Luis Enrique to leave Barcelona at end of the season

What about Oscar Garcia?. Former Barca player, he was Johan Cryuff's assistant in the national team of Catalonia and its only 43. Now is managing RB Salzburg. Totally leftfield suggestion but i think very interesting one

No chance, he was overlooked for the B job when Rosell/Barto hired Eusebio and shown the door - he's a Cruyffist and this board steers clear of that allegiance. Of course, I am a fan of Oscar but I would've liked to have seen what he could have done with the B team first before taking a shot at the 1st team
 
Sanctistan or Oscar Garcia I reckon.

Would of course be hilarious to see Wenger get it, for more reasons than I care to enumerate.
 
Will Luis Enrique be from now on a big shot, or a second Di Matteo?
 
I guess that it's going to be Paco Jemez or Sampaioli, the cheaper will win the battle.
 
You mean realistic people? Because you don't get to play like we did between 08/11 if you lack players at the level of prime Iniesta/Xavi and guys like Puyol and Abidal behind them to liberate them from defensive duties.

Before Pep took over, the same argument was being made once Ronnie & Deco were ushered out - no depth, no cantera involvement and no playing identity. The change from in one year was not only dramatic but it altered the club's trajectory in a profound way. I contend, despite MSN saving Lucho's blushes, that that has been lost and I am certainly not the only one who holds this opinion. Menotti weighed in on this recently himself


Even Cruyff wasn't able to replicate his system/game flow every year as players affect that greatly. It's great having Neymar, Suarez and Messi up front, but you can't pretend they will work their ass off like Eto'o, Pedro or Villa did, we lack Xavi, we lack a guy like Keita (he was a HUGE player for us from the bench), our DM is not a fight between Yaya and Busquets anymore.

Depth. What happened to rotating our attacking players? What happened to integrating the youth from the cantera that is the very foundation of the Cruyff way? All the attacking players and midfielders from the youth were either loaned out, sold or ignored. If the next coach starts playing a youth player like Gumbau we all should shudder in fear


We have even lost a lot of our youth focus in this club and that's not on Lucho, that's on the board and us the supporters. Without Lucho Rafinha, Dennis and Sergi Roberto wouldn't be in this team, that means only Pique, Busquets, Iniesta and Messi would remain as La Masia prospects, and without our "own" players it gets even harder to play the way we're supposed to.

How is that not on Lucho? That's revisionism. Look to see how many minutes Deulofeu played the summer he came back from Everton after his initial loan Under Lucho - that's not on the board, that's on the coach. Adama, Samper, Munir for Paco, Bartra, Grimaldo and Montoya among others is down to the coach.



We nurtured Thiago as Xavi's heir and the the board let him walk because they failed to prove him he was needed and that was before Lucho, he isn't the one to blame for losing the one player in this world that was shaped with the sole purpose of being the new Xavi, once that happened the style we played was doomed until someone could step up to that role.

I have never backed away from the culpability of this board in eroding it's foundation & playing identity but Lucho certainly helped accelerate it. We've seen Barcelona turn into a counter attacking team waiting for individual efforts from MSN to hide the poor positional & possession play in midfield. I can't recall a time since even before Rijkaard where Barcelona have looked so inept in possession or pegged back in their own without it - never, and that's on the coach.


Onda Cero claims the front runner is the 'safe' choice in Valverde with of course the obedient servent Eusebio also in the running. Logic won't enter into the discussion I fear in the choice as this board is in a good position of power to make the choice they want which will consolidate their mandate. Of course, if it's a poor choice - I suspect Leo won't stick around either
 
Does he really need "rest" or is this a polite sacking?

I think it's probably a combination of fatigue/stress/criticism of the job coupled with a board that perhaps he is not always eye to eye with (The entorno I have mentioned before) - there are 'rumours' he was not happy with how the Alves or Vidal situations were handled by the board which is reminiscent of what happened with Pep. A big reason why the next coach will likely have even less latitude to assert their own stamp making the job difficult for anyone
 
Why people keep mentioning Pochettino baffles me considering his history and his playing style. My preference is Sampaoli, this current board is useless though and I think they might go for Eusebio Sacristan instead.

People mentioning Wenger is baffling too. While I understand people mentioning Koeman, I find him an equally baffling choice as I think the club will go for somebody who has done well previously in La Liga. Sampaoli is my number one choice too, followed by daylight, followed by Valverde.
 
People mentioning Wenger is baffling too. While I understand people mentioning Koeman, I find him an equally baffling choice as I think the club will go for somebody who has done well previously in La Liga. Sampaoli is my number one choice too, followed by daylight, followed by Valverde.

That's a good shout, he would definitely brighten things up.
 
Wenger has a perceived prestige about him. Added to his financial acumen, his obvious intelligence makes him a prestigious signing (in the eyes of other clubs at least); from their perspective, it'd be like buying a classic car. The footballing aspect is almost an afterthought..which should be a warning sign to those clubs that would like to sign him.
 
phil neville has no job and is living in spain. so easy choice really
 
Messi finally taking over as player-manager?

