crinkly_ears | BBQ, National Team Call-Up & Line-up Drama, Praise For Mesut After Ajax & Arrival In Barcelona!

Miscellany - Includes Iker's Latest Facebook Offering, The Arrival In Barcelona To Play Espanyol, and Marcelo & Mesut Signing Autographs!

Beer-less BBQs & Team Bonding

Note: distressing lack of alcohol.

Aside from the obvious and distressing lack of beer, yesterday afternoon looked like immense fun for the lads!

Well, it WAS at Valdebebas, so perhaps Mourinho didn't want his boys getting giggly. Let's hope there was some orange-flavoured soda or iced-tea of some sort for Mesut.

The lad was unusually well-dressed - with James Dean on his t-shirt!

Mesut - looking quite presentable.

The press are reporting that the boys were told they'd be doing a double training session at Valdebebas. They arrived (no doubt dreading their afternoon) to discover Mourinho had tricked them and that they were to be eating instead.

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Franco German relations are looking harmonious!

It certainly seems a very nice way to take advantage of what looks like lovely weather in Spain.

National Team Call-up & General Line-Up Drama!

Mesut has been called up for Germany's Qualification Matches against Turkey (away) and Belgium (home). He is likely to play in both, and Loew will want a perfect record in qualifying and it gives him a chance to settle his starting 11.

Mesut with bromantic interests Lukas & Sami.

International Break is always so wonderful! Bromantic intrigue, little features on the DFB website, photographs, videos - the lot! Also: Mesut has taken off his shirt more often in his last 3 outings with the National Team than he did in his entire season at Madrid - so let's hope that good-habits are forming!

Line-up Drama

After a year of being Unverzichtbar (direct quote) for Germany, Mesut suddenly found himself being widely discussed as the ex-Hope in the German press after Mario Goetze's coming out party against Brazil in August. Would he still play? Would Loew replace him with little Goetze? Could they play together? Drop Sami Khedira and play 4-1-4-1? Or was it a Günter Netzer, Wolfgang Overath situation?

History repeating itself?

Borussia Dortmund crashing in the Champions League group stages, the Mannschaft having a torrid time in Poland and one hat-trick (tm) from Mesut against Austria seems to have shut down the speculation, if only temporarily. And really, to any serious observer of the sport it seemed even at the time like nothing more than speculation to fill up empty press-columns and a chance for Bild to use their new cleverly coined portmanteau "Goetzil" in its headlines.

Now - new drama - only this time at Real Madrid. The question the press has been asking for the past two days - can Kaka and Ozil play together? (For a hint: see above).

According to lip-reader imahurricane Mesut is saying:
"muy bien, muy bien"

Well - apparently. What a silly question (see above). At any rate, having one more solid, on-form attacking midfielder in addition to Angel di Maria is something most teams could only dream of. Rotation and fewer over-use injuries here we come!

Praise from Teammates

After all that fun we had on Tuesday in the Champions League match against Ajax, some of Mesut's teammates and coaches have been kind enough to say lovely things.

Xabi Alonso (who once said that Mesut simplifies his life by clearing space up front and occupying defenders) has come out and said that playing with both Mesut and Kaka gives Madrid mobility and creativity.

Mesut with Xabi Alonso against Atleti last October.

Aitor Karanka has noted that Mesut played as a winger on Tuesday "but a class player like that adapts to anything."

Gratuitous hot Basque picture.

Kaka himself has said "it's just fun to play with Mesut."

And Alvaro Arbeloa, in his "Real Arbeloa" interview has noted that "Mesut is a fantastic player."

Mesut with the awfully pretty Alvaro Arbeloa.

Training Picture From Today!

Lovely weather = biceps on view!

First Update: Iker's Facebook Has Been Updated With The Following Picture!

It was taken when the boys were on their way to Barcelona to face Espanyol tomorrow! Who thinks Iker needs a better camera? Hands up.

Second Update: Mesut (& Sami & Hamit!) Arrive In Barcelona!

Third Update! Mesut & Marcelo Sign Autographs For Fans!

Mesut and Marcelo were chosen to the ones to sign Autographs for the fans who showed up at their hotel in Barcelona (they play Espanyol tomorrow!).