Gerardo "Tata" Martino

[Chainsaw]

What's interesting, and what was noted when we found out that Rosell had picked Tata, is the fact that teams that he's managed almost inevitable start well but then run out of gas/hit a slump in the second half of the season. I wonder why that is. It certainly applies to us.

Tata comes from the Bielsa school and pressing is an essential part of their course. Bielsa teams have the same problem. Physical and mental fatigue strikes when the season comes to its end.

 

[Ursegor]

That's the theory. In reality we haven't even played high pressing under Tata except in his first few games. Rewatched Celta against Madrid yesterday. They pressed better from the front.

 

[SeloBarca]

Yea exactly, we havent played "well" or pressed the whole season. Actually we havent pressed well since first half of Peps last year..
Ferguson and Rooney was right in saying that our pressing game was almost more important then our posession.

Nowadays we rather fall back and watch what the opponents will do with the ball.

Watched the game where we won against BM with 4-0 compared to the game where we lost 4-0. As soon as we lost the ball, 2-3 players started chasing and closing the passing alternatives for the player.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x105owx_fc-barcelona-vs-fc-bayern-munchen-4-0-all-goals_sport

And damn i miss those run Eto'o made in the gaps...

 

[barca7788]

He tried his plan in the first half of the season and worked really well. But the second half of the season has been hell. Don't know if the board told him to change his style or himself....

only if valdez being on his GOAT form was in his plans.

 

[footyfan]

I will never blame him for anything that happened this season. It's entirely on the board.

No defensive reinforcements. Barca has to play against a CL finalist with Pinto, Bartra, Mascherano, Adriano in defense to decide La Liga. If I weren't already used to this for a couple of years now, I would cry.

No reinforcements in attack so once Messi stops averaging about 2 goals per game to mask everything, the other attackers get exposed for what they are. Robinho's 9 La Liga goals haven't helped much. Post leg break Villa scored more last season in less minutes.

Completely wrong signing in midfield.

No depth so Tello and Sergi Roberto are the plan B to change the outcome of a game.

But above all no vision at all from the board. After the Bayern games last season they decided to go for someone from outside to mix it up because they doubted the philosophy. But at the same time they didn't have the balls to fully back Martino because if he changes too much it will be on this board. No backing. Neither with signings, nor when senior players and press called the Barca style "non-negotiable". And when the results turned sour they even jumped on his back. "Tata has a rich squad full of variables" or whatever it was that the imbecile Zubi spouted.

Having said all that. Martino's tactics don't suit this squad. He tries to apply "normal team" tactics because he still doesn't realize that players like Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, Busquets can combine through the middle in the tightest of spaces and don't need to lump the ball out wide first or use crosses to create space and chances.

He's also trying too hard to please everyone. Last season we were laughing at Mourinho's BBQ to lift the team spirit. This season we already had like 3 BBQs.

It appears as if he's completely in awe to manage such a team full of stars and just tries to please them. "Xavi? I don't feel comfortable talking about such a great player" was one of his first words upon his arrival. He lifted the fine for players that come late to training. He seems to not bother about covering his training session lineups as RAC1 and MD keep giving the correct lineups out a day before the actual games most of the time. The open training session was a joke intensity-wise compared to the last one under Tito from what I could see. Everything is so lax. Fabregas looked completely gassed today and he hasn't even started the last 3 games. What kind of physical training are they doing?

Will never blame the guy though. He shouldn't be here to begin with. Unless the club publicly declares that Barca's style is in fact negotiable and they provide him with the necessary tools.

Blaming the board is the easy way out IMO, because one doesn't have a personal connection with any of those guys, like one would with a coach or players. You're going as far as to blame them for appointing Martino, realistically they didn't have many other choices last summer. I'm not suggesting they're not to blame, sure for Barca's defensive woes you could pin it mostly on them, but the listlessness attacking wise? Tata did not do great in the second half even when he had all his players available. Maybe, it's hard to come to grasps that these players are maybe all past their peak, or just need a change of scenery or just a break. I don't think Barca's general malaise can be cured with another centerback, even if it were Thiago Silva. I'm one of those who believes in cycles in football and I believe that is what we're witnessing with Barca these days, it's just one of those things that has to happen at some point.

