Ernesto Valverde - V1

[shadows]

Our defense folds even under the slightest of pressures...He has to fix this before the champions game..otherwise its going to be ugly, the moment we draw a top team...

Now we have to wait for him to claim Levante is an elite team and then play his gala 11....

 

[kollegah]

Someone explain why Rakitic had to play a 3rd CB?
Why tf did he drop that deep, our midfield looked liked shit and the wingsback also didnt do anything.
How to build a triangle in midfield if there are only 2 midfielders?

 

[MagIX]

We don't have any attacking plan for the last few years, not only under EV.
The only plan is:
1. keep possession and wait for some hole to open
2. pass the ball to Messi and waiting for some solo magic
3. keep possession again and hope that we will randomly create some team action (but not a planned one), more like: pass the ball, try some dribble, what happens=happens.
And the most often=something usually happens.

Basically: keep the ball, pass it around the box and wait for a moment when either Messi will do something or when we will randomly make some good move and create a chance (but again, without some planning, it is all just random).

It works good in La Liga.
Against Juve, Atletico or any stronger CL team, we look clueless, since, the opponents know what to do:
1. stop Messi
2. don't leave holes in defense
= and more or less that's it. Our only 2 ways of scoring a goal are neutralized.

we now have 1 more attacking option
4. pass the ball to Dembele and waiting for some solo magic.

If the above four points fail
5. Put Pique upfront and cross the hell of the ball to him.

That's, imo, a lack of any longterm plan by 4 different sporting directors and 5 coaches in 8 years.
Some players in our team are suited for a possession style, others are for counters (Dembele).
Dembele can't play to his strengths if we pass the ball slowly and play a sterile possession game.
And then, how to play Dembele's game when majority of our players are suited to a style which is an opposite of his style.

EV is not perfect, but our team and our longterm plan is like a mixtape/random best off of everything.
And a coach is supposed to try to create something out of 20 randomly teamed up players.

Some players here are from Zubi, some from Robert, some from Abidal.
Some from Barto (Arda, Coutinho, Dembele), some from Lucho, some from EV.
When EV asked for players whom he likes (Willian, Paulinho), he received a: NO. You will have to play with this random bunch of players. And try to win as many trophies possible.

Precisely!
No vision, no plans, no logic..... tragic and comic in the same time.

When we bought Dembele and Coutinho I had already realized that it continued in the same direction, same plan..... Iniesta out, Coutinho in, same tactics.... Neymar out, Dembele in, same tactics.... always trying somehow to bring back to life the Pep dream team (but then even worse, because we do not even know how to play them together, also here tragic and comic at the same time).

 

[Raketa10]

Someone explain why Rakitic had to play a 3rd CB?
Why tf did he drop that deep, our midfield looked liked shit and the wingsback also didnt do anything.
How to build a triangle in midfield if there are only 2 midfielders?

Perfect role for FDJ

 

[Messi983]

Valverde's Barça was a leader after 50 of 56 rounds

[tw]1082035133761376256[/tw]


8th consecutive away win against Getafe for EV's team, longest winning streak for a coach against a single opponent in La Liga history.

[tw]1082028361722007552[/tw]

 

[Vilarrubi]

We don't have any attacking plan for the last few years, not only under EV.
The only plan is:
1. keep possession and wait for some hole to open
2. pass the ball to Messi and waiting for some solo magic
3. keep possession again and hope that we will randomly create some team action (but not a planned one), more like: pass the ball, try some dribble, what happens=happens.
And the most often=something usually happens.

Basically: keep the ball, pass it around the box and wait for a moment when either Messi will do something or when we will randomly make some good move and create a chance (but again, without some planning, it is all just random).

It works good in La Liga.
Against Juve, Atletico or any stronger CL team, we look clueless, since, the opponents know what to do:
1. stop Messi
2. don't leave holes in defense
= and more or less that's it. Our only 2 ways of scoring a goal are neutralized.

Our last 6 games against Juve have been 3 Wins, 2 Draws and 1 Loss.... other than that agree with what you said we look clueless at times.

