Yes they are. I've lived there. Spain is a big, diverse country and Barcelona has loads of fans and business interests beyond Catalonia.Barcelona FC are not important to Spain.
Yes they are. I've lived there. Spain is a big, diverse country and Barcelona has loads of fans and business interests beyond Catalonia.Barcelona FC are not important to Spain.
Even Guardiola wouldn't have beaten them with this current squad.Why is it disgraceful? Maybe not handled elegantly, but firing Valverde is the right decision. It's clearly more than just a couple of results, it's about Barcelona capitulating time and time after having commanding leads. Against Roma. Against Liverpool. This season against last placed Espanyol after a 2 goal lead. Against Atletico in the Super Copa. His inability to prevent these kind of debacles and steer the ship have caused fans to lose all confidence in him.
I certainly don't think Guardiola would have lost a tie after leading the first leg by three goals...Even Guardiola wouldn't have beaten them with this current squad.
Don't they usually beat you at Bernabeu anyways?Capello was sacked once, the first time it was him who left
As to Valverde, he's a good manager who did a pretty good job for them. The problem is they needed a great manager doing a great job
That said, going from Valverde to Setien....
Only downside is they're gonna beat us at the bernabeu because setien never loses to Zidane at the bernabeu which might actually be the reason they went for him come to think of it
Huh. That's kind of true, would you look at that.Don't they usually beat you at Bernabeu anyways?
Last time you won there was in 2014, so sad
You didn't win it last year, you bastards. Please go ahead and remedy it this year. Have money on City going out.Huh. That's kind of true, would you look at that.
Guess winning the CL every year makes you forget about the minor stuff
Because 80 % of the Barca fanbase started watching from 2009 onwards and had the belief that the team is still at the same level as it was from 2009 - 2015 and only the manager was holding it back from winning another treble. In reality Valverde overachieved. 37 league games unbeaten in his first season, several trashing handed out to Real Madrid, 3 games away from a treble in his second season. While ever player in the squad loved him. Imagine sacking that for a guy who got sacked by Betis ... because philosophy.Not sure this change made any sense. They've still got a very unbalanced squad that's probably not down to the manager, because the manager is just a head coach who doesn't choose transfer targets. Tonight they fielded 4 central midfielders and had almost no pace on the break. Buying Griezmann seems a bit daft, but not as daft as the money spunked on Coutinho and Dembele, which has to be some of the most reckless spending of money in the history of the game. They've got an ageing backline, their best players are past their peak.
I'm not sure why Valverde garnered so much resentment. I watched their in-house docu-series from last season and he came across really well, more so than any of the players.
Yes, they got done in the CL, twice. Do people expect them to fare any better this season?
Exactly. It just seems completely illogical.Because 80 % of the Barca fanbase started watching from 2009 onwards and had the belief that the team is still at the same level as it was from 2009 - 2015 and only the manager was holding it back from winning another treble. In reality Valverde overachieved. 37 league games unbeaten in his first season, several trashing handed out to Real Madrid, 3 games away from a treble in his second season. While ever player in the squad loved him. Imagine sacking that for a guy who got sacked by Betis ... because philosophy.
He overachieved but the football was dire. Setien isn’t the amazing football we are hoping for but I still say firing Valverde was the right move. No club in the world would keep their manager after Liverpool and Roma. That was the nail in the coffin.Because 80 % of the Barca fanbase started watching from 2009 onwards and had the belief that the team is still at the same level as it was from 2009 - 2015 and only the manager was holding it back from winning another treble. In reality Valverde overachieved. 37 league games unbeaten in his first season, several trashing handed out to Real Madrid, 3 games away from a treble in his second season. While ever player in the squad loved him. Imagine sacking that for a guy who got sacked by Betis ... because philosophy.
