SaintDonkey Posted 19 March, 2012 Share Posted 19 March, 2012 Afternoon all, I picked up from the Blizzard the little nugget that Xavi played his first match for Barcelona against Southampton in 1998, but I can't find out any more details about the match. Can anyone shed any light? Was it home or away? Who won? Who played for Southampton that day? I like to imagine that Xavi's first lesson in football was a Matt Le Tissier master class. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sour Mash Posted 19 March, 2012 Share Posted 19 March, 2012 Afternoon all, I picked up from the Blizzard the little nugget that Xavi played his first match for Barcelona against Southampton in 1998, but I can't find out any more details about the match. Can anyone shed any light? Was it home or away? Who won? Who played for Southampton that day? I like to imagine that Xavi's first lesson in football was a Matt Le Tissier master class. Definitely can't remember this at all. Anymore info/context? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevegrant Posted 19 March, 2012 Share Posted 19 March, 2012 Away, I think we lost 4-0. Probably the only time we ever actually wore that horrendous "ecru" away shirt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BARCELONASAINT Posted 19 March, 2012 Share Posted 19 March, 2012 stevegrant is quite correct it was away and we lost 4-0 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintDonkey Posted 19 March, 2012 Author Share Posted 19 March, 2012 Cheers Steve, any idea of line ups? I guess if Matt was playing he was giving a master class in not giving a toss. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JRM Posted 19 March, 2012 Share Posted 19 March, 2012 it was at a training camp wasn't it? and no crowd, but a couple of the london saints made it i think, played at the end of the season? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Golden Balls Posted 19 March, 2012 Share Posted 19 March, 2012 (edited) Isn't Le Tissier Xavis footballing hero? Edit: Yep - http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/worldcup2010/3000647/Spain-star-Xavi-says-his-football-hero-was-Matt-Le-Tissier.html Edited 19 March, 2012 by Golden Balls Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sour Mash Posted 19 March, 2012 Share Posted 19 March, 2012 it was at a training camp wasn't it? and no crowd, but a couple of the london saints made it i think, played at the end of the season? Rings a bell now. Wasn't even played in Barcelona was it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JRM Posted 19 March, 2012 Share Posted 19 March, 2012 Rings a bell now. Wasn't even played in Barcelona was it? somewhere like Alicante? i remember some pics in the echo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevegrant Posted 19 March, 2012 Share Posted 19 March, 2012 Cheers Steve, any idea of line ups? No idea. I have a vague recollection that Ivan de la Peña scored one or two for Barca, but that's about all I can remember. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonnyLove Posted 19 March, 2012 Share Posted 19 March, 2012 Was this not how we ended up with MLT's favorite player to play with Mr Ronnie Ekland? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ewell Posted 19 March, 2012 Share Posted 19 March, 2012 I cannot remember where it was but were we not just staying in the same hotel as Barca so they decided to play an unofficial training game against each other. It came about as Alan Ball and Johan Cruyff were old mates. I think Ball asked Johan if he had any decent players they could lend us and didn't Ronnie Ekelund turn up and report for training with us the next day. I may be getting my wires crossed but this info seems to be stored away in my head. The old adage of It's not what you know but who you know comes to mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beavis17 Posted 19 March, 2012 Share Posted 19 March, 2012 1998 Friendly 1082 FCB-Southampton F.C. 4-0 England Cartagena Was in Cartagena apparently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedelldays Posted 19 March, 2012 Share Posted 19 March, 2012 we played there in a friendly...dont think it was at the Nou Camp... I know we deffo played there then as I knew a saints player at the time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedAndWhite91 Posted 19 March, 2012 Share Posted 19 March, 2012 The Barcelona v Saints friendly was 12th May 1998 - Any international players who were due to go to the World Cup in June were left out. Saints were beaten 4-0. Ronnie Ekelund came about as a result of Ball jokingly asking Cruyff if he had any players spare whilst they were both in a hotel, but that was in August 1994. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedAndWhite91 Posted 19 March, 2012 Share Posted 19 March, 2012 Adriansfc - Just realised I have written exactly what you have - Sorry! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedAndWhite91 Posted 19 March, 2012 Share Posted 19 March, 2012 Also, Xavi made his first team debut on 18 August 1998... So it's possible he could have played in the game in May with what would have been a weakened squad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pamplemousse Posted 19 March, 2012 Share Posted 19 March, 2012 http://www.webdelcule.com/partidos/pa1997-98.html Scroll right down to the bottom - it says Xavi came on as a substitute Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintDonkey Posted 19 March, 2012 Author Share Posted 19 March, 2012 http://www.webdelcule.com/partidos/pa1997-98.html Scroll right down to the bottom - it says Xavi came on as a substitute Cheers Pamplemousse! Sadly no Le God for Saints so my dream of tiki taki being inspired by Matt comes to an end - unless of course he was an unused sub whispering sweet nothings in the young Xavi's ear on the bench BARCELONA-SOUTHAMPTON 4-0 Barcelona: Baia, Reiziger, Nadal, Couto, Roger, Amor, De la Peña (Xavi), Mario, Oscar (Ferron), Sergi (Jofre), Pizzi (Luis). Southampton: Jones, Warner, Benali, Richardson, Dryden, Lundekvam, Basham, Saberski (Bridge), Hirst (Sarli), Palmer (Gibben), Beresford. Arbitro: Lozano Segado Goles: De la Peña (2), Mario, Luis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benali-shorts Posted 19 March, 2012 Share Posted 19 March, 2012 Saberski? