I fully agree on Cuenca. Highly intelligent player w great first touch.

Haha, I remember that moment now that you mention it. A great character to say the least.

Great to hear Alves are in training so soon.
He just won't stop. Love that about him.

Ahem. The Mattress Makers/Patetico haven't taken a point from Moudrid since the spring of 2009. 8 losses in a row. Before that they drew in the spring of 2007, 12 matches ago. They haven't won a match against Moudrid in this millennium. Last time they won was in the fall of 1999!!!!

You're quite right me thinks.

I see what you're saying. At first he strikes me as lacking a bit of that Barca quality but after studying Cuenca closely yesterday I came to a bit of a different opinion. He's a bit different than the normal Barca player but he strikes me as an intelligent player.

Even though he didn't beat his man all/most of the time, he was intelligent with his play, he attacked his man and did it fast and if/when it didn't work it seems to me he analysed his chances and rather than giving the ball away, he passed the ball back into the tiki taka-flow. He has a pretty good first touch and takes the ball down fast to attack. And I never saw him give the ball away yesterday. He really widened the pitch for us. And his crosses were outstanding - I counted at least five perfect crosses that should/could result in a goal. The best thing about him is that he seems to have a lot of intelligence and maturity for such a young player.

My conclusion is that this is a really solid player that gives Pep a tactical possibility that we might not have otherwise.

Today my thoughts go to Abi and his family. The points are important but our players health are more important.

This is my guess of what Pep will do. Myself I'd like to see Iniesta in midfield position.

Valdes.

Alves. Mascherano. Pique. Puyol.

Xavi. Busquets. Fabregas.

Alexis. Messi. Iniesta.

PS. That is only if Xavi is fit to play. If not Thiago has been quite good recently, he might take his place, but then again perhaps Pep would want to change up the whole mid and front of the lineup.

that "reverse chip" in the last goal by messi might be the most amazing subtle brilliance I've witnessed in football.

Great observation!