1 - Marc-Andre ter Ansplant

[TornAndFrayed]

So, no problem in reversing their roles. Who plays la Liga gets more playing time. Cl and cdr don't have many minutes guaranteed. Which is what mats needs more than Bravo.

and that is speaking from a team perspective, not individual. Dang !

However, I'm not sure that Bravo will take that offer as he's sure to receive other offers from prestigious clubs with a lot more playing time.
Then again, Mats' situation is unsustainable, and if we're not supposed to factor in the player's individual ambition, we'll just be idiotically surprised when he rejects the current sporting deal and goes to another club.

 

[KingMessi]

Lets just pull a FIFA career mode move and play TS in home games and Bravo in away games and switch halfway through the season.

 

[God Serena]

1. You never know how well Nolito would have played at Barcelona. I had no problem with his age. I wanted to transfer to happen, but it's not certain his performances would have been great.

2. Vermaelen and Mathieu are not good enough to start for Barcelona. As I said, a matter of performances, not age. Bravo is the best keeper in La Liga. Vermaelen and Mathieu are subs at Barcelona. Different status and value.

I have no problem with Mathieu being 3rd or 4th choice CB if we can't find someone better.

Also, I have no problem with benching Bravo if his performances drop because of his age. However, until that happens, he should be no1 imho.

You consistently refer to switching their roles as "Benching Bravo", but also say Mats isn't on the bench. Bravo is much older and will decline sooner than Mats will. You can scream age discrimination all you want, but it's still a fact. Bravo is playing well, but so is Mats. The only time Mats got in the league was when our defense was in such a shambles that even Bravo upon his return was conceding goals like crazy, so let's not keep pretending Mats had a shot and blew it while Bravo was injured. The difference on shot stopping ability is marginal, but Mats gets less minutes, less consistently, and he's younger and is a much better distributor of the ball. It's obvious what has to be done and whether it involves selling or "Benching" Bravo, Mats getting minutes with us as time goes on is absolutely crucial.

 

[Flavia]

and that is speaking from a team perspective, not individual. Dang !

However, I'm not sure that Bravo will take that offer as he's sure to receive other offers from prestigious clubs with a lot more playing time.
Then again, Mats' situation is unsustainable, and if we're not supposed to factor in the player's individual ambition, we'll just be idiotically surprised when he rejects the current sporting deal and goes to another club.

What dang? If mats doesn't get enough experience, how will he be able to become a really top gk for Barça? That was the first setup Enrique had in mind too. Before song injured mats.

If I was really advocating for him, and not the team, I'd had to say he had to play Liga and cl. Which I never did.

 

[serghei]

You consistently refer to switching their roles as "Benching Bravo", but also say Mats isn't on the bench. Bravo is much older and will decline sooner than Mats will. You can scream age discrimination all you want, but it's still a fact. Bravo is playing well, but so is Mats. The only time Mats got in the league was when our defense was in such a shambles that even Bravo upon his return was conceding goals like crazy, so let's not keep pretending Mats had a shot and blew it while Bravo was injured. The difference on shot stopping ability is marginal, but Mats gets less minutes, less consistently, and he's younger and is a much better distributor of the ball. It's obvious what has to be done and whether it involves selling or "Benching" Bravo, Mats getting minutes with us as time goes on is absolutely crucial.

Bravo will probably decline sooner than Mats will. True. You can't just bench players based on the fact that they will decline in the future. It's not logical.

Bravo is no1 and Stegen is no2, but a very active no2, that plays a lot.

The defence was bad, but Stegen was also bad on his own during Bravo's injury. He added on the problem, rather than ameliorate it.

 

[TornAndFrayed]

What dang? If mats doesn't get enough experience, how will he be able to become a really top gk for Barça? That was the first setup Enrique had in mind too. Before song injured mats.

If I was really advocating for him, and not the team, I'd had to say he had to play Liga and cl. Which I never did.

i'm with you, fool !

 

[Observer]

The defence was bad, but Stegen was also bad on his own during Bravo's injury. He added on the problem, rather than ameliorate it.

Yea, stats don't lie

 

[serghei]

i'm with you, fool !

 

[KingMessi]

Yea, stats don't lie

But do they give the complete picture?

 

[God Serena]

Bravo will probably decline sooner than Mats will. True. You can't just bench players based on the fact that they will decline in the future. It's not logical.

You keep referring to swapping their roles as "Benching Bravo", but insist that Mats gets to play a lot.

Bravo is no1 and Stegen is no2, but a very active no2, that plays a lot.

As seen here.

The defence was bad, but Stegen was also bad on his own during Bravo's injury. He added on the problem, rather than ameliorate it.

Mats was more of a scapegoat than a poor performer. The vast majority of the goals conceded had nothing to do with how good or how bad he was and Bravo coming in didn't do anything to make the problem better. To suggest he blew his chance all of 6 months ago and that he proved he can't handle the Liga as many are suggesting is absurd.

 

[TornAndFrayed]

Those 9 goals in the first two games of the season hurt him so much (and skewed our otherwise stellar defensive record)

 

[serghei]

Those 9 goals in the first two games of the season hurt him so much (and skewed our otherwise stellar defensive record)

8. Not 9.

 

[Observer]

The defense argument is weak af because it has been the same defense performance for 2 years: unstable & risky. Luckily they have improved at corners.

 

[BarçaBarça]

You consistently refer to switching their roles as "Benching Bravo", but also say Mats isn't on the bench. Bravo is much older and will decline sooner than Mats will. You can scream age discrimination all you want, but it's still a fact. Bravo is playing well, but so is Mats. The only time Mats got in the league was when our defense was in such a shambles that even Bravo upon his return was conceding goals like crazy, so let's not keep pretending Mats had a shot and blew it while Bravo was injured. The difference on shot stopping ability is marginal, but Mats gets less minutes, less consistently, and he's younger and is a much better distributor of the ball. It's obvious what has to be done and whether it involves selling or "Benching" Bravo, Mats getting minutes with us as time goes on is absolutely crucial.

I agree with all of this. It is foolish to think that Mats will be as good as he can for us (which is at LEAST as good as Bravo) if he doesn't play more than he do now the next two seasons.

I know it's not all "fair" to Bravo because he hasn't played himself off the team, so maybe swapping roles next season as some suggest would be the best thing to do.

From my perspective that wouldn't gamble with our trophy chances but put us in a better position for the future

 

[mark1nhu]

No one wants Mats to get more playtime for his own personal satisfaction.

Everyone here wants it because it's good for the club/team on the long term (the kind of planning we often lack, see CB and Thiago situation).

Let's not fool ourselves with such a short sight, just like the board we always criticize.

Bravo is great and should have our respect while getting enough playtime to be happy, but the next decade is more important for the club than the next two years.

It's time to think and act about it.