Still, it wouldn't even be a bad season, could win the league in brilliant fashion on Saturday.

 

[Chainsaw]

That's the theory. In reality we haven't even played high pressing under Tata except in his first few games. Rewatched Celta against Madrid yesterday. They pressed better from the front.

Not just theory. The first half of the season pressing was evident. Even Messi was doing that I remember. The second half of the season...well it all went downhill week by week. I don't say it's the only problem, but it could be one of the main reasons their teams struggle in the second half of the season.

 

[Leo10]

 

[Pepe Silvia]

Tata can be a bit more collected for longer durations but considering all he has gone through with the board this season (attention on former/future coaches, not given support/signings/backing, being a puppet/told to say certain things, etc.) it is a miracle that he is still professional and caring enough to display emotion at all. Gotta tip my hat, even though it is clear that his post-holiday tactics (for whatever reason) have made us regress. I can never blame Tata for any of this. I direct all blame towards the board. They are real pieces of work, that board.

 

[FCBarca]

I do feel bad for the coach, no one in the profession should have to be under such duress to do their job...I just don't think he was ever the right man for the job in the first place but I do wonder if he wasn't a bit naive in accepting the offer to begin with since Barcelona's history is well documented concerning coaching pressures

At the end of the day though, you're judged not only on your results while at the club but the style & identity you show on the pitch...He failed miserably in that regard and worse still, confidence is finally eroding within the squad

 

[instinct]

http://www.totalbarca.com/2014/opinion-pieces/be-yourself/?utm_source=t.co&utm_medium=referral Good article, worth reading.

 

[Ryan_Cule]

Tata Martino has informed the Barca board that they can announce the hiring of a new coach next Monday. (AN)

 

[evilhita666]

I do wonder if he wasn't a bit naive in accepting the offer to begin with since Barcelona's history is well documented concerning coaching pressures

The thing is that you could read all there is about it, but in the end you don't really know the real deal until you have to face it in person... And coaching Barca was a huge opportunity almost any coach would take, so despite knowing the difficulties of such a job, it's understandable that he jumped the chance and tried to take a stab at it...

 

[FCBarca]

http://www.totalbarca.com/2014/opinion-pieces/be-yourself/?utm_source=t.co&utm_medium=referral Good article, worth reading.

In general, I like a lot of their opinion articles but this one is predicated on a fairly false claim, IMO...That Tata is not responsible

Tactics are one thing in theory and quite another in reality. In the heat of competition, when players start to get nervous, anxious and frustrated, all the pre-game tactical dossiers and instructions go out the window. Instinct kicks in, muscle memory. Understand that athletes are constantly making decisions, most of the unconsciously. They are processing vast quantities of stimuli and information within seconds to hundredths of seconds. Athletic actions are not taken by conscious, rational choice, it’s instinctual, the result of many thousands of hours of repetition.

Quite to the contrary, I would contend a coach has everything to do with having your players sharp & prepared, tactics are simply one key part of that formula...You could sense from the players, even from the first whistle, that they not only knew what they needed to do and were prepared for whatever they would face but that they were absolutely convinced of victory...There have been only a few occasions this season where I have felt that...Coaching matters

I like Graham Hunter's take

 

[footyfan]

Well said FCBarca. Why is there a coach if in the heat of the competition the players will revert to playing instinctually and forget instructions? That's one of the stupidest lines I've read.

 

[Antimadridista1]

Poor Tata… So much pressure on him. You can feel it by watching this video.
He's a great coach. He made mistakes like any other coach would've done but what happened this season really really didn't help him.
I would be happy if he stays, and if he doesn't, it would be understandable.