La Liga 2019/20

PedroMendez said:
their players have been as explicit as they can be about the situation. They are very unhappy about sacking Marcelino and appointing this new guy. I don't blame them. The match today doesn't tell us anything about Barca, because the Valencia players played against the coach and the management.

Marcelino is very Mourinho-esque in the sense, that his teams can look quite dull. Nonetheless the results were about as good as they could possibly be. Giving that away in the hope to develop some youngsters is insane. I hope they get pummelled for the rest of the season. Shameful decisions and I feel a bit sorry for their fans. Its horrible to be owned by someone like Peter Lim. The whole Mendes connection makes things even worse.
Click to expand...
Yes, a pity. It seemed like there was a lot of connection team-fans in Mestalla, which is not easy.
I would say that they like to whistle and complain as much or more than the Bernabéu.
Valencia have always had problems with the boards, many power struggles, even in their golden age with Benítez.
Celades is already very marked as an instrument, something like Koeman, who arrived wanting to eliminate veterans in 5 minutes.
 
carvajal said:
Of course, but except Bojan I think that none of those you named had such an impact. And even Bojan and Deulofeu stood out mainly in the under 21/Barça B.
Then, obviously many things can happen. Bad decisions like Bojan or a brutal injury like Cuenca had. In fact I was reading that this boy recently had a tibia and fibula injury
Click to expand...

Must be that; he disappeared from my radar after 2013. By comparison, Deulofeu has had a proper career. Don't know what happened to Jeffren either without going to Wikipedia. Does Tello still play in Portugal?
 
I do think Aspas is a wonderful player. I'm still surprised at just how bad he was for Liverpool. I remember being gutted when they signed him, but all he'll be remembered for is that corner in that game against Chelsea.
 
Wonder if Man. City might loan Yangel Herrera to Premier league club next season?
 
Yagami said:
I do think Aspas is a wonderful player. I'm still surprised at just how bad he was for Liverpool. I remember being gutted when they signed him, but all he'll be remembered for is that corner in that game against Chelsea.
Click to expand...
Classic player who can't cope being away from home. Was poor at sevilla as well
 
giorno said:
Classic player who can't cope being away from home. Was poor at sevilla as well
Click to expand...
Yeah, I had completely forgotten that he played for Sevilla after Liverpool until the commentator mentioned it during the game.

On the one hand, it's a shame he couldn't adjust to life away from Celta as I do believe he had the talent to play at the top, but on the other hand I'm glad Liverpool didn't get him at his best!
 
Yagami said:
I do think Aspas is a wonderful player. I'm still surprised at just how bad he was for Liverpool. I remember being gutted when they signed him, but all he'll be remembered for is that corner in that game against Chelsea.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately not so good for Sevilla either. I remember him and Deulofeu being angry at Emery.
He is indeed a beast in Celta; a completely different player there compared to what he was in Liverpool and Sevilla.
 
carvajal said:
Yes, a pity. It seemed like there was a lot of connection team-fans in Mestalla, which is not easy.
I would say that they like to whistle and complain as much or more than the Bernabéu.
Valencia have always had problems with the boards, many power struggles, even in their golden age with Benítez.
Celades is already very marked as an instrument, something like Koeman, who arrived wanting to eliminate veterans in 5 minutes.
Click to expand...
Valencia always seen to be in shambles from the board room. It's a shame they never really kicked on from that golden era of the early 2000's I think they, as a club belonged to be in the elite.

Koeman was a disaster there from what I remember. Almost took them down and basically seemed to be doing crazy things on purpose to prove some kind of point or principal.
 
Only just notices Seville are top, and they've only conceded 3 shots on target in 4 games so far this season. Haven't seen them this season but that is some record. They have Real Madrid at home on Sunday, that should be an interesting game especially with Lopetegui grudge match having been sacked in October by Real... Can go 5 points ahead of them with a win.
 
Mb194dc said:
Only just notices Seville are top, and they've only conceded 3 shots on target in 4 games so far this season. Haven't seen them this season but that is some record. They have Real Madrid at home on Sunday, that should be an interesting game especially with Lopetegui grudge match having been sacked in October by Real... Can go 5 points ahead of them with a win.
Click to expand...

I don't think that the position reflects the performance of the team. 10/12 is great even if the opposition was espanol, celta, alavés and Granada.
The defense is very solid. Jordan, Diego Carlos, regulion and Fernando are all turning up and carrico has a second summer. Navas is reliable as ever.

The challenge is to create chances/score goals. So far a couple of set pieces and bright moments were enough, but the attack needs to improve a lot, when they want to qualify for Europe.

Imo currently the most pressing issue is the CF. Luuk de jong looks out of his depth and dabbur couldn't even get in the squad. Maybe chicharito can help out, but Lopetegui has to find some solution. Overall the performances have been very 'pragmatic'/dull. A point against real would be great. I am cautiously optimistic.

Tldr: work in progress.
 
