Barca games on the most part are so boring to watch nowadays.
When do they have Levante away....that was an entertaining one...
When do they have Levante away....that was an entertaining one...
La Liga 2018/19
- Thread starter jojojo
- Start date
Genuinely the worst pitch I've ever seen 
Genuinely the worst pitch I've ever seen
I don't think you saw the pitch we(Bosnia) had vs Belgium in the WC qualifiers.
Nooooo! I was already dancing ffs!!
Valverde is not fit to manage Barcelona.
Another average win for Barca, despite Coutinho and Dembele looking really good. Didn't know why Valladolid's goal was disallowed. Not offside for me.
Var gifting Barca a win, nothing new under the sun. La Liga is a waste of time, the team from the small country between Spain and France has to be given the benefit of the doubt. Just feck em!
His head is offside, there's no benefit of doubt in it.
That line is deceiving IMO, he's clearly stood behind Pique but they've put it on his knee which makes it look close to onside.
I hate VAR. There should be a rule that it can only aid real madrid
What are you talking about?
As much as I wish it wasn't, it was clear offside you lunatics
I mean, you'd think 3 guys watching replays with a 3D technology meant to get as accurate a frame as possible wouldn't get it wrong...As much as I wish it wasn't, it was clear offside you lunatics
But that's not important anyways. What's really important is to know Xavi's opinion on the pitch
Why would anyone question the offside call? Good use of VAR, it's not even a debatable call.
VAR is spot on
These were the games Barca would get robbed of last season and before.
Not playing amazing but that pitch was atrocious and Barca are still with max points so far.
These were the games Barca would get robbed of last season and before.
Not playing amazing but that pitch was atrocious and Barca are still with max points so far.
I think only one person was, it was pretty obvious it was offside
Harsh on Valladolid but just off.
Barca seem to be turning into the new Atletico Madrid. Rely on one of their front players to make a goal out of nothing and then suck the life out of the game and grind their way to a win.
Don't wish ill on him but would be interested to see how things would look if Messi wasn't available for a month or two.
Barca seem to be turning into the new Atletico Madrid. Rely on one of their front players to make a goal out of nothing and then suck the life out of the game and grind their way to a win.
Don't wish ill on him but would be interested to see how things would look if Messi wasn't available for a month or two.
TBF I think due to the pitch tonight isn't really the best game to judge them.
I was thinking the same thing, without Messi this team would struggle. I think they're winning despite their coach, and they definitely have enough quality even without Messi but the way Suarez has been playing the last few months has been shockingly bad and without Messi that would be affecting them much more.
They've been the 'new Atleti' since Valverde became manager.
Messi carried them last season and Ter Stegen bailed out their defense a good amount.
They're more like an Italian team than the Barca of old.
Aye pitch was shocking but felt this for some time with Barca.
Valverde conservatism and Messi not being as all action around the pitch as he used to be means for a neutral like me Barca games aren't as exciting as obviously under Pep, Luis Enrique or Rjikaard teams so unless they're playing a Real, Valencia, Atletico or a big CL game I tend to swerve watching the full 90 minutes.
With Real Madrid you know there's always a big defensive rick lurking around the corner as we saw in many of their La Liga games last season.
We'll have to wait and see. A midfield consisting of Coutinho, Arthur and Busquets is perfect for possession football. Rabiot, too, if they get him. And Vidal played under Pep in a similar system. Their transfer policy definitely looks like the old Barca.
He had a good midfield last season too.
His ideals don't coincide with that.
He's a pragmatic manager.
Could be true. Just pointing out that the transfer policy suggests an at least intended change of concept in favour of a more Barcaesque approach..
Can't be said for the last season with transfers like Paulinho, who's more box to box. I also think last season's midfield wasn't that good. Rakitic wasn't good and Iniesta paid tribute to his age, he rarely showed his former class for them.
Rakitic probably had his best season under Valverde. One of the few players who got better under him.
He had Rakitic-Coutinho-Busquets last season. He just didn't use them much(if at all) in a midfield 3.
His approach even today shows his conservatism. It's just who he is.
The additions in midfield won’t change much about how they play because it’s pretty much impossible to improve on the likes of Busquets, Rakitic and Coutinho. There’s simply no way Vidal will take Rakitic’s place for example.
Valverde is an Italian manager, some people might not like it but he’s obviously done a very good job for Barcelona even if it can get boring.
I think Lopetegui will make Madrid a more boring team too and they’ll start covering for their defensive problems by having more possession and protecting the ball more.
Valverde is an Italian manager, some people might not like it but he’s obviously done a very good job for Barcelona even if it can get boring.
I think Lopetegui will make Madrid a more boring team too and they’ll start covering for their defensive problems by having more possession and protecting the ball more.
As he should.
They have the best midfield in football.
They should monopolize the ball more, and they still have the ability to go direct if the situation calls for it.
Eh? They nearly went unbeaten and finished 17 points above Madrid?
Looks like the same old Barca from last year, lots of 1-0s, 2-0s, but basically lots of NIL's.
Barca would've expected to routine Valladolid who surely one of the favourites of relegation. Decent result given the pitch.
Good. 3 points secured against a tricky side on an awful-unacceptable pitch.
Ter Stegen is the new Neuer and Dembelé is getting his stuff together.
Ter Stegen is the new Neuer and Dembelé is getting his stuff together.
Hmm, surely last season.
But I believe current Barça (Busquets, Cou, Rakitic) surpasses Casemiro-Kroos-Modric, especially Kroos. Even the bench (Arthur, Vidal) is better.
I think there are signs that Valverde simply won't make the team more free-flowing. Consistent but not quite able to go for the throat as often as they should. Last season, Messi basically carried the team for the first half of the season, Suarez didn't start well, Dembele was a non-factor. Now everyone is fit, Coutinho available right away, Arthur and Malcom in for extra options, but they might still end up a functional but not inspiring outfit. Perfectly suited to the grind of winning leagues, but maybe not quite suited to CL football. Unless he has something up his sleeve.
Not sure they will be great until Suarez goes. He didn't look great last season and he hasn't improved.
I watched their first three games and he's been the standout worst player. He looks finished.
He's great friends with Messi so probably why he is still in the side.
Suarez has been awful for over a year now, don’t let his goodish league stats from last season fool you. Almost every attack dies as soon as he touches the ball. First touch usually all over the place. Looks very slow and sluggish, Higuain levels really. Impossible to play him in behind. Barca should play Coutinho or Malcom left, Messi centrally and Dembele right. Their defensive shape is awful as well when they’re playing both Suarez and Messi. Only the latter should have the privilege to do nothing when not on the ball.
Suarez is still very smart and relentless, as poor as his touch got he still poses major problems for most opponents
And he's Messi's BFF. Good luck benching him
And he's Messi's BFF. Good luck benching him
Impossible. He's too small compared to that guy. Man's a colossus in the Schmeichel mould.