Griezmann - Barcelona player

passing-wind

Full Member
Joined
Oct 20, 2013
Messages
3,041
I don't see Griezmann being a success positionally doesn't he roam in similar areas to Messi ? From what I've observed he's slightly overrated and the wrong profile of player for Barcelona.

If they are looking to replace Suarez then surely Jovic would have been a more suitable acquisition. Also what does this spell for Dembele, surely he must consider his development because he won't play over Suarez, AG and Messi.
 

Zehner

Football Statistics Dork
Joined
Mar 29, 2018
Messages
7,982
Location
Germany
Supports
Bayer 04 Leverkusen
It doesn't work out if you value CL above everything. Other than that: 90 % win or draw rate and consecutive league titles with a post Xavi-Iniesta-Alves Barca. In hindsight people can say "yeah, no one cares about La Liga". But the summer Neymar moved on and Real Madrid had won back-to-back CL titles and beat Barca in the Spanish Super Cup, people thought the club was finished and Madrid was going to dominate for years to come. Then Barca went on a 37 game unbeaten streak in the league.

Here is the main problem: https://www.marca.com/en/football/barcelona/2019/05/27/5cec34d522601d75608b4584.html
I generally agree that it doesn't make too much sense to value the CL as highly. However, the league campaigns under Valverde look better on paper than they actually were. Not only that they are painfully reliant on Messi, they are also scoring less goals, get less points in total and only occasionally remind of the Barca of "old". Especially against opponent's on eye sight there's not that much left of their once overarching dominance. In Valverde's first season there were excuses for that but the squad he had last season was absolutely exceptional.

Still, he wasn't able to properly integrate Coutinho and Dembele, he benched Arthur - who was probably their best midfielder in this season - in the most important game of the season rather cowardly and still there are no collective attacking patterns. It's Messi or nothing although they've got attacking talent in abundance. I'm sorry but that's simply not enough with a team like that.
 

RobinLFC

Cries when Liverpool doesn't get praised
Joined
May 20, 2014
Messages
20,805
Location
Belgium
Supports
Liverpool
Wooosh...
For some reason you're picking up a fight out of one innocent post. Congrats.
Wasn’t meant as an attack on you or trying to pick a fight, apologies if it seemed that way. I just think it’s pointless to assume things about their financials, which you (and I and anyone else on this forum) don’t have a clue about, that’s all.
 

Johnny Love

New Member
Newbie
Joined
Nov 27, 2017
Messages
264
And they also fell apart a year before. Nor Griezmann, Neymar or Messi are leaders or team players. The are all individualist. Where are the leaders at Barca? Real has the same problem.
I don't think that's the issue. For me the main problem is that throughout all those meltdowns they've never addressed their weaknesses on the pitch. I mean if you're having problems at the back and you keep on spending millions on forwards that barely have an impact on the pitch..how are you improving the team really??
 

Ban

New Member
Joined
Oct 22, 2015
Messages
26,022
Location
Zagreb, HR
Wasn’t meant as an attack on you or trying to pick a fight, apologies if it seemed that way. I just think it’s pointless to assume things about their financials, which you (and I and anyone else on this forum) don’t have a clue about, that’s all.
Well they're taking a loan to buy Griezmann so it doesn't look either good or healthy. In any case even if they were in trouble I'm sure Spanish authorities and banks would find a way to bail them out. Madrid too.
 

JPRouve

can't stop thinking about balls - NOT deflategate
Scout
Joined
Jan 31, 2014
Messages
65,353
Location
France
Well they're taking a loan to buy Griezmann so it doesn't look either good or healthy. In any case even if they were in trouble I'm sure Spanish authorities and banks would find a way to bail them out. Madrid too.
The loan tells you nothing in terms of health because the issue with that particular move is linked to the fact that you have to pay the full price to the LFP. Sponsors and competitions don't all pay at the same time which means that cash availabilities don't necessarily match with transfer windows, which is why installments are useful.
 

Bole Top

Full Member
Joined
May 2, 2014
Messages
3,508
regardless of what Barca manage to win in the end, I think he will have great season and will have impact similar to that of Durant when he went to GS. he wasn't getting carried by the others, he was destroying Cleveland on his own in those final games. obviously Griezmann isn't good enough to outshine Messi, but he won't be another Coutinho neither he will have zero goals in CL like Suarez last season. in Atletico he was probably the only one who can "play" and was never really surrounded with equally good players (in technical aspect), so I think he will be very motivated to show he trully belongs in Barca. he won't flop and Barca's potential league/CL titles won't be gifted to him by others. I'm certain he will be major factor for them.
 

gaucho_10

Full Member
Joined
Dec 11, 2012
Messages
2,219
I'm so happy they signed Griezmann. He doesn't fit that team on paper and if he ends up being a succesfull transfer I'll eat my shoes.
 

