Ernesto Valverde

[FinBarcelonafan]

Our current league situation with us being on top while very low on points etc is very comparable to last season before the Liverpool clash. People were massively overrating our chances because of the fact that we were comfortably first while they were 2nd even, though they had more points than us, and if we were playing City in the league last year we wouldn't be first either. And then guess what happened, I was bombarded with angry replies calling me pessimistic blah blah and I remember some Barca fans even went so far as to say that Pep never really was that good of a coach to kind of praise EV (That posts got a fair amount of likes too)

Sometimes I feel that the Liverpool debacle wasn't all that bad after all, the amount of stupidity and delusion of not just a few but 90% of the fans was unbearable and at absolute heights. At least now they got a reality check and while I don't like to be the I told you so guy, I fucking told you.

That seems weird. I feel everyone expected us to lose vs Pool. We knew it was bad matchup for us.

 

[Rory]

Our current league situation with us being on top while very low on points etc is very comparable to last season before the Liverpool clash. People were massively overrating our chances because of the fact that we were comfortably first while they were 2nd even, though they had more points than us, and if we were playing City in the league last year we wouldn't be first either. And then guess what happened, I was bombarded with angry replies calling me pessimistic blah blah and I remember some Barca fans even went so far as to say that Pep never really was that good of a coach to kind of praise EV (That posts got a fair amount of likes too)

Sometimes I feel that the Liverpool debacle wasn't all that bad after all, the amount of stupidity and delusion of not just a few but 90% of the fans was unbearable and at absolute heights. At least now they got a reality check and while I don't like to be the I told you so guy, I fucking told you.

The overall scoreline of 4-3 wasn't bad at all it's the manner that scoreline came about over the two legs.

 

[BBZ8800]

Our current league situation with us being on top while very low on points etc is very comparable to last season before the Liverpool clash. People were massively overrating our chances because of the fact that we were comfortably first while they were 2nd even, though they had more points than us, and if we were playing City in the league last year we wouldn't be first either. And then guess what happened, I was bombarded with angry replies calling me pessimistic blah blah and I remember some Barca fans even went so far as to say that Pep never really was that good of a coach to kind of praise EV (That posts got a fair amount of likes too)

Sometimes I feel that the Liverpool debacle wasn't all that bad after all, the amount of stupidity and delusion of not just a few but 90% of the fans was unbearable and at absolute heights. At least now they got a reality check and while I don't like to be the I told you so guy, I fucking told you.

Some of you are talking about "Liverpool's debacle" as if we lost to Osasuna or Rayo Vallecano.
Liverpool played 2 CL finals in a row, winning one.
They will end a season with 20 points advantage over father Pep's City.

In the last 2 years in knockout rounds, these are their results at home:
2018:
Porto 0:0 (5:0)
City 3:0 (2:1)
Roma 5:2 (2:4)
2019:
Bayern 0:0 (3:1)
Porto 2:0 (4:1)
Barcelona 4:0 (0:3)

On the last 6 KO matches at Anfield, they had clean sheets 5 times.
Even father Pep didn't manage to score a goal.

Group stage, last 3 seasons at Anfield:
Sevilla 2:2
Spartak 7:0
Maribor 3:0
Psg 3:2
Napoli 1:0
Crvena zvezda 4:0
Napoli 1:1
Red Bull 4:3
Genk 2:1

Goal difference 41:11.

They didn't lose a single Anfield game in the last 15 matches.
And when it matters, they usually score 3-4-5 past anyone.
In these 3 seasons, they haven't crumbled under pressure yet (except against RM when Karius ruined a match).

I am not saying that a defeat of Anfield wasn't bad.
But when you look at Liverpool's results in the last 2 and a half seasons, maybe we would have lost even with way better managers and players because teams just "die" one by one on Anfield in that atmosphere and under that pressure.
Not just Barca. And when you pair that with Barca's historically HORRIBLE displays on away KO matches (Crujff, Pep, Lucho), you get a perfect surroundings for Psg 4:0, Juve 3:0, Roma 3:0, Liverpool 4:0.
Again, even "a father Pep" lost in EV's way on Anfield:

How is that possible?
I mean:
1. he is the best coach
2. he has players who can ressist press (unlike Raki and Vidal, as people say)
3. his team knows how to move and create actions
4. his team is younger, can run more and is more motivated than Barca.
Yet, they are an ultimate shit in Europe, or a crap at Anfield.
How come?

