Parky Posted March 10, 2012 Share Posted March 10, 2012 "This residence is now used to develop the young players that have had to leave their families in order to train at FC Barcelona both in a sporting and intellectual sense. In the clubs centenary year, La Masia celebrated its twentieth anniversary and the general feedback has been very positive. Several youngsters that had lived at La Masia have gone on to play for the first team, including Amor, Guardiola, Sergi, De la Peña, Puyol, Xavi, Reina, Víctor Valdés, Gabri and Messi, as well a large number of players that have gone on to play for other Spanish clubs. So successful has it all been that many people now simply use the name La Masia to refer to Barças youth players in general. But the players residing at La Masia are not only limited to those from Catalonia or the rest of the state. There are also numerous young players from other countries..." http://arxiu.fcbarcelona.cat/web/english/club/club_avui/territori_barca/la_Masia/lamasia.html http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/04/16/article-1265747-09290424000005DC-582_634x460.jpg Cesc Fabregas, Arsenal's biggest star and among the Premier League's best players, was also nurtured here and plucked away by English scouts at the age of 16. Pepe Reina, Liverpool's highly rated goalkeeper, and Mikel Arteta, the Everton midfielder, are old boys; and Barcelona's club team manager, Pep Guardiola, one of the finest midfielders and now managers of his generation, also came through this academy, as did all his managerial assistants. This is a 'factory' for world-class footballers and it is currently at the peak of its powers. But this academy aims to shape the boys' values as well as their football skills, a holistic approach reminiscent of the Jesuit maxim: 'Give me the boy and I will give you the man.' Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-1265747/Inside-FC-Barcelonas-football-academy-churning-future-Messis--free.html#ixzz1ohhbh5MV This must be the cream of blueprints to develop young players. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tooj Posted March 10, 2012 Share Posted March 10, 2012 http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/06/17/article-0-0002CCC600000258-973_233x305.jpg Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Village Idiot Posted March 10, 2012 Share Posted March 10, 2012 Lovely picture http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/04/16/article-1265747-0908C801000005DC-647_634x325.jpg Barça closed the old La Masia building this year, by the way (it now holds club's offices) and moved to a larger facility in the outskirts of Barcelona. Gotta say that we spend a fair wad on our youth system (around €25m IIRC), but certainly is worth it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parky Posted March 10, 2012 Share Posted March 10, 2012 He looked class the few games he played for Chelsea. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parky Posted March 10, 2012 Share Posted March 10, 2012 Lovely picture http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/04/16/article-1265747-0908C801000005DC-647_634x325.jpg Barça closed the old La Masia building this year, by the way (it now holds club's offices) and moved to a larger facility in the outskirts of Barcelona. Gotta say that we spend a fair wad on our youth system (around €25m IIRC), but certainly is worth it. Was out with a Spanish friend last night and he was rambling on about the place after a few beers. Said Arsenal have a permanent scout there for the Sunday morning youth games. 'Merengues' will win La Liga this year he was saying cause Real have the presidency or something?? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Village Idiot Posted March 10, 2012 Share Posted March 10, 2012 It's true, the place is filled by scouts from English teams. And the current Spanish president is a Real Madrid fan, where the previous one was a Barça fan. At the end, Spain still has a pretty authoritarian culture, so there's always this perception that "they'll do as they are told". Merengues were always saying that our glorious cycle was because the president was pulling the strings, and now it's the opposite. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parky Posted March 10, 2012 Share Posted March 10, 2012 It's true, the place is filled by scouts from English teams. And the current Spanish president is a Real Madrid fan, where the previous one was a Barça fan. At the end, Spain still has a pretty authoritarian culture, so there's always this perception that "they'll do as they are told". Merengues were always saying that our glorious cycle was because the president was pulling the strings, and now it's the opposite. Yeah he was of the opinion there was a lot of subliminal top down pressure in La Liga. Another thing of interest was that Pep was in SA for the WC and the main 'mind' behind the team, although it was played down. