Joan Laporta

[Barcaman]

Presidents are not football managers. They try to pick the right professionals for each position and oversee things from a general perspective, like a CEO. Laporta must be some kind of genius. Did he ever hire a manager that hasn't won at least a big title?

Picked the wrong guy in Xavi. That much is obvious. Almost kept him too. Only because Xavi couldn't control his whining we are now enjoying Flick.

And yes he is responsible if works are delayed/late and signing isn't registered.

 

[Maradona37]

Picked the wrong guy in Xavi. That much is obvious. Almost kept him too. Only because Xavi couldn't control his whining we are now enjoying Flick.

You'd think with Xavi's immense football brain, spatial awareness, and understanding of the game tactically as a player he would be an awesome coach.

But it hasn't worked out that way. Goes to show there's a lot more to being a great manager or coach than an extremely high and intuitive understanding as a player.

He is still young though and has a lot of time.

 

[mc_lovin]

Xavi did his part...

Also coincidentally you know what Lewy credits the most for this season? That's right, our youngsters being a year older. It's a process, even if most here think this shit happens in a vacuum.

 

[Maradona37]

Xavi did his part...

Also coincidentally you know what Lewy credits the most for this season? That's right, our youngsters being a year older. It's a process, even if most here think this shit happens in a vacuum.

I am not slagging Xavi, just saying thought he'd be an amazing coach and so far it didn't work out that way. Even if he did do his part.

 

[FCBarca]

You'd think with Xavi's immense football brain, spatial awareness, and understanding of the game tactically as a player he would be an awesome coach.

But it hasn't worked out that way. Goes to show there's a lot more to being a great manager or coach than an extremely high and intuitive understanding as a player.

He is still young though and has a lot of time.

I think it has also become clear that it takes certain personalities to thrive in this profession beyond the requisite coaching resume or being a WC player. Xavi ticked every conceivable box but emotionally/temperment wise? I think the big thing he lacks that both Lucho & Pep have over him is their love for blood as Bielsa noted

Or perhaps it's being too close to the club for a local boy and that emotional aspect that came out of recent interview. Not sure you develop that but he won't have that with say ManYoo or other club as I am sure his coaching career will be interesting

 

[Barcaman]

Xavi did his part...

Also coincidentally you know what Lewy credits the most for this season? That's right, our youngsters being a year older. It's a process, even if most here think this shit happens in a vacuum.

Don't pretend Flick stands on shoulders of Xavi. Basically, EVERY player improved. That is not coincidence.
It was not a process. Barca played shit football. Won that title in the backs of Ter Stephen heroics. It's like darkest version of Mourinho took over.

Xavi has his good sides. Trusted Cuba and Lamine obviously but noone can claim Flick wouldnt have either.

There will always be some of your kind, last Japanese soldiers in the jungle fighting lost wars. No use talking to you about the subject.

 

[Maradona37]

I think it has also become clear that it takes certain personalities to thrive in this profession beyond the requisite coaching resume or being a WC player. Xavi ticked every conceivable box but emotionally/temperment wise? I think the big thing he lacks that both Lucho & Pep have over him is their love for blood as Bielsa noted

Or perhaps it's being too close to the club for a local boy and that emotional aspect that came out of recent interview. Not sure you develop that but he won't have that with say ManYoo or other club as I am sure his coaching career will be interesting

That's a great point - it's not just about the knowledge of the game, it is about temperament and keeping emotions in check. It did seem during his tenure that he was buckling under the weight of the pressure. Agree that Pep and Enrique seem much more ruthless in general.

True, the emotional closeness to Barca made it a unique job for him. Still only 45 so hopefully he goes to a new club where he doesn't have any history and can repair his managerial career. He's far too young a manager and far too inexperienced to be written off this early.

I think he can be a success in future if he changes some things. I hope he will be too as I consider him either the best or second-best midfielder of all time (Matthaus the other).

 

[mc_lovin]

Another case in point: Spains evolution with the emergence of Yamal. A very mediocre coach suddenly has his national team playing the best football bar Argentina.

That said, I rate Flick - he's far from mediocre. Probably the best coach we had since Pep/Enrique. He's awesome. But Flick last year woudln't have had the tools to play the football we see now. That's also pretty obvious.