The comparison with Luis Enrique does not fly. Roma was Luis Enrique's very first job as a 41 year old coach, he does not have to be amazing in his first job in his first season in a completely different league with a midtable team. He wasn't bad anyway, he finished with Roma where Roma finished before he arrived. His major mistake was trying to implement Barca style football at Roma. For a drastic change like that you need to change the whole infrastructure and years of planning like Man City, not just the coach so Roma can suddenly play like Barca because they loaned Bojan.He overachieved but the football was dire. Setien isn’t the amazing football we are hoping for but I still say firing Valverde was the right move. No club in the world would keep their manager after Liverpool and Roma. That was the nail in the coffin.
Setien is dealing with far worse injuries and a much thinner squad than Valverde ever had.
Lucho was once “the guy who got sacked by Roma” and we still got a treble. Today was the firt time Zidane has ever been able to beat Setien. Never did it when he managed Betis or Las Palmas.
Setien is the least of our worries, he’s not nearly as bad as you like to spout. The league was going to be a long shot with the horrible board and thin squad. Valverde wouldn’t have made any difference.
What we need is an early election this summer.
Agree 100%. The thing is he's the 'right' Barca players so they'll rather look away and defend him at all costs. It's a bit like with Messi when it's never his fault. No coincidence that Barca or Arg didn't hire a demanding coach for years, he simply doesn't want to work as hard as possible anymore and doesn't want to challenge himself. De Jong is an okay player bur not worth €15m a year in wages and now they have him, Artur and Busquets, basically no difference between them.Also some people will have to re-evaluate their rating of De Jong. Mediocre player who got hyped based on Ajax' team performances in a handful of knockout games where he wasn't even Ajax' top 5 player. As I predicted after watching him closely at Ajax, all he does is hold the ball well and then give it to the nearest possible player. No long balls, no throughballs, no cutting edge passes through the lines, no assists, no goalscoring threat, no dribbles, no nothing.
Suarez is still a difference maker though, he's a huge miss for themInjury situation is an excuse. Démbéle was always injured. Suarez is nearing retirement and was practically replaced by Griezmann.
Modric is finished and Marcelo had one of his best games in years yesterday. Benzema also was great. And no, a barca XI missing suarez is not a full XIThat makes yesterday's team Barca's full first XI with 5 days of rest against a Ronaldo-less, Hazard-less, Modric-less Real Madrid that trotted out finished Marcelo out of nowhere with Benzema in bad finishing form upfront.
De Jong is being played out of position because the geniuses at barcelona don't have the guts to just bench Busquets and also they're convinced they can turn him into Iniesta or something. It's hilarious to watchAlso some people will have to re-evaluate their rating of De Jong. Mediocre player who got hyped based on Ajax' team performances in a handful of knockout games where he wasn't even Ajax' top 5 player. As I predicted after watching him closely at Ajax, all he does is hold the ball well and then give it to the nearest possible player. No long balls, no throughballs, no cutting edge passes through the lines, no assists, no goalscoring threat, no dribbles, no nothing.
They are an extremely lucky club in that Messi didn't do a ronaldo on them by leaving. Take messi out they become mediocre. As you said their transfer business int he last few years have been astounding. Spending 100 plus on Dembele and then another 100 plus on Griezman. Their best player after Messi is arguably their keeper.Losing Neymar like that fecked them in so many ways.
Their behavior in the market since has made United look shrewd.
When Messi leaves, I cannot imagine the state of that club. They'd need to spend like £400m which will never happen.They are an extremely lucky club in that Messi didn't do a ronaldo on them by leaving. Take messi out they become mediocre. As you said their transfer business int he last few years have been astounding. Spending 100 plus on Dembele and then another 100 plus on Griezman. Their best player after Messi is arguably their keeper.
Yeah totally forgot that disaster. They are lucky they play in a 2 club or at max 3 club league where no matter how crap you are CL is a guarantee.When Messi leaves, I cannot imagine the state of that club. They'd need to spend like £400m which will never happen.
Their transfer policy must be one of the worst. Don't forget £140m on Coutinho who has been out on loan when they need players up top.