Liverpool just has:
1. a world class coach
2. players who can run like crazy
3. motivated players (due to not winning too many trophies in the past)
4. a team of warriors

Barca has:
1. a worse manager
2. a team of old players and in general players who don't run as much as Liverpool's players (younger players like Arthur)
3. team who is dead and not motivated due to winning everything in their career
4. our players are historically a team of choirboy pussies who are nice and who can play nice when things are going perfect. When things turn chaotic/dangerous/fighting, our players sulk and don't fight since they aren't able for it.
Plus, we don't have any leaders or captains.

So, even if you put Pep as a coach, he will still have a team of old players who are not motivated and not warriors.
Our team is good only in Messi's department and in a technical department.
We are shit in physique, pace, distance covered, fighting spirit, leaders, motivation.

So, it is what it is.

 

[messi2140]

Let's say the wall of text you just wrote is spot on. How are you going to bullshit your way out of that Roma disaster ? Did they have Klopp aswell ?


Gotta say it's just ironic how in the relationship advice thread you keep talking about this alpha mentality , yet you are stanning the biggest beta coach I have ever seen.

 

[Gaudi]

We talk a lot about our attacking plan or system, to be precise lack of any, but have you noticed our defending system? That's true amateur staff and has nothing to do with individuals but with tactics.
I claim our defenders are actually very good as they basically defend 1 vs 1 for most of the match...some last ditch blocks or dangerous sliding.
It has nothing to do with running as well, as you'll see FDJ, Raki or Busi running like crazy to catch a player with ton of space. Ok, we do have a problem with speed of "turtle" duo, that is why they don't catch a player mostly, but they shouldn't be running like idiots to begin with.
We have Griez coming to LB position, Messsi walking and Suarez in some kamikaze pressuring in between 4 players. Then, Busi comes up and if opposition is not scared to give away the ball they more or less ALWAYS HAVE numerical advantage in all the zones.
Ok, Messi i Messi, let's agree we will not use him in defence but entire setup is funny. I never saw so many room in between our lines and so much distance between them. Yes, we have an opposite situaton when we manage to catch opponets players, then our defence and midfield come so deep we have absolutely no chance of counter, or even worse we allow big pressure on Ter Stegen.

I trully never saw so disorganized team in defence, we are actually doing very well when you consider flaws we show every game.

 

[BBZ8800]

Let's say the wall of text you just wrote is spot on. How are you going to bullshit your way out of that Roma disaster ? Did they have Klopp aswell ?


Gotta say it's just ironic how in the relationship advice thread you keep talking about this alpha mentality , yet you are stanning the biggest beta coach I have ever seen.

1. Roma is a different story. That was a stupid defeat. A coach, a poor mental strength, complacent players, everything was bad.
2. about a coach, it is more like: I don't believe that ANYONE could be better, like forum often likes to say.
Look at Rakitic's thread. Suddenly we even have posts: what can Rakitic do and what Alena/Puig can't, lol?
Anyone would be better than Suarez.
Anyone would be better than Pique.
Anyone would be better than Busi.
Anyone would be better than EV.

Yet, when we benched some of those, not only that he haven't improved, but we had a worst start in La Liga since 2000s and we were almost KOd in a group stage of a CL.
I am for changes, but not for changes for a sake of it.
Only if a new option makes sense even on paper.
Options like Gallardo are raising more red flags than EV.
And what are the other options? Koeman? I like him.
Xavi? Lol, please

Btw, from time to time, I like to check results from these other options for Barca's coach.
I have wrote a few weeks ago how Xavi's team was conceding 2-3 goals per match on average.

