Ibrahim Afellay

That is a great news. Finally he's back.

The king of the rif is back

May play in the second leg or the game after that in the league. Good to see him in the aquad for thursday!

My guess is he'll sub on in our next la Liga game!! Afellay! He'll be like a new signing in my eyes and should be given a chance due to our lack of quality up front atm.

depending on how the game goes I want to see him VS milan

No need to rush him.

hence "depending on how the game goes"

He shouldn't play IMO.

If the game is going well I don’t see anything wrong with giving him 5-10 minutes to play.
CL minutes can be good for his moral too

My understanding of having someone in a squad is an assumption that he can play at least some minutes. If he can't play, he shouldn't be in the squad. So I can only assume he can play and I trust the Barca physios more than our judgements. This being said, there isn't really a great need to have him play. Tello is our supersub.

I dont think its a big deal, if there is a chance to use him then cool, if not then not. Just that he is in the squad is a great thing.

I doubt he will see him, because we have other options if we need something.

I dont count the possibility of the game being "over" so we can afford to give him minutes, I have no hope the game will be that easy.

free_cat wrote:He shouldn't play IMO.

Agreed, its too early for him to see the pitch yet. He should still recover for 1-2 months.

Ibi won't play tomorrow, he didn't receive green light from doctors yet, he will train with a team tonight at San Siro, I think that even if he will receive green light from doctors he will be one of the players that won't be in final match 18. He didn't play for a 6 months, he shouldn't be rushed back. I think he should be given last 5-10 minutes vs Athletic Bilbao, at Camp Nou.

The xcx wrote:

free_cat wrote:He shouldn't play IMO.

Agreed, its too early for him to see the pitch yet. He should still recover for 1-2 months.

And where did you get this almighty wisdom from? Could you lend me your christal bowl?

After a 6 month injury you don't come back and play in a champions league quarterfinals directly, even if the result is good, especially not if you have players that can give you roughly the same (Alexis, Pedro, Tello, Cuenca). It's common sense.

Common sense is that if the physios give green light you are ready to play (at some degree) on any competition.
If there's risk don't give the green light. simple as that

It has nothing to do with green light given from the doctors (not physios).

It's coaching common sense.

Even if Afellay is given the green light, he shouldn't (and won't) be played back in the first leg of a quarterfinals as you don't how he will come back, and unless you are winning 0-6, there's nothing done.

Too worried IMO.
Medical stuff says u can play u can play. It’s simple really.

Should the coach wants to give him time I don’t see why not.
If we are winning let him play 5’. No bg deal

Hete BLKSM wrote:

The xcx wrote:

free_cat wrote:He shouldn't play IMO.

Agreed, its too early for him to see the pitch yet. He should still recover for 1-2 months.

And where did you get this almighty wisdom from? Could you lend me your christal bowl?

I play football ffs, I know how things roll.

The xcx wrote:

Hete BLKSM wrote:

The xcx wrote:

free_cat wrote:He shouldn't play IMO.

Agreed, its too early for him to see the pitch yet. He should still recover for 1-2 months.

And where did you get this almighty wisdom from? Could you lend me your christal bowl?

I play football ffs, I know how things roll.

At that level, wow that's great.

If the fysios give the green light, the player has shown he's back on a certain level and he's determined he's good enough to make some minutes, there is no reason that a coach couldn't give him these minutes if the team needs it (in general, as obviously Barça is not dependant on Afellay to secure wins) or if the score allows it. I am not talking 90 minutes, obviously. But it's not like they have been rushing back him onto the field. It's all about circumstances we cannot control and cannot see completely. Therefore, ruling out that he gets any playtime is solely based on gut feeling and baseless gut feeling at that. You have absolutely no idea how he has been progressing in his recovery.

Use him as a supersub. He will kill zambrotta with his speed

We have Tello for that.

Affelay will likely watch from the stands.

Use both of them

I can see him playing the second leg, I'm under the impression the squad you declare counts for both legs (I might be wrong though).

He will probably play the second leg as a sub. I personally don't think he is ready for even the Bilbao game (as a sub).

Afellay is back!!!!

http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/detail/article/afellay-given-medical-clearance-to-play