Barcelona Guide
Here is my guide of Barcelona FC for FM10. I have managed Barcelona for some years, and have done quite well with them, I hope my guide will help.
Information:
Nation - Spain.
Year Founded - 1899.
Status - Professional.
Reputation - Worldwide.
Major Rivals - Espanyol, Real Madrid, Valencia, Atlético Madrid.
Club Legends - Paulino Alcántara, Antoni Ramallets, Johan Cruyff, László Kubala, Josep Samitier.
Club Icons - Josep Guardiola, Guillermo Amor, Carles Puyol, Luis Enrique, Ronald Koeman, José María Bakero, Frank Rijkaard, Michael Laudrup, Hristo Stoichkov, Johan Neeskens, Romario da Souza.
Clubs Favoured Personnel - Lionel Messi, Xavi, Julio Salinas, Miguel Angel Nadal, Andoni Zubizarreta, Henrik Larsson, Juliano Belletti, Diego Maradona, Allan Simonsen, Hans Krankl.
Media Prediction - 1st.
Club Captain - Carles Puyol.
Vice Captains - Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Victor Valdes.
Estimated Value - £526m (Loan Debt: £11.75m)
Balance - £24.36m
Transfer Budget: Minimum Expecation - Winning the League - £13m
Wage Budget: Minimum Expecation - Winning the League - £1.6m p/w
(Researched Myself, took me some time aswell.)
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History:
Futbol Club Barcelona , (often known simply as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a Spanish professional football club, based in Barcelona, Spain. The club plays in La Liga, and is one of the only three clubs (along with Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao), to have never been relegated.
Founded as Football Club Barcelona in 1899 by a group of Swiss, English, and Spanish footballers led by Joan Gamper, the club has become a symbol of Catalan culture and Catalanism, hence the motto "Més que un club" (English: More than a club). The official Barça anthem is the "Cant del Barça" written by Jaume Picas and Josep Maria Espinàs. Unlike many other football clubs, the supporters own and operate Barcelona. It is the world's second richest football club in terms of revenue, with an annual turn-over of €366 million. The club holds a long-standing rivalry with Real Madrid, and matches between the two teams are referred to as "El Clásico".
FC Barcelona is the most successful club in Spanish football in terms of overall trophies, having won twenty La Liga titles, a record twenty-five Spanish Cups, nine Spanish Super Cups, and two League Cups. They are also one of the most successful clubs in European football, having won ten UEFA competitions. It is the only European club to have played continental football every season since 1954. In 2009, Barcelona became the first club in Spain to win the treble of La Liga, Copa del Rey, and Champions League. That same year, they also became the first football club ever to win six out of six competitions in a single year, thus completing the sextuple, comprising the aforementioned treble and the Spanish Super Cup, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup.
Squad:
Goalkeepers:
- Víctor Valdés
- José Manuel Pinto
- Rubén Mino (Youth)
Victor Valdez is the obvious first chice, make sure you put him in goal ahead of the other two goalies. I think he can last for a few seasons, but see the transfers page for possible replacements. He will do a bang up job for you and will never let you down. Pinto is no backup keeper, and you will need to find a replacement. I sugest you look at my transfer options.
Defenders:
- Dani Alves
- Gerard Piqué
- Rafael Márquez
- Carles Puyol (Captain)
- Gabriel Milito
- Maxwell
- Dmytro Chygrynskiy
- Eric Abidal
- Marc Bartra (Youth)
- Andreu Fontás (Youth)
- Marc Muniesa (Youth)
Defending is not so much of an issue here, you can see the experienced partnership of Puyol and Márquez is a big help, with Piqué expecting to play first team football, this should not be too hard. Barcelona have pleanty of depth to their defence, and there is decent cover, just incase of injuries.
Dani Alvez is great, mostly when he goes foward so I would put him in a attacking role. Just make sure the RB or Wing Back attacks and does not just defend.
The team has some decent left backs, but I really think that they should bring in some a new one. For a team like Barcelona you need a world class left back, not average.
There is average youth, and defence in an area where you can build youth, get some good youth defenders, then play them in the Copa Del Ray. They will not underperform, and will help out your team. The experience of the players is not always a good thing, as soon thy will bepast their prime. However Pique is still fairly young and can only get better. So make sure you keep in unless alot of money comes in.
Midfielders:
- Seydou Keita
- Yaya Touré
- Sergio Busquets
- Xavi
- Hleb
- Pedro (Also can be played as a foward)
- Lionel Messi
- Andres Inesta
You have no worries at all with the midfield, if you see my formation section you will understand why. Messi and Inesta are you attacking midfield options set, then Xavi and Yaya Touré can play in midfield area, with a selection of Dm's. You will never be stuck for options, but again look at my possible transfers page for pointers.
Strikers:
- Bojan
- Ibrohamovic
- Henry
- Elvis Onyema
For a team like Barcelona, you cant really go wrong with strikers, you have to have it all set up, and at the club fortunatley they do, Barcelona have Ibrohamovic. Use him up front as your lone striker, and with the options of Henry and Bojan on offer, you are all set.
Possible Transfers:
GK's:
Igor Akinfeev - CSKA Moscow - £7.25m
René Alder - Leverkusen - £5.25m
Alphonse Areola - Paris St. Germain - £7k
DC's:
Giorgio Chiellini - Juventus - £12.25m
Mamadou Sakho - Paris Saint-Germain - £5.5m
Phillipe Mexes - AS Roma - £7.75m
Simon Kjaer - Palermo - £4.8m
DR's:
Rafinha - Shakle - £5.25m
Micah Richards - Man City - £5.5m
DL's:
Gareth Bale - Tottenham - £4.3m
Ashley Cole - Chelsea - £11.75m
Mdifielders:
Cesc Fabregas - Arsenal - £17.75m
Michael Essien - Chelsea - £26m
Jeremy Toulalan - Lyon - £6.25m
Daniele De Rossi - AS Roma - £17m
Joao Moutinho - Sporting CP - £5.5m
Miguel Veloso - Sporting CP - £4.4m
David Silva - Valencia - £12.25m
Marco Verrati - Pescara - £210k
Strikers:
Mirko Vucinic - AS Roma - £8.5m
Juan Manuel Mata - Valencia - £8.75m
David Villa - Valencia - £24m
Robinho - Man City - £12.75m
Sergio Aguero - At. Madrid - £17.25m
Mario Ballotelli - Inter Milan - £5.75m
I reccomend you download some shortlists with youth to help you for that, otherwise good luck, and you don't have to buy all these in one season, thses are potential signings aswell.
Tactics:
I reccomend using any 4-5-1, however I think you should use KingEric's one here:
http://www.fm-base.co.uk/forum/f72/barcelona-tactic-t37097.html
Thanks, and if you need any more info I will post later, also I might add in Barcerlona's youth prospects.