Gerardo "Tata" Martino

[Neymessi]

Seems like a completely subjective assesment... Even if he is, the players don't seem to be too impacted by it.



Tata has gotten positive results in every big game this season, has gotten Alexis, Pedro, Cesc, Valdes, Pique (others have improved too, but not to such levels) performing at levels either unheralded or not seen for a long time, he's tightened up our defense very well, he's helped Neymar have a great first season (even if he has been meh this calendar year), he's made sure we're still in contention for every trophy we were in (and already won one), and he has yet to make his personal impact on the team in terms of transfers. I think that there is hardly anything more anyone could have done in their first season and I certainly disagree with the elitist "former Barca players for managers" approach. What our club needs right now (IMO of course) is stability, a constant in a whirlwind of change, with Xavi and Alves fading out of the starting XI, with Puyol and Valdes leaving, with the whole deal with Rosell resigning, I think the last thing we need to add in a new manager on top of that.

+1000

 

[Egert]

There are some rumours that he will leave. I hope that he won´t leave but who would replace him?

 

[serghei]

Bottom line: Tata does not strike as a manager capable of building something. He's here by a stroke of misfortune that was Tito's illness and even looks as if he's clutching to live another day. Just look at him at the sideline.

He'd be better off coaching a club without football identity such as Barca because he is a decent coach. Barca is a special case though and needs a man who knows the club and has a vision. Not merely fighting for his own life and looking short-term.

Our style has pretty much remained the same with Tata. The only big problem in Martino's first year was that he couldn't make his players realise that the only way to win the league is to work your ass off every week. A couple of wins against Valladolid and Levante and we would've been 1st. Now, if he can provide consistency - not going from hero (City game in England) to zero (1-3 against Sociedad) in a couple of days - and stability next season, I'm with Tata Martino.

He hasn't changed our style and he has made us better in some areas. Too bad for that awful fuck-ups, because if not for them, Tata's season would've been magic.

 

[evilhita666]

Our style has pretty much remained the same with Tata. The only big problem in Martino's first year was that he couldn't make his players realise that the only way to win the league is to work your ass off every week. A couple of wins against Valladolid and Levante and we would've been 1st. Now, if he can provide consistency - not going from hero (City game in England) to zero (1-3 against Sociedad) in a couple of days - and stability next season, I'm with Tata Martino.

He hasn't changed our style and he has made us better in some areas. Too bad for that awful fuck-ups, because if not for them, Tata's season would've been magic.

I absolutely agree with you... Good post!

 

[evilhita666]

And what about these pointless long high passes from the back up to messi? He cant win a duel against a centre back at 1.95.

If you haven't been able to know why such passes happen you are not paying attention...

From a few seasons ago, teams started to press high up the pitch making it difficult to build from the back, so Tata is deliberately asking Valdés (and defenders) to kick the ball all the way up (most of the times to one of our wingers) so we can win a throw-in in the opposition's half and build our play from there... So those passes are not pointless and are not meant to be duels won by our players, they are meant as a way of bypassing pressure allowing us to play possession football in their half and not in ours, taking less risks with the ball... And so far it has worked wonderfully throughout the season...

 

[DB10]

Wenger hasn't signed a new deal.........perfect storm situation. Would be the last opportunity to manage one of the traditional European heavyweights having turned them down in the past. I would be curious what Wenger would do with Barca but doesn't bear thinking about Arsenal without him given the Moyes situation.

Are these rumours with some weight or tabloid speculation?

 

[beautifulgame]

Noooo thank you.

 

[Maria]

Wenger hasn't signed a new deal.........perfect storm situation. Would be the last opportunity to manage one of the traditional European heavyweights having turned them down in the past. I would be curious what Wenger would do with Barca but doesn't bear thinking about Arsenal without him given the Moyes situation.

Are these rumours with some weight or tabloid speculation?

If only Wenger and Mourinho were available for Barca then I would take Mou, that's how much I dislike Wenger.

 

[beautifulgame]

Also relevant here so I'll repost.

People learn little from their victories, but a lot from their defeats. How do you deal with setbacks?
GUARDIOLA: Those are moments of great sadness for me. As if the floodlights suddenly go out. Seeing Barcelona go out against Chelsea in the Champions League semi-final in 2012 was such a moment. We were much better than our opponents, but then conceded an unnecessary goal in the return leg, and before we knew it we were out of the competition. That was a really tough defeat for me. I felt like I could no longer reach my team.


And was that what prompted you to leave Barcelona?
GUARDIOLA: Yes. If you can no longer reach your players, as a coach, the time has come to move on.

 

[Maria]

GUARDIOLA: Yes. If you can no longer reach your players, as a coach, the time has come to move on.

That's why I was so surprised when Tata said that he doesn't have to motivate the players before La Liga games because they played those kind of games numerous times before..when in fact precisely because they played and won them so many times, it's probably more difficult for them to be motivated. Especially when last season they managed to make 100 pts in the league.

 

[linetty]

Despite rumours about Martino becoming the next ARG coach, there have not yet been official contacts between coach and federation. [ser]

Media bullshite. He's staying here IMO

 

[Irish_Cules]

That's why I was so surprised when Tata said that he doesn't have to motivate the players before La Liga games because they played those kind of games numerous times before..when in fact precisely because they played and won them so many times, it's probably more difficult for them to be motivated. Especially when last season they managed to make 100 pts in the league.

It's usual managerial jargen that is spouted for the media. He's not going to come out and say... "These players have won everything, it's difficult for me to motivate them."

 

[instinct]

People should not praise the Osasuna match too much. Their side was pretty weak and made it very easy for us to play well. Of course it was a great win but it should not be taken as argument for everything. There are still the matches vs Valencia, Valladoid and Sociedad. We can't forget them just because we won 7-0 against a weak side.

 

[beautifulgame]

That's why I was so surprised when Tata said that he doesn't have to motivate the players before La Liga games because they played those kind of games numerous times before..when in fact precisely because they played and won them so many times, it's probably more difficult for them to be motivated. Especially when last season they managed to make 100 pts in the league.

I see what you are saying however we should just keep in mind of course that he wouldn't ring the players out for not working hard enough in the press.

 

[linetty]

We've also won twice against Manchester City (2-0, 2-1) and those results could've been much bigger & impressive if not for the incompetent referee