Ernesto Valverde - V1

[serghei]

Well, I for one, think a safety first approach is better atm in away games in CL. Safety first doesn't mean defensive, it means to not get overexposed against team who sit back at home.

 

[Cule4life]

Ok, a simplified lesson for you.

I also enjoyed a game, as a fan of 442 and workhorses.
But I hope that more people will realize that there are different levels of opponents and matches in Barca's season.

** This is not a fact. Just my estimation and my way to describe a different levels of our opponents during one season.
Level 1, easiest level:
CDR early matches against weak opponents, both home and away
Home La Liga matches against midtable and bottom table teams.
In matches like this, teams either park the bus, or play extremely scared (not all of them though) or they play stupid.
These are the kind of matches where in general, a more attacking and risky approach is better and will produce more wins and goals long term than a cautious approach.
So, if 433 will work as well yesterday, my vote also goes for: EV, you should play attacking 433 at majority of Camp Nou matches, except against 3-4 strongest teams.

Level 2 are:
Away La liga matches where teams play way better (Sociedad at Anoeta compared to Sociedad at Camp Nou and similar).
In these matches, 433 isn't working as good as on a level 1.
In some seasons, when we are on fire, we are winning even with 433 on away (tougher matches).
But in days when we are not in form, 433 often turns into a horror show in away La Liga matches, where we are outrun in middle and we face lots of counters (and goals and defeats in the end, like spring 2016, and a whole 2016-17 season).
In these kind of matches, imo, we should use a mix of 433 and some more cautious approach, like 442.
We can start a match in 433, and if we suck, we should turn to a more defensive formation.
Or we can start with 442 and if we are not creating chances, we can risk more and play 433.

Level 3:
La Liga matches against RM, Am and similar.
Or HOME CL knockout rounds matches.
At home in a CL, we usually dominate more and we can risk more.
So, more risks and 433 from time to time isn't the end of a world (if the results will be good. If they won't be good, it is time to use something else which is bringing better results).

Level 4:
This is where we get killed usually.
CL knockout stage AWAY matches.
Atletico, Atletico, Psg, Juventus, Chelsea, Bayern and similar matches.

Remember when we played in early Copa rounds and people commented how Denis and players played a wonderful first touch passing football.
Yeah. That's because they played against a 3rd division opponent.
When the bar is raised against La Liga teams or CL teams, Denis is a ghost then.
So, up to a certain level, everything works.
Above that level, you need something better. A lot of guys will finally understand that in 10-20 years.

Also, remember in previous years in Camp Nou La Liga matches:
1. how Bartra looked like a real deal against this level of opponents and in HOME La Liga matches
2. how Sergi Roberto looked like the best CM and CDM in HOME La liga matches 2-3 years ago
3. how even 35 years old Xavi looked like a prime Xavi in HOME La liga matches in his last year, when the opponents are scared

That is not a coincidence.
Again, on a level 1 of matches, Xavi was good back then. Bartra also.
On a level 2 they already struggled.
On a level 3 and 4, they were a horror show.

But also, if we will be able to play this good on a level 1 (in home La liga matches), I am with you: play 433 all out attack against midtable teams at home.
For example, already next week, we will face a tougher task in an AWAY La liga match because opponents usually play better at home.
And the same tactics which worked at HOME often struggles way more in AWAY matches.

But, if 433 will work good both on a level 1, level 2 and level 3, I have nothing against it.
I DO know though that it sucks over and over in Champions league on a level 4 year after year.

The thing is, this season even 442 with workhorses worked better than 433 from Lucho's era.
But if a new 433 with Coutinho (and Dembele) will work better than Lucho's 433, no problem for me.
But again, we will need way more tougher AWAY matches to see a defensive stability of a 433.

On the other hand, a new problem:
EV will probably want to play Iniesta in the next match and we'll probably suck.
He is old and doesn't run as much anymore.
So, a 433 with Iniesta and 433 with Coutinho is not the same.
Also, if Suarez will get rested, we will be way weaker with some 433 without him in attack.

And one more time, I don't have problems with 433 (or Dembele or anyone) if those things produce good results.
I hate 433 because it sucked hard in the last few years on a highest level.
It is a perfect formation though for the weakest level of strength (home La liga matches).

This is something what Pep is doing wrong all the time.
He created a perfect tactics to beat midtable teams both in Barca, Bayern and City.
And then when he faces big boys in a CL, he is knocked out all the time in the same fashion, because he hasn't figured out yet that something what works perfectly against crappy teams, doesn't need to work at all against Big boys in a CL.

