Thiago Silva is the player Barca should sign, in my opinion.

Whether he's available or not is another matter.

Totally agree with you about Silva. Now that is some defender! Barcas problem is that they have never really seen the need to sign CBs for some reason. Mascherano and Song are not defenders and it has been clear for years Puyol will never play at the top level week in week out again. Different presidents but same stupidity.

I love Barca's attitude towards cb's.

Its unbelievable!! If they had any brains they would use Song as leverage for a cb.

Mascherano at cb.

Pep needs to take a lot of responsibility for what has happened to Barca's defence.

The only actual defender they have targeted to play centre-back was David Luiz, who most people don't see as a defender either.

They'll probably get Pirlo on a free in the summer and pair him with Mascherano.

Re Spain, Xavi's still the key. Everything will revolve around what sort of shape he's in for the World Cup. Unfortunately, he's been way off his best for so long now that I have serious doubts. Don't think DB's handled the transition too well. He's had a long time to figure out how to play without Xavi or who to put in his place, but he's made no in-roads in that respect.

Re CL, well I don't know much about Schalke, but Madrid have traditionally found Germany an extremely tough place to play.

Re Barça, Bartra seems to be settling in. He's still very green, but he's a good ball-playing CB. Their problem's similar to Spain's imo, they haven't sorted out what to do post Xavi. I actually think that Del Boy's waiting for someone else to sort out the problem and then basically copy it.

LRF, good luck mate.

ioag, they are a pretty average CL side. They've already been tonked by Bayern, Dortmund and Chelsea twice this season. Cannot defend for shiiiite.

I don't think they are any better than Gala, if at all. If Madrid don't put at least 6 past them over the two legs I'd be surprised.

Hope you're right. I do know they started the season terribly but thought they'd picked up recently.

Wish Barca faced Schalke, would have smoked them off the park, Madrid will too.

City away will be a huge test for this comical Barca defense

Thanks IOAG.

Dan, what's your opinion on Bartra? Do you think he'll manage to establish himself in the long term, or do you think he isn't up to Barça standards?

why does ballague hate tata so much? Not as much access as previous managers or something? Seems to have been against him since the start, hates giving him credit.

He hates Djukic too

Also did Ten Cate leave Barca on bad terms? Thinks City will beat them (as do I ) but just seems v down on barca

I have 1 episode of BB left Andy

i gave up, got bored. Watch Game of Thrones instead, much better.

Tata's not too popular in Barcelona, Andy. Think they feel he's given up on tiki-taka. No idea on Ten Cate.

BB was worth it up to the last minute. Looking forward to the new season of GoT too.

Desolation of Spurs - https://twitter.com/BeardedGenius/status/413014344754925568

BB was worth it up to the last minute.
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Walter Macgyvered those Názis.

Hi Pinky

Hola Alvaro.