FC Barcelona 2016/2017 Thread

[Xaviesta]

this season only Busquets, Denis, Suárez, Neymar, Paco, Digne, Vidal and Masip haven't been injured and we are in october.

 

[Sir Didier Drogba]

Welcome to the real world of competitive football

 

[MaSsiVe]

Beside the circus at the end (after Leo scored the pk)The idiots threw something (a bottle I think) at Paco and Mathieu at half time and whistled Andre Gomes. Their fans are worse than Espanyol's

Judging by the players' reactions, seems like that bottle managed to hit at least 5 of them simultaneously

Whoever threw it should apply for the next Olympics.

 

[Arnau]

Messi clearly says: La concha de su madre hijos de mil putas.

 

[Xaviesta]

Hard to believe we paid 18m for this guy. Still underrated.

 

[Pogba4Now]

18 millions? That's a lot. Some players better than him come in free e.g. Xavi, Scholes, Gerrard (the young, non-slippy one)

 

[poet11]

I find Nady, Sir C and kp's war against the Barca/Pep bunch pretty entertaining.

 

[chygry]

I find Nady, Sir C and kp's war against the Barca/Pep bunch pretty entertaining.

lol indeed.

I wonder why are people making so much fuzz about Mourinho's United performing so-so, with Pogba still having trouble finding his best form. And critizising them at every opportunity.

While Guardiola's City has been without a victory for like what, six matches already? He doesn't seem to get as much stick at all compared to José.

It's too early to jump into some conclusions, but perhaps his possession type of football is not really for the Premiership and its tight schedule. I wanna see how he'll get through December.

Obviously it takes some time for his players to get used to his idea of football, same with Mourinho and United. But still the press has been rather lenient towards Joe, and trying to rile up Mourinho and Pogba at every opportunity.

 

[poet11]

lol indeed.

I wonder why are people making so much fuzz about Mourinho's United performing so-so, with Pogba still having trouble finding his best form. And critizising them at every opportunity.

While Guardiola's City has been without a victory for like what, six matches already? He doesn't seem to get as much stick at all compared to José.

It's too early to jump into some conclusions, but perhaps his possession type of football is not really for the Premiership and its tight schedule. I wanna see how he'll get through December.

Obviously it takes some time for his players to get used to his idea of football, same with Mourinho and United. But still the press has been rather lenient towards Joe, and trying to rile up Mourinho and Pogba at every opportunity.

I suppose its the image that is projected about them. I feel bad for Pogba since he never in his lifetime can pay back that amount of the fee and people forget the team as they functioned were basically well knit platform for a player of Pogba's profile to thrive.

As for Mou, he needs to show his methods and tactical ideas aren't outdated or needs to reinvent himself. Man Utd first of all need an identity based on new football principals. They were on the way with LvG imo and should've been given another year based on his FA Cup win and 5th place finish. By the end of his 3rd season, I believe Man Utd would've had enough homegrown players moulded into his "philosophy". Then someone else comes in and improvises what he left behind. Mourinho came in and immediately started bad mouthing and spoke about LVG's blueprint of the team needed to be torn apart instead of building on it. Conte would've been a much better candidate imo. He does LVG like building from the ground up and his teams have identity. Mourinho's teams beyond efficiency and physically the most fittest teams aren't anything. I suppose they want and need results but a result that cannot be built upon is pointless since results are a coming together of work done beforehand. He needs to asap rediscover ideas.

Pep in that respect does have that edge of a well defined way of playing and ability to tactically manipulate and maximize individual player's output.

 

[Sir Didier Drogba]

I find Nady, Sir C and kp's war against the Barca/Pep bunch pretty entertaining.

I'm not irrationally anti-Pep, and I gave him a lot of credit and compliments for his great and fast start to the season with Man City, he's not my favourite but I fully acknowledge that he is one of the absolute elite managers working today - what I can't stand is this irrational, fanatical and delusional fanboy culture around him.

 

[poet11]

I'm not irrationally anti-Pep, and I gave him a lot of credit and compliments for his great and fast start to the season with Man City, he's not my favourite but I fully acknowledge that he is one of the absolute elite managers working today - what I can't stand is this irrational, fanatical and delusional fanboy culture around him.

