Hoof the ball
Full Member
That was classic Busquets. I love Sergi in that system.
Very trueSee how it works away from home. Everyone knows Barca have Liverpool like powers on their own turf.
Seeing the score line is missing the point, no Suarez or FDJ.looks like under Valverde it was so depressing that fans are now happy with 1-0 win against ten men Granada another goal with his right for Messi + Puig looked good too. Griez really works hard, but like I've said earlier in season, it really wouldn't surprise me if he never came close to his numbers from Atletico days, which is ironic in a way. I guess he'll play less on a wing now that Suarez is injured so he'll start to score more as well.
1,005 passes.looks like under Valverde it was so depressing that fans are now happy with 1-0 win against ten men Granada another goal with his right for Messi + Puig looked good too. Griez really works hard, but like I've said earlier in season, it really wouldn't surprise me if he never came close to his numbers from Atletico days, which is ironic in a way. I guess he'll play less on a wing now that Suarez is injured so he'll start to score more as well.
And at the end of the day it took a Messi goal against 10 men to open the can. You can admire the methodology but at the end of the day, it’s scoring that counts. Barca purists probably would frown at the goal that Liverpool scored against us with Alisson assisting Salah with a goal kick.Ok, apparently this is a thing....
Barça vs. Grenada set the record for most attempted passes in Barcelona history, and even more incredible, the 2nd most attempted passes of all time from any team in history.
Yes, it took Messi to score a goal however we could've scored 4 or 5 easily while we only conceded one dangerous shot on our target. If you'd have followed us this season you would see what a huge problem this has been. We would be hard pressed to keep a clean sheet against anyone, even against the teams from the lower half of the table. Under Valverde we'd usually try to sit back with a goal advantage, concede possession to the opponents trying to keep it tight at the back, and while it's a legitimate tactic, we really don't have the players to defend in a low block and it constantly backfired. So our best form of defence is still keeping possession of the ball, limit the amount of passing errors and fast counter press after losing the ball, none of which were done under Valverde but were clear to see from the first match under Setien.And at the end of the day it took a Messi goal against 10 men to open the can. You can admire the methodology but at the end of the day, it’s scoring that counts. Barca purists probably would frown at the goal that Liverpool scored against us with Alisson assisting Salah with a goal kick.
Spoken like someone who didn’t watch the game at all.And at the end of the day it took a Messi goal against 10 men to open the can. You can admire the methodology but at the end of the day, it’s scoring that counts. Barca purists probably would frown at the goal that Liverpool scored against us with Alisson assisting Salah with a goal kick.
As a matter of fact I did watch it. I don’t get why you Barsa fans get so salty and immediately police and come hard on to those who comment on the club. It’s like a cult.Spoken like someone who didn’t watch the game at all.
You didn't watch the game, then make something up to make Barcelona fans seem like a close minded cult and when you get called out for spouting your nonsense you call them "like a cult" because they corrected you?As a matter of fact I did watch it. I don’t get why you Barsa fans get so salty and immediately police and come hard on to those who comment on the club. It’s like a cult.
There are PLENTY of reasons to criticize Barca this season, but quite bizarre to single that game out considering that teams who sit on the low block (like the way sheffield stifled City for example) happens all the time when a hyper defensive team goes up against a big squad.As a matter of fact I did watch it. I don’t get why you Barsa fans get so salty and immediately police and come hard on to those who comment on the club. It’s like a cult.
BingoYes, it took Messi to score a goal however we could've scored 4 or 5 easily while we only conceded one dangerous shot on our target. If you'd have followed us this season you would see what a huge problem this has been. We would be hard pressed to keep a clean sheet against anyone, even against the teams from the lower half of the table. Under Valverde we'd usually try to sit back with a goal advantage, concede possession to the opponents trying to keep it tight at the back, and while it's a legitimate tactic, we really don't have the players to defend in a low block and it constantly backfired. So our best form of defence is still keeping possession of the ball, limit the amount of passing errors and fast counter press after losing the ball, none of which were done under Valverde but were clear to see from the first match under Setien.