His current latest results are:
2:6 ES Tunis
2:3 Monterrey
3:1 Hienghenne
0:3 Quatar
1:4 Al Duhail

In the last 5 matches, he has 4 defeats.
Goal difference 8:17 against his club.
He hasn't kept a clean sheet for 11 matches in a row.
So, to some extent, he sounds like a perfect fit for our historical humiliations on away CL KO matches.
We are losing on away matches no matter what.
With Xavi's results as a coach till now & a funky defense= and 0:6 to 0:8 defeats at Anfield are almost guaranteed.

So, you see, I don't find asking for Xavi or Gallardo as a particularly Alpha male behavior.
More like dumb and naive behavior.

 

[messi2140]

Why do you keep flip flopping around the subject ? I ask you a simple question and you start creating false narratives that I want Gallardo or Xavi. I am indifferent to both those choices.

I can somewhat understand you defending Rakitic , since he is your countryman and was part of the team that brought Croatia to the final. But Im seriously baffled how you can keep supporting someone like Valverde even though you are against that type of person .

 

[Neymessi]

That seems weird. I feel everyone expected us to lose vs Pool. We knew it was bad matchup for us.

It was a tough match but people were fairly confident thanks to the 'results'. Horrible and lucky wins with shit gameplay and individual performance, not to mention RM and Atletico having their worst run in the league for a long time, gave us a strong position in the league and gave a rosy optimistic view of us being good contenders for a treble.

The overall scoreline of 4-3 wasn't bad at all it's the manner that scoreline came about over the two legs.

Ok?

Some of you are talking about "Liverpool's debacle" as if we lost to Osasuna or Rayo Vallecano.
Liverpool played 2 CL finals in a row, winning one.
They will end a season with 20 points advantage over father Pep's City.

In the last 2 years in knockout rounds, these are their results at home:
2018:
Porto 0:0 (5:0)
City 3:0 (2:1)
Roma 5:2 (2:4)
2019:
Bayern 0:0 (3:1)
Porto 2:0 (4:1)
Barcelona 4:0 (0:3)

On the last 6 KO matches at Anfield, they had clean sheets 5 times.
Even father Pep didn't manage to score a goal.

Group stage, last 3 seasons at Anfield:
Sevilla 2:2
Spartak 7:0
Maribor 3:0
Psg 3:2
Napoli 1:0
Crvena zvezda 4:0
Napoli 1:1
Red Bull 4:3
Genk 2:1

Goal difference 41:11.

They didn't lose a single Anfield game in the last 15 matches.
And when it matters, they usually score 3-4-5 past anyone.
In these 3 seasons, they haven't crumbled under pressure yet (except against RM when Karius ruined a match).

I am not saying that a defeat of Anfield wasn't bad.
But when you look at Liverpool's results in the last 2 and a half seasons, maybe we would have lost even with way better managers and players because teams just "die" one by one on Anfield in that atmosphere and under that pressure.
Not just Barca. And when you pair that with Barca's historically HORRIBLE displays on away KO matches (Crujff, Pep, Lucho), you get a perfect surroundings for Psg 4:0, Juve 3:0, Roma 3:0, Liverpool 4:0.
Again, even "a father Pep" lost in EV's way on Anfield:

How is that possible?
I mean:
1. he is the best coach
2. he has players who can ressist press (unlike Raki and Vidal, as people say)
3. his team knows how to move and create actions
4. his team is younger, can run more and is more motivated than Barca.
Yet, they are an ultimate shit in Europe, or a crap at Anfield.
How come?

Liverpool just has:
1. a world class coach
2. players who can run like crazy
3. motivated players (due to not winning too many trophies in the past)
4. a team of warriors

Barca has:
1. a worse manager
2. a team of old players and in general players who don't run as much as Liverpool's players (younger players like Arthur)
3. team who is dead and not motivated due to winning everything in their career
4. our players are historically a team of choirboy pussies who are nice and who can play nice when things are going perfect. When things turn chaotic/dangerous/fighting, our players sulk and don't fight since they aren't able for it.
Plus, we don't have any leaders or captains.