Me neither. To add to your great cause, last season I thought Coman and Douglas Costa were getting overhyped. Specially Coman I thought as Pep designed/micromanaged his game for him to thrive while Arnau was "oh they're WC super duper awesome players". Now, recently Arnau stand flipped 360 and Pep is the Messiah. I feel that's criminally offensive on so many levels.

 

[chygry]

I suppose its the image that is projected about them. I feel bad for Pogba since he never in his lifetime can pay back that amount of the fee and people forget the team as they functioned were basically well knit platform for a player of Pogba's profile to thrive.

As for Mou, he needs to show his methods and tactical ideas aren't outdated or needs to reinvent himself. Man Utd first of all need an identity based on new football principals. They were on the way with LvG imo and should've been given another year based on his FA Cup win and 5th place finish. By the end of his 3rd season, I believe Man Utd would've had enough homegrown players moulded into his "philosophy". Then someone else comes in and improvises what he left behind. Mourinho came in and immediately started bad mouthing and spoke about LVG's blueprint of the team needed to be torn apart instead of building on it. Conte would've been a much better candidate imo. He does LVG like building from the ground up and his teams have identity. Mourinho's teams beyond efficiency and physically the most fittest teams aren't anything. I suppose they want and need results but a result that cannot be built upon is pointless since results are a coming together of work done beforehand. He needs to asap rediscover ideas.

Pep in that respect does have that edge of a well defined way of playing and ability to tactically manipulate and maximize individual player's output.

Well Pogba should keep his mind off the fee Manutd paid for him. If a player wants to succeed at some club then he should never let something like that weigh on his mind.

Yes I kinda agree I guess when you're saying that Mourinho's style looks a bit outdated. But it's not exactly like we're in some deep shambles right now. I'd say he's slowly getting there. The problem right now seems to be that we're lacking a player of Carrick's statue in the midfield area, and unfortunately he cannot play every match anymore. Also Pogba hasn't properly settled in yet. Another position I'm slowly starting to get worried about is the striker position. Ibrahimović started out really well, but hasn't really produced much lately. Maybe the high intensity of the EPL is not really meant for a 35-year-old to play in every match. If this continues then maybe he should be dropped. Let Rashford play as a #9 for example with Martial on the left.

Although Martial has been kind of poor this season as well, especially compared to how good he was during the last one. Hasn't really found his feet so far.

And another thing that worries me is Mkhitaryan. Apparently he's not injured anymore, but for some reason Mourinho hasn't exactly been convinced by him. On form Miky could add a lot of spark to our attack in my humble opinion. Whether he'd be played as a #10 or on the right.

Anyway we beat City in the EFL (or whatever it's called now) cup. 6 points behind the leaders of the Premiership at the moment which is not the end of the world and we could close the gap a tad bit should City fuck up today. Also doing comfortably in Europa League. If you look at the statistics it doesn't all seem that bad. But our performances on the field is something that can really leave a sore taste in your mouth.

Dunno I'd say United were really never going to go far with LvG. He struggled to find the right system throughout the whole time he was at the helm of the club. Considering how bad the team did under him, I'd say he was lucky not to get sacked earlier. We were never going to places under him. Let's just say I believe in Mourinho.

I suppose you're right about Guardiola, but even his style of getting the most out of some players is always not enough.

Me neither. To add to your great cause, last season I thought Coman and Douglas Costa were getting overhyped. Specially Coman I thought as Pep designed/micromanaged his game for him to thrive while Arnau was "oh they're WC super duper awesome players". Now, recently Arnau stand flipped 360 and Pep is the Messiah. I feel that's criminally offensive on so many levels.

Wingers like Douglas Costa and Coman are perfect for Guardiola's system. Players like them who stretch out the play usually excel in his teams. Considering a lot of the play happens in the midfield, and one of his ideas is "overcrowding" one wing which leaves tons of space on the other wing. At least I remember him saying something like that during his Barcelona days that it's one way of splitting up the opposition's defence completely.

 

[poet11]

Yeah, you're right re LVG but I was on about gradual organic growth and after that you get someone else good at taking you places.

And Joe Guardiola does zis then uses his deepest players to switch play. Mourinho did that at Chelsea the first time. What I like also is how he maximizes each players role like you're great at dribbling so I create opportunities for you to dribble. He is like a mix of LVG,Joe Cruyff-this is exactly where Nady figured his real first name- and Bielsa.

 

[chygry]

Yeah, you're right re LVG but I was on about gradual organic growth and after that you get someone else good at taking you places.

