Ernesto Valverde - V1

[JamDav1982]

Which was? Oh I forgot, to bring Iniesta (who is recovering from a recent injury) on to sit deeper and soak up pressure because he ordered the team to take it easy. How silly of me...

Far more plausible reason is that he wanted an extra body in midfield who was capable of holding on to the ball because Bilbao had the better of us.

But anyway, like I said. You continue seeing what you want you want to see.

Because Dembele had started his third game in just over a week in a season he has had hamstring injuries.

Yes I can continue to see clearly that Barca stopped pressing as much, sat deeper and stopped moving the ball as quickly...while you think the whole game was turned as a very average Bilbao team 'decided to press'.

 

[Barcaman]

Moving the ball faster makes opposition chase the ball and enabling your team to "rest" while keeping possession.

 

[MessiCam]

Because Dembele had started his third game in just over a week in a season he has had hamstring injuries.

Yes I can continue to see clearly that Barca stopped pressing as much, sat deeper and stopped moving the ball as quickly...while you think the whole game was turned as a very average Bilbao team 'decided to press'.

Dembélé’s has been declared fit for nearly 2 months.

 

[MessiCam]

Moving the ball faster makes opposition chase the ball and enabling your team to "rest" while keeping possession.

Don’t say that. Defending with the ball is risky...

 

[JamDav1982]

Dembélé’s has been declared fit for nearly 2 months.

Which changes nothing that I have said.

Perhaps he is fit because has been looked after properly.

Game was won in first half and took foot off pedal after that.

 

[Devils]

Another day, another win for GOATverde.

The man just doesn't know how to lose.

:wow:

 

[Horatio]

Was probably behind the Atletico loss as well. Master tactician!

 

[jamrock]

The first half was close to Barca football more of this please

 

[Joan]

Not one of his critics usually, but think he handled the game poorly.

If really wanted to kill the game in the 1st half and then conserve some energy - it was badly done.
If you want to close the game in this manner, defending without the ball, Simeone style, you need some physical presence.

Worked well with Paulinho vs. Chelsea for instance, but he's tired and needs to be fresh. Infamous super-sub role. And he was gonna play Iniesta anyway.
Also, we all know what's the best way to play vs. high pressure. Vs. weaker sides, like this Bilbao side, ought to play with triangles.

Can't say he did well, though the first half performance was majestic.

 

[serghei]

Now that La Liga is nearly done, maybe he'll rest more key players in the future games.

 

[Horatio]

Now that La Liga is nearly done, maybe he'll rest more key players in the future games.

Smells like an attempted setup for an 'Ha I told you so!'

 

[serghei]

Smells like an attempted setup for an 'Ha I told you so!'

Sounds like a reasonable expectation, with 11 point ahead to be concerned about key players showing signs of tiredness and taking measures to prevent that going into CL QF. La Liga is done. Let's make sure players are properly rested before CL games.

 

[raki]

Now that La Liga is nearly done, maybe he'll rest more key players in the future games.

It´s the wise thing to do.

 

[JamDav1982]

Don think he will rest many away to Sevilla before the first Roma game but home game against Leganes he should be looking to do it then.

 

[serghei]

It´s the wise thing to do.

In before Iniesta starts vs Sevilla.