Medical: Iniesta optimistic about recovery

In a post on his personal blog, Barcelona player Andrés Iniesta (25) showed yesterday his optimism regarding his recovery from a muscle tear:

"My injury is going better. Since I injured myself against the Villareal, in the last match in the Camp Nou, I have tried to put all the senses to recover myself for the next Wednesday...

Today I can say that I've already been doing work during two days in the mountains with Emili Ricart, my physiotherapist, to improve my muscles and my physical training conditions. I shortly hope to be able to begin to run and to touch ball. I am convinced that I will arrive at Rome in my better conditions to be able to help the team."

Barcelona's medical staff has announced today that Iniesta and Henry carefully started training with the ball earlier today. The sensations were good and during the weekend both players will undergo a series of tests to see if they will be available for the final of the Champions League in Rome next Wednesday.

Henry strained the posterior cruciate ligament of his right knee during the league game against Real Madrid on 2 May and was expected to be out for at least three weeks, while Iniesta torn a quadriceps muscle on the front of his right thigh during the league game against Villarreal on Sunday 10 May.

Read more:
Medical: Henry and Iniesta available for Rome final

Madrid unfolds revolutionary transfer strategy

Valdano:
Don Florentino, can you explain me again the transfer strategy?

Pérez:
You take the last Ballon d'Or list and you sign me the first ten players on the list.

Valdano:
But there almost aren't defenders among them.

Pérez:
De-what?

(click the cartoon to enlarge)

source:
golsud.com

see more cartoons here

2009-2010 shirts officially announced

The first choice shirt recovers the traditional vertical stripes. The colour of the second choice kit is bright mango, evoking the Mediterranean Sea, with blue edgings.

The team will wear the new first choice kit for the first time next Saturday in the Camp Nou for the match against Osasuna. The second choice kit will be used for the last league match of the season, away to Deportivo.

read more about the new kits and watch a video here

Read more:
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Next season's shirts leaked

Barcelona ready to move for Cesc

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona will try to sign Arsenal midfielder and Spanish international Cesc Fàbregas (22) this summer.

Barcelona absolutely wants to avoid that Cesc joins Real Madrid and will move after the final of the Champions League next week. If a transfer isn't possible, Barcelona wants to convince the midfielder to stay one more year with the English Premier League club while promising to sign him in the summer of 2010.

Madrid sports tabloid As claims that Barcelona has an agreement with Arsenal saying that Barcelona has the first option on the Catalan: if Arsenal accepts to sell the player, he will come to Barcelona if they match the highest bid.

That deal would have been closed between former Barcelona sports vice-president Sandro Rosell and former Arsenal vice-president David Dein as some kind of compensation for the way Cesc had left Barcelona as a youth player. Spanish sports weekly paper Don Balón meanwhile claims that it's very unlikely that Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain will move for Cesc this summer.

Asked about his future, Cesc said in an interview with British tabloid The Sun that he will continue at Arsenal next season: "For the last four summers people have been saying 'Oh, Cesc will leave now' but I am still here and I will be here next season as well. I wouldn’t be so committed to the club if I didn't believe we will win trophies. It does become more disappointing every year without a trophy. Every player wants to win. But I repeat once again, I am very happy at Arsenal.

I don't regret leaving Barça. Everyone knows why I came to Arsenal and it has been proved to be the right decision. I'm only just 22 yet I have already played more than 200 games for this club and nearly 40 games for my country. I've won the European Championship and played in the Champions League final, the FA Cup final and the Carling Cup final. I would not have got those opportunities at any other club. Everyone chooses their own life and I believe I made the right choice."

Read more:
Do we buy? Fabregas.
Aguero, Cesc and Asenjo could join this summer
Cesc will make decision at the end of the season

The Perfect Penalty

source: Sky Sports
date: 13 March 2009
editing: fcbtransfers.blogspot.com





The components of the perfect penalty have been pinpointed once and for all by Liverpool John Moores University using Sky+HD technology.

Footage captured by high definition cameras, now installed at the back of football nets, have enabled Director of Sport & Exercise Sciences at Liverpool John Moores University, Professor Tim Cable, to study last season's UEFA Champions League and this season's Premier League penalties, to pinpoint the optimum technique for taking winning spot-kicks.

A penalty strike following these guidelines - requiring extreme accuracy and speed - is, according to Professor Cable, a 'high-risk strategy' but 'virtually unstoppable' by a goalkeeper. With dedicated practice, it would ensure a 100% scoring rate.

Professor Cable said: "Technological advancement is bringing new levels of insight into the nuances of sport. Because high-definition footage is so much more detailed and clearer than standard transmissions, every move of a player taking a penalty can be scrutinised. Many factors make up a 'perfect penalty' but we believe we've finally nailed the key elements."

Professor Cable's perfect penalty tips are as follows:

Perfect Penalty

* The ball needs to cross the goal line at exactly 0.5m below crossbar and 0.5m inside the post.
* The ball needs to be kicked at a speed greater than 65mph.
* This requires a run up of 5/6 steps.
* The striker needs to commence his run up from the edge of 18 yard line with an angle of approach of 20-30 degrees to the ball.

80% success rate

Professor Cable offers further insight into what makes a good penalty. For an 80% success rate, strikers should bear in mind the following:

* The ball needs to cross the goal-line approximately 0.7m inside either goal post and at ground, or just above ground level.
* This is more of a "placement" type penalty rather than powerful, and needs to reach a speed of between 45-55mph.
* The penalty taker routinely approaches this with five steps, although the angle of approach to the ball may be greater, reaching up to 45¢ª.
* "Body Deception" - this requires a player to approach the ball as if to hit into one corner but direct it into the other and to place his support (non-kicking foot) slightly further forward (by a couple of inches) than when placing ball into left corner. A perfect example of this was Carlos Tevez's penalty during this season's Wigan vs Manchester United game - it is almost impossible to tell where the penalty is going until ball contact.
* To turn this penalty into an unstoppable one, optimum deception (i.e. almost at ball contact, like Tevez) is required.

The worst penalty

* Hit, either at speed or slower crossing the line greater than 0.8m inside either post (i.e. middle of goal). This dramatically increases risk by goalkeeper - potentially even if dived wrong way.
* Any penalty hit straight is more likely to fail and suggests lack of practice and confidence in ability of player.
* Player should avoid any shuffle or stop to run up as this reduces contact velocity and ball speed and may not only deceive goalkeeper but provoke confusion in penalty taker.

To avoid taking worst penalty

i) Practice accuracy
ii) Practice deception
iii) Improve impact velocity and therefore ball speed
iv) Practice with team mate causing distraction
v) Practice in all weather conditions particularly in the wet
vi) Penalty takers should have predetermined mind set on where shot is going before commencing run up and should execute this
vii) Ensure stability of support leg (i.e. non-kicking leg) at ball contact in wet conditions
viii) For perfect results aim top left, top right
ix) Practice, practice, practice

read the full and original article here


Read more:
Medical: Henry and Iniesta available for Rome final
There was no referee conspiracy