And Joe Guardiola does zis then uses his deepest players to switch play. Mourinho did that at Chelsea the first time. What I like also is how he maximizes each players role like you're great at dribbling so I create opportunities for you to dribble. He is like a mix of LVG,Joe Cruyff-this is exactly where Nady figured his real first name- and Bielsa.

When you really look back at LVG's time at United with fondness, the greatest thing he ever did was promoting Rashford and giving him a chance which he capitalized on perfectly. Hadn't it been for those injuries though back then, who knows maybe we wouldn't even know about the guy.

Yes well Joe wants his players to play to their strenghts which is something what most quality managers do. For example El Cholo with Atlético. He's got that going and the team working as a unit too. That's why they are such a good team.

He is like a mix of LVG,Joe Cruyff-this is exactly where Nady figured his real first name

lol.. I don't really like to use terms like a mixture of X managers or players when describing someone. Everyone has got their own style and there are no "new-Cristianos" or "new-Messis", the same way with managers.

 

[Xaviesta]

Rafinha has been very good this season and after those injuries I thought he was done because it is very hard to come back after something like that. I'm so glad he proved most Barça fans wrong.

 

[Xaviesta]

Messi's greatest achievement is carrying Argentina to 3 consecutive finals playing with these retards. Everything he's done with Barcelona? piece of cake.

 

[chygry]

For once I agree with you Xaviesta my mate.. There are so many Argentine people who blame Messi whenever they can once their national side fails, but fail to look at other players who have to play their part as well. All in all football is a team game. It's no wonder why Messi wanted to retire from the NT alltogether. Just watch this last Copa America final against Chile highlights.



.. He was doing all the legwork, once in a while taking like three or four Chilenos on on his own, but without any support from his teammates.. No one making the right runs etc. For example Higuain (especially) has been rubbish for their NT, and yet again usually nobody blames Agüero.. The guy is basically invisible during some matches of theirs..

Obviously Chile played great shutting him down but when your teammates offer nothing then you cannot blame him in no ways for getting frustrated.

South-Americans are so passionate about football so it's easy to look for a scapegoat, especially when it comes to the best player in the world for "not performing".

 

[kp41]

I don't want to compare the quality of Maradona and Messi, you can argue Messi is better and maybe you are right ... but he's no leader like Maradona to inspire other players to play at another level and achieve big things ... Maradona leaded average Argentina/Napoli teams to success ... Napoli died after Maradona and was dead before Maradona ... just look at the difference he could still make at 1994 ... his charisma and leadership can't be compared to Messi at all ... One should be blind to say that current Argentina team has less star power than 1986 team ...

Iniesta, Xavi, Pique, Puyol, and Sergio won World Cup and Euros with Spain ... they could play at high level even without Messi (I'm not saying old shit that Messi cannot perform without Xavi/Iniesta, I'm just saying Iniesta and co could achieve top level success without Messi at side) ...

 

[poet11]

International football is broken man though I agree Messi is not a leader and shouldn't be captain.

 

[chygry]

I don't want to compare the quality of Maradona and Messi .....

Iniesta, Xavi, Pique, Puyol, and Sergio won World Cup and Euros with Spain ... they could play at high level even without Messi (I'm not saying old shit that Messi cannot perform without Xavi/Iniesta, I'm just saying Iniesta and co could achieve top level success without Messi at side) ...

How much of Diego Maradona did you actually see playing live during his haydays? You should be grateful that you're living at a time when you can see a player like Messi to be honest. But regarding leadership I sort of agree, or what leadership... Maradona compared to Messi has loads of charisma, which reflects from the football field to even further. When it comes to him being a leader we all know how that has gone. Isn't exactly an example you want to follow when it comes to life outside of football. Also we all saw how he masterminded Argentina's exit from the 2010 World Cup in South-Africa. Leaving treble-winners Zanetti, Cambiasso and was it Walter Samuel too? (not sure about the latter) at home.

Also Spain 2010 - they lost their first match and suffered quite a scare in the group stage. After that what did their Xavi and Iniesta duo produce without Messi? All narrow 1-0 wins mostly thanks to David Villa's brilliance.

International football is broken man though I agree Messi is not a leader and shouldn't be captain.

While glancing at kp-s post I read that as "Messi is a broken man and not a leader" which in some scenarios would actually hold some water.

Anyway Mascherano should be Argentina's captain IMO. He's their true leader on the field.