Hearts vs Barca

yogi · Post by **yogi** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 7:28 pm

Hearts heading for a home record

Hearts expect Saturday's friendly against Barcelona to create a new home attendance record.
The Edinburgh club predict that the crowd will reach nearly 60,000, the fixture having been switched to the national rugby stadium at Murrayfield.

That would surpass the 53,369 who watched the Scottish Cup tie against Rangers in 1932.

But it appears likely to fall short of the 65,860 who witnessed Hearts visit Hibernian's Easter Road in 1950.

So hopes of creating a new record for a football match in Edinburgh are likely to be dashed.

But Hearts midfielder Laryea Kingston was taking all the hype about the Spanish side's visit in his stride.

"Barcelona is one of the biggest clubs in the world," he told his club website.

We couldn't get a more difficult pre-season game if we tried

"It is going to be a very good game and a great challenge for me and my colleagues.

"It will be a great atmosphere.

"There will be a big crowd inside Murrayfield, but I have played in front of crowds like that and I am looking forward to the occasion.

"It will be ideal for us to play a team like Barcelona before our season starts.

"But this is a friendly game and, while this is a big match, the important one for us is Hibs as we all want to start the season well.

"We have one or two new players in now and I think we can challenge Celtic and Rangers this season."

Central defender Christophe Berra will play, despite being suspended for the opening day of the league season.

Assistant manager Stephen Frail said: "We don't have a lot of bodies in terms of left-sided centre-backs and so Christophe will feature.

"I think he has earned the right to face the likes of Henry and Ronaldinho with his performances last season and his displays in pre-season.

"We couldn't get a more difficult pre-season game if we tried, but we are looking forward to it.

"It's a fantastic end to our pre-season preparations with the crowd that is expected and it's shaping up to be a cracking game."

Barcelona defeated Dundee United 1-0 thanks to a late Thierry Henry strike in a pre-season friendly on Thursday.

"I think it will be competitive," added Frail. "I was at Tannadice for the Dundee United game on Thursday and both sides were physical.

"They'll want to win, they are proud players and they won't be coming here to take it easy."

Got told, our local bhoy, Ryan McGowan ( ex-para hills ) is on the bench against Barca Tommorow at Murrayfield.
Onya Ryno..............."Hail,Hail"

BillShankly · Post by **BillShankly** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 8:46 pm

Cmon you Hearts

delfino_1936 · Post by **delfino_1936** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 11:56 pm

Go Hearts!!! imagine if he comes on and bloody plays against Ronnie and henry

yogi · Post by **yogi** » Sun Jul 29, 2007 9:20 pm

Rigoni 10 wrote:Go Hearts!!! imagine if he comes on and bloody plays against Ronnie and henry

Im trying to source the full match report.
I know the score, Hearts 1-3 Barca.

geordie-442 · Post by **geordie-442** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 12:48 am

I watched this game on Telly and thought Hearts gave a good account of them selfs but a fair result in the end.

From BBC

bumper crowd of more than 57,000 watched Barcelona turn on the style to beat Hearts 3-1 at Murrayfield.
Ronaldinho tucked away a penalty after Gianluca Zambrotta tumbled but Hearts hit back when Juho Makela poked home a loose ball from close range.

A sweet, flowing move ended with Ronaldinho rising to head past stranded goalkeeper Craig Gordon from six yards.

Thierry Henry later burst clear of the Hearts defence and squared for Giovanni Dos Santos to stroke home the third.

Although played at a leisurely pace, the visitors showed some sparkling touches as they enjoyed almost complete control of the ball.

And former Arsenal striker Henry scorned two fantastic chances from close range.

He hit the junction of post and bar with a fierce shot and somehow headed wide with a diving effort from six yards.

Hearts, who made eleven changes in the game, will no doubt be in more competitive mood when the season opens against Hibs at Tynecastle.

Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard has enjoyed his visit to Scotland so much he would like to repeat it again next season.

The Catalan club, who were based in St Andrews, flew out of Edinburgh airport straight after the Hearts game which came three days after a 1-0 win over Dundee United at Tannadice.

Rijkaard said: "It has been wonderful and I wouldn't say that if it wasn't true.

"We have been made welcome here and the circumstances have been great for working in.

"You never know what will happen next summer but if it was my decision then I would like to come back here."

Big Wayne · Post by **Big Wayne** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 7:26 pm

The young fella came on and played the last 10 minutes. I saw a great photo of him running alongside Henry.

He went to Germany with the first team and looks like he might figure in the first team coach's plans for 07/08.

Has Ryan represented Australia at youth level? He might get snapped up by Scotland (believe me they need him). He would qualify due to his parents.

delfino_1936 · Post by **delfino_1936** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 9:20 pm

geordie-442 wrote:I watched this game on Telly and thought Hearts gave a good account of them selfs but a fair result in the end.

From BBC

bumper crowd of more than 57,000 watched Barcelona turn on the style to beat Hearts 3-1 at Murrayfield.
Ronaldinho tucked away a penalty after Gianluca Zambrotta tumbled but Hearts hit back when Juho Makela poked home a loose ball from close range.

A sweet, flowing move ended with Ronaldinho rising to head past stranded goalkeeper Craig Gordon from six yards.

Thierry Henry later burst clear of the Hearts defence and squared for Giovanni Dos Santos to stroke home the third.

Although played at a leisurely pace, the visitors showed some sparkling touches as they enjoyed almost complete control of the ball.

And former Arsenal striker Henry scorned two fantastic chances from close range.

He hit the junction of post and bar with a fierce shot and somehow headed wide with a diving effort from six yards.

Hearts, who made eleven changes in the game, will no doubt be in more competitive mood when the season opens against Hibs at Tynecastle.

Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard has enjoyed his visit to Scotland so much he would like to repeat it again next season.

The Catalan club, who were based in St Andrews, flew out of Edinburgh airport straight after the Hearts game which came three days after a 1-0 win over Dundee United at Tannadice.

Rijkaard said: "It has been wonderful and I wouldn't say that if it wasn't true.

"We have been made welcome here and the circumstances have been great for working in.

"You never know what will happen next summer but if it was my decision then I would like to come back here."

love the guy but looks good on Arsenal's part

Judge Judy · Post by **Judge Judy** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 9:34 am

Big Wayne wrote:The young fella came on and played the last 10 minutes. I saw a great photo of him running alongside Henry.

He went to Germany with the first team and looks like he might figure in the first team coach's plans for 07/08.

Has Ryan represented Australia at youth level? He might get snapped up by Scotland (believe me they need him). He would qualify due to his parents.

have spoken to both ryan and his old man on the issue, ryan has stated he wants to represent australia and jamie is all too happy to support whatever ryan ends up doing. though if the farkers over here don't pull their finger out and have a look at rhino and scotland start sniffing about (if they aren't already), he may be swayed to scots

either way, i'll be supporting the lad

Jay Walking · Post by **Jay Walking** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 11:02 pm

I think you'll find Ryan and Matty Mullen representing Oz in the next couple of years. He told me he wants to represent Australia. I'm tearing up your Ingle Farm contract if you dont Ryan when you come back.