Ernesto Valverde - V1

[Obiaseti]

Go be a Napoli or City fan then. Stop watching Barca and watch those teams if winning this way causes you displeasure.

As long as Valverde is our manager, this is how we'll play. It will be a succes in terms of trophies won.

This is the reality. A lot of people need to reflect and deal with their fandom - especially if they expect a change from the board. Given Valverde's succes in the league, Copa and CL so far, you won't find what you're looking for at Barca.

I do watch city. Just watched them vs Chelsea right now in fact. They are fantastic to watch for me at least. Right now I watch Barca because of the individual moments of brilliance. As a fan of football, it would be a pity to miss Messi's best years. My frustration is more along the lines of watching Picasso being reduced to painting a wall. I know it might be unrealistic to want the team to play in a way that appeals to my tastes over the managers but I don't see anything wrong in expressing that sentiment.

I have done plenty of reflection on my "fandom". I understand that for some following a football club is interpreted as some form of undying allegiance to a cause much like a political party but I identify as a fan of the sport over cultism. For me football is like art or music and the reason I tune in or look forward to a match is not the result at the end but rather the journey. Once again I completely understand that this need not be the case for everyone but the point of a discussion is to express all ideas and to be open to diverse viewpoints. This club has give me some of my most enjoyable football moments and I believe that it can give even more. It doesn't have to but it would be nice if it did.

 

[serghei]

Madrid has absolutely nothing to do with this and had an entirely different philosophy under that board. And the one before for that matter.

Maybe if you let go of the stinking supporter ego shouting in your ear "they're not playing the way I want them to play!" you'll see the benefits of his approach. Valverde is the sole reason Barca have not had a meltdown post-Neymar. Valverde is the sole reason you're undefeated, because he turned a leaderless defense into a self-sustaining monolith despite rotations and injuries. Valverde is the sole reason your seemingly garbage transfer policy was turned around into a positive. Valverde is the sole reason the sort of bullshit that is being spewed out everywhere about this style never influences the pitch performances, because of his admirable conference handling and cutting through the bullshit as clean as a hot knife through butter. Valverde is the sole reason Suarez recovered from his poor spell in autumn.

There is absolutely nothing I can possibly think of you could whine about in your situation. Not a single completely negative result this season since Supercopa matches. Solid building for the future. What the hell is wrong with your fans these days?

What meltdown post Neymar. We beat Madrid last season 3-2 on Bernabeu without Neymar. Losing Neymar doesn't mean Barca go to shit. This is the same line of thinking many had, and I was laughing at it from day one. Barca would've pushed for the league with Neymar, or without Neymar, let's get that straight. Only Madrid have a better team than Barcelona, and they went to shit this season. We had big chances to win the league after Madrid collapsed in La Liga. Valverde gets credit by that, but let's not make him this incredible savior. He's got by far the 2nd best team in the league, and considering the best one has been missing so far, he's expected to be first with it. Neymar or no Neymar.

We've had plenty of negative results lately with Valverde. We've had 4 draws in the last month or so, and some of those weren't even deserved (Chelsea). Valverde is the sole reason Suarez recovered his poor form? That's a new one. The sole reason for Suarez in getting back to his form is Suarez. He knew he was playing poorly and worked hard and got back, knowing that there is also a World Cup he needs to play great at. Suarez wasn't finished as some said btw, I told the users here that he's going to get back, to have no worries, and he got back. He's a fighter and fighters don't give up that easily, that should've been clear from anyone from the get go.

Valverde has had a succesful season so far, but, keep it real. He's not Barca's saviour. We've just invested 400m in transfers btw. That's surely not to park the bus at home against a team who's worth less than we have payed on Coutinho and Dembele.

 

[bismp]

Inb4 both Paulinho and Gomes start against Chelsea,while Dembele stays at the bench.

 

[vlad]

I've just watched Chelsea against man city.

If valverde can't beat this Chelsea team then he needs to get the sack straight after the game. Worst Chelsea team I seen in 20 years

worst team in 20 years, and still city who plays best football today scored just one goal


ok

 

[Stoichkov1]

I cant agree that Valverde has much to do with it though. We are talking about a team that wins league titles with 100 points, without any coaches at all. The team hardly needs any coaching, its an unified group of players, the coach(or lack of) can tell them to do whatever and thats that, they will win it all on their own.

Our defence this season has improved thanks to Valverde.

 

[Givenchy]

Inb4 both Paulinho and Gomes start against Chelsea,while Dembele stays at the bench.

if he actually does that then I've lost all faith in him and hopefully the board will also

 

[Luftstalag14]

Madrid has absolutely nothing to do with this and had an entirely different philosophy under that board. And the one before for that matter.

Maybe if you let go of the stinking supporter ego shouting in your ear "they're not playing the way I want them to play!" you'll see the benefits of his approach. Valverde is the sole reason Barca have not had a meltdown post-Neymar. Valverde is the sole reason you're undefeated, because he turned a leaderless defense into a self-sustaining monolith despite rotations and injuries. Valverde is the sole reason your seemingly garbage transfer policy was turned around into a positive. Valverde is the sole reason the sort of bullshit that is being spewed out everywhere about this style never influences the pitch performances, because of his admirable conference handling and cutting through the bullshit as clean as a hot knife through butter. Valverde is the sole reason Suarez recovered from his poor spell in autumn.

There is absolutely nothing I can possibly think of you could whine about in your situation. Not a single completely negative result this season since Supercopa matches. Solid building for the future. What the hell is wrong with your fans these days?

Valverde has been quite lucky so far and we know at some point luck runs out. Defensively it is definitely better but offensively? To those who defending Valverde, I've got just one question: What happens when Messi doesn't deliver?

