FC Barcelona - the players in & out

OK, with Spain winning the Euro 2008, Spanish football supporters must be buzzing in anticipation of the upcoming new season in the Spanish league. With Spain having shown that they are indeed Europe's best side, the feel-good factor must be at unprecedented high levels amongst Spanish fans. So they must be really excited with what the upcoming season unfolds with their respective football clubs.

In that regard, my club FC Barcelona are in a rebuilding phase. They will start the new season with a new coach at the helm, former player Josep Guardiola. Some players have left, while new signings have arrived. Here's the list of the main player departures from the club:

Ronaldinho (attacking midfielder/forward) - to AC Milan
Deco (central midfielder) - to Chelsea FC
Giovanni dos Santos (attacking midfielder) - to Tottenham Hotspur
Thuram (central defender) - retired
Zambrotta (right/left back) - to AC Milan

There might be a couple of other departures, but the above are the main ones.

The biggest name is undoubtedly Ronaldinho. I'm a bit sad to see him leave, but not devastated, as he hasn't been able to reproduce the form of 2-3 years ago. Now had Ronaldinho left Barcelona 2-3 years ago, then I would have been feeling really down. But leaving now doesn't hurt quite as much. The young Argentinian sensation, Lionel Messi, will now be seen as the club's new leader (as the club's best footballer, rather than as captain).

Deco is also a big name. He did well for Portugal at Euro 2008. But while Barcelona will miss his ability & experience in midfield, the feeling is probably that he is not indispensable.

As for the young Mexican, Giovanni dos Santos, now this one I'm very unhappy about! He is the player on that list that I'm most upset at seeing leave. Honestly, I'm even more sad with dos Santos' departure than Ronaldinho's departure. Because dos Santos is very young, very talented & I feel has so much to offer Barcelona. I just can't understand how the club can let him leave just like that. Sheesh. Now he's gone to London club Tottenham, whom my friend Damian Ong supports - Damo must be undoubtedly be pretty happy with the signing. (I haven't yet had a chance to give Damo some "choice words" with his club "pinching" dos Santos).

As for Thuram & Zambrotta, well, I'm not that bothered with their departure. Appreciate their service to the club, but it's time to move on.

Right then, let's look at the players that Barcelona have signed so far:

Aleksandr Hleb (attacking midfielder) - from Arsenal
Gerard Pique (centre back, right back) - from Manchester Utd
Daniel Alves (right back) - from Sevilla FC
Seydou Keita (central defensive midfielder) - from Sevilla FC
Martin Caceres (central defender) - from Villarreal FC

So, Barcelona's signings have come from the top clubs in Spain & England. I'm particularly happy with the signing of young Pique, who now returns after leaving Barcelona as a 17 year old in 2004. I feel neutral with the other signings - not unhappy, but not excessively excited either. In a way, it's good that they are looking to strengthen the defence with Daniel Alves & Caceres (plus of course, Pique). Daniel Alves should prove to be good for the right back slot, but I haven't seen much of Caceres to be able to judge properly. As for the 2 midfielders (Hleb & Keita), I think they could prove useful, but I'm not entirely sure if they can actually lift Barcelona to another next level. That, plus the fact that Giovanni dos Santos' departure still leaves me disgruntled, makes me think that the club should get at least 1 more attacking midfielder, preferably one that can occupy the left side of midfield. Why not try to get one of Angel Di Maria or Damian Escudero? Both are young Argentinian attacking midfielders, & both can play on the left side.

And perhaps Barcelona could also have thought of trying to sign Ever Banega, another Argentinian midfielder, from fellow Spanish club Valencia FC. Banega is a central midfielder, more so than Di Maria & Escudero. Barcelona might also need to sign 1 forward. That's because the Cameroon striker, Samuel Eto'o, may leave or he might end up staying at the club. Likewise, Thierry Henry, with his status at the club being far from certain. But so far, I don't think Barcelona have signed any forwards. I know Spanish teenage sensation Bojan Krkic (Serbian father, hence the surname) will play a more prominent role this season, but it wouldn't hurt to sign another forward.

The 2008/2009 La Liga season starts on 30/8/08. I hope the squad (new signings) will settle well to the new coach. They are going through a transition phase, & the squad may take time to gel. But even allowing for that, still it would be good if they put in a strong challenge on all fronts - Spanish league, Spanish Cup & UEFA Champions League. What are their chances of winning some of those honours? I'd say they got a fairly good chance of winning something. It's hard to say whether they have a better chance of winning the Spanish league or UEFA Champions League. Conquering Europe would be nice. But perhaps the aim/priority should be to recapture the Spanish league, & try to go as far as possible in the Champions League & the Spanish Cup. I might revise my expectations as the season progresses....

Hola Barca!