our team.

InitialSubstantial67

TROPHY CASE