Star wars final battle a.k.a "El clásico" [P+R]

[Mandieta6]

well he's been making changes, and trying new things this season (especially the second half of it), either due the lack of certain personnel, or due to a long-enough period of one system not quite clicking (like the traditional Barcelona 4-3-3, which hasn't really been seen since it was changed) ... so I find it to be a bit silly to hear that this match is what convinced you of Pep's abilities, because he has been tinkering for quite a while now, and this was one of those matches where things worked out efficiently enough in both attack and defence to lead to a win, but it was not a classically dominant display ...

Barca's style of play bores me so I don't watch them often, I only really watch them when I think the opposition will give them a challenge, or when there's nothing else on. I think I've seen 10 or so matches so far this season and I never saw Pep do anything that I didn't think any competent manager would do. Yesterday was the first time I saw him do something really unexpected.

But basically, I don't watch Guardiola's tinkering often, and when I do, it's nothing special. And his hype would deserve something special.

 

[Pogba4Now]

Barca's style of play bores me so I don't watch them often, I only really watch them when I think the opposition will give them a challenge, or when there's nothing else on. I think I've seen 10 or so matches so far this season and I never saw Pep do anything that I didn't think any competent manager would do. Yesterday was the first time I saw him do something really unexpected.

But basically, I don't watch Guardiola's tinkering often, and when I do, it's nothing special. And his hype would deserve something special.

While he's dominating and winning, there's no point in changing tactics... Thats why he rarely change tactics in La Liga. Yesterday was different since they were playing against a quality opposition. So he HAD to change tactics to ensure the win. He got it spot on.

And I also find it boring to watch Barca as a neutral fan TBH but I'd love to see my team play like that. As a NEUTRAL fan, I'd prefer an intense game with a lot of suspense and attacks with BOTH teams fighting for the win rather than a one sided game with 80% possession and the other team desperately trying to get possession lol

 

[Xifio]

Barca's style of play bores me so I don't watch them often, I only really watch them when I think the opposition will give them a challenge, or when there's nothing else on. I think I've seen 10 or so matches so far this season and I never saw Pep do anything that I didn't think any competent manager would do. Yesterday was the first time I saw him do something really unexpected.

But basically, I don't watch Guardiola's tinkering often, and when I do, it's nothing special. And his hype would deserve something special.

fair enough, because it is a clear sign that you haven't been watching Barcelona play ... I say that because if you considered that Pep has been trying various setups (especially since the turn of the year), analyzed Pep's personnel options going into this match, analyzed the areas where he didn't have his best option available (Zlatan out, Abidal out, Iniesta just returning and not ready for 90, and Yaya showing signs that he still has not fully recovered from his niggling injuries), and analyzed the options Pep had to change things up (Bojan did ok against Athletic, but was invisible in the big match against the Arse; Titi is past it; Messi wasn't excellent when initially moved into the "hole" behind the main striker, but has suddenly burst into the best spell of his life from that position, so playing him down the middle on his own without a centre forward in front him would be a viable option, considering what has already been mentioned about Bojan and Henry; Jeffrén has shown that he is not ready to start in a big match, while Pedro definitely is ready and has been crucial in all competitions; Busqi and Keita are the only real experienced options in Yaya and Iniesta's stead; Maxwell is the direct replacement for Abidal, though the Brazilian's evident attacking ability make him a viable option further up the pitch as well -- where he has been tried already; Charlie Puyol offers a lot of flexibility by being an option anywhere across the backline: he started his career at RB, and has matured into a player who can play and has played quite well at LB, in addition to what has become his customary position at the heart of defence; Dani Alves is one of the best attacking RWBs in the world, but has been playing at RW for Brazil under Dunga; if Puyol was to play at either RB or LB, the returning Gaby Milito was the only viable replacement, considering how Rafa Márquez has become so much slower and more error-prone, while Chygy has failed to settle and has been very poor when given a chance), his decisions would not have been that surprising ...

 

[Mandieta6]

Well, I would rather say it didn't work that good because the players were being more careful and they weren't playing their game.

Ronaldo was moving around, but he wasn't getting near Valdes. If I remember it good, he could only pass Pique in one time, when he was coming from the left wing and started doing those bicycle things alla-Ronaldo (the old), and Pique lost him one time, but still that wasn't dangerous coz he just passed the ball back to one player who lost it. While, Pique won all other duels.

Also, Dani looked a bit lost in that position, even though I saw him playing with Brazil in that position. But with the time, he found himself.




And in other big matches last season as well. For instance, last el clasico when he put Messi on the middle, or against MU in the final. Even SAF said that he was surprised when he saw Messi playing on the center.

And in Bernabeu, with that move, we saw maybe the best match we have played under Guardiola. Messi - Xavi - Iniesta owned the midfield.





I agree and I have said it earlier as well. To put it amongst the greatest we have to wait some more time, but I just can't stand when people say that he did nothing.

He signed Alves (other teams could have done that as well), he gave all the freedom in the World to Messi, he motivated Henry to play better, he 'reformed' Xavi, he bought Pique back and playing a 22-years old defender at Barça it isn't easy. Then, he totally changed our locker room by putting strict rules there, but at the same time, he was behaving with the players like they were his best friends. Moreover, he was that brave to sell a player like Ronaldinho, etc, etc.

So, not recognizing his work, is stupidity. For sure, he had a great team and he personally has mentioned that hundred of times, but behind a great team, there is always a great leader.

If I remember correctly, as well as understand the way the spanish clubs works, especially Barca, Pep was not behind either Pique or Alves coming in. I'm sure he didn't object, but as I understood it, the Barca higher-ups made that happen. Quite like Florentino brought Ronaldo and Kaka, not Pellegrini. And I believe Xavi was 'reformed' at the Euros, I think arnau has said this numerous times, and it's definitely how I remember it. Since I'm not in the lockeroom, I dunno anyting about that. And there were talks about Ronaldinho leaving since the January transfer window, the question was whether it'd be City, Milan or Chelsea, not whether he'd leave. The Henry thing is true, but I think he was aided by Ronaldinho leaving a lot. He got more games in, and for him it must feel like 'They'd rather have me in the team than Ronaldinho', which would be a great boost. But since I can't know for sure what motivated Henry, I'll give that to Pep.

My point is that all of those points are pretty debatable, so not recognising these aspects is not stupid. I'm not really expecting a proper debate with you, though. I'm moreso posting to see if Xifio or Sevillista or perhaps someone else have anything to say.