2023 Preseason

[Horatio]

Just a caution: we should be careful about raising some of our players to the sky after this win. The fact that all our offensive subs had a huge impact points to Spurs probably being gassed/complacent in the end and not the direct quality of our players. For example Reguilon vs Yamal or Ansu's goal where Porro and Dier look like they don't care, and Fermin's run in deep before his assist which no one bothers to follow.

Negative nancy

 

[malvolio]

We looked shite. Some tap ins by Ferrbum and Lewa won't change the fact we are dire in attack.

I fully expect us to not win anything but a Supercup or Copa del Rey.

At this point even getting out of the CL group could be a problem, if we don't get lucky to have some easy teams in it.

 

[Horatio]

We looked shite. Some tap ins by Ferrbum and Lewa won't change the fact we are dire in attack.

I fully expect us to not win anything but a Supercup or Copa del Rey.

At this point even getting out of the CL group could be a problem, if we don't get lucky to have some easy teams in it.

Don't do this to me.

 

[malvolio]

Don't do this to me.

Why buddy? Xavi can't get lucky twice.

 

[Horatio]

Why buddy? Xavi can't get lucky twice.

We’ll win la liga. CL no clue.

 

[malvolio]

We’ll win la liga. CL no clue.

Tbf Real seem to be in a waiting for Mbappe phase. As in they'll probably not give much of a fuck with Carlo leaving anyway.

Atletico are not better than last season.

But even so, many results last season were decided by Stegen saving us and/or opposition not finishing their chances.

 

[OVI9323]

Yes

Sergi Samper looked like a mix of Xavi and Pirlo in one preseason in Usa a few years ago, dominating against Chelsea and being our MOTM in both matches where he played.

In league matches, he turned into a segunda level of a player.

Not saying it will happen here though but friendly matches are absolutely weird.
Some players play at 150%, some players are saving themselves, some don't care.

Youngsters usually fly and overachieve in these kind of games because they play at 150% and seniors don't care too much.

Totally agree but for what you saw from Lamine yamal (preseason, end of last season, international match for youth), what's you opinion? Would'nt you say he looks pretty promising?

 

[BBZ8800]

Totally agree but for what you saw from Lamine yamal (preseason, end of last season, international match for youth), what's you opinion? Would'nt you say he looks pretty promising?

He looked promising, but...

Regarding very young players, aged 17-18, there are always a few elements which are boosting their performances and perception about them:

1. youngsters usually give 200% in the first few matches. That is not their regular level, this is way above their average performances

2. in friendlies or cup matches, older players slack. And when they play at 50% and youngsters play at 150%, it may seem that youngsters are way better than they actually are

3. with youngsters, even if they are good, the opponents don't know them and don't rate them yet. So, even if a youngster is a one trick pony, he is able to execute his trick in the early matches because no one is aware of his tricks.
Once when he becomes a starter, things are getting harder because the opponents are marking and fouling him way more seriously

4. Regarding fans, when the new kid emerges, all good areas of his game are multiplied by 200-300%, and all the negatives are shrugged off like: he is young, he will learn and improve, leave the kid alone.
So, it is a win-win for kids. Whatever they do, fans see only the good things.
Only 2-3 years later, when the kids start to play at 80-100% level and lose that crazy boost from the early months when they play at 150%, people start to spot their flaws and real level.
Check today how the opinion is changing about Gavi and Pedri.

5. also, these kids usually play in the 2nd half, when the older players are tired.
While kids play at 150%, so it can again skew the perception.

So, we have seen some promising signs but we'll need to see kids:
1. when they play from the minute 1
2. after a few months when they won't play at 150% anymore
3. and when the opponents will figure out their main tricks and movement

 

[KingLeo10]

He looked promising, but...

Regarding very young players, aged 17-18, there are always a few elements which are boosting their performances and perception about them:

1. youngsters usually give 200% in the first few matches. That is not their regular level, this is way above their average performances

2. in friendlies or cup matches, older players slack. And when they play at 50% and youngsters play at 150%, it may seem that youngsters are way better than they actually are

3. with youngsters, even if they are good, the opponents don't know them and don't rate them yet. So, even if a youngster is a one trick pony, he is able to execute his trick in the early matches because no one is aware of his tricks.
Once when he becomes a starter, things are getting harder because the opponents are marking and fouling him way more seriously

4. Regarding fans, when the new kid emerges, all good areas of his game are multiplied by 200-300%, and all the negatives are shrugged off like: he is young, he will learn and improve, leave the kid alone.
So, it is a win-win for kids. Whatever they do, fans see only the good things.
Only 2-3 years later, when the kids start to play at 80-100% level and lose that crazy boost from the early months when they play at 150%, people start to spot their flaws and real level.
Check today how the opinion is changing about Gavi and Pedri.

