Ernesto Valverde - V1

[BarçaBarça]

Won the game today against the best team in the league right now. Refs just decided otherwise.

His options is to put on Deulofeu - that speaks volumes - he has a really bad squad of players to choose from right now, but still beats the second place.

Impressive stuff.

One of my theories by the day/night-nature of the two halfs: After leading in the most important game this season we were robbed - that makes the morale take a beating, and it takes a lot to pull yourself up afterwards. We should be able to do it, but that could be one explanation.

 

[michelco]

I think it was pretty simple: Barca dominated the first half, players were confident, at half time Valverde prolly told them to keep doing the same thing as in the first half. However Valencia came out a different side and perhaps Barca players came out a little too relaxed due to their first half domination and suddenly you're second best to the ball etc. It's a difficult scenario to deal with. What Valverde should've done was to sub Suarez (did everything wrong) and Rakitic (did nothing whatsoever) to change the flow of the game.

 

[xXKonan]

First half was encouraging to be fair, we played some of the best football this season.

But we do need to work on our second half performances though no question.

 

[Aryagorn]

I think it was pretty simple: Barca dominated the first half, players were confident, at half time Valverde prolly told them to keep doing the same thing as in the first half. However Valencia came out a different side and perhaps Barca players came out a little too relaxed due to their first half domination and suddenly you're second best to the ball etc. It's a difficult scenario to deal with. What Valverde should've done was to sub Suarez (did everything wrong) and Rakitic (did nothing whatsoever) to change the flow of the game.

I don't go with the complacensy theory - However I think that Valencia manager is a force to be reckoned with. He made sure they completely concentrated on our right flank in the second half probably to bypass Iniesta who was having a field day in combination with Alba. This combined with Rakitic who hasn't got the stamina to play 2 complete halfs at 100% was completely burned out and did not provide requried support to Semedo. That eventually led to the goal.

Valverde's mistake definitely was not to replace Rakitic soon as he stopped running and Suarez who was absolute jackshit!

 

[Barcaman]

Valencia didn't have a midweek match while we played in Torino. It's normal we fell physically in 2nd half.

 

[MessiCam]

I have no clue myself I hope Valverde didn't instruct them to lay back a bit.

the whole team lost it's composure in the second half. It's been a theme this season at times where we will look pretty solid in the first half but the second half it gets pretty bad.

That’s because this Valverde team only looks good when the opposition allow them time on the ball. The moment they’re pressed like the Bilbao and Sevilla games then they crumble.

That’s on Valverde as well as his refusal to play with wings.

 

[Ousmane Dembélé]

First half was encouraging to be fair, we played some of the best football this season.

But we do need to work on our second half performances though no question.

I have been one of Valverde's biggest critics, but can you really blame him for the relatively bad second half performances when the starting XI is old as hell and there's nothing but trash on the bench?

 

[JamDav1982]

That’s because this Valverde team only looks good when the opposition allow them time on the ball. The moment they’re pressed like the Bilbao and Sevilla games then they crumble.

That’s on Valverde as well as his refusal to play with wings.

Rubbish.

The passing in first half when they were pressing hard was brilliant.

The players for whatever reason lost their heads and second half was like basketball. Just chaos.

 

[DonAK]

Won't complain about how we played as this might have been the best game this team played and the players need to take some responsibility themselves too.

But FGS, bench Suarez.

 

[Riordon]

He needs to start Roberto instead of Rakitic when he is fit, thats what every sane person would do. Rakitic is completely irrelevant, constantly playing safe passes and lacking defensively providing no offensive threat nor key passes.

 

[Stoichkov1]

I have no clue myself I hope Valverde didn't instruct them to lay back a bit.

the whole team lost it's composure in the second half. It's been a theme this season at times where we will look pretty solid in the first half but the second half it gets pretty bad.

It's normal considering that this team is old as fuck. We can't mantain the same level for 90 mins.

 

[Altomonte]

First half performance was quite promising. Playing a CL match away in Torino against the European finalists makes a difference. Also, it must have been demoralizing to have Messi's goal disallowed. Still an acceptable result.

 

[Horatio]

Have to say, so far two draws this season against Atletico and Valencia both away....not bad.

 

[Barcaman]

Have to say, so far two draws this season against Atletico and Valencia both away....not bad.

Juve too. We were better team in all 3 matches.

 

[Mitchell1978]

Good first half, team looked focused. A point is not a bad result but we deserved more.