Barca Training.

As promised, I have pics from last nights Barcelona training session in St. Andrews.

Note that the pictures are not of the best quality as I couldn't get close enough (standing on the street behind a fence), and I couldn't blag my way in as a Uni student.

Other that that, it was rather entertaining. Watching them doing their drills (or plays) from the centre of the pitch, out to the wings then into the box was pretty awesome. They spent a good half hour on this with many variations, it's really no wonder they have the ability to cut teams up.

They then went on to play a match, as most teams do in training, and it was good to see some of the skills on show.

I have seen Messi many-a-time on the TV, but never had the joy of seeing him up close. Quite simply, awesome.

So it was good to see, whets the appetite for Saturday.

Also spotted at the training session was former United winger Steven Robb. Don't panic though, he has not managed to wangle himself a deal with the Catalan giants, he was merely a spectator with his kid.

And finally, at the time of writing, Barca are currently destroying Hibs 4-0. Gudjohnsen 2, Messi and Pedinho (I think) have scored, all within the first 25 minutes. It could have been more, Barca are just waltzing through the Hibs defence and midfield.

They won't get it that easy against us, that's for sure.

United News

With the games coming thick and fast, as they do during pre season, a few of the boys appear to have picked up wee niggley knocks.

Lee Wilkie, Scott Robertson, Andis Shala and Gary Kenneth all have slight knocks.

Robertson is expected to travel with the first team squad to Dunfermline on Wednesday, and the other three should be fit for the game against Barcelona on Saturday.

In other news, an unnamed Spanish Trialist (he will of course have a name, if you know his name, let me know) is still on trial with the club. So far he has set up a goal and scored one in the Oban Tournament and bagged another in a second string game versus Cowdenbeath.

The club are keeping this all very quiet, maybe so as not to alert other clubs?

We shall wait and see on that one.

At the same time as the first team are taking on Dunfermline at East End Park, a second string, comprising of some first team fringe players, reserves and youngsters, will be taking on Arbroath at Gayfield.

Hopefully we can pick up good results in both games.

And lastly, the Superstars that are Barcelona touched down in Scotland today, and headed to their St. Andrews training base ahead of their games against Hibs and the Mighty Shed!

Stars such as Messi and Eto'o have travelled with the squad, as well as new signings Alexander Hleb (£11.9m from Arsenal) and Daniel Alves (£23.5m from Sevillá).

The training schedule for the Barca squads training camp can be found here,just incase you fancy a wee trip down.