Regarding chance creation, it wasn't really a huge problem the other night, it's that the biggest 2 fell at the feet of 17 yo Ansu Fati who is a talented lad but still has ways to go. You do have to take into consideration that this is is the first match under a new manager, who only had a week to train the squad and asses its strengths and weaknesses. Also Suarez, De Jong were out and Arthur is barely back from an injury. Things will improve on that front I'm sure.
As for your second point about the assist from the keeper, why would you say that? Stegen had 2 similar assists this season alone and I didn't see any fan on the Barca boards frowning. Quite on the contrary it was the highlight of the match for most of us despite Messi doing his usual routine.
Know plenty of people that live there and some that have gone, including M'anu who's mentioned in this article about it https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51157181Imagine going to Ibiza away
It worked out in the end!I’ve been watching it because I stupidly bet on Barca. They’ve done absolutely nothing.
The usual Setienball.Ibiza-Elvissa 1-0 Barcelona at half time
Possession: 20%-80%
Shots: 5-1
What the hell
We averaged 700 passes per game with Valverde, people (fans and media) just lack perspective and a middle ground.The usual Setienball.
I think 400 something passes in 45 minutes as well, which only got to show how useless the "WOWSERS 1000 passes" statistic is. Mostly between the defenders.
Really.When I watched Barca in its absolute prime under Pep I always felt that this style is not sustainable. The combination of not only one but 2 central midfielders who are all-time great final ball deliverers, yet with the ability to never lose the ball and control the game like deep-lying playmakers, one of them being an all-time great dribbling midfielder on top of it, with arguably THE all-time great player upfront who can do everything in the final third, with an all-time great rightback who passes the ball better than most central midfielders, accompanied by 6 other world class players and a relentless coach who demands maximum effort every single game -- and even then the gameplan turned ineffective many times once opponents simply put men behind the ball and countered with intensity and physicality like Inter, Chelsea or Madrid under Mourinho. Then it looked like this:
Now on top of the offensive difficulties against deep blocks with such a style Barca also don't have the quality on the ball anymore to resist the high press defensively nor the workrate upfront to play any sort of consistent pressing game on their own. It's practically impossible with Messi. There is no way you can press with 9 outfield players. Maybe against Granada at home. I see Setien is already experimenting with a 3 men backline much like Luis Enrique at the end of his tenure.
To make a point: I believe this is the last chapter in Barca's decline: The "acceptance". Under Setien people will finally realize it's not possible to be THAT Barca anymore while under Valverde many still thought all it takes is another coach to go back to the roots and turn De Jong into new Iniesta.
Liverpool keep winning games they should not be winningAtletico knocked out from the cup
Liverpool will tear them apart
Liverpool aren't tearing anyone apart at the moment. Simeone loves a low-scoring mugfest. He'll fancy his chances of eliminating the current holders for sure. Fingers crossed he gets it done.Atletico knocked out from the cup
Liverpool will tear them apart
This is just one of those situations when you know something is coming, but you can't stop it and just prepare for the rideLiverpool keep winning games they should not be winning
Atletico will do them, in some bs fashion like bayern in '16, where it's clear there's an abyss between them but luck is in atletico's corner
That would likely also mean we end up beating them in the final
Liverpool keep winning games they should not be winning
Atletico will do them, in some bs fashion like bayern in '16, where it's clear there's an abyss between them but luck is in atletico's corner
That would likely also mean we end up beating them in the final
I'd agree when the draw was made but if you believe that you really haven't been paying attention to just how shit Atletico have been. They are not even close to being what they were in 2014 or 2016. They'll probably find a way to make it a contest at home but they won't survive the second leg.Liverpool aren't tearing anyone apart at the moment. Simeone loves a low-scoring mugfest. He'll fancy his chances of eliminating the current holders for sure. Fingers crossed he gets it done.