kouroux

45k posts to finally achieve this tagline
Joined
Apr 25, 2007
Messages
95,709
Location
Djibouti (La terre des braves)
regardless of what Barca manage to win in the end, I think he will have great season and will have impact similar to that of Durant when he went to GS. he wasn't getting carried by the others, he was destroying Cleveland on his own in those final games. obviously Griezmann isn't good enough to outshine Messi, but he won't be another Coutinho neither he will have zero goals in CL like Suarez last season. in Atletico he was probably the only one who can "play" and was never really surrounded with equally good players (in technical aspect), so I think he will be very motivated to show he trully belongs in Barca. he won't flop and Barca's potential league/CL titles won't be gifted to him by others. I'm certain he will be major factor for them.
Therefore his impact won't even be close to Durant's
 

DCP

New Member
Newbie
Joined
Aug 25, 2017
Messages
285
I don't think that there is any other high profile player that people want to fail as much as Griezmann. What a dislikable knob.
 

LiquidSnake

Full Member
Joined
Jan 28, 2015
Messages
95
Location
France
Therefore his impact won't even be close to Durant's
Yes it doesn't make sense.

On Griezmann I think he will be very good in Barcelona, but not really great or Ballon d'Or level. Definitely he will have very good numbers and will be helpful in some UCL games when needing the odd goal/assist... Maybe a bit like when Thierry Henry went there and had a very good 2009 season but you could tell he wasn't your typical "Barcelona player" (especially in the Pep era) but had a great statistical records and 2-3 great games especially the 6-2 at Madrid (like anytime he plays against Cannavaro).
 
Last edited:

kouroux

45k posts to finally achieve this tagline
Joined
Apr 25, 2007
Messages
95,709
Location
Djibouti (La terre des braves)
Yes it doesn't make sense.

On Griezmann I think he will be very good in Barcelona, but not really great or Ballon d'Or level. Definitely he will have very good numbers and will be helpful in some UCL games when needing the odd goal/assist... Maybe a bit like when Thierry Henry went there and had a very good 2009 season but you could tell he wasn't your typical "Barcelona player" (especially in the Pep era) but had a great statistical records and 2-3 great games against especially the 6-2 at Madrid (like actually like anytime he plays against Cannavaro).
Something like this can actually happen. Griezmann is a great and intelligent player, he won't be the main man but he'll be very useful for them I think. The question is whether Suarez still starts or not.
 

André Dominguez

Full Member
Joined
Aug 7, 2017
Messages
6,325
Location
Lisbon
Supports
Benfica, Académica
I'm so happy they signed Griezmann. He doesn't fit that team on paper and if he ends up being a succesfull transfer I'll eat my shoes.
Off-field Griezmann might be a petty player making everything possible to leave his club, but on-field Griezmann is a very competitive and self-motivated player, and I think he will end up doing a good season.
 

Brwned

Have you ever been in love before?
Joined
Apr 18, 2008
Messages
50,829
Yes it doesn't make sense.

On Griezmann I think he will be very good in Barcelona, but not really great or Ballon d'Or level. Definitely he will have very good numbers and will be helpful in some UCL games when needing the odd goal/assist... Maybe a bit like when Thierry Henry went there and had a very good 2009 season but you could tell he wasn't your typical "Barcelona player" (especially in the Pep era) but had a great statistical records and 2-3 great games especially the 6-2 at Madrid (like anytime he plays against Cannavaro).
Yeah I think he'll be like Henry or Villa. Much less spectacular as an individual but still a key contributor to a team challenging for the biggest trophies. It's just the nature of being forced to play out of position and a supporting role for better players - I don't think Barcelona's manager / directors will expect anything less either. That's still very valuable.

The reason for paying a premium to put a star player in a supporting role, rather than getting a supporting player and slotting him straight in, is that at least you know he can cope with the largely unique pressures of playing at a top Spanish club. And when the other star players are out of form, out of action, or have moved on, you have a player capable of stepping in and delivering in the big moments.

I think Griezmann as a "false 9" once Suarez moves on could be brilliant. Before that he'll probably have the same first year struggles Henry and Villa did, but he's one of the most selfless, intelligent players in his position I've ever seen, so he could slot in more seamlessly. And you'd expect that no matter how talented his replacement is, stealing him from Atletico will have taken one of their rivals out of the title race for at least a season.

All transfers come with risk but this one makes plenty of sense.
 

LiquidSnake

Full Member
Joined
Jan 28, 2015
Messages
95
Location
France
Something like this can actually happen. Griezmann is a great and intelligent player, he won't be the main man but he'll be very useful for them I think. The question is whether Suarez still starts or not.
Yep, even tough I'm not a fan of his personality, he's a great player and like you say he's too intelligent (on the field), selfless and motivated to be a total failure in Barcelona.

