It is a big test for our team. We have to beat the likes of Getafe away if we want to win this league. Moreover, missing few players is bad, but should not be decisive issue. I mean our squad depth (bar CB) is pretty good. Otherwise why in hell did we pay millions for Cesc, Alexis and Song +Masia promotions?

I think this game will show the tone of la liga in several months to come. If we win this, we are on a good way to pressure RM and make them do more mistakes in all competitions. I really want these 3 points.

Crunch game.I know its just the 4th game of the season but its a very important game.These are the sort of games that win leagues.It will be a scrappy game.I expect us to be way below our best.I will gladly take a 1-0 win.I suspect its going to be a very tough night.
I also dont get the calls to start the Lost Lamb.
Bench the Lamb and time to unleash Thiago.

Starters

1 Víctor Valdés
19 Montoya
3 Piqué
5 Puyol
21 Adriano
6 Xavi
16 Busquets
11 Thiago
37 Tello
4 Fábregas
17 Pedro
Reserves

2 Dani Alves
7 Villa
10 Messi
13 Pinto
14 Mascherano
25 Alex Song
27 Deulofeu

I like the line up considering everything.

Thiago returns...it will warm my heart to see him. Cesc as a false 9, so his poor movement and lack of midfield play wont hurt. He has all the chances to play well here now he isnt tied down by having to be something he is not.

Glad Mascherano is on the bench, I have hated his play this season. One of the worst performing players to this early point.

Dat bench.

I think everyone here still prefers Pique - Puyol when both are fit dani. Interesting to see Messi on the bench - Tito has more balls than Pep. The team played is good enough to beat Getafe, but they just turned a hard game into a harder one.

jiopsi wrote:Where does it say it has to be a purposely played back pass?

http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/affederation/generic/81/42/36/lawsofthegame_2011_12_en.pdf

"A player in an offside position is only penalised if, at the moment the ball
touches or is played by one of his team, he is, in the opinion of the referee,
involved in active play by:"

Also I think it's refs job to overrule side ref if he sees it wrong. And he had a great view.

Gaining an advantage - If the ball is played into the penalty area and he plays the ball that rebounds to him off a post, crossbar or an opposing defender, then the attacker is offside as they have gained an advantage by being in that position.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/rules_and_equipment/4993924.stm

Lots of misinformation is thrown around regarding the offside rule because fifa havent fully explained it on their website

Fine first half, everybody playing good, even Cesc Great to see Thiago back. Getafe didn't really have any dangerous attacks, and Vitienes denied Barca couple clear penalties already.

Diego Armando Maradona wrote:

jiopsi wrote:Where does it say it has to be a purposely played back pass?

http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/affederation/generic/81/42/36/lawsofthegame_2011_12_en.pdf

"A player in an offside position is only penalised if, at the moment the ball
touches or is played by one of his team, he is, in the opinion of the referee,
involved in active play by:"

Also I think it's refs job to overrule side ref if he sees it wrong. And he had a great view.

Gaining an advantage - If the ball is played into the penalty area and he plays the ball that rebounds to him off a post, crossbar or an opposing defender, then the attacker is offside as they have gained an advantage by being in that position.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/rules_and_equipment/4993924.stm

Lots of misinformation is thrown around regarding the offside rule because fifa havent fully explained it on their website

It wasn't a rebound, the defender nudged it back.

It wasnt offside because it wasnt a rebound: the getafe player tried to tackle and passed it to keita.

So far very good game for us. Impressive considering the lineup.

Thiago, what a a boss!

Just watched highlights, somebody should really teach Tello some other finishes than that open body, curl to right corner. He uses it every, single, time. lol

Next time someone says Tello is better than Alexis I'm gonna shit on that person.

free_cat wrote:It wasnt offside because it wasnt a rebound: the getafe player tried to tackle and passed it to keita.

Can you explain by what logical reason a player would "gain an advantage by being in offside position" by collecting a rebound off a defender, but not from collecting it from a defenders diverted interception? The only problem here, is that unspecific wording has left people to use their common sense, which is clearly a problem for some.....

Regardless, this has quite clearly shown the fifa document is inconclusive, and you surely must at least have some doubts about whether it was wrongly disallowed

Puyol is injured, and looks like he'll be out for a while. If it is a knee injury again, Barcelona should certainly look for a replacement already.

danyjr wrote:Next time someone says Tello is better than Alexis I'm gonna shit on that person.

They are both crap.

Great game! The referee is crap.

Diego Armando Maradona wrote:

free_cat wrote:It wasnt offside because it wasnt a rebound: the getafe player tried to tackle and passed it to keita.

Can you explain by what logical reason a player would "gain an advantage by being in offside position" by collecting a rebound off a defender, but not from collecting it from a defenders diverted interception? The only problem here, is that unspecific wording has left people to use their common sense, which is clearly a problem for some.....

Regardless, this has quite clearly shown the fifa document is inconclusive, and you surely must at least have some doubts about whether it was wrongly disallowed

I have absolutely no doubt that it wasn't an offside.
Messi loses the ball with a voluntary tackle and it goes to keita. There's no discussion.

funny that we were afraid for this game.

Tello is not crap neither far from Alexis.

What a performance, given the presumption. Vitienes was in generous mood, giving a penalty of something like 6 penalty calls.

I really do not care about the calls, that we missed so many players.... The team wanted a win and they got it. Very important 3 points.

so happy for Villa

jiopsi wrote:Just watched highlights, somebody should really teach Tello some other finishes than that open body, curl to right corner. He uses it every, single, time. lol

Heh, Tello had two great attempts in second half, both the exact same style.

Glad Villa scored, cannot wait for the MVP return, no more talks of sanchez and tello when he returns

Barcelona seem to be playing a faster, more all-out (or as fans like to call it 'direct') approach, taking more risks in the final third and fewer risks in defence as well as slightly less emphasis on possession. There were more end-to-end stuff happening this match that I had ever seen when Guardiola's Barça played. This style seems to suit players like Fàbregas more. There is also much more use of pace in the play. Players like Tello and Sánchez are pacey and they can do damage this way. With Guardiola's, the team played more like a computer, much more stationary and a more compact play (diamonds and triangles). Pacey players and Cesc didn't benefit in his system but they look to be playing their natural game now, and with more positive outcome.

Overall this can potentially be a welcome addition. Barcelona was starting to become predictable last season but Vilanova has added a degree of unpredictability to the team. On the down side, I don't expect Barcelona to keep as many clean sheets this season as they did in the past 3-4 seasons. Also the current style requires more physical fitness and drains more out of the players, so we'll have to see what effects this will have on players' fitness long term.

Xavi was playing like a god in this match

My man of the match.

Puyol, y u no stop getting injured?

montoya had a great game for me man of the match

Donuts wrote:montoya had a great game for me man of the match

He was hardly tested on the right flank though, and didn't go forward much. I think he had a neat performance and made a couple of good interceptions, however.