Aug 18, 2017

Yeah just saw Liverpool reject a 3rd bid, the situation is pretty bad but relax there are worse things out there, no need for the melodrama...ask Arsenal fans how they coped with the last 13 years

At least unlike the Premier League, there isn't a situation where any of Real or Barca will seriously fault behind--both teams have too much revenue and the tv rights still in our favor, it's like a giant seesaw of power. This is trivial and perhaps once the bs is out of the club better times might return.

 

Aug 18, 2017

Yeah you see i wouldn't mind. Us barca fans would be like : Meh, we can be back to the top of the world in a few years of smart development.

Problem is, this is the eve of Messi's career, and it's being wasted while RM throw trophies and Ballon dor's at Ronaldo.

 

Aug 18, 2017

Football is impossible to predict and I hope I never see you guys be a decent team ever again, it's nicer seeing Real on top

All banter aside, I stopped giving a s--- about who is the best singular player, both these clubs gave Leo & CR7 more trophies than they can ever dream of. This talk of deserving is irrelevant, be grateful for what they've accomplished but at some point their eras are bound to be over. I'm more excited about the new crops of footballers that will vie for that distinction.

 

Aug 18, 2017

Madrid junior shining while our juniors either moving elsewhere or not being used.

Munir collecting dust while asensio being made into a star.

 

Aug 18, 2017

Thiago Alcantara's exit still blows my mind, he was the perfect successor for Xavi-Iniesta meanwhile Busi still had miles on his tank until someone like Samper gets groomed in that position. Isco was another one that got away, it took some growing pains but he's now a starter for the club. That scouting department needs to get shaked up pronto since there is too much waste there and other teams keep beating you guys to the gems.

Your thoughts on Valverde? His hands are a bit tied with the incompetence of this summer but I've asked other Barca fans and most think he'll get the axe in January?

 

Aug 18, 2017

Valverde? Too early to give a full judgement.
This Period without Suarez, Pique or Iniesta will be Key. Mostly because the absentees exaggerate the type of problems we had last season, which was:

Defending , especially from set Pieces (we lost our best aerial player)
Keeping useful possession, and creating WITHOUT MSN.
And finally our woeful finishing which saw us lose many a game we perhaps could have otherwise won.

Literally the entire team has to rebuilt from scratch using the broken pieces from before he arrived. Especially because at this rate the club won't make any signings.

As for whether he get's sacked? That's a very distinct possibility that has crossed my mind. But it really depends on the team he's able to develop basically from scratch and the decisions he makes.

 

Aug 18, 2017

I really doubt he'll be sacked though. While Enrique relied on his best 11 at all time, Valverde will be forced to get the best out of the squad players for at least the first month, and he's done really well with inferior players at Bilbao.

And as for the whole paulinho thing, if paulinho or any other player is underwhelming, he won't be as stubborn as Enrique was with gomes. He'll just stop playing him. What i really wonder is how the f--- he'll rotate all the d--- midfielders we have in our squad. Something tells me he'll play a 4-2-3-1 like he did at bilbao or a 4-4-2 .

 

Aug 18, 2017

The big issue is the wide players should he go with either of those formations, assuming Messi does become the ten then who will dominate the flanks? I think people are being unfair with Paulinho's reputation since he does offer a great box-to-box threat and a lot of energy especially paired with a solid holding midfielder which Barca already has.

If he can convince his team to do the same intense pressing scheme he implemented in Athletic, the harder it will be to play you guys especially with a fresh-fully fit squad (at least for teams that aren't press-resistant from the back). He has it tough in this first month, but he's a good manager I remember he led Espanyol to a Uefa Cup some time ago (forgot what year it was?). Can't be any worse than Tata Martino at least.

 

Aug 18, 2017

The Wingbacks? Nelson Semedo look's like he's already a world class player, and Jordi Alba when not miles out of position is a great player. We'd play with a more compressed midfield that can move the ball quickly through pressure and have enough numbers to win back the ball in the middle. The flank men could operate the wings while the two CM's provide cover.

