Reading some of [MENTION=16942]BBZ8800[/MENTION]'s mental gymnastics trying to justify his idea that a workhorse lineup is what's needed to win a CL in 2018 is infuriating.
He and many others said they lost faith in Valverde after last night's match, but why did it take that long? We've been playing similarly for a large portion of the season but were saved by poor finishing, last ditch tackles and saves. What we saw last night was a culmination of Valverde's reign here so far.
So I think it's fair to say that many aren't actually disappointed with the way we played, but just the result that came with the performance. If we had trotted out the exact same lineup last night with the exact same changes, played similarly, but Roma missed the net on the first goal, weren't awarded the penalty on the second and Stegen had made the save on the third while Messi scored a free kick giving us a 0-1 win the same people calling for Valverde's head would be lauding him for a masterclass in pragmatism and getting the job done away from home yet again.
The aforementioned hypothetical luck is what has we've been getting for the vast majority of the season and we were scraping victories not playing all too differently from last night's debacle. When we play exactly the same way as we usually do but just have the luck go against us for once the same people calling Valverde a defensive GOAT call for his head.
See the problem here? It see seems like a large contingent of fans really aren't too bothered with our actual play, but are all too happy to just look at the scoreline at the end of the match and draw conclusions and assumptions from that. Got dominated but won 1-0 with tons of luck? - Valverde is a genius. Got dominated and deservedly lost 3-0 while getting a few bad bounces? - Sack Valverde.
There is no consistency and far too many opinions are drawn from results. Anybody who questioned Valverde earlier in the season was bombarded with goals against and unbeaten stats and anyone who dared question our play was unsustainable was called spoiled and a radical pep fanboy. Short term unsustainable results are temporary, in the long run everything evens out, hence performance quality is the best indicator of future success.
Also funny seeing BBZ dismissing this performance as not being a "true workhorse lineup" by saying Paulinho or Gomes in place of Roberto would've made the difference. The static 4-4-2 has been exposed so instead of admitting the system is flawed he comes up with an excuse, but the problem is we've played the exact same fucking way with Gomes/Paulinho as the 4th midfielder and Bob at RB. Stamford Bridge ring any bells? Of course BBZ conveniently came up with yet another excuse at that time for the failure of the workhorse XI after that embarrassing match we deserved to lose.
Sorry for the long post, but the flip flopping on EV is pathetic after we've been playing similarly for months now. Same ass lickers calling him GOAT want him out now after a similar performance to our previous ones but with just a much different result.
EV made a lots of mistakes which weren't evident till now.
1. this version of 442 is a new version. I have read somewhere that he played Roberto-Semedo to double flanks and to prevent crosses for Dzeko.
But that way he created a massive hole in midfield, paired with Roma's 352, and we were outnumbered massively in the middle.
2. our mental strength. It wasn't clear till now. We looked like a bunch of frightened kids again. No leader, no captain, no Messi, no coach.
Preparation for a match=zero.
3. once again, Roberto-Semedo out of nowhere is on Lucho's level of surpising lineups out of nowhere.
Did EV even practiced defending corners with this lineup or players decided during corners who will mark whom?
I was happy with Ev's classical 442, as long as we had results.
But after Roma, I have turned my back on him the same as how I dislike younger players.
EV doesn't have the experience for a CL, he showed that against Roma. Mental strength of a team is horrible.
His subs were horrible.
It wasn't one rookie mistakes.
We have seen 100 mistakes in 90 minutes in 10s of different areas.
Yes, I could have survived with this as long as results were good.
I have said a lot of times, CL is the most important thing for me, especially in Messi's era.
The way how EV handled a return leg against Roma, I guess that he can win La Liga again next season.
But in a CL, we stand no chance due to poor rotations, our weak mental strength, having no leader, Messi being somewhat afraid to take the leadership in moments like this, EV without ideas what to do/change.
In short: I want a coach who can lead us to a CL glory, while we still have Messi.
Till Roma, I was sure that EV can win a CL with his 442.
But he made lots of crazy changes and tons of bad things during a match.
I don't care that much when we lose to Bayern, Real and good teams.
When we lose to Roma while having Messi in our a team and a 4:1 from the first leg, a coach is dead for me.