 

[messi2140]

Valverde's Barça was a leader after 50 of 56 rounds

[tw]1082035133761376256[/tw]


8th consecutive away win against Getafe for EV's team, longest winning streak for a coach against a single opponent in La Liga history.

[tw]1082028361722007552[/tw]

What a Legend , hope he gets to renew his contract for 5 more years , so we get to see these amazing stats and his total dominance on livescore.

 

[BBZ8800]

The problem of awful record in the CL is our resistance to pressure is extremely low.

We can put pressure on an inferior team in La Liga for almost whole game, but it's impossible in the CL especially the away game. Whenever we're under pressure, the team keep conceding a goal like a dam collapse.

Imo, that is one of the problems, but not THE ONLY problem.

In some matches, like against Roma away, true, we couldn't create anything and someone like Arthur might have helped.
But even in matches where we CAN create chances, our chances on a CL level are so sterile and predictable.

So:
1. sometimes we struggle under pressure and can't create anything
2. but even if we avoid a pressure (let's say: having 3 Arthurs on a field): what then?
Our attacking plan is a total shit:
1) pass the ball around the box till death and waiting for a hole to open, which rarely happens against Juve, since they are NOT Getafe
2) passing the ball to Messi in every single action, which big teams like Juve/Atletico/Bayern can neutralize quite easily
3) and our other random, chaotic solo actions are:
= pass the ball to Messi and hope that he will dribble past 3 players and score
= (when we had Neymar): pass the ball to Neymar and hope that he will dribble past 3 players and score
= Messi passing to Alba, and Alba crossing into a box or sending a hard, low cross in the middle and hoping for the best

Basically, that's the whole Barca's gameplan.
It works in La Liga against Mickey Mouse teams like Getafe, Girona, Leganes and similar.
In a CL, we are knocked out in the same way since 2013'.

Now, after reading my post from above, where our only attacking ideas are:
1. passing the ball around the box and waiting for a hole to open
2. waiting for Messi's solo action
3. waiting for Neymar's solo action (insert Dembele now)
4. Messi's pass to Alba

Regarding 1, 2 and 3:
1) Juve and Atletico will park a huge bus and we won't be able to create good chances
2) Messi will be man marked by 2-3 players every time he gets the ball, and those guys will be EXTREMELY close to him whenever he gets the ball (unlike La Liga defenders who give him more space and time).
And Messi will be pushed, fouled or tackles in almost every action and he will be out of play. And then, he'll sulk and get sad, as always.
3) Neymar/Dembele, the same story

Now, watch these videos against Juve 2017 and Atletico 2016.
And try to find more than 2-3 actions over 180 minutes where we tried something different and unpredictable.
You can't.
We are doing the same slow, predictable shit over and over, and all big clubs/their coaches/coaching team/scouts know our 3-4 main moves and they are neutralizing us easily.

Now, enjoy the videos and watch the most predictable big team (attacking wise) on a CL level, Fc Barcelona in the last few years.
Btw, people are calling for more "controlling", off the ball movement, triangles.
Fine, that will bring more control.
But that is only a part of a problem.
1. we have problems in avoiding pressure from the opponents
2. once when we achieve that, we have problems in controlling the match
3. once when we achieve even that, we don't have any attacking ideas. So, Arthur won't help too much. Removing Rakitic won't help either. We still won't score shit in attack:
Juve 2017: Doesn't this look like a deja vu, and like watching any quarters of a CL over again? It does to me. We are always neutralized and sterile in the exactly the same way:

Atletico 2016:

 

[Gaudi]

These post above is my main concern, but it aplies not only to coach but our style. I'm not sure if a potential new coach would said in a interview; look, we need to change our game, no we'll not be playing crosses or long balls, we'll play passing game but our tempo, energy, team movement needs to change, that the board would accept that? I have a feeling they all want possession or death!
I don't even think you can add something to our attack with our tempo, I mean if from the start you always play 21 players in one half, space is non-existent - by default you need some magic to unlock the door.

 

[xXKonan]

It was a 3-4-3 in attack most of the time.

 

[Messigician]

Imo, that is one of the problems, but not THE ONLY problem.

