Siempre Positivo

E351: Xavi walks (in June)

Sam and Rik discuss Xavi's decision to leave Barcelona in the immediate aftermath of it, Toni pops in with his thoughts too. Emergency pod, let's go.

E350: Klopp, Xavi's future, early goals and why Burnley?

Rik, Sam and Toni tackle your questions, starting of course with the topic of the day, Jurgen Klopp, Xavi's future, Barca's finances and transfer plans, why do they keep conceding early goals and plenty more. Thanks as ever for your questions!

E349: Athletic down Barca in extra-time Copa KO

Sam and Rik and then Rik and Toni discuss Athletic Club's 4-2 extra-time win over Barca, talking about the performances of the youngsters (and whether that's just a distraction), Jules Kounde, Barca conceding early again and more...

Questions

Hi everyone! Fire away with questions for the next Q&A ep, out later this week. Liga/Copa/transfers/anything else you want us to discuss!

E348: A weekend of hat-tricks in LaLiga from Ferran Torres, Dovbyk & VAR

Sam, Rik and Toni look back on a busy weekend in Spanish football, mainly focusing on Barcelona's exciting 4-2 win at Real Betis, complete with a hat-trick from the shark Ferran Torres. There was also a debut for 16-year-old Pau Cubarsí, with Toni especially positivo about Barça's season in the event they can win in the Copa del Rey at Athletic Club on Wednesday. 

Later, they turn their attention to the game at the Santiabo Bernabeu, where three VAR decisions changed the course o...

E347: Barca almost get Unionized in Copa

Rik and Toni talk about Barca's 3-1 win over Unionistas de Salamanca in the Copa del Rey last 16, the upcoming clash with Real Betis and the tough quarter-final cup draw against Ernesto Valverde's Athletic Bilbao... 

E346: Supercopa pain as Barça taken apart by Real Madrid

'This box is your blank canvas. Have fun!' 

The above is Patreon's message for filling in this box, but it was difficult to have fun after Barcelona's performance in the Spanish Supercopa final on Sunday. Real Madrid won 4-1 in Saudi Arabia and the result was more or less a fair reflection of the game. 

So, where did it go wrong? Why do Barça keep making slow starts? Was the return to four midfielders wrong? Who can beat a man? What now for Xavi? Who would win in a figh...

E345: Osasuna win sets up Barça vs. Madrid Saudi Supercopa showfdfown

The first trophy of the Spanish season will go to, surprise, surprise, either Barcelona or Real Madrid. But who will come out on top in Sunday's Supercopa final in Saudi Arabia? 

Sam, Rik and Toni discuss Barça's stat-breaking 2-0 win over Osasuna in the semifinal, a Clásico final and the return of Pedri. Stay tuned for plenty of swearing from Toni and two metaphors for the price of one. 

E344: Q&A on Araujo sale, the defence, a positive future

... and as usual plenty more. Libero money, Toni's encounter with a crook, Barca Femeni contracts/Alexia future, whether Madrid's comeback reputation is unfair...

E343: Barbastro beaten and the return to Saudi Arabia

Sam, Rik and Toni talk about Barca's 3-2 Copa del Rey win at fourth-tier Barbastro on Sunday and look ahead to the Spanish Super Cup, which takes place in Saudi Arabia this week. 

Questions to kick off 2024...

Hi guys! Add your questions before Monday morning (CET) and we will record Monday afternoon for Tuesday publication after the usual Monday pod. All questions welcome: wishes for 2024? Copa del Rey, Spanish Super Cup, LaLiga title race, January window... 

Add questions in the comments below or on the Discord channel. 

Thanks! 

E342: Hypotheticals galore as Barca beat Las Palmas

Sam and Rik talk about Barca’s 2-1 win at Las Palmas after another shaky performance, then Toni joins to discuss Vitor Roque’s presentation in the first pod of the year, only for Patrons. Hope 2024 goes well for all of you!

E341: Adiós 2023, Hola 2024

Sam, Rik & Toni remember some of the positive moments of 2023 -- or at least try to -- as Barcelona prepare for 2024 with the arrival of a new striker in Vitor Roque. There are no songs from Toni, but there is a poem from Rik and plenty of memorable moments from the last 12 months. 

E340: Xavi blasts players as Barça receive Super League boost

Sam and Rik (and sporadically Toni) look back on Barça's final LaLiga game of 2023, a 3-2 win over Almería which was harder than it should have been. Sergi Roberto saved the day but it did no spare coach Xavi Hernández, perhaps significantly, turning on the players after the game: 'No spirit, lacking hunger and without the quality of Barça 2010.' 

