Andy_Cole
Full Member
Give it Giggsy til the end of the season.
On today's showing I see them get spanked again like Bayern did to them a few years back.I'm betting they win the return leg 6-0.
Those questions were rightly asked. Since 2013 Barca have not been the same. 2009-2013 were their dominant/untouchable days. The trio of Iniesta Xavi and Messi was a special force.We seen it before in 2013 when Bayern munich took them apart and questions were asked. But just one bad season doesn't mean a decline, they'll bounce back like they always do. But saying that, their defence is terrible and midfield not as dominant as it once was.
Would say 2009-2011. Slight blip in 2011-2012. Don't forget they got smashed in 2012-2013 against Bayern in the CL semis. They've not been the same since Pep left really.Those questions were rightly asked. Since 2013 Barca have not been the same. 2009-2013 were their dominant/untouchable days. The trio of Iniesta Xavi and Messi was a special force.
What top player would we sign? The front 3 will be here next season, Pique and Umtiti will be our cb's, Busquets has "street cred" to be our DM for another three years even if he's abysmal. That leaves the fullbacks and two midfielders, I don't see anyone changing this team from the RB, and who can we get in the LB, Alaba? not a chance. Then there's the midfield but the biggest names are already taken. Modric, Kroos, James, Isco, Pogba, Hazard, De Bruyne, Thiado, Silva, Ozil, Koke, Coutinho... how many of them would be realistic choices? Maybe the last 3, and in order to sign one of them there's a lot of players to get rid off, Rakitic might be done here even if it's not his fault, Arda, maybe even Rafinha if Lucho leaves... Andre Gomes will most likely stay even if he's dreadful to watch, basically we have Iniesta on a good day and a good prospect on Dennis, the rest...This Barcelona team has had some really bad games this season, they were outperformed all over the pitch against Real Sociedad and should have lost that game by 2 or 3 goals but they were unlucky and the strikers were missing a lot of chances. This time they were also outplayed but against a team with better individual quality so more than an odd game this is more of a tendency that indicates Luis Enrique is doing a terrible job.
So right now their biggest problems is how they wasted so much money in average players so they're still lacking depth and quality of they want to challenge for the UCL again and dominate in the league as well. They also have the problem on having reached their salary cap or something like that so that could also be a problem if they wanted to sign a top player. So they're in a rough spot as their coach and directives seem to have done a very poor job in almost all regarding the club. Still the best way to revert this situation would be to get a more capable coach.
I like to think that we haven't been really the same since Puyol started missing games and had injury problems, Abidal was a sensible loss too.Would say 2009-2011. Slight blip in 2011-2012. Don't forget they got smashed in 2012-2013 against Bayern in the CL semis. They've not been the same since Pep left really.
Wiegl, Saul, Koke, maybe even Isco are possible - for fullbacks you need at least competence because both Alba and Sergi are well below CL quality. Someone at the level of Lichsteiner, not prime Alves would itself be a big improvement.What top player would we sign? The front 3 will be here next season, Pique and Umtiti will be our cb's, Busquets has "street cred" to be our DM for another three years even if he's abysmal. That leaves the fullbacks and two midfielders, I don't see anyone changing this team from the RB, and who can we get in the LB, Alaba? not a chance. Then there's the midfield but the biggest names are already taken. Modric, Kroos, James, Isco, Pogba, Hazard, De Bruyne, Thiado, Silva, Ozil, Koke, Coutinho... how many of them would be realistic choices? Maybe the last 3, and in order to sign one of them there's a lot of players to get rid off, Rakitic might be done here even if it's not his fault, Arda, maybe even Rafinha if Lucho leaves... Andre Gomes will most likely stay even if he's dreadful to watch, basically we have Iniesta on a good day and a good prospect on Dennis, the rest...
I'd like some new manager with new, bold ideas, maybe the final transition of Messi into midfield in the role of Iniesta with someone capable by his side, a joyful return of Deulofeu after a good half year in Milan... who knows, dreaming is free
Saul has a high release clause and he doesn't have the "hype" here in Spain Koke has, if Barcelona made a move it would be for Koke, he was hailed as the new Xavi so they will look there.Wiegl, Saul, Koke, maybe even Isco are possible - for fullbacks you need at least competence because both Alba and Sergi are well below CL quality. Someone at the level of Lichsteiner, not prime Alves would itself be a big improvement.
How bad has Gomes been? I remember we were strongly linked to him in the summer and had posters saying he was better than Pogba etc. Think I might just have a look at that thread nowSaul has a high release clause and he doesn't have the "hype" here in Spain Koke has, if Barcelona made a move it would be for Koke, he was hailed as the new Xavi so they will look there.