 

[FCBarca]

I was at the Inter CL match vs Barca at Camp Nou with Xavi and I remember the feeling that the team lacked the personality to play them even before the final whistle. Flick's Barça are quite similar in terms of squad from that side but very different personality wise - that it something that doesn't show up in the stats or resume

And also why while I recognize Inter & PSG are the two best other sides remaining, there's no one to fear with Flick's Barça

 

[FCBarca]

Another case in point: Spains evolution with the emergence of Yamal. A very mediocre coach suddenly has his national team playing the best football bar Argentina.

That said, I rate Flick - he's far from mediocre. Probably the best coach we had since Pep/Enrique. He's awesome. But Flick last year woudln't have had the tools to play the football we see now. That's also pretty obvious.

I wonder how good a coach he is but why it works there and why I also think it is relevant when it comes to recruiting Nico for similar reasons, grassroots football. It's what won them the Euro and reliance on that youth core that had a team identity mixed with a few veterans

Let's be honest, if RM had a player or two who were Spanish of relevance they wouldn't have fielded the squad they did much less win. Plus, the chemistry with Nico & Lamine was only developing in < 12 months prior to the Euros - yet it was electric from the off

It's a confluence of factors because even Lamine, let's face it at 15 he wasn't going to play at that age were it not for concerns about his contract and Xavi giving him the debut. Contract is signed and suddenly he increasingly figured greater and greater in football plans for club & NT. It all came together

 

[Maradona37]

I was at the Inter CL match vs Barca at Camp Nou with Xavi and I remember the feeling that the team lacked the personality to play them even before the final whistle. Flick's Barça are quite similar in terms of squad from that side but very different personality wise - that it something that doesn't show up in the stats or resume

And also why while I recognize Inter & PSG are the two best other sides remaining, there's no one to fear with Flick's Barça

Yeah personality, mentality etc. They all sound in some ways like pseudo-psychology or 'vibes'. but they really do make a big difference. The intangibles of football cannot be measured in stats.

Look at Messi. He's the most talented player ever (alongside Maradona). But his desire to be the best and his self-confidence (that doesn't step into arrogance, most of the time) has also contributed to making him the greatest of all time.

It sounds cliche, but you can have all the talent in the world (as a player or team), but if you don't have the right self-belief, commitment or determination, it will limit your ceiling. I am a talent man - I do believe it's the most important - but mentality and personality matters so much too (as does physicality and athleticism, but that is another thing).

I hate that cunt Cristiano, but I will give him credit for being obsessed with being the best (even though he's not). It has carried him far because relative to the all-time greats he lacks talent. But he is proof that a strong mentality and almost psychopathic single-mindedness can take you far.

 

[FCBarca]

I have posted this elsewhere but the lingering image of Raphinha at Olympic stadium after crashing out to the Qatari club, visibly angry - it stuck with me on top of his performance which was excellent. But it underscored that mentality/personality I didn't see in that last meeting with Inter

This team won't be like that nor will they be surprised by the intensity of Inter

 

[snowy]

It's a common joke that the genius mathematicians and physicists often make the worst teachers, nisi Suuskind, Penrose et Terry

The vision innate to Computadora, he couldn't transmit to mere mortals.
Also he fell for Lapopo's honeyed words. Should've accepted that BVB offer or assistant coach for a few years under Hervé the 🦊 or Cranium dude

 

[Maradona37]

It's a common joke that the genius mathematicians and physicists often make the worst teachers, nisi Suuskind, Penrose et Terry

Very true.

With the well-known phenomenon of most legendary coaches being average or simply good players and top players failing often as coaches (Cruyff one of the exceptions, I don't really consider Zidane a great coach), I wonder if there truly is something in these guys not 'getting' people who simply cannot do the things on the park that they could.

 

[jamrock]

Barcaman has been talking shit about laporta for years now, no need to engage, he'll just continue to be wrong and instead of admitting it, talking around it like a girl

This is a man that praised the rosell and Barto ticket after laporta left, saying finally we have people that know what they are doing in charge.

😂 😂.

Man has never hired a coach that didn't win something, but its all luck 😂.