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Village Idiot Posted March 10, 2012 Share Posted March 10, 2012 It's true, the place is filled by scouts from English teams. And the current Spanish president is a Real Madrid fan, where the previous one was a Barça fan. At the end, Spain still has a pretty authoritarian culture, so there's always this perception that "they'll do as they are told". Merengues were always saying that our glorious cycle was because the president was pulling the strings, and now it's the opposite. Yeah he was of the opinion there was a lot of subliminal top down pressure in La Liga. Another thing of interest was that Pep was in SA for the WC and the main 'mind' behind the team, although it was played down. He visited the Spanish camp in several occasions from the first knockout stage onwards, but I wouldn't give it much importance. Rumors at the time were wild: secret meetings with Cesc, Mata, and half the players in the NT to sign them, secret meetings with Del Bosque for counsel, conspiracies to take down the US and implement a socialist world government... At the end, Barça and Spain actually play quite differently. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tooj Posted March 10, 2012 Share Posted March 10, 2012 VI - what happened to De la Peña, as in why was he ever sold? I thought he was absolute class at the time and I remember reading a story of how his was the most popular shirt in the club shop, even selling more than Ronaldo's. Also what are Barcelona fans opinion of him? What with him going on to play for Espanyol. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Village Idiot Posted March 10, 2012 Share Posted March 10, 2012 He couldn't handle the pressure, plus he was quite injury prone. He was absolute class but game after game he was trying to live up to the incredible hype put on him, which ended ruining his game and his morale. He found his feet at Espanyol, in a much less demanding environment. I personally don't mind him going there, I always liked him a lot and I am happy that he was able to get his career back on track. He ended up being called for Spain again and together with Tamudo was the absolute king of that cesspit. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Village Idiot Posted March 10, 2012 Share Posted March 10, 2012 Still though http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZnLRPzucw1Y/TdKLT6MwkqI/AAAAAAAADj4/FfrWgOT7xNU/s1600/delap6.jpg "The two Buddhas", what a partnership they had Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Posted March 10, 2012 Share Posted March 10, 2012 I'm De La Pena used to have 99 for passing on FIFA superb. Proper little metronome player. Some of the names on here man, ridiculous - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Masia#Alumni Doesn't even come close to covering the number of players that have come through either. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Village Idiot Posted March 10, 2012 Share Posted March 10, 2012 Why has this thread been pinned? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JH Posted March 10, 2012 Share Posted March 10, 2012 It was Disco Assume it was fat-finger related? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tooj Posted March 10, 2012 Share Posted March 10, 2012 “Like Cruyff at Barcelona we are training them in a certain way, to love football — and teaching them to win of course. There's a lot of work to be done. If the US team got to a quarter-final or semi-final we’d be very proud. "This is what Barcelona did. I think a Catalan team could win a World Cup.” http://i42.tinypic.com/2qmnk2d.jpg Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Posted March 10, 2012 Share Posted March 10, 2012 Bot all up front like there although they've Bojan and Sergio Garcia too I guess. I'd fancy Spain. They should have 3 way tournament between Catalunya, Euskadi and the rest of Spain. Be class and pretty closely fought I reckon. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest palnese Posted March 10, 2012 Share Posted March 10, 2012 BarSa, eh? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ObiChrisKenobi Posted March 10, 2012 Share Posted March 10, 2012 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Barca-Making-Greatest-Team-World/dp/0956497128/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1331386876&sr=1-1 Fantastic read. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parky Posted March 10, 2012 Share Posted March 10, 2012 BarSa, eh? It's how the broken c is pronounced. But thanks for the input. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
OzzieMandias Posted March 10, 2012 Share Posted March 10, 2012 Barça. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wormy Posted March 10, 2012 Share Posted March 10, 2012 Bartha. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parky Posted March 10, 2012 Share Posted March 10, 2012 I up you a Lopeth. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parky Posted March 10, 2012 Share Posted March 10, 2012 Barça. That's it mate. My friend said it's very irritating when we always put Barca in Eng and people pronounce it "Barkaa." Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NEEJ Posted March 10, 2012 Share Posted March 10, 2012 Barça. That's it mate. My friend said it's very irritating when we always put Barca in Eng and people pronounce it "Barkaa." Who the fuck says Barkaa like? I'd look at them like they had two heads. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 10, 2012 Share Posted March 10, 2012 I've never heard one person pronounce it Barka like. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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