Yeah I think he'll be like Henry or Villa. Much less spectacular as an individual but still a key contributor to a team challenging for the biggest trophies. It's just the nature of being forced to play out of position and a supporting role for better players - I don't think Barcelona's manager / directors will expect anything less either. That's still very valuable.

The reason for paying a premium to put a star player in a supporting role, rather than getting a supporting player and slotting him straight in, is that at least you know he can cope with the largely unique pressures of playing at a top Spanish club. And when the other star players are out of form, out of action, or have moved on, you have a player capable of stepping in and delivering in the big moments.

I think Griezmann as a "false 9" once Suarez moves on could be brilliant. Before that he'll probably have the same first year struggles Henry and Villa did, but he's one of the most selfless, intelligent players in his position I've ever seen, so he could slot in more seamlessly. And you'd expect that no matter how talented his replacement is, stealing him from Atletico will have taken one of their rivals out of the title race for at least a season.

All transfers come with risk but this one makes plenty of sense.
I think you totally nailed it. Like you say, slotting a star player into a second role is expensive and somewhat risky... But you have a lieutnant to Messi, who basically proved he was able to put a performance in highly disputed UCL/International games... I think that's what Barcelona missed a lot the past few years... (And since Neymar was gone... Neymar was already the main catalyser against PSG 2 years ago after all).

I don't even think he will struggle this much the first year. He's a great off the ball player and even tough he was the main man in Atletico, they weren't playing for "him" and always was playing within the team. Whearas Henry and Villa came from Barcelona and Valence where they were the star striker and the target of relatively offensive teams. He will have growing pains but I can already see him being determinant to this Barcelona side as soon as this season.
 

giorno

boob novice
Joined
Jul 20, 2016
Messages
26,143
Supports
Real Madrid
Henry was barcelona's 9th player in 08/09, both in terms of importance as well as quality. Villa was better in 10/11, but still below the likes of messi, xavi, iniesta, busquets, pique, alves

Griezmann will need to do a lot better than those two
 

Zehner

Football Statistics Dork
Joined
Mar 29, 2018
Messages
7,982
Location
Germany
Supports
Bayer 04 Leverkusen
Puyol, Valdés and Pique.
Valdes? Come on. Ter Stegen is at least as much of a leader as Valdes, if not more. Piqué is still in the team so that leaves Puyol. Do you really think that's what prevents them from being as successful as they used to be?

Leaders, at least as they are identified in the public understanding, are completely overrated and most often a lazy explanation for bad performances.
 

HisDudeness

New Member
Newbie
Joined
Dec 28, 2015
Messages
728
Supports
Rangers
Should have bought 19 yer old Joao Felix. I think he will be something special.

But I do think that Griezmann will bang in lots of goals for Barcelona

The signings of Athletico sound very unit strong and they might win the league again

New look team but looks very strong. Blew Real Madrid away... albeit just a friendly

 
Last edited:

HisDudeness

New Member
Newbie
Joined
Dec 28, 2015
Messages
728
Supports
Rangers
Griezmann is just settling Barcelona play a different style
 

TsuWave

Full Member
Joined
Oct 12, 2013
Messages
14,126
posted this today:


Lacazette asked "where am i?"


sold him to huddersfield :lol:
 

Bwuk

Full Member
Joined
Feb 29, 2012
Messages
17,281
Haha excellent.

Apparently he’s been playing on the left for Barca. Really do wonder what’s going to happen if they somehow get Neymar.
 

Casanova85

New Member
Joined
Jul 12, 2018
Messages
4,183
Location
Northwestern Mediterranean
Supports
Cruyff/SAF
If Bartomeu actually ends up signing Ney this summer, God knows how, what the hell do they want Griezmann for? Bench for Suárez? Dembele sold in Jan? Is that it?
 

LARulz

Full Member
Joined
Dec 21, 2009
Messages
18,138
Anyone seen this? It's a painful watch because of the stupid images but it's funny


I read one of the comments and thought it was a pisstake but it's genuine

Best hairstyle: Me
Best film: Mine
What did your parents teach you: Humility :lol:
 

Casanova85

New Member
Joined
Jul 12, 2018
Messages
4,183
Location
Northwestern Mediterranean
Supports
Cruyff/SAF
Anyone seen this? It's a painful watch because of the stupid images but it's funny


I read one of the comments and thought it was a pisstake but it's genuine

Best hairstyle: Me
Best film: Mine
What did your parents teach you: Humility :lol:

Christ, what a dumbass. Total opposite of Messi. Hope he starts scoring or giving assists quickly, for his sake.
 

::sonny::

Full Member
Joined
Jun 13, 2007
Messages
17,868
Location
Milan
Too easy FM2019, I won everything in the first 2 yrs with Man Utd and Sunderland
 

roonster09

Hercule Poirot of the scouting world
Scout
Joined
May 10, 2009
Messages
36,514

Wonder how Barca can pay such huge fines.