Ernesto Valverde - V1

Devils

Senior Member
Target is on EV's back now.

He's got a killer squad with great depth.

No excuses and he shouldn't be exempt from being sacked mid-season if he is chaotic with this team.
 

Givenchy

Senior Member
I'm hoping last season we played that way and formation forced due to losing Neymar and then Dembele early in the season. we have made all the right moves this summer so no more excuses. 443 and Suarez' ass on the bench if he continues
 

FCBfan22

Senior Member
With the squad depth he has now, if he keeps playing an horribly out of forum Suarez for 3 months straight and runs a few midfielders into ground with playing them constantly, while others are getting arse blisters, I'm gonna flip.
 

DonAK

President of FC Barcelona
Shouldn't play dire football either. At least make it somewhat entertaining to watch. At least in the league..
 

Joan

Well-known member
Arguably the best squad in the world.

The club and the fans are entitled to expect a lot.
 

xXKonan

Senior Member
I like that we are playing the 4-3-3 in Preseason.

I feel this is the best squad we have had in awhile and not only that a good selection of youngsters coming through in the B team as well. I feel that this squad is simply too good to be hamstrung to just the 4-4-2. We have the players to play in a number of different formations if Valverde gets creative enough.
 

soul24rage

Senior Member
I like that we are playing the 4-3-3 in Preseason.

I feel this is the best squad we have had in awhile and not only that a good selection of youngsters coming through in the B team as well. I feel that this squad is simply too good to be hamstrung to just the 4-4-2. We have the players to play in a number of different formations if Valverde gets creative enough.

the problem that i see are messi and suarez. Messi can play in RW, CAM and false 9 and Suarez as a pure 9. I really doubt that Suarez will be dropped from the starting XI and Messi's lack of defensive capabilities leaves the role of RW doubtful and idk if he has the intensity to perform in a false 9 (plus I think now he needs someone upfront to keep the CB busy). If I know EV as I know him then I think he'll play a 4-2-3-1 in a CL knockout with Vidal playing in the same role as Paulinho did vs Chelsea 1st leg.

------Back four
Vidal--Busi--Raki--Cou
--------Messi
---------Suarez
 

xXKonan

Senior Member
the problem that i see are messi and suarez. Messi can play in RW, CAM and false 9 and Suarez as a pure 9. I really doubt that Suarez will be dropped from the starting XI and Messi's lack of defensive capabilities leaves the role of RW doubtful and idk if he has the intensity to perform in a false 9 (plus I think now he needs someone upfront to keep the CB busy). If I know EV as I know him then I think he'll play a 4-2-3-1 in a CL knockout with Vidal playing in the same role as Paulinho did vs Chelsea 1st leg.

------Back four
Vidal--Busi--Raki--Cou
--------Messi
---------Suarez
If Suarez's form gets even worse than it did year then Valverde needs to start looking at phasing him out/benching him and turning him into a impact sub. His CL record is poor these days and yeah he's our second highest goal scorer in La Liga, but his overall ability has decayed a lot since the 2016-17 season.

He needs to prove that we can still count on him as being our number 9 and no there's no reason to pamper him because of his past reputation. If he gets upset that he has to ride the bench for younger options well tough luck buddy either leave or actually work for it, I don't care if you're Messi's BFF.

The coach has to lay down the law every once in awhile and instead of pampering to the big egos in the locker room.
 

khaled_a_d

Senior Member
Target is on EV's back now.

He's got a killer squad with great depth.

No excuses and he shouldn't be exempt from being sacked mid-season if he is chaotic with this team.

Same was said after January transfer market, what only changed is that a new CB from Seville to replace Mina, new CM from Brazil, Malcolm and likely an injury Vidal.
I wait before making such claim
 

El Flaco

Active member
If Suarez's form gets even worse than it did year then Valverde needs to start looking at phasing him out/benching him and turning him into a impact sub. His CL record is poor these days and yeah he's our second highest goal scorer in La Liga, but his overall ability has decayed a lot since the 2016-17 season.