Exactly, they'd completely struggle in this league with the current team.Yeah totally forgot that disaster. They are lucky they play in a 2 club or at max 3 club league where no matter how crap you are CL is a guarantee.
And how did Valverde do this season at home again Madrid? He was extremely lucky to get a draw in a match where Barca were dominated at camp nou. He also had his first matchup with Real Madrid end up 5-1 aggregate in the super cupThe comparison with Luis Enrique does not fly. Roma was Luis Enrique's very first job as a 41 year old coach, he does not have to be amazing in his first job in his first season in a completely different league with a midtable team. He wasn't bad anyway, he finished with Roma where Roma finished before he arrived. His major mistake was trying to implement Barca style football at Roma. For a drastic change like that you need to change the whole infrastructure and years of planning like Man City, not just the coach so Roma can suddenly play like Barca because they loaned Bojan.
Enrique's work at Barca B was amazing. He got Barca B promoted from 3rd division to 2nd divison then finished top 3 in the 2nd division, basically would have gotten them promoted twice if not for Barca's first team already playing in La Liga which prohibits Barca's youth team to play in the same division. He also played very good football with Celta. Everyone at Celta cheers for him to this day.
Setien is a 61 year old who got booed by Betis fans and never coached more than lower division teams.
Injury situation is an excuse. Démbéle was always injured. Suarez is nearing retirement and was practically replaced by Griezmann. That makes yesterday's team Barca's full first XI with 5 days of rest against a Ronaldo-less, Hazard-less, Modric-less Real Madrid that trotted out finished Marcelo out of nowhere with Benzema in bad finishing form upfront.
First loss in Bernabeu since 2014 for Barca.
Barca would still finish top 3 in epl don’t kid yourself. This is the second worst epl of the last ten years. Don’t kid yourself. They have yet to lose a single game in UCL this year so spare the crap about the epl being so great. It’s a farmers league this year.Exactly, they'd completely struggle in this league with the current team.
Spanish teams are very technical so players like Pique, Busquets, Arthur can get away with it. The prem is a lot more physical and fast.
Barca have lost the fear factor as they don't have anyone quick in their team anymore either. Hope they are planning on a rebuild rather than just spend another £180m on Neymar aged 28
They might because of Messi, without him no chance. That was the topic, without Messi Barcelona will struggle to get top 4. It might one of the worst seasons but dont kid yourself either.Barca would still finish top 3 in epl don’t kid yourself. This is the second worst epl of the last ten years. Don’t kid yourself. They have yet to lose a single game in UCL this year so spare the crap about the epl being so great. It’s a farmers league this year.
The premiere league is a 2 club max league as well. Getafe knocked out Ajax, atletico already gave Liverpool a loss, Madrid pushed city although city deserved to winYeah totally forgot that disaster. They are lucky they play in a 2 club or at max 3 club league where no matter how crap you are CL is a guarantee.
Liverpool are over 20 points clear at the top. If that was any other league people would be calling it a farmers league.They might because of Messi, without him no chance. That was the topic, without Messi Barcelona will struggle to get top 4. It might one of the worst seasons but dont kid yourself either.
Liverpool winning almost all their games would still be top in every other league.
Farmers League? How so? please explain?
P.S second team in the farmers league gave the 1st team in La Liga a footballing lesson in the CL. Real v City
Really? A penalty and a defensive error is a footballing lesson? City couldn’t score till 85 minutes inThey might because of Messi, without him no chance. That was the topic, without Messi Barcelona will struggle to get top 4. It might one of the worst seasons but dont kid yourself either.
Liverpool winning almost all their games would still be top in every other league.
Farmers League? How so? please explain?
P.S second team in the farmers league gave the 1st team in La Liga a footballing lesson in the CL. Real v City
Exactly, the second they leave England they already have two losses against atletico and NapoliLiverpool are over 20 points clear at the top. If that was any other league people would be calling it a farmers league.
