Messi get his goal, 4-0. good free kick.
La Liga 2019/20
- Thread starter carvajal
- Start date
Why has there been a double sending off?
two red cards for Barca, Dembele and Araujo.
What's going on with Barca, 2 reds for Dembele and Araujo and also Pique booked?!
Dembele is absolutely brainless. Back in form, gets into the team and now he gets sent off. It also means we'll be back to watching Griezmann be rubbish at the left away to Eibar.
Dembele said something to ref?
well, Araujo as last man. Dembele probably because he said something stupid.
What happened? They're 4 up, fight between players?
Clearly seemed like it was for dissent.
Araujo last man foul, Dembele for complaining/insulting/gesturing (not sure which got him sent off)
Araujo pulled back Chicharito as the last man and Demblele for dissent.
nooooo, clear red (last man, foul on Chicarito) + Dembele being idiot.
That entire sequence of play resulting in 2 red cards came from yet another idiotic moment from Pique. His mistake let Chichraito through and the ensuing chaos.
Pique, Umtiti and potentially Todibo out for Eibar away. Lenglet could be the only senior CB for that match.
+ that attack minute or two before that, when he refused to pass for ages and just lost the ball in the end. he's better fit for them than Griez, but man, he's such a brainless player. Rashford is limited, but Dembele is just stupid. no other words for him.
Yeah I didn’t know that’s what happened but MATS has been the best Gk for a couple years now, imo. The entitlement at Bayern is something else.
Recently seen the best description for Dembele: best player in the world for 5 minutes. Brainless donkey the rest of the time
I don't know what to make of Dembele tbh. He's even more frustrating than Nani, if that's even possible. He has truly world class and then truly baffling decisions in the same game and sometime in the same minute. He gave away the ball so stupidly so many times and yet he had a lot of good moments and ended up with a great goal. Whatever he is though, he's still a far better option than having to put Griezmann or De Jong on that left wing. Need to rotate him and Fati on that wing.
also, de Jong show
agree. even Messi said that it all depends on him, that he has the tools the be one of the best. obviously he won't say something like "he'll get there when he stops being an idiot", but he doesn't need to. at the start of the match, you could usually tell which Nani you will watch for the rest of the game, but Dembele can go through several phases even in just couple of minutes. one minute he is an idiot, minute later he eats their right back for breakfast and scores, then he fecks another attack in next minute, then he gets red... just brainless.
de Jong is the worst forward in the league by a comfortable margin.
1) ter Stegen had a lot of bad games for Germany while Neuer always performed for Germany and still does even if he had 6 very average months for Bayern.
2) It was ter Stegen who made a public comment and now that's Bayern's fault? I think people really like to blame Bayern for everything. ter Stegen is disrespectful towards Neuer/Löw and somehow Bayern is the bad guy in this now.
And Suarez is the same at this stage of his career. Goes from Heskey to Rivaldo within the same game. Utterly frustrating frontline.
Dembele seriously needs some slapping to man up.
Bayern’s idiotic comment about how they’d refuse to send players from their team to the German NT if Neuer doesn’t continue as the starting GK is pretty pathetic. Like the pettiest thing I’ve heard a team threaten to do in years.
Was at the Barca/Sevilla game to finish my football trip. Wonderful to see Messi score off a free kick
I think this Barca team has a lot more potential in attack once they remain healthy and get some rhythm but the defense needs a lot of work.
Arthur and De Jong in midfield is a dream come true.
I think this Barca team has a lot more potential in attack once they remain healthy and get some rhythm but the defense needs a lot of work.
Arthur and De Jong in midfield is a dream come true.
Gallego sacked
Machín new coach
Machín new coach
17 mins between the sacking announcement and the appointment of Machin
Necessary step by Espanyol. That guy Gallego was sending them to the second division, easily as 20th!!
Espanyol massively overachieved last season to get europa. Also lost Hermoso and Borja Iglesias. Fine margins.
I am happy to see Machin back, did outstanding work at Girona and thought he was unlucky to lose his job so early at Sevilla.
I am happy to see Machin back, did outstanding work at Girona and thought he was unlucky to lose his job so early at Sevilla.
Depor sacked Anquela (nicknamed Anquelotti only a couple of months ago). Now Luis César.
Perhaps some of you will remember him from a few years ago, when Nastic was in Primera.
From 0 to 10 level of excitement among the fans? -2
Perhaps some of you will remember him from a few years ago, when Nastic was in Primera.
