Worry about Real Madrid? Not yet.

Straight up, I want to watch every Madrid game I can this season. Maybe not every game, but I'm definitely curious.

Friday saw the first time Kaka, Benzema, and Ronaldo took the field together, versus Toronto FC. The 5-1 scoreline aside, I'm not shaking in my boots just yet. The entire team looks like it's having a really hard time figuring out where it's supposed to be, and who's supposed to score the goals. Many times they got caught standing standing two players within 5 feet of each other encircled by three defenders, forcing short passes in between until they lost the ball. Ronaldo doesn't seem to have that open space he enjoyed at Old Trafford, where he was free to make his outrageous forward runs. On the contrary, Raul doesn't look ready to run alongside Cristiano through the middle of the pitch and Benzema looks as if he doesn't know whether to step up to receive a pass to feet or to get the hell out of Cristiano's way. These  things will surely come together for Los Blancos, but they definitely aren't close to Barca's comfort and fluidity on the pitch. For me, Benzema has been the biggest standout of the Real pre-season, as he's looked strong on the ball and consistently threatening anywhere in the vicinity of the 18 yard box with his thundering shot and ability to get close to goal.

All in all, Real's got a way to go, and I don't know if they're defense will ever get there. 

Can't wait for the first classico in November.

Until then, keep Bleeding the Blaugrana.

Transfer Thoughts

Ah, what to cover today? Ibra to Barca? First impressions of Maxwell and Henrique? Juan Mata? I didn't go to work today so it looks like I'll be clearing the table, starting with Ibra.

I've heard a lot of talk that we overpaid, that Eto'o is a much better striker, that Ibra is a mercenary who doesn't love Barca, won't work hard pressing up in defense, and isn't fast enough. I'll tell you right now I disagree with each one of those allegations.

I think Sammy's a world-class striker that the club owes a huge debt to, but it looks like he had to go. I won't pretend to know the ins and outs but I do know his agent made some pretty outrageous statements and Pep felt we needed new impetus after last season's all-conquering campaign. We paid a lot for Ibra, certainly, but we're not Valencia and that's the market this year. I don't really see another 20 million going out the door with Eto'o; he's a sunk cost that had to be offloaded.

Ibra will be spectacular with Barca. Eto'o was an opportunistic striker, a clinical finisher with speed to spare. In Ibra we see a striker much better suited to how Barca plays, and let's not forget that he has been proliferate against much stingier and more physical Italian defenses. The big Swede has the technique to play a quick one-touch passing game within the box, receiving and playing passes from Iniesta, Xavi and Messi. I can't wait for the first time he receives a pass under pressure after a dazzling Messi run, takes one, two touches, and fires. Furthermore, he's a potent aerial target match made to head-home the dangerous crosses Dani Alves whips in on a regular basis. And I don't doubt he'll be effective as Sammy was at latching on to centering passes from Henry running down the left touchline.

His defense pressing forward remains to be seen, but with Pep spurring him on, let's just say I have faith.

Maxwell looked very strong offensively against Seattle, and while I still don't know his mettle with the likes of Arjen Robben running at him, the Brazilian appeared comfortable in possession and technically very capable. He moved the ball well and I'm sure he'll be one more headache for Liga defenses. Henrique was a little more subdued on the right touchline, and I'll reserve judgments for now. I wouldn't expect anything less than a solid performance against the MLS side, so I can't draw much from Wednesday night.

Joan Laporta has come out and stated Barca is not done with signings this summer. Looks like it'll be a left winger, a central defensive mid, and/or a central back. I know another left winger, especially the likes of Mata, would really free up Iniesta to rampage all through the left and middle of the pitch as well as provide a bit of relief for the injury-prone Saint Andres, but at this point I'm much more keen on bolstering the defensive and the center of the midfield, defensively. I have unlimited admiration for Sergi Busquets, but with Yaya and Keita out 4-5 weeks mid-season for the ANC, I get nervous thinking about a lack of depth in the center of the midfield, not to mention the cover Yaya can provide dropping back as a central defender. I don't believe we can count on seeing Gabi Milito anytime soon unfortunately, so having only Puyol, Pique, and Marquez makes me a bit nervous when it comes to potential injury scenarios. More promising performances from Henrique will alleviate some fears, and I'm more than happy with Abidal and Maxwell teaming up on the left.

