Category: World Football

With fair play almost non existent in the game it was nice to find this player back in 2009, refusing a penalty.

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The reliability of Montoya and Sergi Roberto

Full back Martín Montoya and midfielder Sergi Roberto have proven excellent members of the Barça B and are considered genuine options to cover the first team’s needs.

Montoya and Sergi Roberto, along with Fontàs and Thiago, being named in a Champions League semi final squad shows the faith Guardiola has in players produced by the club’s youth system.

The perfect process

They were educated at La Masia, developed their football at the Ciutat Esportiva, learned the trade in the Miniestadi and are therefore ready to answer the first team call at any moment. The Barça youth system offers incalculable value, and Guardiola knows that if ever he is troubled by injuries or suspensions that he has plenty of players with second division experience that can serve his needs perfectly.

Versatile full back

Martín Montoya Torralba is a 20 year old right back who can also play on the left. Fast and powerful, he covers well and is particularly adept at breaking down opposing counter attacks.

When the team attacks, Montoya makes useful runs and is a provider of crosses, but his greatest virtues are in defence, where he reads the game brilliantly, and uses his speed and aggression to wonderful effect.

He has played at the club since the Benjamí B, and is well used to the 3-4-3 system that requires full backs to play many different roles. Guardiola handed him his debut at Mallorca earlier this season as a substitute for Adriano. Montoya has been with Barça B for two seasons.

Attacking Midfielder

Sergi Roberto Carnicer is a very different type of player to the typical Barça central playmaker. The 19 year old doesn’t only pass the ball creatively, but also makes runs into the area where he is strong in the air and has a powerful shot.

Sergi Roberto is also adept at breaking down the opposition’s play, and although he is right footed, he can also used his left. This is his second season with the B team, where he also been played in a more defensive role. He originally came to the club from Nàstic Tarragona, and then progressed from Cadet B to Cadet A, Juvenil B and A and now Barça B. He made his first team debut earlier this season against Ceuta in the Copa del Rey.

By Jaume Marcet – FCB Reporter

FCB Camps Ireland August ’11

The Venues

Ashbourne RFC – Camps 1 & 2 – Monday 8th to Wednesday 10th
Coolmine RC – Camps 3 & 4 – Thursday 11th to Saturday 13th
Wesley College – Camps 5 & 6 – Monday 15th to Wednesday 17th
Portmarnock AFC – Camps 7 & 8 – Thursday 18th to Saturday 20th

Aidan Isherwood reports from Italy at the Montichiari U 13 s International tournament.

The above elite invitation-only tournament finished the other day.16 teams including the academies or equivalents of Milan, Juventus, Chievo, Red Bull Salzburg and Hibernian.

Something New

A prestigious event. Two things impressed him about the way it was organised:

1. Firstly, every team was guaranteed the same number of games, six; with play-offs leading to rankings from one to sixteen. So every game meant something. Aidan said “I have seen that before”.
2. What he hadn’t come across at any competition “I’ve seen or heard of, was a rule stimulating that every member of the squad, as in the starting 11 plus all substitutes, had to play at least one complete half”. Not just a total of 20 minutes (they were games of 2 x 20 mins) but a full continuous half.

That certainly made coaches think. And made sure no one travelled to the games and sat on the bench. For such a significant tournament, the rule worked simply and effectively.

Just saying “make sure everyone gets a bit of a run out” does not work in the heat of competition. Legislation  does.

Research: Aidan Isherwood of http://footblogball.wordpress.com/2011/04/24/montichiari-u13s-international-tournament-italy/

3 Portuguese teams closer to the Final at the Aviva in May. There will definitely be 1 in the Final now with Benfica facing Braga in one of the semi’s and Porto v Villa Real in the other; amazing for any nation to have 3 top teams in the Europa league last 4.

Hoping for an all Portuguese final….Forca Portugal!

Neymar Focuses on Injury Prevention

Neymar, who has been a professional player since the age of 17 retraces the path of technical and physical maturation, from as early an age as possible. His game is abundantly filled with speed and dribbling, and, although not endowed with a muscular physique (as critical mass), the player of Santos and the Brazilian national team stay match fit and healthy. Neymar gained 4 pounds (lbs) of muscle mass since the arrival of new training staff at Santos. The increase in muscle mass has improved his endurance and allows him to continue executing his moves with agility and speed. The fat percentage of a footballer is 6% (average),one of the lowest among high performance athletes, especially knowing that 4 kilograms (kg) of (lean) body masswere gained.

Injury Prevention

Another important way to prevent injury is a player’s own experience in the field, and because of his capability and attacking threat, Neymar has been confronted with more opposition from defence. With his speed and agility he is able avoid challenges of physical pressure and tackles from his opponents and thereby decreasing the risk of injury.

“At Santos we have a good technical staff, which includes a physiotherapy, physiology- fitness specialist and nutritionist, who all work closely with the players. When it comes to training Neymar is a true professional, and during the days after a game, he is the first to appear in physio’s room for stretching, massage, icebaths and other treatments. He knows what he has to do to stay in shape and is very professional about it. ‘He is also very concerned about the nutritional aspect, with supplements and does everything he needs to do to stay fit,” said Avelino Buongermino, The Club Physiotherapist.

Article from: Soccer Coaching