Solid building for the future? What has he done to help with that?

 

[Ousmane Dembélé]

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Just listen to the nonsense he's spewing about Pique's injury.

 

[serghei]

At Barcelona you get criticized for both results, and for how you play. You need to win trophies and play good football while doing it. Just one without the others won't cut it.

Besides, from Valverde's speech when he signed, he seemed to understand and accept this challenge all too well. Fans should make sure he doesn't forget what he singed up for. And if he continues to play this way, they won't hesitate to do that. Especially considering that parking the bus with a team made to play offensive football is walking on thin ice.

worst team in 20 years, and still city who plays best football today scored just one goal


ok

That's because Chelsea actually parked the bus while losing.

 

[Stoichkov1]

What meltdown post Neymar. We beat Madrid last season 3-2 on Bernabeu without Neymar. Losing Neymar doesn't mean Barca go to shit. This is the same line of thinking many had, and I was laughing at it from day one. Barca would've pushed for the league with Neymar, or without Neymar, let's get that straight. Only Madrid have a better team than Barcelona, and they went to shit this season. We had big chances to win the league after Madrid collapsed in La Liga. Valverde gets credit by that, but let's not make him this incredible savior. He's got by far the 2nd best team in the league, and considering the best one has been missing so far, he's expected to be first with it. Neymar or no Neymar.

We've had plenty of negative results lately with Valverde. We've had 4 draws in the last month or so, and some of those weren't even deserved (Chelsea). Valverde is the sole reason Suarez recovered his poor form? That's a new one. The sole reason for Suarez in getting back to his form is Suarez. He knew he was playing poorly and worked hard and got back, knowing that there is also a World Cup he needs to play great at. Suarez wasn't finished as some said btw, I told the users here that he's going to get back, to have no worries, and he got back. He's a fighter and fighters don't give up that easily, that should've been clear from anyone from the get go.

Valverde has had a succesful season so far, but, keep it real. He's not Barca's saviour. We've just invested 400m in transfers btw. That's surely not to park the bus at home against a team who's worth less than we have payed on Coutinho and Dembele.

Madrid collapsing this year in the league doesn't change the fact that Barca is still undefeated and has more points after 27 matches than any Barca team in the last decade apart 2012/13. We would still be first even if Real Madrid had a normal season.

 

[Luftstalag14]

I've just watched Chelsea against man city.

If valverde can't beat this Chelsea team then he needs to get the sack straight after the game. Worst Chelsea team I seen in 20 years

City made them look that bad. The way City handled them was superb, with constant and very active off the ball runs that create space and chances, with all different sorts of attempts, dribbling through the middle, wing-plays near the byline, through-balls, lobs, crosses, much more dynamic and versatile than our one-dimensional game plan.

We didn't make them look that bad.

 

[Lelouch vi Britannia]

I don’t know how the hell anyone can justify running Iniesta into the ground for the domestic trophies when Coutinho is available and can’t play in the CL.

Or justify Paulinho/Vidal/Gomes playing over Dembele.

Or justify Pique playing while injured when we have Vermaelen and Mina.

 

[Windhook]

We just won La Liga, nobody cares for the Copa del Rey final. Champions League should be our main focus from now on and honestly I don't think Valverde is handling it well right now. Fuck Gomes, I'm talking about Iniesta and Pique injuries.

 

[JamDav1982]

I don’t know how the hell anyone can justify running Iniesta into the ground for the domestic trophies when Coutinho is available and can’t play in the CL.

Or justify Paulinho/Vidal/Gomes playing over Dembele.

He hasnt 'run Iniesta into the ground' so nothing to justify.

 

[El Gato]

I cant agree that Valverde has much to do with it though. We are talking about a team that wins league titles with 100 points, without any coaches at all. The team hardly needs any coaching, its an unified group of players, the coach(or lack of) can tell them to do whatever and thats that, they will win it all on their own.

Absolutely not mate. Prime example of what the lack of sufficient coaching and managerial flexibility does was manifesting itself in Madrid all autumn with quotable gold along the lines of "football is a fickle beast" or "sometimes you don't understand this sport". But it doesn't surprise me this rhetoric still exists. It's the lead argument of people who discount anything Zidane ever did in the past 2.5 years. Tiresome to refer to at this point.
[MENTION=22412]henias[/MENTION]
I know nothing about what's being written on this forum, I barely read the Barca sections. It tires me to hear contradicting stances and constant freakshow presented by the likes of that Dembele guy.

What's your argument anyway? Valverde can make bad decisions. How many long term bad calls has he made so far?
[MENTION=15262]serghei[/MENTION]
Had Valverde not decide to switch to 2 strikers you'd be playing some scrub on the wing to replace the Neymar/Dembele hole. And even if the latter was fit, you'd be waiting months through adaptation just like you're waiting months for Semedo to learn his job. Had he not made that call you'd be playing an inferior version of the old top-heavy setup that was found out by multiple teams even last season. He kept you fresh and dangerous through a trying time and vaulted you into a solid leader position through almost no adjustment effort. Plus he made you balanced at the back with no leader.

How the fuck is a draw a bad result? And an unearned one at that? There are games you shouldn't be getting anything from in every season, because of its length and the toll it takes on bodies and minds, and not losing them is a skill in itself. You'd prefer to lose them? That's Paco Jemez shit right there.

No player gets back to form on his own. Absolutely never. It's always through a coaching decision, either keeping him outfield or benching. Valverde made a correct call. If he benched him you could be looking at his final season given looming Griezmann replacement.

Also, investing is important at this level no matter how much you spend. Even better if the investments are 25 and under.