This is a collaborative post between blitzen, Jnice, jordi, Miguel and Kari. Please note that performances are rated solely on last season and not a complete breakdown of the players throughout their Barcelona careers.

Barcelona B employed three goalkeepers in the 2010-2011 season: Oier Olazabal, Ruben Mino, and Jordi Masip. Coach Luis Enrique employed a rotation system that ensured that all three keepers played almost the same number of games. Some have found his commitment to this system surprising, but Lucho feels that this is the best way to keep a high level of competitiveness within the squad and develop players with different strengths. He chose the keeper based on not only who he felt was best for each match, but also based on hard work, ambition, and good attitude in training. As a result of this philosophy, Barcelona B now has three keepers full of confidence and playing at a very high level. When Pinto eventually leaves, the first team will be spoiled for choice as to who to promote.

*

Name: Oier Olazábal Paredes

Birthplace: Irún (Guipúzcoa)

Date of birth: September 14, 1989

Height: 189 cm (6’2’’)

Official First Team Appearances: 1

Chances of getting into the first team next season: 40%

Continuing the tradition of excellent Basque goalkeepers, Oier joined FCB in 2007 from Real Unión de Irún and has spent 4 seasons with Barcelona B/Atlètic. Initially brought in as a backup to Rubén, he impressed the coaches with his agility and drive to succeed. He has been called up as a reserve to the first team several times, and made his debut in the League on May 17, 2009 in a game against RCD Mallorca.

In 15 appearances last season he conceded 28 goals and had 2 clean sheets. He also has excellent hair. 🙂

Name: Rubén Miño Peralta

Birthplace: Esplugues de Llobregat (Barcelona)

Date of birth: January 18, 1989

Height: 191 cm (6’2’’)

Official First Team Appearances: 1

Chances of getting into the first team this season: 60%

Rubén is a local Catalan boy from Esplugues de Llobregat, a city just outside of Barcelona (Their coat of arms is something to behold). He entered La Masia as a youth, and was eventually sent on loan to local club UE Cornellà for two years to gain experience. He came back in the 2007-2008 season to serve with the Juvenil A (under-19) side, and was promoted to then-Barcelona Atlètic in 2008. He has been with the B team for three full seasons and is also regularly called up for the Spain U21 side. His debut with the first team occurred on August 14, 2010 in the first leg of the Spanish Supercup against Sevilla, with Victor Valdes still resting from the World Cup and Pinto being out with injury. FCB lost that game 1-3. He is a very complete keeper who understands the Barça philosophy that a keeper should be involved in building attacks.

In 15 league appearances last season he conceded 21 goals and had 3 clean sheets. He appears to be currently the third-choice backup for the first team.

Name: Jordi Masip López

Birthplace: Sabadell

Date of birth: January 3, 1989

Height: 180 cm (5’9’’)

Chances of getting into the first team this season: 0%

Another local Catalan boy, Masip joined La Masia in 2004 from regional club Mercantil. He has worked his way up through the youth ranks, spending one year with Cadete A, two with Juvenil B, and one with Juvenil A before being loaned out to UE Vilajuïga for the 2008-2009 season. He returned to Barcelona B for the 2009-2010 season where he became third-choice keeper. In the 2010-2011 season coach Luis Enrique incorporated him fully into his GK rotation system. In 12 league appearances last season he conceded 13 goals and had 3 clean sheets. He is known for his quick reflexes, athleticism, and intuition.

He has yet to make a first team appearance.

*

Despite not being known for it, La Masia has a plethora of talented defenders in their ranks and there are some very promising youngsters coming through. Versatility seems to be the trend of this generation and many of the players are able to play multiple positions in defense and midfield. This season Luis Enrique had eight defenders to choose from and has used them all to the best of his ability. With captain Andreu Fontas being called up to the first team for the second half of the season due to Eric Abidal’s unexpected tumor, the other seven players had ample opportunities to show the boss they warranted regular appearances.

*

Name: Martín Montoya Torralbo

Position: Right Back

Birthplace: Barcelona (Barcelona)

Date of birth: April 14, 1991

Height: 174cm (5’7’’)

Official First Team Appearances: 2

Chances of getting into the first team next season: 50%

Martin Montoya is a promising right back that possesses great stamina and is able to run up and down the right flank for the entire ninety minutes. He is always available as an outlet in support of the midfielders/attackers and is a good crosser of the ball. He is not the best at taking players on when in possession and needs to improve in that aspect of his game. Defensively, he is very solid and rarely gets beat by an attacker 1v1.

Montoya has been called up twice for the first team, his most recent appearance against Real Sociedad away from home where he was solid for 10 minutes he played (he left the game due to a broken collarbone after the 10 minute mark). This summer he was an integral part of the Spanish U-21 side that won the European Championships in Denmark.

Out of all the defenders in the first team, he is currently the closest to a first team call-up.

Name: Marc Bartra Aregall

Position: Center Back, Right Back

Birthplace: Sant Jaume dels Domenys (Tarragona)

Date of birth: January 15, 1991

Height: 181cm (5’9’’)

Official First Team Appearances: 6 (1 goal)

Chances of getting into first team next season: 20%

Marc Bartra is one of the most talented defenders currently in the Barcelona system. He is predominately a center back, but has shown on many occasions he does not look out of place when moved to right back, where he played in his first team debut in an away game against Atletico Madrid on February 14, 2009.