In some matches, like against Roma away, true, we couldn't create anything and someone like Arthur might have helped.
But even in matches where we CAN create chances, our chances on a CL level are so sterile and predictable.

So:
1. sometimes we struggle under pressure and can't create anything
2. but even if we avoid a pressure (let's say: having 3 Arthurs on a field): what then?
Our attacking plan is a total shit:
1) pass the ball around the box till death and waiting for a hole to open, which rarely happens against Juve, since they are NOT Getafe
2) passing the ball to Messi in every single action, which big teams like Juve/Atletico/Bayern can neutralize quite easily
3) and our other random, chaotic solo actions are:
= pass the ball to Messi and hope that he will dribble past 3 players and score
= (when we had Neymar): pass the ball to Neymar and hope that he will dribble past 3 players and score
= Messi passing to Alba, and Alba crossing into a box or sending a hard, low cross in the middle and hoping for the best

Basically, that's the whole Barca's gameplan.
It works in La Liga against Mickey Mouse teams like Getafe, Girona, Leganes and similar.
In a CL, we are knocked out in the same way since 2013'.

Now, after reading my post from above, where our only attacking ideas are:
1. passing the ball around the box and waiting for a hole to open
2. waiting for Messi's solo action
3. waiting for Neymar's solo action (insert Dembele now)
4. Messi's pass to Alba

Regarding 1, 2 and 3:
1) Juve and Atletico will park a huge bus and we won't be able to create good chances
2) Messi will be man marked by 2-3 players every time he gets the ball, and those guys will be EXTREMELY close to him whenever he gets the ball (unlike La Liga defenders who give him more space and time).
And Messi will be pushed, fouled or tackles in almost every action and he will be out of play. And then, he'll sulk and get sad, as always.
3) Neymar/Dembele, the same story

Now, watch these videos against Juve 2017 and Atletico 2016.
And try to find more than 2-3 actions over 180 minutes where we tried something different and unpredictable.
You can't.
We are doing the same slow, predictable shit over and over, and all big clubs/their coaches/coaching team/scouts know our 3-4 main moves and they are neutralizing us easily.

Now, enjoy the videos and watch the most predictable big team (attacking wise) on a CL level, Fc Barcelona in the last few years.
Btw, people are calling for more "controlling", off the ball movement, triangles.
Fine, that will bring more control.
But that is only a part of a problem.
1. we have problems in avoiding pressure from the opponents
2. once when we achieve that, we have problems in controlling the match
3. once when we achieve even that, we don't have any attacking ideas. So, Arthur won't help too much. Removing Rakitic won't help either. We still won't score shit in attack:
Juve 2017: Doesn't this look like a deja vu, and like watching any quarters of a CL over again? It does to me. We are always neutralized and sterile in the exactly the same way:

Atletico 2016:

Plz come coach Barcelona next season and make Barca great again. Ive coached befire professionally and this is actaually really good analysis

 

[FCBfan22]

Binary rotation system. All or nothing.

 

[Vilarrubi]

We had 2 players worth nearly a total of 300m on the pitch tonight... this guy is clueless. Not complaining about the result though would rather get knocked out if it means we rest more. Valverde masterclass.

 

[khaled_a_d]

Binary rotation system. All or nothing.

It wasn't "nothing" today. Busquets, Vidal,Dembele are starters, Coutinho & Semedo are rotation players/starters too. That is half of our outfield players.
He had to play Chumi & Miranda since Abidal left us thin in defense with his insistence not to bring Digne replacement and loaning best LB in academy, while we had 2 injury prone CB, old one.
I mean who did you want to stay on the bench tonight?

 

[FCBfan22]

It wasn't "nothing" today. Busquets, Vidal,Dembele are starters, Coutinho & Semedo are rotation players/starters too. That is half of our outfield players.
He had to play Chumi & Miranda since Abidal left us thin in defense with his insistence not to bring Digne replacement and loaning best LB in academy, while we had 2 injury prone CB, old one.
I mean who did you want to stay on the bench tonight?

It's not about tonight. It's about the whole season. Rotate 2 starters each game and we will be fine in March. But no, he has no intention of smartly preserving the squad.