And Weigl... Weigl is the guy someone probably thought Andre Gomes would be at Barcelona, at this point I feel so disconnected to this team that I wouldn't mind Dennis and Andre maining our midfield from now until May, if they don't show any potential throw Andre Gomes into the Mediterranean and start again
He's not going to Barça. This is like when all the idiots starting thinking Ander Herrera was great because Barça supposedly wanted him.
Yes, yes and YES please! I freaking love the directness in Deulofeu's game. Loaning him here and there was not a wise move in the longer term. He would slot in perfectly as the right winger.I'd like some new manager with new, bold ideas, maybe the final transition of Messi into midfield in the role of Iniesta with someone capable by his side, a joyful return of Deulofeu after a good half year in Milan... who knows, dreaming is free
LOL. Not sure if that's a typo or deliberate because pretty sure that's a current or future MLS team..It's what happens when you play the likes of Real Volcano every weekend - you get complacent.
FECKING LOLSSS.Tweet
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Balague
Weigl wouldn't make much sense as long as Busquets is there in my eyes. His style is very close to Sergio and he is best anchoring the midfield.And Weigl... Weigl is the guy someone probably thought Andre Gomes would be at Barcelona, at this point I feel so disconnected to this team that I wouldn't mind Dennis and Andre maining our midfield from now until May, if they don't show any potential throw Andre Gomes into the Mediterranean and start again
Didn't he win the double last season too?Imagine being a treble winning coach and not even being welcome or wanted in your own team 20 months later
Yup, nuts. Even small dips are not acceptable any more. I've seen articles talking about the "end of an era"; they're season isn't even close to over! They're still in the league, and will probably win the Copa Del Rey. Who's to say this kind of defeat won't be the kind of character-building experience for their new players to ensure they come out firing next season?Didn't he win the double last season too?
It's just crazy to think a manager could win 2 titles, a champions league and 2 cups ( with another cup more than likely at the end of this season) in 3 years and most likely be on his way out.
That is how it has always been with managers at Barca.Didn't he win the double last season too?
It's just crazy to think a manager could win 2 titles, a champions league and 2 cups ( with another cup more than likely at the end of this season) in 3 years and most likely be on his way out.
Enrique will have won 8/9 trophies in 3 seasons. Surely that is enough to be given another chance next year?
I'm hoping Jorge Sampaoli will be Enrique's replacement.Who will they replace him with?
I don't know how about this guy Verratti? And there's always the fact clubs tend to inflate their prices if it's Barcelona or Real Madrid, but you're probably right about the club offloading players before getting new ones. As for the list I think Coutinho would be an attainable target. As for the full backs maybe you could try sniffing ones of the likes of Sevilla, Real Sociedad or Villarreal I don't even know who the hell plays on those positions but it should be worth to consider the options within the top teams of the league (no more Valencia players this time though).What top player would we sign? The front 3 will be here next season, Pique and Umtiti will be our cb's, Busquets has "street cred" to be our DM for another three years even if he's abysmal. That leaves the fullbacks and two midfielders, I don't see anyone changing this team from the RB, and who can we get in the LB, Alaba? not a chance. Then there's the midfield but the biggest names are already taken. Modric, Kroos, James, Isco, Pogba, Hazard, De Bruyne, Thiado, Silva, Ozil, Koke, Coutinho... how many of them would be realistic choices? Maybe the last 3, and in order to sign one of them there's a lot of players to get rid off, Rakitic might be done here even if it's not his fault, Arda, maybe even Rafinha if Lucho leaves... Andre Gomes will most likely stay even if he's dreadful to watch, basically we have Iniesta on a good day and a good prospect on Dennis, the rest...
I'd like some new manager with new, bold ideas, maybe the final transition of Messi into midfield in the role of Iniesta with someone capable by his side, a joyful return of Deulofeu after a good half year in Milan... who knows, dreaming is free
I know it's all meant as a joke and all but Guillem Balague ain't a Barça fan - far from it in fact - he supports the other team in Catalunya.Tweet
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Balague
The thing is everyone knows he's meant to be an Espanyol fan but he usually ends up sticking up for Barca.I know it's all meant as a joke and all but Guillem Balague ain't a Barça fan - far from it in fact - he supports the other team in Catalunya.
He's more of a Guardiola fan, fan of Messi and that's it Barcelona related. It's like saying Duncan Castles is a Manchester United fan. He's not. He's a Mourinho fan.The thing is everyone knows he's meant to be an Espanyol fan but he usually ends up sticking up for Barca.
The thing is, we all know that he is a tactically average coach who was incredibly lucky that MSN were in the form of their lives.Enrique will have won 8/9 trophies in 3 seasons. Surely that is enough to be given another chance next year?
To be fair Bob knew his stuff. Even in that post he might of been wrong about the transfer but at the same time correct on how shit he is.Reading that old Andre Gomes thread...why did we have to ban Bob Loblaw