BARCELONA First Look: Home & Away

BARCELONA BOUND

Can never have too many pictures of "Small Beard". Congratulations. Now team up with Messi and Ibra like we know you can.

It's That Kind Of Day

3 Kits I Must Acquire

These acquisitions are imperative in the coming months. Take a long hard look and digest the beauty.

BARCELONA MAKE HISTORY

6 Trophies it is.

Mes Que Un Club

No team has ever held every single club trophy at once. None has even come close. Until now.

Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona stand on the edge of history. If the Catalan Kings win the tournament in Adu Dhabi this month, they’ll be crowned world champions.

They will then have won every single club trophy in one season. A feat unmatched by any other team. Ever.

History awaits.

Matchday: La Liga (Update)

Valencia take on Madrid today in a classic battle. TB predicts a Valencia triumph with Juan Mata, Pablo Hernandez, and David Villa playing key roles. Edit: ALMOST
The derby between Barca and Espanyol takes place as well. Espanyol will fall to the axe of Ibrahimovic. Edit: YUP

IBARCADABRA

Recap.

The numbers can be deceiving. I would say that we played "decent" or at least as "decent" as we could considering it is Barca. And we were started against the likes of Messi, Henry, Xavi, Puyol, Abidal and Alves. They definitely did not fuck around like they did against the Galaxy. They came to give us a show and thats what we got, a good old ass whooping. Can't get mad at a Messiah brace though.

FC Barcelona's history explains the club's motto

"FC Barcelona’s club motto seems boastful. Mes que un club – More than a club. But a look at the club’s history shows its humble roots and admirable themes that prove the motto true.

To Catalans in Spain, Barca has been “a defining institution of Catalan nationalism,” as Franklin Foer wrote in his 2004 book, How Soccer Explains the World. They have a policy not to accept money for a corporate shirt sponsor and, beginning in 2006, they started donating $1.9 million each year to UNICEF in an agreement that allows the club to adorn the UNICEF logo across the front of their kits.

Add to those ideals their worldwide roster that includes players from nine different countries and four continents and tremendous success on the pitch that includes winning the treble last year and it becomes clear why FC Barcelona is considered the most popular club in all of Europe.

When the Catalan flag and language were banned after the Spanish Civil War, Camp Nou – the club’s stadium – was among the few places the language could still be heard. It therefore became a beacon for Catalonia and, over time, a symbol of progress because of the frequent defense of rights and freedoms by the club and its fans.

For all the on-field success they’ve had in the club’s 110 years, none could match that of the 2008-2009 season. And it came as quite a shock. Club president Joan Laporta was nearly ousted when the club’s membership (for which the Sounders FC Members Association was modeled) issued a 60% vote of no-confidence, falling just short of the two-thirds majority required. Laporta hired club legend Josep Guardiola as manager and retooled the roster and let the magic happen on the pitch.

Over a two-week span in May, FC Barcelona won the Copa del Rey (equivalent to the US Open Cup), the La Liga championship and the UEFA Champions League to become the first Spanish club to win the three trophies in the same season.

They bring most of that treble-winning roster to Seattle to face the Sounders Wednesday night at Qwest Field. Some roster highlights include Argentine phenom Lionel Messi, recently acquired Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Spanish veterans Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Carlos Puyol and Mexican defender Rafael Marquez. Not to mention Freddie Ljungberg’s former Arsenal teammate Thierry Henry (for whom my two-year-old son Henry was named)."

Kickoff is set for 7:30 Wednesday night at a sold out Qwest Field.


P.S. I did not write this

WELCOME TO SEATTLE

The first pic is self explanatory. No big deal at all. Zlatan wearing Sounders X Barca gear. The second pic would be Pep and Zlatan at UW. FTW.

SSFC/Barcelona Scarf

What do you guys think?..of the scarf. I don't wanna hear your life stories.

P.S. sorry for all the soccer posts.

P.P.S I am not sorry.

"Zlatan to reign in Spain"

Glory fulfilled. Boner is to the sky.

Let the unveiling begin..

This shit is happening LIVE, right now.

UPDATE: 17:56 BST For the avoidance of doubt - and as if you hadn't guessed already - Zlatan Ibrahimovic will inherit the #9 jersey from Samuel Eto'o. (The last Swede at Barcelona, Henrik Larsson, wore #17.)

18:00 BST The time of presentation has come, with a small stage being erected in the middle of the pitch for the occasion. It's not quite the pomp and circumstance of some other presentations this summer, but as mentioned, there is a great deal of passion here. Now we just need Ibra himself!

"As happy as a child"

Who is? That's right! Raise your hand you big motherfucking swede! That quote is Zlatan on his much anticipated move to Barcelona. He is delighted, as are we. Do you think he's as happy as a boy who got to blow the King of Pop? Too soon...

Barca bound..?

THAT'S BONER TIME. Man crush of my life headed to the world champions? Zuper, Zuper, Zuperman!