11 - Ousmane Dembélé - V1

[henias]

(1) Coutinho played on the right so Iniesta could keep his spot in our last season's 4-4-2.

(2) and (3) 3 players in the front line, Suarez, Messi and Malcom/Dembele. Who do you play out of position? An easy one.

He continually played Iniesta in away games, even days before important Champions League tie. Benched both Coutinho and Dembele against Las Palmas and didnt introduced them until late minutes.

Suarez can play RF, and ocassionally lacks playmaking role to always play center and Messi has no ability to play as a pure RW, naturally plays center. Both Roberto and Messi lacks pace. Rakitic play a deeper role and cannot cover Messi. Against tougher sides, we would have disadvantages, trying to run behind their defence would be tough. I always insisted having Semedo and Dembele on the right hand side because there are lots of spaces to be exploited there, their pace would come handy. Rakitic would also benefit from the movements on the right hand side. There's no hard and fast rules and the team doesnt only revolves around Messi and Suarez. Even if you dont like Dembele, Malcom can always come in as an impact sub to provide more options, but no the coach is obsessed with subbing in a defensive player.

And worst of all, Sergi Roberto cannot be taken off no matter what and it affects the entire midfield/lineup. And here u talk about tactics and who fits and what not? Give me a break.

The way Valverde sees the squad isnt that complicated as many would claimed. He just uses old guards and hope they can secure him points, regardless of whichever opponents. He makes changes not because he wants to, because he has no choice or that lineup doesnt get him the result he wants.

Clearly, at the start of the season, we didnt play as well with Dembele and Coutinho all cramped in the left, but he stuck with it because it got him results. And since you like to emphasise on how bad Dembele is to our teamplay whatsoever, then why would he kept Dembele on without any changes for the first 5-6 games? Clearly, he wasnt as effective as he was at RW last season. But he went on with it. Bcos results. He only started making change because we lost games.

The notion that EV is some kind of tactician or the theories to justify his decisions are just pure bull. I still remember last season people try to justify the use of Gomes in big games, absolutely hilarious.

 

[Maxim4]

Valverde humiliated journalists for defamation!

"I do not think he has to take things out of context and focus only on Dembele."
https://twitter.com/GoalFrance/status/1056221344688414720?s=19

 

[Senador Romario]

(1) Coutinho played on the right so Iniesta could keep his spot in our last season's 4-4-2.

(2) and (3) 3 players in the front line, Suarez, Messi and Malcom/Dembele. Who do you play out of position? An easy one.

Maybe he should try not using players out of position? 4-4-2 is not some kind of law of Physics. He should adapt the system according to the players the club signed. The only conclusion is that Valverde is not participating when the club is signing a player.

Also, off topic: when Messi is not playing, Coutinho is in the pitch and Suarez is taking free kicks its a clear signal that the coach is a passenger there.

 

[Messigician]

Maybe he should try not using players out of position? 4-4-2 is not some kind of law of Physics. He should adapt the system according to the players the club signed. The only conclusion is that Valverde is not participating when the club is signing a player.

Also, off topic: when Messi is not playing, Coutinho is in the pitch and Suarez is taking free kicks its a clear signal that the coach is a passenger there.

No ffs Coutinho took one free kick in the inter game and wasn't very good so Suarez was allowed to take the next one which he nearly drived under the wall.

I hate this narrative people try to make up each time to suit their agenda, deal with facts

 

[FCBfan22]

No ffs Coutinho took one free kick in the inter game and wasn't very good so Suarez was allowed to take the next one which he nearly drived under the wall.

I hate this narrative people try to make up each time to suit their agenda, deal with facts

Eh? That FK nearly went in...

 

[Joan]

He continually played Iniesta in away games, even days before important Champions League tie. Benched both Coutinho and Dembele against Las Palmas and didnt introduced them until late minutes.

That's another topic. Valverde's poor rotations.