Again, the promise of talent springing forth from La Masia this season is always exciting to watch for.

Until that happens, keep Bleeding the Blaugrana.

Barca rolls through Seattle

I’ll admit it, I turned the game on twenty minutes late, and I’m still beyond upset I missed nineteen beautiful minutes of Barca. First time I’ve watched them live in the coral away kit by the way, not sure how I feel about those just yet. Anyways, I’m quickly reminded I don’t have the pleasure of the great Ray Hudson on Goltv to watch the game with. JP Dellacamera and John Harkes, two of the most idiotic, under informed, and biased men to ever speak on national television are talking at me while I try to enjoy the match. JP steps up first with an attempt at gossip, linking Henry with New York Red Bulls. Thanks for chiming in big guy, next tell us about who played for the USA in the 94 World Cup, or whose name on the Brazilian national team the American public can still recognize.

 Messi hit home soon enough though, in typically clinical fashion, stepping into space and hitting a curler left of the goalie. As we’re still just getting familiar and if you didn’t already guessed, I’m a Messi fan. I enjoyed his second even more, chesting down another perfectly weighted Xavi delivery for a quick rifle between Keller’s legs. Has any other player ever so thoroughly dominated the right side of the 18-yard box? Now imagine Messi taking a switch from Iniesta, controlling, and playing the ball horizontally in to Ibra…

 So the first half. Is it just me or was Alves staying farther up the field than usual, with Puyol backing him? Probably not something we’ll see in real competition – it looked like they were keeping a three man back line for stretches. Good to see Alves hasn’t grown up this summer; he managed to get in Freddie Ljungberg’s face with some of his trademark finger wagging. God willing he’ll manage to stay card-free and find his way into a Champs League final this year.

On a first viewing of Pedro and Jeffren, I’m impressed. Pedro kept great control on the left side and supplied a Treble-winning cross-field pass on Jeffren’s goal. European rivals must watch and cry to see these players keep appearing out of La Masia. I didn’t get a chance to watch, but the fact that Tottenham’s senior side could only manage a one-goal draw against the Barca youth sides puts a smile on my face. The club knows how to put together technical, tactical talent that play with the Blaugrana stamp of excellence.

All in all, a good outing for our boys. No one got hurt, we put on a good showing for the people in Seattle, and we’re one day closer to facing off against Bilbao.

Until then, keep Bleeding the Blaugrana

Welcome to Bleeding the Blaugrana

Welcome to Bleeding the Blaugrana, a blog about nothing other than Barca.

Tune in, cules, to bask in the passion that is supporting FCB as we begin our defense of the treble and look to add the Spanish SuperCopa, the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup to the resume of the greatest club in the world.

I'll talk about everything blue and red, from the crosses Dani Alves will be whipping into Ibra all season to why we feel proud every time we see Barca take the pitch. With our first competitive match 11 days away when we take our first step to 6 trophies in the Spanish SuperCopa against Bilbao, today I want to start in on the summer that's been.

Fresh off a glorious Roman victory and the unprecedented Triplete, my thoughts going into summer centered around the defense. Injury and suspension left us without Marquez, Alves, Abidal, and Milito; it was the versatility of Toure and Puyol as well as a truly beautiful performance by Sylvinho that overcame a stunned ManU. But it still left doubts as we'd been pretty much injury free all year, and heading into another long season I wanted to see some reinforcements. To be honest, I've never seen Maxwell nor Henrique play, so I won't lie to you and tell you how great they'll be. However, "In Pep We Trust" and they fit the profile of what we need, so I'm very pleased on that front. I'll be interested to see how offensively-minded Maxwell is, as we already possess one marauding wing-back in Dani "Get Back!" Alves. For now, adding two Brazilian internationals can't hurt the cause, and I'll reserve judgment until the season progresses a bit.

As for the big man, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, I'd like to shake Laporta's hand. 

But I'll leave that, along with my opinion on future transfers, for next time.

Until then, keeping Bleeding the Blaugrana.