Abelardo sacked by Espanyol
La Liga 2019/20
- Thread starter carvajal
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This might sound dramatic, but perhaps Messi won't win another liga with Barcelona. 2019-20 is for Madrid (they will look silly if they won't win tomorrow) and too much deadweight for 20-21 (Piqué, Umtiti, Alba, Busquets, Vidal, etc.).
He will be 35 by 2021-22. Unless they sign Lautaro, Puig and Fati become Top players, and De Jong finally adapts, Barca could be trophyless for the next couple of seasons. It floors me that they will sign Pjanic (another MF) and not a RB, and LB and a CB.
He will be 35 by 2021-22. Unless they sign Lautaro, Puig and Fati become Top players, and De Jong finally adapts, Barca could be trophyless for the next couple of seasons. It floors me that they will sign Pjanic (another MF) and not a RB, and LB and a CB.
Agree. Plus they simply have not been that consistent in the league this season. They will definitely lose points along the way. Problem for Barcelona is if they will be able to capitalize on that. I don't think they will. Barsa is in for a world of hurt when Messi retires though
Just seen the Barcelona result. Surely real have sealed this now? Happy to see Ramos picking up another trophy. Absolute legend.
Seen in now too. Yeah, only if Ramos is there to see Real over the line, otherwise, Barca need to mess up one more time.
So Barca really can't win anymore at Balaidos.......the Liga could be now soon over with Barca's next match against Atletico Madrid.
But that Messi+Suarez goal was magnificent
But that Messi+Suarez goal was magnificent
Keeper should be saving that, Saul gives A. Madrid the lead
Not a penalty for me, but Costa makes it 2-0
Explain the joke. I know it's the MGMT song, but why is it funny?
According to Marca the tweet is about Rafinha(exaggerating the foul before Celta's draw)
He's refering to the Rafinha dive. Pique's cryptic tweets following an arguable referee call always give me a laugh
Today, Quique Setien learned (the hard way) what is rule #1 at FC Barcelona. You DO NOT (under any circumstances) substitute Messi or Suarez
Barcelona won just six away games all season, just two in their last eight. There's your problem right there.
Nice. Thanks.
Take it Barca forum is the place to be
The way Barca can splash cash around without improving the team or addressing any weakness in mind blowing.
It's dramatic but it could happen if they keep going for random mediocre managers and expect excellence in return. It's a really poorly run club that has, from a position of incredible strength, slowly stuffed themselves into an uncomfortable corner. Everything about them is stale right now. Wasting record fees on players everyone felt weren't worth it. Slow, tumescent, lifeless football. And out of their depth managers who are picked based on a mysterious criteria only they get.
Madrid are well placed right now IMO. They actually look like they're building something. They don't have a Messi, but they have a vibrancy and fluency to their style of play, even if they too have many flaws (many ageing stars). Most importantly, they haven't been wasting money on big names for no reason and have actually got a very good manager.
So yeah, I could be wrong. But there's a subtle difference in the direction of the two clubs. Even if things can change very fast, maybe Barcelona will become a top team again first, however as things stand, Madrid look to have the momentum and a bit of spark.
They're like us of the last 7 years just with the cracks being papered over all the while. Don't think they're ready at all for the post Messi era. Surely they can't sustain the recent level of spending?
We have Atletico Madrid next and we’re in mediocre form. Let’s see, but they’re gonna do it and credit to them if they do.
He’s good but this is the worst Barca side of the last ten years. Whichever team wins the league would be the weakest title winner of the last 10+ years or so.
What on earth is up with this Arthur Pjanic deal ? Seems like a strange move. Swap talented albeit flawed 23 year old for a 30 year old playing in a weaker league? They need more engines in midfield if anything. Maybe their president supports Real Madrid or something.
They are setting up their balance sheet to break even for the fiscal year. Kicking the can down the road.
Is the link to Bayern not just lazy journalism? He is absolutely not suited to Bayern’s setup (433 or 4231) but perfect for what Inter wants to do (343).
The Bayern rumor has been coming for a few weeks now.
I read it in some ITK and Catalan newspapers but you are right that it does not make much sense.
In addition, his agent said there was no offer from Bayern (although he also said he wanted to return to Madrid).
About Edu Aguirre (the journalist), I trust him more since he is a super friend of Cristiano, although he may have used the rumor to complete the news
Aspas cant take a corner but he can score a free kick like that? Crazy.
Has your views changed on the manager?
Sack your back-to-back league winning manager who was top of the table third season in a row to hire Real Betis reject because he has a Cruyff poster hanging over his bed.
Well deserverd misery.
This isn't even the bottom. Wait until Messi and Suarez are both done around the same time.
Well deserverd misery.
This isn't even the bottom. Wait until Messi and Suarez are both done around the same time.
Made this post elsewhere recently..
Looking at the starting 11 tonight and bench, I think it might be a long time before Barcelona are up there competing for CL titles.
Pique - 33
Alba - 31
Vidal - 33
Busquets - Nearly 32
Messi - Nearly 33
Braithwaite, Roberto and Araujo start.
Suarez - 33
Rakitic - 32
Semedo, Dembele and Umtiti not good enough.
Squad is not strong and they don't have the cash required for a revamp.
Major issues ahead.
Umtiti
Players who can not or do not want, aging squad, a terrible president, Griezmann, Dembele, Coutinho, Messi turning 33, a coach who will not continue ...A colorful horizon for Madrid
I should wait for the Karma issue but I can't help it.