Alternatively we could play Vidal , Roberto(has a lot of experience on the flanks now) and Rafinha (i bet you forgot this guy) to play RM while Iniesta and Denis could rotate for LM.

The foward roles could be shared between Paco, Munir, Turan and Messi.
CM could be shared between Busquets, Paulinho, Samper/Gomes and Rakitic.

It's less "Barcelona" like but honestly we have too much Midfielders and not enough Neymars to play on the wing (0) so it's the best fit for our current squad.

He's actually slightly underrated , but people bash the transfer cause he's at an age where he might start declining and he's not the best fit for 4-3-3 we usually play. Plus there's the rumors surrounding the transfer and Barto's businesses. And then there's the fact that Barca fans don't really think that he's better than Rafinha, Roberto or Rakitic, two of which are masia.

But yeah, I mean he's fantastic for Brazil.

It was there in pre-season, but things like that terror attack and that 5-1 drubbing are usually great motivators. I think player form is important too. Gomes for example is either a great player with potential, or a devastatingly bad one.

But i don't think he'll do a bad job. People are just pessimistic because the universe has been really f---ing us lately , and we can't afford to lose more ground on madrid.

 

Aug 19, 2017

Too soon on Semedo although I liked him a lot in Benfica, the most important thing is that if he can cover ground since the wide players are more ball-oriented rather than attacking through the channels and half-spaces with speed--that way teams won't shred you guys on the counter. Those overloads on the right used to be deadly but we gotta see if Barca haven't been too centralized now since Messi and Suarez are the only legitimate goal threats. Fullbacks have been the new Center Mids as far as importance goes in covering space and participating with the offensive phases.

Give him time, on the contrary he would be good as another option to Rakitic as the ball carrier/channel invader in the 433. But the real question is are these players seriously as good as counterparts in other teams? Guys like Denis and Rafinha have talent but they honestly pale in comparison with the names in other big teams, and I mean this with no disrespect. I see them more as squad players really more so than becoming stars although they can still prove me wrong.

We'll revisit this around November-December when teams are finally running into gear and team structures are more visible. The last thing you guys need is a poor string of results and more key injuries, at least the squad isn't as thin as it was last season.

 

Aug 19, 2017

I'm making that judgment based on his Supercup performance. When he came on he and Sergi kept the right side well defended against Marcelo and Asensio, and at the same time completed 2 dribbles and a key pass (almost assist) when going down the flank. He also seemed really energetic and covered the space easily. It's a serious relief getting him in RB.

Well which other teams are we comparing? And are we comparing them to starting players on other teams or other squad players?


Denis Suarez is criminally underrated. He had 13 Assists for Villareal in 15/16. But that's the state of barcelona right now, young players like these being wasted. As for the few times he played

Even pundits were calling him the next Iniesta. I think under a good manager he could easily be a star.

Barcelona's younger squad players aren't "average" . They just aren't being developed as they would at a club like Dortmund or coincidentally Madrid. Roberto is an attacking player who spent 2 years being turned into a defender for f--- sake. I don't take offense at you saying these players aren't "that good", it's just symbolic of the club's inability to develop these players that makes you underrate them.

Same with Munir. Not being developed.


And Samper


When people say "Masia isn't producing talent", i just bite my tongue. It's not that the talent isn't there, it's just not being molded the same way Van Gaal and Pep Did.

 

Aug 19, 2017

Munir is too dope, I would bench Suarez and play that kid

 

Aug 19, 2017

Loving this United set up. Looking very slick so far

 

Aug 19, 2017

 

Aug 19, 2017

My man Martial is clearly reaching back his level from 2015. Mourinho is creating a monster.

 

Aug 19, 2017

f--- man utd

 

Aug 19, 2017

3 goals after he came on — he seriously needs to start

Who do you support?

 

Aug 19, 2017

C H E L S E A



but im drunk af

 

Aug 19, 2017

2 goals and 1 assist. Still impressive af considering he has only played 27 minutes

 

Aug 19, 2017

I was talking about United as a team scoring 3 goals after Martial came on today but yeah impressive whatever way you look at his performances these first 2 games

ty for this lad