Not really - its very rare for a team to run away with the title with that sort of distance. Although City did it before them, you'd struggle to find comparable gaps beyond there.Liverpool are over 20 points clear at the top. If that was any other league people would be calling it a farmers league.
The teams below them are either knocked out or are as good as finished. Outside of city and LiverpoolNot really - its very rare for a team to run away with the title with that sort of distance. Although City did it before them, you'd struggle to find comparable gaps beyond there.
Moreover the teams below Liverpool are broadly Champions League sides or Europa favourites, so they aren't farmer teams.
Yeah, it is a freak season where they winning ever game.Liverpool are over 20 points clear at the top. If that was any other league people would be calling it a farmers league.
I am guessing you didn't watch the game?Really? A penalty and a defensive error is a footballing lesson? City couldn’t score till 85 minutes in
And by the way, our worst Atletico side of the past 7 years just gave an almost undefeated Liverpool a team a loss and not a single shot on target. There are no great defensive teams in the epl outside of Liverpool. Nearly every epl team is in strong position of being knocked out of Europe though I expect city and Liverpool to scrape by.
Epl is laughable this season. Arsenal, chelsea, Tottenham, and united are awful. It is comfortably one of the worst epl batch of teams we’ve had, up there with 2016.
Not that la liga is amazing this year but epl would be a walk in the park for a CL spot for most other leagues top 3-4 teams.
Not really, PSG have finished the season 13, 16, 13 points above 2nd place last 3 years and have lost 3 games each season and drawing a minimum of 4 games. Liverpool only drawn and lost 1.Liverpool are over 20 points clear at the top. If that was any other league people would be calling it a farmers league.
Liverpool failed to get a SINGLE shot on target. They also lost to Napoli who aren’t even top 4 in England. Love that you have Liverpool comfortably going through but Juventus going out despite having the same deficit as LiverpoolYeah, it is a freak season where they winning ever game.
I am guessing you didn't watch the game?
Atheltico are probably one of the best defensive teams, they offered nothing else apart from defending. Lets see how this defence does at Anfield.
City are in a strong place to being knocked out? Okay then.
The fact that EPL have 5/6 teams that can compete in Europe compared to 1/2 shows you the strength of it.
Agreed this might be one of the worst bunch of EPL teams but I am sure they will come back strong.
Walk in the park? Juve team that is on the verge of going out, PSG are a goal down going into second leg. Inter got demoted to EL.
Real and Athelti will be going out leaving Barca only.
Not bad having 2 EPL teams in the quarter final considering the worst bunch?
You didn't understand the clux of my post. I am not here debating whether Barcelona is better than Chelsea, United, Arsenal or Spurs. Ofcourse they are. The point is other teams in LaLiga bar Madrid duos and Barca will never be able to topple the big two or three. SO you guys could afford a bad season or two and still find yourself in CL position but chances of that happening here is less. To get a top 4 position in PL is much harder for a top club than in La Liga or Bundlesliga.The premiere league is a 2 club max league as well. Getafe knocked out Ajax, atletico already gave Liverpool a loss, Madrid pushed city although city deserved to win
Arsenal getting knocked out, Tottenham look to be knocked out but yeah, Barca would struggle making CL in a horrible epl league where they are also undefeated in CL
People who see one Barca game all year and make up stuff based on that one game is incredible.
Apart from last season i cant think of genuine title race. The season before City won the league by 20 points as well.Not really - its very rare for a team to run away with the title with that sort of distance. Although City did it before them, you'd struggle to find comparable gaps beyond there.
Moreover the teams below Liverpool are broadly Champions League sides or Europa favourites, so they aren't farmer teams.
This season is weird. Any other season Chelsea wouldn't be in Top 4.Apart from last season i cant think of genuine title race. The sesson before City won the league be 20 points as well.
This season the PL quality has been poor without a doubt, i mean Leicester haven't won a game in nearly 2 months but they're still 3rd! Honestly what kind of nonsense is this?