Thursday was also a significant day in the fight, led by Barça and others, for a new European Super League. We hear Joan Laporta's ...

E339: Valencia hold Barca as more points slip away

Rik and Toni discuss Barcelona's 1-1 draw at Mestalla, Frenkie de Jong's performance, whether the team's goals and set-up is a contradiction in itself, ratings, and more.

E338: Antwerp debacle with Barca entering chaos mode

Sam, Rik and Toni discuss Barcelona's 3-2 defeat by Antwerp, but more importantly, the build-up to the game and subsequent fallout. Hold on to your hats.

E337: Girona take Catalonia as Barça slip seven behind leaders

A compelling Catalan derby ended with the points heading back to Girona as the surprise LaLiga leaders beat Barcelona 4-2 at the Olympic Stadium. Míchel's side are now two points clear of Real Madrid, seven ahead of Barça and playing some of the best football in Europe.

But what about Barça? They had 31 shots against Girona -- is it as simple as taking their chances? And why are they conceding so many goals? It's impossible to avoid the Xavi-Míchel comparisons, too, when you see the...

E336: Let's talk Girona, ft. Daley Blind interview

Sam and Rik go to Girona v Valencia to scout out the shock La Liga co-leaders ahead of Sunday's 'new' Catalan derby at Montjuic. Sam heads back north in the week to chat to various players and staff, including Daley Blind.

E335: Q&A on Lewandowski, Barca attendance and more

Rik, Sam and Toni answer your questions after Barca's win over Atletico, including on Lewandowski's goal record at the club, why the attendance was so poor against Atletico, youngsters Barca are linked with and plenty more.

E334: Felix fires 'complete' Barca to win over Atletico

Sam, Rik and Toni discuss Barcelona's impressive 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid at Montjuic. With Kounde at right-back and an 'extra-motivated' Felix up top, Xavi said this was a 'complete' Barca display. 

Questions please!

We're going to record the Q&A fairly early this week so fire away, with questions on anything you like!

E333: Barca celebrating after beating Porto to progress in UCL

Sam, Rik and Toni talk about the 2-1 win over Porto that booked Barca's place in the Champions League last 16 for the first time in three years. The performance, what it means to the club, disagreements over Kounde, and more... 

E332: Rayo hold Barca as noise mounts

Sam, Rik and Toni discuss Barca's 1-1 draw at Rayo ahead of the important Champions League clash with Porto. What's going wrong at the moment? We look at Xavi's comment about the players' mentality, and plenty more.

E331: Two years since Xavi's debut, Barça coach prepares for key games

Sam, Rik and Toni look back on Xavi Hernández's first game in charge of Barcelona, a 1-0 win against Espanyol in November 2021. How has he done since? Better or worse than expected? And, with a tough run of games incoming, December is shaping up to be a big month for Barça. 

E330: Gavi's season-ending injury, the consequences for Barça & a Madrid manita

Sam and Toni discuss all things relating to the devastating injury Gavi received during the international break, ruling him out for the season. What do Barcelona lose without him? How can they replace him in-house? What does it mean for January? 

PLUS: A quick recap of Barça Femení's superb performance in Sunday's El Clásico at the Olympic Stadium. 

E329: Barça Femení ready for El Clásico test at Montjuic

Sam and Rik look ahead to Sunday's Liga F meeting between Barcelona and Real Madrid, with the thoughts of Caroline Graham Hansen and input from the "David Attenborough" of women's football, ESPN's Sophie Lawson. 

E328: Barça are trying to find love (talent) in a hopeless (talentless) place

Toni brings out his best singing voice to explain Deco's scouting plan after interviewing the Barcelona sporting director this week. 

He is joined by Sam for the latest Q&A, with plenty of issues covered, including Barça's Gala XI (and if that term is even necessary), a lot of Xavi, being negative (!?), the future of the Joaos AND more. 

Questions si us plau...

Sam and Toni will deal with all your questions on Wednesday, so get them posted here or on Discord before then. Maybe you want to ask about Xavi? About the negative press? Or any questions you may have about Rik behind his back... Go.

E327: Lewy double helps worrying Barca to Alaves win

Sam, Rik and Toni pick over patatas bravas and Barca's 2-1 win over Alaves in this pod recorded in a bar on Parallel after the game. (Apologises for the background noise). We talk about Barca's dire first half performance, Jules Kounde, Xavi blaming the media for the team's low confidence and more.

E326: Barca lose at Shakhtar, Eddie Gordo wins!

Toni and Rik look at what went wrong in Barca's 1-0 defeat by Shakhtar in Hamburg, looking at Xavi's health bar, Christensen, Lewandowski, Can Pizza, Can Barca and more...