From 0 to 10 level of excitement among the fans? -2
"Eriksen in the january window".
the club maintains their firm commitment to strengthen in January. The club do not want another Kepa case
Madrid make Zidane see that the Danish is necessary due to the shortage of midfielders. He would cost only 30 million but he wants to come in June for the wages(tranfer bonus/commission?)
the club maintains their firm commitment to strengthen in January. The club do not want another Kepa case
Madrid make Zidane see that the Danish is necessary due to the shortage of midfielders. He would cost only 30 million but he wants to come in June for the wages(tranfer bonus/commission?)
It's crazy how the media keep insisting in their crusade to pretend that Isco and James aren't midfielders but Eriksen, who is exactly the same type of player, somehow is 
Also, feck me, a guy who can't deal with pressure at real madrid
Also, feck me, a guy who can't deal with pressure at real madrid
Rossi starts training with Vila-real squad. Cazorla 2.0 incoming.
it's unbelievable that he managed to become their all-time top scorer in such a short time. he played like, 4 seasons for them, missing 6 months after his first injury and then another 10 months after his second injury. his closest follower is Forlan with almost 25 goals less which means two ex-United players are first and second top scorers in Villarreal history.
Oh that is exciting, thought Rossi had retired as hadn't heard of him for a few years.
Ridiculous bad luck with injuries ever since he left Man. United, he also scored decent amount for Fiorentina.
Ridiculous bad luck with injuries ever since he left Man. United, he also scored decent amount for Fiorentina.
https://www.intothecalderon.com/201...-laliga-cholismo-middle-constitutional-crisis
“Cholismo” — Atlético Madrid’s now-signature playing style — is in somewhat of a crisis.
It’s not whether Atlético need to change something — it’s about how they do it. Diego Simeone was asked if he is worried about the recent lack of goals in an interview on Spanish radio, and he avoided it with a very clever side-step.
“I’m worried about getting better” came his reply, as he flipped a precise question into a more general theme.
Simeone has battled with the simultaneity of thinking like an underdog and actually being a favourite since Atlético won the league six seasons ago. Possession, once a contagion, is now his friend. But goals are harder to come by. The harder he has tried, the more difficult it has gotten.
It’s feels like a theme as old as Cholismo itself — a Diego Simeone side has had to fight for goals, sometimes even just one. It’s not the same old story, though — it’s worse now. Atlético are off to their worst league start under the Argentine, with just seven goals from eight games. Only five teams have scored fewer goals, and all are relegation contenders. Despite the fact that Kieran Trippier has added another dimension to their attack and João Félix may be a Ballon d’Or candidate in the making, the rojiblanco attack has floundered.
Here’s the most important thing Simeone can do: #FreeSaúl.
Saúl Ñíguez needs more, as they say in Spain, “protagonism.” It’s not an exaggeration to say that Saúl has a little bit of everything. He has a dash of fellow Spain U-21 graduate Fabián Ruiz’s physicality and energy, a sprinkle of Dani Ceballos’ dribbling, shades of Thomas Partey’s passing. He has goals, eagerness and youth (still just 24).
But Saúl has been shackled in Simeone’s side now for some time. When the canterano isn’t moonlighting as a left-back, he’s wandering aimlessly around midfield looking to get involved in an effort to set himself apart. He is a player born to play a leading role, but he’s reduced to being an extra in a confused midfield.
During the successful 2013/14 campaign, Simeone opted for a double pivot more often than not. A lot of times, he played two defensive midfielders in Mario Suárez and Gabi, or Tiago and Gabi — basically, someone and Gabi. You can see where I’m going with this. Héctor Herrera or Marcos Llorente could play the role of protector of the back four, while Thomas Partey plays in the role of an outright central midfielder. The problem is that Simeone feels obliged to play Koke and Saúl. And Saul is the odd man out here in a four-man midfield because Koke is undroppable.
Another potentially game-changing tweak that will help Saúl could be to instruct the full-backs not to drive forward as much. This would free him and free Koke to aid in attack rather than cover so much.
The Herrera-Saúl duo didn’t work against Celta Vigo, Koke and Saúl definitely didn’t combine well against Real Sociedad and Llorente-Saul wasn’t a success against Eibar. Simeone has tried, but he needs to find a way to get more out of Koke, give Saúl the keys to the midfield, partner Thomas with a more horizontally-inclined midfielder to cover defensively and only then can he watch them flourish.
In addition, the two-striker system worked perfectly for Simeone back in 2013/14 — mainly becauseDiego Costa was still a bastard, but also because of David Villa’s partnership with him. Villa was in the winter of his career, but that season at Atlético was like a beautifully sunny day in the middle of December. This season, Costa and Álvaro Morata haven’t had the chance to play but also haven’t connected well when they have.