Or Ansu Fati will be a marvel like Riqui, as well as Trincao and Pedri, + for being argentine and Messi they will sign Luka Romero and he will be excellent too
Players who can not or do not want, aging squad, a terrible president, Griezmann, Dembele, Coutinho, Messi turning 33, a coach who will not continue ...A colorful horizon for Madrid
I should wait for the Karma issue but I can't help it.
Or Ansu Fati will be a marvel like Riqui, as well as Trincao and Pedri, + for being argentine and Messi they will sign Luka Romero and he will be excellent too
Nah, they improved under Setien, Valverde clearly had to go. The mistake was not replacing him last summer, although the big issue for barcelona is that they have a lot of doubles that are hard to fit together and lack certain types of players that would make things easier for the manager tactically. They need a great manager to get this team to be a top, top side, despite the individual talent
Improved in losing to Madrid maybe. 17 games in charge. 3 losses, 3 draws and out of the 11 wins 7 were by a 1 goal difference. The multiple goal wins were all against Eibar, Mallorca and Leganes. 3 of the bottom 4 teams. Basically if a squad of Barca's quality had no coach at all, they would achieve the same results (beating bottom teams, grindin wins against middle class teams and drawing or losing against better teams).
It’s getting there
But I still feel like it wasn’t wrong to fire Valverde. I’m also not sure Xavi is ready to come in for next season. I don’t hate Setien though, that first half was the best we’ve looked since the break. The subs were bad though but our depth sucks right now.
In hindsight (for me; other pointed it out before the transfers happened) their transfer business has been really bad. Every club in the world in going to suffer, when three 100m+ signings have zero impact.
I think Frenkie is going to be a fantastic player, but currently he is used in questionable ways and probably needs a bit more time and a better manager. Even their slightly less expensive transfers are all a bit underwhelming/big downgrades. Arthur, Malcom, Paulinho, Semedo, Andre Gomes, Arda, Alcacer, Umtiti. Either they are already out again or they play because there are little alternatives. Maybe I am missing someone but Suárez and ter-Stegen in 14/15 seem to be their last big hits. (there are several transfers that were alright, but nobody expects that Lenglet/Firpo/Arturo Vidal would turn into key players.
At the time I rated some of these players (and I still do) and always thought that their squad is very strong.
I think Frenkie is going to be a fantastic player, but currently he is used in questionable ways and probably needs a bit more time and a better manager. Even their slightly less expensive transfers are all a bit underwhelming/big downgrades. Arthur, Malcom, Paulinho, Semedo, Andre Gomes, Arda, Alcacer, Umtiti. Either they are already out again or they play because there are little alternatives. Maybe I am missing someone but Suárez and ter-Stegen in 14/15 seem to be their last big hits. (there are several transfers that were alright, but nobody expects that Lenglet/Firpo/Arturo Vidal would turn into key players.
At the time I rated some of these players (and I still do) and always thought that their squad is very strong.
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In other news Villareal in fantastic form, 3 points off 4th if they hold on for the win.
Every time I look at their team I forget they signed Paco Alacaer, another goal for him today. Another who was quickly spat out by Barca because he didn't have their "DNA" or whatever. They let him go and then sign Braithwaite 12 months later.
Every time I look at their team I forget they signed Paco Alacaer, another goal for him today. Another who was quickly spat out by Barca because he didn't have their "DNA" or whatever. They let him go and then sign Braithwaite 12 months later.
Barca somehow wasted €350m on Coutinho, Griezmann and Dembele but then thought it's a good idea to hire a puppet / Cruyff fan as their coach. If anything they should go after Allegri now or they totally waste Messi's last 2-3 seasons.
Barcelona under Setien: 13G 9W 2D 2L 29 points 23GF 10GA 27.04xG 12.10xGA 2.23 PPG
Barcelona under Valverde: 19G 12W 4D 3L 40 points 49GF 23GA 33.71xG 20.36xGA 2.10 PPG
Valverde had Suarez and Dembele, Setien largely had to make do without Suarez
Most striking is how the team clearly played worse with Valverde but was consistently bailed out by individual talent, while they're playing better with Setien but individual talent is lagging
Have to remember most sides are petrified of playing at Camp Nou due to the Messi factor so home form will always inflate a manager's stats at Barca.
Since he's come in they've lost 2-0 at Valencia, dumped out of Copa Del Rey at Bilbao 1-0, lost 2-0 at Real Madrid and had the two draws since restart. Always have a tough game at Villareal who are in amazing form currently so another away game they could easily drop points in.
I could actually see some logic in the appointment as Setien's Betis team did play some lovely football at times over last two seasons so as short term measure they could've come up with worse. Weren't they thinking of appointing Henry at some stage?
Seems members of the board have got it into their heads that all they need to do is appoint Xavi and it will be the Guardiola era all over again so they're keeping the seat warm when he decides he's ready.
Since he's come in they've lost 2-0 at Valencia, dumped out of Copa Del Rey at Bilbao 1-0, lost 2-0 at Real Madrid and had the two draws since restart. Always have a tough game at Villareal who are in amazing form currently so another away game they could easily drop points in.
I could actually see some logic in the appointment as Setien's Betis team did play some lovely football at times over last two seasons so as short term measure they could've come up with worse. Weren't they thinking of appointing Henry at some stage?
Seems members of the board have got it into their heads that all they need to do is appoint Xavi and it will be the Guardiola era all over again so they're keeping the seat warm when he decides he's ready.
Madrid not gonna capitalise on Barca drawing.