Five things that have happened since Thomas Vermaelen signed for Barcelona

If a week is a long time in football, how about nine months?

That's the extraordinary length of time between Thomas Vermaelen signing for Barcelona and finally making his debut for the club (fingers crossed) against Deportivo la Coruna this weekend. https://twitter.com/FCBarcelona/status/601708733161418752 A series of injuries have kept the Belgian away from the first team since he signed from Arsenal last August, and here are just a few of the things that have happened in the intervening period... Scotland votes 'no' in the independence referendum The 'Better Together' campaign prevailed by 55%-45% in September. At the time of writing, there is nothing to indicate that the prospect of a Vermaelen-less Britain had anything to do with the outcome, but we don't want to rule anything out... The United States and Cuba resume normal diplomatic relations A hugely significant strategic change, bringing an end to an "outdated" approach. So a bit like Barcelona's eventual transformation under Luis Enrique this season. Birdman wins Best Picture at the Oscars The story of a once-revered hero proving to the world that he is not washed up. You can probably see where we're going with this. Princess Charlotte is born An entire country fawns over a youngster before they have even done anything of note. But enough about Vermaelen's team-mate Marc Bartra... The Conservative Party wins the 2015 General Election How many now long for the halcyon days of the coalition, when hope sprung eternal and a certain Belgian defender was running half the length of the field to score a stoppage-time winner? Ok, perhaps we're remembering it with rose-tinted glasses. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lg0rai5Pl8