5. also, these kids usually play in the 2nd half, when the older players are tired.
While kids play at 150%, so it can again skew the perception.

So, we have seen some promising signs but we'll need to see kids:
1. when they play from the minute 1
2. after a few months when they won't play at 150% anymore
3. and when the opponents will figure out their main tricks and movement

Welcome back to form, BBZ

 

[JamDav1982]

BBZ every time a youngster comes through... 'they are over rated and wont amount to much'.

Young player does much better than he predicted such as Pedri... 'aye but he isnt World Class or as good as Xavi'.

Constant moving goal posts.

Also for how much likes to make out folk got Pedri or Gavi wrong... remember they are better than Kessie who was supposedly exactly what Barca needed.

 

[Givenchy]

BBZ every time a youngster comes through... 'they are over rated and wont amount to much'.

Young player does much better than he predicted such as Pedri... 'aye but he isnt World Class or as good as Xavi'.

Constant moving goal posts.

Also for how much likes to make out folk got Pedri or Gavi wrong... remember they are better than Kessie who was supposedly exactly what Barca needed.

eh BBZ is somewhat a voice of reason here, he's had his bad takes over the years but keeps the forum grounded. We hyped up so many youngsters who amounted to jack shit.

 

[ajnotkeith]

He looked promising, but...

Regarding very young players, aged 17-18, there are always a few elements which are boosting their performances and perception about them:

1. youngsters usually give 200% in the first few matches. That is not their regular level, this is way above their average performances

2. in friendlies or cup matches, older players slack. And when they play at 50% and youngsters play at 150%, it may seem that youngsters are way better than they actually are

3. with youngsters, even if they are good, the opponents don't know them and don't rate them yet. So, even if a youngster is a one trick pony, he is able to execute his trick in the early matches because no one is aware of his tricks.
Once when he becomes a starter, things are getting harder because the opponents are marking and fouling him way more seriously

4. Regarding fans, when the new kid emerges, all good areas of his game are multiplied by 200-300%, and all the negatives are shrugged off like: he is young, he will learn and improve, leave the kid alone.
So, it is a win-win for kids. Whatever they do, fans see only the good things.
Only 2-3 years later, when the kids start to play at 80-100% level and lose that crazy boost from the early months when they play at 150%, people start to spot their flaws and real level.
Check today how the opinion is changing about Gavi and Pedri.

5. also, these kids usually play in the 2nd half, when the older players are tired.
While kids play at 150%, so it can again skew the perception.

So, we have seen some promising signs but we'll need to see kids:
1. when they play from the minute 1
2. after a few months when they won't play at 150% anymore
3. and when the opponents will figure out their main tricks and movement

I agree with your post general sentiment, but the thing is that every prospect usually suffers from these conditions. You have to decipher who is good enough to mitigate these circumstances and make the whole journey.

Yamal looks good enough. Imo as long as his career doesn't get seriously derailed he would end up at minimum a EL/CL starter level, and possibly world class if he develops more physically.

 

[JamDav1982]

eh BBZ is somewhat a voice of reason here, he's had his bad takes over the years but keeps the forum grounded. We hyped up so many youngsters who amounted to jack shit.

And many of the youngsters BBZ said were overhyped became good players while the players he preferred were shite.

Always moves the goalposts.

 

[ajnotkeith]

eh BBZ is somewhat a voice of reason here, he's had his bad takes over the years but keeps the forum grounded. We hyped up so many youngsters who amounted to jack shit.

Pessimism by odds is going to mostly be right... Because most youngsters don't make it. Easy to hedge your bets and say nobody will make it.

But some do. Real analysis would identify a few youngsters in our team who he thinks could make it.

 

[Don Juan Laporta Estruch]

Pessimism by odds is going to mostly be right... Because most youngsters don't make it. Easy to hedge your bets and say nobody will make it.

But some do. Real analysis would identify a few youngsters in our team who he thinks could make it.

I used to like BBZ opinion but he lost me after he claimed Messi was a WOAT. Then Messi went on to win 2 international trophies.

If you are going to make outlandish claims like that, to try to make yourself stand out in the off chance your are right, you have to suffer the consequences to your credibility when you are wrong.