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elmore Posted 19 March, 2012 Share Posted 19 March, 2012 Cheers Pamplemousse! Sadly no Le God for Saints so my dream of tiki taki being inspired by Matt comes to an end - unless of course he was an unused sub whispering sweet nothings in the young Xavi's ear on the bench BARCELONA-SOUTHAMPTON 4-0 Barcelona: Baia, Reiziger, Nadal, Couto, Roger, Amor, De la Peña (Xavi), Mario, Oscar (Ferron), Sergi (Jofre), Pizzi (Luis). Southampton: Jones, Warner, Benali, Richardson, Dryden, Lundekvam, Basham, Saberski (Bridge), Hirst (Sarli), Palmer (Gibben), Beresford. Arbitro: Lozano Segado Goles: De la Peña (2), Mario, Luis. Good old Hirst - what a player he was. Forgive my ignorance but who on earth were Warner and Saberski? Also not entirely sure who Richardson was? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benali-shorts Posted 19 March, 2012 Share Posted 19 March, 2012 phil warner was a distinctly average right back. saberski a mystery. that line up was absymally workmanlike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benali-shorts Posted 19 March, 2012 Share Posted 19 March, 2012 and kevin richardson, holding midfielder, ex villa. midfield of beresford, carlton, richardson, assume saberski. frightening. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elmore Posted 19 March, 2012 Share Posted 19 March, 2012 phil warner was a distinctly average right back. saberski a mystery. that line up was absymally workmanlike. Thanks - don't remember him at all! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colehillsaint Posted 19 March, 2012 Share Posted 19 March, 2012 No idea. I have a vague recollection that Ivan de la Peña scored one or two for Barca, but that's about all I can remember. I thought he was great to watch. Gascoigne and Letiss rolled into one as they said at the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sour Mash Posted 19 March, 2012 Share Posted 19 March, 2012 Good old Hirst - what a player he was. Forgive my ignorance but who on earth were Warner and Saberski? Also not entirely sure who Richardson was? Guess Saberski was an unsuccessful trialist? Some half decent players in that line up, but definitely lacking in flair! Saw Steve Basham play the other month for Oxford City at Chesham United. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JRM Posted 19 March, 2012 Share Posted 19 March, 2012 i just love the fact we had the arrogance to play a weakened team against Barcelona, Richard Dryden would teach Puyol a thing or two Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
st_mark Posted 19 March, 2012 Share Posted 19 March, 2012 Guess Saberski was an unsuccessful trialist? Some half decent players in that line up, but definitely lacking in flair! Saw Steve Basham play the other month for Oxford City at Chesham United. Think it was Antoine Sibierski who later went on to play for Man City. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Posted 19 March, 2012 Share Posted 19 March, 2012 Cheers Steve, any idea of line ups? I guess if Matt was playing he was giving a master class in not giving a toss. Are u actually a saints fan or just an absolute muppet? The best player I've seen okay for the red and white and saved us year after u and u write that? Go and support Pompey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vindaloo73 Posted 19 March, 2012 Share Posted 19 March, 2012 I remember watching the game live on Spanish TV. I did think someone was on a wind up when I was told that Saints were going to be live on Spanish TV. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noodles34 Posted 20 March, 2012 Share Posted 20 March, 2012 i thought it was at The Nou Camp? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint_Jim Posted 20 March, 2012 Share Posted 20 March, 2012 Phil warner later went on to play for havent and waterloovile at anfield Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Golden Balls Posted 20 March, 2012 Share Posted 20 March, 2012 Forgive my ignorance but who on earth were Warner and Saberski? My (very) small claim to fame is that Phil Warners dad went out with my mum during the time Warner was at Saints. Only ever saw him play for us twice. Both against Spurs. Once at home when we gained our first point of the season in a 1-1 draw (Ruel Fox scoring for them, Le Tiss for us) and once away when I think we drew 1-1 again. I remember Le Tiss scoring a free kick and Jurgen Klinsmann scoring. Also went with his dad to watch him play for Brentford when he was on loan there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedAndWhite91 Posted 20 March, 2012 Share Posted 20 March, 2012 Sadly no Le God for Saints so my dream of tiki taki being inspired by Matt comes to an end - unless of course he was an unused sub whispering sweet nothings in the young Xavi's ear on the bench Got a feeling that afternoon Hoddle announced his World Cup squad - Le Tissier was bound to be selected after his hat trick for the B side, but was left out... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whizzpop Posted 20 March, 2012 Share Posted 20 March, 2012 Ah Cosimo Sarli..still dreaming of what could have been, never got why Dave Jones didn't put him in the first team he scored about 30 goals in the reserves if i remember rightly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david in sweden Posted 20 March, 2012 Share Posted 20 March, 2012 (edited) Ah Cosimo Sarli..still dreaming of what could have been, never got why Dave Jones didn't put him in the first team he scored about 30 goals in the reserves if i remember rightly. well ....... according to In that Number..he played 19 reserve games 1998-99 scoring 12 goals (!) -after which he seems to have disappeared off the radar - in Feb. 1999 (was that when Hoddle came ?)... ....always sound good, I agree but in the Premier League ..Reserve football is a universe away from the real world ! WIKIPEDIA states he is (now ) 33 years old. Has played for quite a number of Italian minor league clubs (not even Seria A) and seems to change club registration every season. Edited 20 March, 2012 by david in sweden Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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