Suarez can play RF, and ocassionally lacks playmaking role to always play center and Messi has no ability to play as a pure RW, naturally plays center. Both Roberto and Messi lacks pace. Rakitic play a deeper role and cannot cover Messi. Against tougher sides, we would have disadvantages, trying to run behind their defence would be tough. I always insisted having Semedo and Dembele on the right hand side because there are lots of spaces to be exploited there, their pace would come handy. Rakitic would also benefit from the movements on the right hand side. There's no hard and fast rules and the team doesnt only revolves around Messi and Suarez. Even if you dont like Dembele, Malcom can always come in as an impact sub to provide more options, but no the coach is obsessed with subbing in a defensive player.

Ok, Messi central. I reckon you meant LF for Suarez? Dembele RW? Like Juventus last season. Fine. Playing Suarez out of position to suit Dembele. But also vice versa. Valverde went with the other option.

Clearly, at the start of the season, we didnt play as well with Dembele and Coutinho all cramped in the left, but he stuck with it because it got him results. And since you like to emphasise on how bad Dembele is to our teamplay whatsoever, then why would he kept Dembele on without any changes for the first 5-6 games? Clearly, he wasnt as effective as he was at RW last season. But he went on with it. Bcos results. He only started making change because we lost games.

One of the lead measures coaches (including Valverde) act upon. If it works, you give it time to improve. If it doesn't, you look further.

The notion that EV is some kind of tactician or the theories to justify his decisions are just pure bull. I still remember last season people try to justify the use of Gomes in big games, absolutely hilarious.

What's that supposed to mean? Someone who comes up with specific tactics to win a match is by definition a tactician. Good or bad, that's another discussion.

 

[raki]

Seeing this forum thats the way barca fans love it tho lol. Some bad games everybody is "sell", "terrible" "waste of money" etc and after some decent games like Suarez and Pique had recently its back to "how could anyone ever doubt him". Some fans just love to change their whole opinion based on 1-2 games so these papers deliver perfect food for that.

Sad but true.

 

[henias]

That's another topic. Valverde's poor rotations.

That's not another topic, you claim putting Coutinho on the right so that it wont sacrifice Iniesta. The problem is there are times where Iniesta could have had rests, Coutinho still played on the right or worst when he was benched against Las Palmas. He had no intention of playing him on the left. Clearly Valverde sees these new players as gap fillers, and not looking at the team.

So isnt your best 11 with Coutinho on the LW, Messi on the right? Then how come u supported Coutinho on the RW now? By your logic, isnt that playing Suarez out of position to suit Coutinho? And worse! Coutinho doesnt even play on the right? All jumbled up shooting yourself in the own foot really.

Ok, Messi central. I reckon you meant LF for Suarez? Dembele RW? Like Juventus last season. Fine. Playing Suarez out of position to suit Dembele. But also vice versa. Valverde went with the other option.

I literally explained a hosts of reasons why I wanted Dembele on the right not because of his best position, but also how lopsided the team is and can cover the physical flaws on our right side. But since you like to keep harping on the idea of only Suarez and Dembele best positions, without looking at team dynamics, then I cant help you there. Reason why I put Suarez as a LF bcos Alba has pace to secure that left flank and Suarez predominantly shoots with his right foot, where he can best curl the ball in. He did that many times last season. Messi hardly can play at RW and there's no one to cover him. Tats also another big reason.

One of the lead measures coaches (including Valverde) act upon. If it works, you give it time to improve. If it doesn't, you look further.

Nah, Valverde has time and time again shown he will only make changes according to whether they had a bad run of games. I clearly remembered his interview when he said why he played the exact same lineup against Roma at home and away. The reason he gave was "because we won 4-1 at home". That doesnt help when he brought on Gomes to save them away.

What's that supposed to mean? Someone who comes up with specific tactics to win a match is by definition a tactician. Good or bad, that's another discussion.

He's simply not. Again, not another discussion. You tried to justify wierd decisions he made by from a tactical point of view and then conveniently change your stance when he makes another decision. Just like Coutinho at RW last season, and then Coutinho at LW this season. Both are good decisions by EV. People justified the use of Gomes in big games yet none of it ever showed on the field. Sergi Roberto has to be shoehorned into the starting 11 even if it means sacrificing another midfielder. If all these are somewhat tactical decisions, then you'll be contradicting yourself.