Quick and nimble, he is consistently able to make strong runs from the back, showing a deft touch on the ball. He is another one of those center backs that are comfortable on the ball and has an eye for the long diagonal, or crossfield pass. His leadership qualities make him stand out as a player and he is someone others look to for guidance.

At times, he suffers from lapses in concentration and can be put off balance a bit too easily by skillful dribblers. Still, having been called up three times for the first team and for the U-20 Spain WC squad this summer, he remains one to watch for both Barca and Spain.

Name: Marc Muniesa Martínez

Position: Center Back, Left Back

Birthplace: Lloret de Mar (Girona)

Date of birth: March 27, 1992

Height: 179cm (5’9’’)

Official First Team Appearances: 1

Chances of getting into first team next season: 0%

Everyone remembers him for his red card when making his debut for the first team in the 08/09 treble winning season, Marc “The next Puyol” Muniesa is another extremely promising defender in the Barça system. Like so many of the youngsters coming through the ranks nowadays, he is versatile and can play both the center back and left back positions in defense. He’s aggressive, has a great sense of anticipation, and is a good distributor of the ball from the back. However his positioning is not always the best and he loses concentration too easily at times. Marc also seems to be a bit injury-prone, recently pulling out of Spain’s U-20 WC squad.

That being said, being versatile, talented and hardworking, he has what it takes to make a push for the first team in the future and/or sustain a healthy career in the Primera – if he can keep healthy.

Name: Andreu Fontàs Prat

Position: Center Back, Defensive Midfield

Birthplace: Banyoles (Girona)

Date of birth: November 14, 1989

Height: 186cm (6’1’’)

Official First Team Appearances: 10

Chances of getting into first team next season: 100%

Already promoted to the first team for next season, Andreu Fontas is a classy left-footed central defender with great positioning and a remarkable composure to his play. Having started out his career as a defensive midfielder, Fontas has a great touch and is extremely comfortable on the ball. He is able to build play from the back with ease, while also being able to play a killer diagonal pass. Tactically flexible, Pep has experimented with him at left back against Real Sociedad where he performed well despite the team losing the game. Unfortunately, he is not blessed with the greatest amount of pace nor does he win as many headers as he should defensively. His calmness can also be his undoing at times, leaving him behind the attacker.

He is a raw, but very promising player. With the proper guidance and patience, and him having been the B-team captain and therefore possessing strong leadership abilities, he has what it takes to the next great Barca defender.

Name: Armando Lozano Sánchez

Position: Center Back

Birthplace: Motril (Granada)

Date of birth: December 16, 1984

Height: 185cm (6’1’’)

Official First Team Appearances: 0

Chances of getting into first team next season: 0%

From 2003 to 2006, Armando played for Malaga’s B side in the second division before being promoted to be the first team for the 2006/07 season. The then-Liga side Levante acquired his services for the next season but after suffering relegation and a financial crisis and the player himself being used sparingly, Armando left the Valencian club for third-division side FC Cartegana before signing for Barcelona B, who were also in the third division, in 2009.

The oldest player on Barça B, Armando is known for his immense physicality as well as his impressive leadership qualities. He is also good in the air both defensively and offensively. That being said, Armando is fairly slow, gets beaten by attackers regularly, and is not comfortable on the ball like his teammates.

He has no chance of ever being promoted to the first team.

Name: Carles Planas Antolínez

Position: Left Back

Birthplace: Sant Celoni (Barcelona)

Date of birth: March 4, 1991

Height: 173 (5’7’’)

Official First Team Appearances: 0

Chances of getting into the first team next season: 2%

Carles Planas is a talented left back who like Montoya, shined in last year’s European U-19 Championships. Planas is quick player who loves to join the attack and offer support on the left flank. However, on the defensive end, Planas seems to get caught out too many times and this past season saw him struggle against the bigger and faster Segunda attackers. He suffered from a few injuries during the season that seemed to affect his rhythm and confidence. Nevertheless he is a very hard worker, so expect him to work on improving his game this summer.

Name: Abraham Minero Fernández

Birthplace: Granollers, (Barcelona)

Position: Left Back, Left Midfield

Date of Birth: February 22, 1986

Official First Team Appearances: 0

Chances of getting into the first team next season: 0%

Abraham is a fairly versatile player who is capable of playing in both defense and midfield. He works hard and has a bit of pace to him, but unfortunately, he tends to be caught out of position a lot and also has a bad habit of giving away the ball cheaply. As such, he’ll be playing his trade at Real Zaragoza next season.

Promoted Juvenil A Player To Watch:

Name: Sergi Gómez Solà

Position: Center Back

Birthplace: Arenys de Mar (Barcelona)

Date of birth: March 28, 1992

Height: 185cm (6’1’’)

Official First Team Appearances: 1

Chances of getting into the first team next season: 0%

Sergi Gomez is one of the eight Juvenil A players being permanently promoted to Barça B next season. One of the most reliable players on the treble winning Juvenil A side, Sergi Gomez is strong, capable of marking players tightly, and is comfortable on the ball. A towering 6’1’’, he is good in the air both defensively and offensively and will be a threat in corner and freekick situations. At times last season with Barça B, his positioning left a little to be desired. He also lacks pace and will need to improve on his lateral quickness in order to avoid giving up fouls against the attackers in the Segunda.

Once he has consistently proven himself at the Segunda level, there is a chance he could be called up to the first team sometime in the future.