“There is something that is keeping that lack of goals going,” Simeone said as he defended Atlético’s style and form. “We are playing better than other years, better transitions. We are missing that drive forward like in Russia [against Lokomotiv Moscow] and in other games.”
The league has changed. Wages and transfer fees have changed. Football has changed. Once upon a time, it was a novelty for Atlético to make it to the Champions League and the knockout stages. Now it’s an obligation. There was a time before Simeone and before the Wanda Metropolitano that a draw against the colchoneros wasn’t a good result. You played them to win and there was nothing especially daunting about playing them.
Now though, teams playing at home are afraid of the damage João Félix can do, they’re wary of Trippier and Renán Lodi, of Thomas and Saúl. A draw isn’t a good result against Atlético anymore — it’s a great result. This is the greatest change Simeone has had to deal with and it’s at the root of his problems. He’d probably prefer to be defensive but that would just lead to 0-0 draws ad infinitum. See what happened at Real Valladolid last weekend for proof.
Cholo needs to find a balance in midfield and discover his most devastating attack. That might mean changing things every game. Amidst that uncertainty, Atlético need to find consistency. Simeone did as good a job as any manager in recent memory of finding that consistency at the back. He has to find a way to make Atlético a threat going forward. The time is now. Their success this season is riding on it.
Atlético are third as of now, and Simeone doesn’t really care how he wins the league as long as he wins it, even if it does come by default. No team has blown us away thus far in LaLiga — and if Atlético could find a way to just score goals, there’s no reason to think they can’t do what they did five-plus years ago.
It's too bad Atletico didn't complete the signing of Rodrigo, perhaps a front three with Rodrigo, Joao and Morata could have been the answer. No huge goal scorer in there but at least different avenues. Diego Costa appears to be completely spent averaging a goal every six games since re-joining with only two goals last season. Morata was never going to be a clinical free scoring player but his form and composure in front of goal is worrying too.
The defense and goalkeeper are fantastic as usual. No matter who you pair together at the back (Giminiez and Savic have been excellent this season as has Felipe in the games he's played I think no goals conceded and Hermoso is one with high hopes) it's solid especially with midfield contribution but that midfield balance, despite a lot of great options needs to be sorted. It's quite clear Saul is the best and most dynamic midfielder, Koke the captain and Thomas an absolute nailed on starter. Saul is probably best in a midfield three but because of poor form of Lemar, Vitolo also being unable to consistently perform as a starter, it will probably go back to the double pivot of Thomas+1 of Herrera/Llorente with Koke and Saul occupying the "wide" positions of a narrow midfield four.
Ultimately goals will be the biggest problem despite having more control of games these days. I can't help but think if this team had the Costa of 2014-2016 they'd be clear favorites for the league. As the writer says, they are very difficult to beat but you can't help but feel they cruise through the first half of too many games and then start trying to push too late to grab a goal. In the past, with Griezmann's genius they had the ability to do this. It's a great chance to win the league this season but you can't help but feel, with their ability to keep a "0" at home, frustrating style to play against and burning desire to win (finally) it, that they make more noise in Europe this season.
“Cholismo” — Atlético Madrid’s now-signature playing style — is in somewhat of a crisis.
It’s not whether Atlético need to change something — it’s about how they do it. Diego Simeone was asked if he is worried about the recent lack of goals in an interview on Spanish radio, and he avoided it with a very clever side-step.
“I’m worried about getting better” came his reply, as he flipped a precise question into a more general theme.
Simeone has battled with the simultaneity of thinking like an underdog and actually being a favourite since Atlético won the league six seasons ago. Possession, once a contagion, is now his friend. But goals are harder to come by. The harder he has tried, the more difficult it has gotten.
It’s feels like a theme as old as Cholismo itself — a Diego Simeone side has had to fight for goals, sometimes even just one. It’s not the same old story, though — it’s worse now. Atlético are off to their worst league start under the Argentine, with just seven goals from eight games. Only five teams have scored fewer goals, and all are relegation contenders. Despite the fact that Kieran Trippier has added another dimension to their attack and João Félix may be a Ballon d’Or candidate in the making, the rojiblanco attack has floundered.
Here’s the most important thing Simeone can do: #FreeSaúl.
Saúl Ñíguez needs more, as they say in Spain, “protagonism.” It’s not an exaggeration to say that Saúl has a little bit of everything. He has a dash of fellow Spain U-21 graduate Fabián Ruiz’s physicality and energy, a sprinkle of Dani Ceballos’ dribbling, shades of Thomas Partey’s passing. He has goals, eagerness and youth (still just 24).