So, even if you put Pep as a coach, he will still have a team of old players who are not motivated and not warriors.
Our team is good only in Messi's department and in a technical department.
We are shit in physique, pace, distance covered, fighting spirit, leaders, motivation.

So, it is what it is.

You know, I am never usually someone who gets infuriated from a contrasting opinion than mine, but yours almost always makes my blood boil and I genuinely dislike you

The silver lining is that currently, there is absolutely no one on this forum who doesn't think that your posts are full of shit. You do take your time in gauging the forum sentiments to push your own opinion because you know if you had used this "Liverpool aren't that bad come on" narrative some months after that happened, you would have been roasted alive. But now we are doing okayish in the league and some time has passed since the Liverpool debacle, you come out of your shell and show your true colors.

So basically what you argued is Liverpool isn't a shit team and we lost because they have an amazing home record against shit teams mostly in the group stages and that city also lost there but City wasn't defending a 3 goal lead over there were they? All we had to do was not lose fucking 4-0 and this Liverpool while great isn't Barcelona 2011 or something that a fucking 4-0 loss, not in a league game mind you, but a game where the sole objective of the match was to not lose 4-0. I really doubt even your Osasuna or Betis would lose to that Liverpool lineup trying to defend a 3-0 lead. We have issues in our team but even with those issues, no one can in their right mind say that our players aren't good enough to see off a 3-0 win.
And you claim that Liverpool isn't Betis and Osasuna but honestly, it feels like you think we are Betis or Osasuna when you praise how good Liverpool was at home and how it's normal to lose 4-0 on Anfield.

Oh, and I see how you are still doing your selective fact posting by only telling things that fit your narrative so listen, why did you forget to tell that in that Anfield debacle, we were full power with Messi, Suarez, etc and the likes, while they were missing their 2 best players in Salah and Firmino? And they still pulled that 4-0 off with goddamn Divock Origi and the likes of their other squad players who don't even play that much?

Not to mention this wasn't just EV's first time lol. Been here 2 seasons and somehow coincidentally gave the 2 biggest embarrassments to a top club. But Nah that's because "a team of old players and in general players who don't run as much as Liverpool's players (younger players like Arthur)" when Arthur didn't play in that match but your favorite workhorses did with 3 fucking DMs in Raki, Busi, and Vidal or that "our players are historically a team of choirboy pussies who are nice and who can play nice when things are going perfect. When things turn chaotic/dangerous/fighting, our players sulk and don't fight since they aren't able for it" yet the players did a comeback against PSG after losing 4-0 away, but under a different manager, but that's just coincidence, or that "team who is dead and not motivated due to winning everything in their career" yet we keep winning the league every year even though we have been winning it a lot in the past decade, and that is La Liga where there is a match every week against minnows where staying motivated is very tough compared to a goddamn CL semi-final against fucking Liverpool when the last time we even reached the semis or won the CL was in 2015.

 

[Rory]

Ok?

You said "Sometimes I feel that the Liverpool debacle wasn't all that bad after all," - I agreed but was explaining that the outrage was from the manner in which we lost not the fact that we lost. Not sure what's difficult to understand there.

 

[bismp]

We could have conceded 2-3 goals thus far by a mediocre Real side,we’re in for another EV masterclass on the second half

 

[CatalinR10]

Imagine one of the worst versions in the last 10 years of RM comes at our ground without Hazard and Marcelo and plays one of their best games in the last 10 years in first half.


First time in 3 years I hear game commentator praising Valverde but of course it was the RM player.


He is and will always be the WORST coach we've had in history.


Pathetic.

 

[utility73]

I am really impressed at how EV just keeps outdoing himself.

 

[kattanib]

Why don’t the stadium fans wave a White Flag? Cunts for not fighting this board.

 

[kattanib]

I am really impressed at how EV just keeps outdoing himself.

EV is a natural genius with a guardian angel called Messi

 

[mc_lovin]

I thought Roberto and Frenkie had our best scenes in midfield, but the whole midfield has zero chemistry. Hopefully he puts Busquets in.