In short:
If 433 will work=play it up to a certain level.
On a highest level (CL KO matches)=play a mix of an attacking football when possible and a mix of a more cautious football to get results (when needed)

 

[DonAK]

Safety first in an away leg is not too bad, but remember we could have easily been 3-0 down being way too conservative and honestly simply shit and lacking ideas with that incredibly narrow lineup. Be a bit conservative if you want, but don't tempt fate by going OTT.

 

[Cule4life]

BBZ do you wrap yourself in bubblewrap before going out? Yes we could be too attacking before, but BBZ would go all the way to have us play Mourinho lite to be safe. I for one became a Barca fan because of the football we play not the results. Being overly defensive is just inviting trouble and if the other team scores then you are out of ideas how to unlock the opposition defense because you are too used to slow aimless possession with no penetration and fast transitions.

 

[BarçaBarça]

I believe that the defensive solidity we have benefited from all season (remember that we have the best defence along side Atletico), will benefit us more against attacking sides in CL than against defensive ones like Chelsea. In other words, I really don't hope we crowdplease and play with 5 attackers, like everyone wants, but on the other hand I would much prefer Roberto in midfield than Gomes/Paulinho. Iniesta and Dembele in the Chelsea-game would be great, though.

 

[Lelouch vi Britannia]

I believe that the defensive solidity we have benefited from all season (remember that we have the best defence along side Atletico), will benefit us more against attacking sides in CL than against defensive ones like Chelsea. In other words, I really don't hope we crowdplease and play with 5 attackers, like everyone wants, but on the other hand I would much prefer Roberto in midfield than Gomes/Paulinho. Iniesta and Dembele in the Chelsea-game would be great, though.

The defensive solidity mostly comes from Busquets and Rakitic. We wouldn't lose much on that front taking off Paulinho/Gomes, who don't add anything anyway, for Dembele.

Paulinho was doing more defensively for Chelsea than he was for us

 

[MessiCam]

I actually think that a 4-3-3 with Iniesta instead of Coutinho would be better at this stage because, and this is my personal opinion, he is just too attacking to play as a CM in a 4-3-3. It was pretty evident in that first half...

The defensive solidity mostly comes from Busquets and Rakitic.

What I like about Rakitic is that he is playing a role similar to that of Verratti for PSG. He never leaves his pivot stranded other than that game against Eibar in which he found himself playing wide again.

 

[BarçaBarça]

The defensive solidity mostly comes from Busquets and Rakitic. We wouldn't lose much on that front taking off Paulinho/Gomes, who don't add anything anyway, for Dembele.

Paulinho was doing more defensively for Chelsea than he was for us

No, you are right, but playing with Roberto instead of Dembele would give us some more defensive character. Although against Chelsea I think it's pretty obvious that we should field a more attacking team, and therefore give Dembele the chance if he continues to play like against Girona

 

[behindbrowneyes]

No, you are right, but playing with Roberto instead of Dembele would give us some more defensive character. Although against Chelsea I think it's pretty obvious that we should field a more attacking team, and therefore give Dembele the chance if he continues to play like against Girona

Don't want to draw early conclusions on his performance vs Girona since they are very offensely-minded. Atlético will be a good test to see if Dembélé is "ready" to face Chelsea in a very important game.

 

[Messi983]

No matter how good he'll play against Las Palmas and Malaga I don't think Dembele should start vs AM or Chelsea. I would rather bring his fresh legs in for the last 30 minutes against tired defenders.

 

[El Flaco]

Very insightful videos (broken into 3 parts) by PitorFoot on Valverde's system/tactics throughout this season.

 

[Zincubus]

What I like about Rakitic is that he is playing a role similar to that of Verratti for PSG. He never leaves his pivot stranded other than that game against Eibar in which he found himself playing wide again.

Surely that's Busquets role / position?

 

[henias]

No matter how good he'll play against Las Palmas and Malaga I don't think Dembele should start vs AM or Chelsea. I would rather bring his fresh legs in for the last 30 minutes against tired defenders.

Why not? He did against Juventus even when he just joined us, and how he created so much space for Messi. I don't think Paulinho is even an option now, he is terrible out wide, same with Gomes. Only player left is Vidal. But Dembele will never ever be worse than Vidal.

Definitely not last 30 mins. If Vidal or any other wide players doesnt make the cut, then for sure Dembele will have to step in.

 

[MessiCam]

Surely that's Busquets role / position?

Barcelona have historically had Busquets as the pivot but Xavi/Rakitic and Iniesta pushed high up. For PSG Lo Celso is the pivot but Verratti very seldom leaves his side in a 4-3-3. It's similar to what Rakitic has done recently...

 

[FCBfan22]

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Skillz to pay the billz.