He's been doing the job long enough anyway.
 
I don't want to put down Poch because I think he's done a great job with us but I don't see why Barcelona would go for him tbh.

He'd need to go win a few trophies or go well well above and beyond in a few league campaigns (ie go to toe till the last few matches at least vs a real heavyweight like Man Utd or Chelsea, even if we don't win).

Plus I'm not sure his style would really work all that well at a hige club like Barcelona. He believes you're bought to train, not play. And that if you don't subscribe fully to his methods, you're out. Fair enough in a squad mostly full of young players (we still have the league's yoingest average age) but not so sure how he'd approach Iniesta, Messi, Neymar etc.

Not to mention the Espanyol link and the comments he personally has made in the past about it.

Sampaoli seems far more realistic.
 
Why is it Barca managers quit and need a rest?
Its similar to Liverpool having never actually sacked a manager until Daglish in 2012 everyone resigned or left by mutual consent. Its just a nice narrative.

Easy now, let's not forget that Stevie Me & John Terry both once slipped on their arses at the worst conceivable points in their existence.

In stitches laughing at this :lol::lol::lol:

Poch to Barcelona would be pretty amusing considering it would leave Spurs up the proverbial creek.
 
No way it'll be Klopp. I can imagine him turning down food when hungry just for the pain of it.
 
I've been to a Barca vs Espanyol derby and it was the most tame, relaxed affair i've ever witnessed inside a football ground.
I don't think their rivalry is anything near approaching what you'd see in England.
if you were at the camp nou, yes, but the stadium is always tame, even on clasicos (too many tourists). Next time go to a derby on Espanyol's turf and you'll see real hatred
 
if you were at the camp nou, yes, but the stadium is always tame, even on clasicos (too many tourists). Next time go to a derby on Espanyol's turf and you'll see real hatred

You're probably right so I'll take your word for it. Yea it was at the camp nou, the family next to me seemed to be enjoying a picnic and chatting about shopping nearly all game, it was fecking hilarious. :lol:
 
He knew he had no future in Barcelona since the Paris fiasco and was - probably - asked not to comment his future.

I see his interview as a kind of revenge in the sense that he has - probably - communicated without first notifying the club.

Any management wants to control the communication of his employees.
 
I actually think Koeman is in with a shout of the job - he will be trying his hardest to get it no doubt.
 
Think we're witnessing the beginning of the end of the Barcelona dominance era.

No matter who they get next, they won't be able to play the style of football Pep introduced which made them the dominant force they once were. I'm not saying they still won't be a great team but they're not going to be favourites for major honours any more.

Wonder if they'll promote from within or bring in an already established manager?
 
I actually think Koeman is in with a shout of the job - he will be trying his hardest to get it no doubt.
Heard recently that he isn't that well liked by people at the club, namely, members of the board. Think he's more in with a shout of the Arsenal job should Wenger leave in the summer.
 
I don't want to put down Poch because I think he's done a great job with us but I don't see why Barcelona would go for him tbh.

He'd need to go win a few trophies or go well well above and beyond in a few league campaigns (ie go to toe till the last few matches at least vs a real heavyweight like Man Utd or Chelsea, even if we don't win).

Plus I'm not sure his style would really work all that well at a hige club like Barcelona. He believes you're bought to train, not play. And that if you don't subscribe fully to his methods, you're out. Fair enough in a squad mostly full of young players (we still have the league's yoingest average age) but not so sure how he'd approach Iniesta, Messi, Neymar etc.

Not to mention the Espanyol link and the comments he personally has made in the past about it.

Sampaoli seems far more realistic.

What has he won, apart from Copa America? I don't see how his resume is much different from Poch, apart from style
 
Heard recently that he isn't that well liked by people at the club, namely, members of the board. Think he's more in with a shout of the Arsenal job should Wenger leave in the summer.

Could be, just thought that his obvious links with barcelona might swing it in his direction but you could see him at Arsenal too I think.
 
I would rule out Pochettino. A coach does not have to be as loyal as a player but I think in this case his past in Espanyol has to mean a lot.
For what the press says Barcelona have been talking to Sampaoli for weeks, and the only impediment is that they do not want Lillo.
I think the choice of Sampaoli would be very good. They need to change the style a bit, something new, more dynamic.
I also like Valverde. He was my favorite option for the national team and after years at Athletic he should try in a elite team.
I guess Koeman is a candidate simply because of the Dutch school and all that story, but personally I still remember his horrible experience in Valencia where in a short time he ended up facing everyone.
Surprised that they don´t think about Setién.
From a Madrid fan point of view I would like Koeman or Eusebio :drool:
 
Who i think they should hire(in order): sampaoli, valverde, setien

Who i hope they hire: eusebio, koeman, lucho's assistant
 
Sampaoli would be perfect for them, but they can feck off. I hope Sevilla is not even thinking about letting him go. Valverde would be the risk-averse choice, but in my opinion not the best fit. Koeman or Paco Jemez would be a bit of a joke. Marcelino would be imo a good choice.