Barcelona Banter

21 Jan 2020 16:36:16
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12 Jan 2020 16:53:21
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09 Jan 2020 23:58:02
Question for Ed001, what's gone wrong at Barcelona Ed? They are playing some awful football, dropping points for fun, it's horrendous compared to their usual standard. What's your opinion on Valverde as the coach? The miserable defence? The past it Rakitic and Busquets? When Messi doesn't perform, it seems as if the rest of the team are playing like they've never played with each other before.

{Ed001's Note - Valverde is an awful coach and their recruitment is terrible. That is why they are struggling. They have been trying to replace Rakitic, Busquets and the defence for years, but they can't find an upgrade even though the players they have are so long in the tooth.

It doesn't help that Messi has too much power behind the scenes and they involve him in every decision on recruitment. By now they should have realised he hasn't a clue about that side of things, for all his ability on the pitch.

They need to rip it all apart and start again from the top. Their only real hope is that the rest of Spanish football is worse so they can win things, if they carry on like this. It doesn't matter how good Messi is, you can't just have a team which is him + 10 others. It needs to be 11 players working together towards the win. Instead everyone else on the pitch works, while Messi watches until the ball comes to him. That doesn't work long term as the other players eventually get fed up of having to do extra work to cover him, no matter how good he is. Then, the moment he has an off day, it all falls apart.

They are in danger of falling apart properly.}

10 Jan 2020 12:34:27
Surprised Valverde wasn't sacked after the Roma game in 2018, but remember Ed002 saying there was an issue in getting Quique Setien (correct me if i'm wrong) .

Completely agree with the recruitment, wasted money on Coutinho and Dembele, Griezmann is currently out of sorts on the LW, defensively they still play the hopeless Sergi Roberto, couple that with Pique who just isn't good enough anymore, injury prone Umtiti and Lenglet (why on earth did they buy him? He isn't good at anything), luckily they have Ter Stegen in goal, excellent goalkeeper.

Good point on the Messi +10 others Ed001, it was blindingly obvious at Anfield, pass it to Messi and if you can't do that, then we're in big trouble because the rest of the team struggle to play any other way. Remember you saying the Coutinho money should have been spent on Saul Niguez, a midfield three of Saul-Arthur-De Jong would definitely imrpove Barcelona, Busquets legs have given way, even more exposed now he isn't carried by Xavi and Iniesta, same for Rakitic who's also past it. Need a massive rebuild now, my preferred choice would be Ten Haag Ed001, agree?

10 Jan 2020 12:34:27
Surprised Valverde wasn't sacked after the Roma game in 2018, but remember Ed002 saying there was an issue in getting Quique Setien (correct me if i'm wrong) .

Completely agree with the recruitment, wasted money on Coutinho and Dembele, Griezmann is currently out of sorts on the LW, defensively they still play the hopeless Sergi Roberto, couple that with Pique who just isn't good enough anymore, injury prone Umtiti and Lenglet (why on earth did they buy him? He isn't good at anything), luckily they have Ter Stegen in goal, excellent goalkeeper.

Good point on the Messi +10 others Ed001, it was blindingly obvious at Anfield, pass it to Messi and if you can't do that, then we're in big trouble because the rest of the team struggle to play any other way. Remember you saying the Coutinho money should have been spent on Saul Niguez, a midfield three of Saul-Arthur-De Jong would definitely imrpove Barcelona, Busquets legs have given way, even more exposed now he isn't carried by Xavi and Iniesta, same for Rakitic who's also past it. Need a massive rebuild now, my preferred choice would be Ten Haag Ed001, agree?

{Ed001's Note - they should get Setien now. He plays fantastic footie. But Ten Hag would be an excellent alternative. Ten Hag would be a return to the Cruyff school there, which is the basis of their success so probably makes more sense.}

10 Jan 2020 13:26:33
Yes, either one of them would be excellent though with the way things are at Barcelona they'll end up getting someone like Koeman. Also, whilst we're on the topic of Spanish football, what's your opinion on Fede Valverde at Madrid? He looks unreal.

{Ed001's Note - very highly rated and is seen as the future. Not seen a lot of him to be honest.}

10 Jan 2020 15:20:47
He's like a hybrid, a cross between the guile and gliding-like ability of Modric and the calmness of Kroos in posession. Covers the ground easily with his long strides, good in the tackle and right now provides excellent balance in a midfield 3 for Madrid, who get overrun with just Kroos and Modric in midfield. His passing, from what i've seen looks very good aswell.

{Ed001's Note - btw, in answer to the earlier question Ed002 added his reply as well: "It is correct that they wanted Quique Setien but that is off the table. They would, if it were possible, take Pep Guardiola back - and maybe one day they will. So that brings it down to Gallardo (who River Plate will release if the opportunity arises that the coach wants) and Xavi - who I expect to be appointed (perhaps as soon as next week if Barcelona cannot hold out until the end of the season)."}

10 Jan 2020 16:57:24
Thanks Ed001 and Ed002, Xavi a good choice in your opinion Ed002?

{Ed002's Note - I have no idea as his experience is in the Middle East.}

10 Jan 2020 21:09:00
Thanks Ed002.

11 Dec 2019 15:18:41
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