He needs to prove that we can still count on him as being our number 9 and no there's no reason to pamper him because of his past reputation. If he gets upset that he has to ride the bench for younger options well tough luck buddy either leave or actually work for it, I don't care if you're Messi's BFF.

When it comes to strikers, they are primarily judged on their ability to score as that's their primary task.

And Suárez is universally being rated among the best #9s in the game.

With the exception of 14/15 season, Suárez has been a consistent 20-league-goals scorer and hits 30 goals in all comps since 12/13.

The market for elite tier strikers is extremely thin.
 

henias

New member
Same was said after January transfer market, what only changed is that a new CB from Seville to replace Mina, new CM from Brazil, Malcolm and likely an injury Vidal.
I wait before making such claim

:facepalm: In any case, our depth has been better and the new signings have shown promising starts. Ppl complain about Gomes, Aleix Vidal, now they are replaced with a more talented bunch. What more do you want? And it's up to EV to develop and find a way with this players. Compared to other teams, our squad looks be one of the better ones. Even if u sign all the big names, it would be actually be worst for EV because he cant handle a big squad.

Whether u want to wait or not, it doesnt matter. It's a do or die season for EV. No more excuses and doubt the board could endure another season with a poor CL record.
 

Aryagorn

Improvin' Perfection!!
:facepalm: In any case, our depth has been better and the new signings have shown promising starts. Ppl complain about Gomes, Aleix Vidal, now they are replaced with a more talented bunch. What more do you want? And it's up to EV to develop and find a way with this players. Compared to other teams, our squad looks be one of the better ones. Even if u sign all the big names, it would be actually be worst for EV because he cant handle a big squad.

Whether u want to wait or not, it doesnt matter. It's a do or die season for EV. No more excuses and doubt the board could endure another season with a poor CL record.

Yeah

Basically, we have replaced Gomes with Arthur - Vidal with Malcom - Iniesta with Coutinho - Denis with Rafinha and Mascherano with Clement

All of the replacements including Iniesta are actually improvements. There really is no excuse for the manager if he screws CL up again!
 

BarçaBarça

New member
When it comes to strikers, they are primarily judged on their ability to score as that's their primary task.

And Suárez is universally being rated among the best #9s in the game.

With the exception of 14/15 season, Suárez has been a consistent 20-league-goals scorer and hits 30 goals in all comps since 12/13.

The market for elite tier strikers is extremely thin.

Yes, but last season he was such a slow starter.. Only Messis goals bailed him out and hid that he couldn't score to save his life, ran offside more often than not etc.

Last year we had Deulofeu, Vidal and Iniesta on the field for a substantial amount of time. This year we have a goal-scoring-threat from Coutinho, Dembele/Malcom besides Messi.
Therefore we can afford to bench him/phase him out during the fall, while bringing him in well-rested when we need it. I would hate to see him play all the games, unless he really hits the ground running, and I doubt that he would be able to do that.
 

khaled_a_d

Senior Member
:facepalm: In any case, our depth has been better and the new signings have shown promising starts. Ppl complain about Gomes, Aleix Vidal, now they are replaced with a more talented bunch. What more do you want? And it's up to EV to develop and find a way with this players. Compared to other teams, our squad looks be one of the better ones. Even if u sign all the big names, it would be actually be worst for EV because he cant handle a big squad.

Whether u want to wait or not, it doesnt matter. It's a do or die season for EV. No more excuses and doubt the board could endure another season with a poor CL record.

The only proven upgrade is Malcolm, up until we see Arthur in official games in Europe. This off-season looks a lot like 2016 and I won't start saying we have best squad in the world without seeing what this players actually have, and how our old players will do (won't be surprised of some continued bad decline from Suarez/Busquets/Pique)

Is it do or die for him? it is his contract year so regardless of transfers it is a do or die for EV
 

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