But Saúl has been shackled in Simeone’s side now for some time. When the canterano isn’t moonlighting as a left-back, he’s wandering aimlessly around midfield looking to get involved in an effort to set himself apart. He is a player born to play a leading role, but he’s reduced to being an extra in a confused midfield.
During the successful 2013/14 campaign, Simeone opted for a double pivot more often than not. A lot of times, he played two defensive midfielders in Mario Suárez and Gabi, or Tiago and Gabi — basically, someone and Gabi. You can see where I’m going with this. Héctor Herrera or Marcos Llorente could play the role of protector of the back four, while Thomas Partey plays in the role of an outright central midfielder. The problem is that Simeone feels obliged to play Koke and Saúl. And Saul is the odd man out here in a four-man midfield because Koke is undroppable.
Another potentially game-changing tweak that will help Saúl could be to instruct the full-backs not to drive forward as much. This would free him and free Koke to aid in attack rather than cover so much.
The Herrera-Saúl duo didn’t work against Celta Vigo, Koke and Saúl definitely didn’t combine well against Real Sociedad and Llorente-Saul wasn’t a success against Eibar. Simeone has tried, but he needs to find a way to get more out of Koke, give Saúl the keys to the midfield, partner Thomas with a more horizontally-inclined midfielder to cover defensively and only then can he watch them flourish.
In addition, the two-striker system worked perfectly for Simeone back in 2013/14 — mainly becauseDiego Costa was still a bastard, but also because of David Villa’s partnership with him. Villa was in the winter of his career, but that season at Atlético was like a beautifully sunny day in the middle of December. This season, Costa and Álvaro Morata haven’t had the chance to play but also haven’t connected well when they have.
“There is something that is keeping that lack of goals going,” Simeone said as he defended Atlético’s style and form. “We are playing better than other years, better transitions. We are missing that drive forward like in Russia [against Lokomotiv Moscow] and in other games.”
The league has changed. Wages and transfer fees have changed. Football has changed. Once upon a time, it was a novelty for Atlético to make it to the Champions League and the knockout stages. Now it’s an obligation. There was a time before Simeone and before the Wanda Metropolitano that a draw against the colchoneros wasn’t a good result. You played them to win and there was nothing especially daunting about playing them.
Now though, teams playing at home are afraid of the damage João Félix can do, they’re wary of Trippier and Renán Lodi, of Thomas and Saúl. A draw isn’t a good result against Atlético anymore — it’s a great result. This is the greatest change Simeone has had to deal with and it’s at the root of his problems. He’d probably prefer to be defensive but that would just lead to 0-0 draws ad infinitum. See what happened at Real Valladolid last weekend for proof.
Cholo needs to find a balance in midfield and discover his most devastating attack. That might mean changing things every game. Amidst that uncertainty, Atlético need to find consistency. Simeone did as good a job as any manager in recent memory of finding that consistency at the back. He has to find a way to make Atlético a threat going forward. The time is now. Their success this season is riding on it.
Atlético are third as of now, and Simeone doesn’t really care how he wins the league as long as he wins it, even if it does come by default. No team has blown us away thus far in LaLiga — and if Atlético could find a way to just score goals, there’s no reason to think they can’t do what they did five-plus years ago.
It's too bad Atletico didn't complete the signing of Rodrigo, perhaps a front three with Rodrigo, Joao and Morata could have been the answer. No huge goal scorer in there but at least different avenues. Diego Costa appears to be completely spent averaging a goal every six games since re-joining with only two goals last season. Morata was never going to be a clinical free scoring player but his form and composure in front of goal is worrying too.
The defense and goalkeeper are fantastic as usual. No matter who you pair together at the back (Giminiez and Savic have been excellent this season as has Felipe in the games he's played I think no goals conceded and Hermoso is one with high hopes) it's solid especially with midfield contribution but that midfield balance, despite a lot of great options needs to be sorted. It's quite clear Saul is the best and most dynamic midfielder, Koke the captain and Thomas an absolute nailed on starter. Saul is probably best in a midfield three but because of poor form of Lemar, Vitolo also being unable to consistently perform as a starter, it will probably go back to the double pivot of Thomas+1 of Herrera/Llorente with Koke and Saul occupying the "wide" positions of a narrow midfield four.
Ultimately goals will be the biggest problem despite having more control of games these days. I can't help but think if this team had the Costa of 2014-2016 they'd be clear favorites for the league. As the writer says, they are very difficult to beat but you can't help but feel they cruise through the first half of too many games and then start trying to push too late to grab a goal. In the past, with Griezmann's genius they had the ability to do this. It's a great chance to win the league this season but you can't help but feel, with their ability to keep a "0" at home, frustrating style to play against and burning desire to win (finally) it, that they make more noise in Europe this season.