PedroMendez said:
I don't think that the position reflects the performance of the team. 10/12 is great even if the opposition was espanol, celta, alavés and Granada.
The defense is very solid. Jordan, Diego Carlos, regulion and Fernando are all turning up and carrico has a second summer. Navas is reliable as ever.

The challenge is to create chances/score goals. So far a couple of set pieces and bright moments were enough, but the attack needs to improve a lot, when they want to qualify for Europe.

Imo currently the most pressing issue is the CF. Luuk de jong looks out of his depth and dabbur couldn't even get in the squad. Maybe chicharito can help out, but Lopetegui has to find some solution. Overall the performances have been very 'pragmatic'/dull. A point against real would be great. I am cautiously optimistic.

Tldr: work in progress.
Click to expand...
Your manager is Lopetegui
 
Yet another match in which Atleti are struggling to score. I really can't see them winning the league. Simeone will just never manage to get his attacking talent to click.
 
Felix has been poor for a few weeks now. Atletico started the season in a great position to distance themselves from the big boys for a while but have bottled it in the last 2 games.
 
yep, typical Atletico match. for a moment I actually thought they had realistic chance to compete this season with Barca's early troubles, but no. for Barca, this kind of performance would be considered as underperforming, but it's perfectly normal match for Atletico and that's why they'll be left behind again soon. they struggle so much to break teams and not only that Celta weren't even that defensive, but they also looked like they're almost equally good team when they attacked. they'll have more this kind of matches than Barca and that would be it for them in the end. losing against Sociedad isn't big deal, but you simply have to win your home games if you're gonna compete against Barca. Atletico struggled in all three of them, narrowly beating Getafe and then Eibar in last minute of the game, and now drawing with Celta. they have zero chance if they continue with that (and we all know they will).
 
I swear Rafinha tried to avoid passing to Lobotka at every opportunity.
 
Bole Top said:
yep, typical Atletico match. for a moment I actually thought they had realistic chance to compete this season with Barca's early troubles, but no. for Barca, this kind of performance would be considered as underperforming, but it's perfectly normal match for Atletico and that's why they'll be left behind again soon. they struggle so much to break teams and not only that Celta weren't even that defensive, but they also looked like they're almost equally good team when they attacked. they'll have more this kind of matches than Barca and that would be it for them in the end. losing against Sociedad isn't big deal, but you simply have to win your home games if you're gonna compete against Barca. Atletico struggled in all three of them, narrowly beating Getafe and then Eibar in last minute of the game, and now drawing with Celta. they have zero chance if they continue with that (and we all know they will).
Click to expand...

To be fair, Rubén Blanco was easily man of the match tonight. Made some terrific saves from long rangers by Lodi and Koke, and a point blank one from a header.
9 out of 10 Atléti win this game 1-0, but it's clear that their attacking play is too limited at the moment.
Trippier and Lodi look like an integral part of the first team already and the main source of final balls.
However, Diego Costa may well be finished as a top level forward. Morata gets you some goals here and there, but not consistently enough over a whole season.
Too early to give a verdict on João Félix. He's talented but of course it's a long way to go at only 19.

To remark on the rest of your comment:
Getafe under Bordalás have been excellent though -- especially in defense. They narrowly missed out on CL football last season (finishing 5th, 2 points behind Valencia) and had the 2nd best defensive record in the league after Atléti. The season before they had the 3rd best defensive record, finishing 8th in the process, as a promoted team. So they're always going to be hard to break down.

That said, all 3 of Getafe, Celta and Eibar have started the campaign poorly. (Getafe will be feeling the effects of playing European football, for such a small club)
In that regard Atléti shouldn't have had that much trouble with them. Especially when as you rightly point out Barça aren't fully up to speed yet in away games.
 
Firpo Junior was softer than cottonelle on that goal. Shameful defending by the left back for Barcelona.
 
kouroux said:
Griezmann on the left wing :wenger: This isn't Sociedad when he started is it ?
Click to expand...
Was always going to happen the minute Suarez returned. It may sound harsh but the worst thing that could have happened to Barca is Suarez getting fit again. Not only is he absolutely awful, he's going to ensure Griezmann gets pushed wide every match.
 
wr8_utd said:
Was always going to happen the minute Suarez returned. It may sound harsh but the worst thing that could have happened to Barca is Suarez getting fit again. Not only is he absolutely awful, he's going to ensure Griezmann gets pushed wide every match.
Click to expand...
Valverde needs to have balls and drop Messi's friend. He is useless
 
kouroux said:
Valverde needs to have balls and drop Messi's friend. He is useless
Click to expand...
No chance he ever gets dropped. This is why the signing of Griezmann didn't excite me. Should have saved themselves that 100m and thrown at Neymar instead if you anyway won't ever drop Suarez.
 
wr8_utd said:
Was always going to happen the minute Suarez returned. It may sound harsh but the worst thing that could have happened to Barca is Suarez getting fit again. Not only is he absolutely awful, he's going to ensure Griezmann gets pushed wide every match.
Click to expand...

Suarez is still capable of getting goals but he’s a shadow of the player he was.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.