EV's philosophy is simple by now: Always have Lucho's strongest 11 in the field, no matter how good or bad they play. If we end up losing games, the main culprits will be Dembele and Semedo. The rest of the players act as gap fillers. If the RW is empty, try Gomes, Paulinho, Paco, Coutinho, Rafinha. Clearly these players cant play as a RW. This season, Lucho's lineup, Messi on the right, so who do I put in LW? Try Dembele. Great we are winning games. No changes. We end up losing games. Shit. Try Coutinho, but someone has to be a creator. No choice but to use Arthur. Great, we are winning games again. Umtiti out, no choice but to use Lenglet. But you get the idea.

Need a LB? Use Vermaelen! Still waiting for you to justify this. Subs? Will only use subs until we score goals, and then defend the lead. If we are losing, go mind blank at the sidelines.

In any case, this puts things more into context, rather than all the BS tactical reasons.

 

[Potroh]

The notion that EV is some kind of tactician or the theories to justify his decisions are just pure bull. I still remember last season people try to justify the use of Gomes in big games, absolutely hilarious.

Agreed. I think quite much the same things.
With one addition though. Good old folks sometimes think EV is a tactician, just as you've said. He is definitely not.
He was partially successful last season, because the team has very good individual players, who may or may not produce good results, depending on their given day and form.
But tactics? There's no such thing regarding EV's repertoire. "Make it safe" he repeats for himself over and over, and Messi, Suarez or Coutinho will score some goals - somehow.
(Rafinha scored earlier this week. Great. Was he playing well? Absolutely not, he just tapped in a gorgeous Suarez ball. But now he is a partial hero, perhaps a starter in the clasico, and obviously he is also a midfielder, a "safe" choice according to EV).

Possession-based style or the reminiscence of tiki-taka?
Highly predictable passes all over a game, hundreds of them, where you could easily go out to pee just to know that when you return, they will be just 10 meters closer, unless someone gives away the ball...
Do you really need speedy players for this "style"? Hardly. Do you need players who can dribble? Hardly, because against a wall there's no need for that.
Thus EV is typically possessed with the mediocre talents, who are able to defend and that's all.
Is this a typical Barca style? Not at all, it is the approach of a mid-team in the German league, with the exception of some WC talents. But it's NOT EV's merit, as he, as a tactician is simply bad, with no imagination or any sort of fantasy...
I guess most fans wish to see a Barca with clever, creativity-based attacking football, which is simply an impossibility under this mediocre coach!

That is why the results fluctuate, sometimes something happens, sometimes nothing happens, entirely NOT depending on tactics, just on mere luck or how the aces play in a given day. Even if some important games are being won, it is almost awful without any real conception whatsoever...

 

[Pedro]

Rumors that Dembele will be on the bench today

 

[jamrock]

I've said it before a all time ago & I'll say it again coutinho is no midfielder, as we are seeing now, given that fact, and that he is in his prime and we paid crazy money for him, he will start on the left.

Dembele is really competing with 1) suarez, 2) Messi's willingness to play down the middle and 3) Valverde's ineptitude tactically.

And I'm sorry to say this is a losing fight for the kid

As a result we will end up losing one of the biggest talents of his generation.

Yes he takes some responsibility for his current situation, but really it's largely out of his control.


To those who say he doesn't start for France please people have a little tactical understanding, as to why France as so many better players that matuidi but none of them can start.

Only chance any of those players have to start is if griezman or mbappe starts as striker, which isn't the case right now & wont be for a minute.

 

[Messigician]

Operation to implant Dembele's legs on Coutinho so he gains his pace and Dembele money is well spent.

 

[Messigician]

Please leave our club for a huge fee. It just wasn't meant to be, you do not fit our tiki taka susten.

 

[Donatello]

Operation to implant Dembele's legs on Coutinho so he gains his pace and Dembele money is well spent.

No offence, but seriously, How old are you?

 

[kattanib]

He shouldn’t play unless he is willing to adapt to the tiki taka style of play