Luis Suárez

[JamDav1982]

Well, actually it IS about him making a difference right now.
Simeone isn't stupid. He knew he needed a proven goalscorer and not the Morata and Costa donkeys he had last year.

They've finally recovered after Godin and Juanfran left, defense is now solid. Also added some interesting options in midfield. Felix is beginning to mature and needed a true striker to work the defenders in front of him. Only constant goals against the shittiest opposition were lacking.

Suarez is the first proven goalscorer they brought in after Falcao left. Griezmann, Morata and Costa didn't have that killer instinct.



Exactly. But looking back at what happened, we might just as well never have bought Braithwaite and kept Suarez for another season.

Suarez has worked well for them as carrying one player that cant run/move as expected is not the same as having two..particularly when one of them is Messi.

Who has said Simeone is stupid? Good on him if they win league.

Barca last season were winning less when had Suarez on park despite the goals and needed to change direction even if painful at first.

It would be Suarez for another two seaons and style of play and approach at club geared towards protecting legs of multiple old players and winning nothing most likely.

 

[Vilarrubi]

The mistake wasn’t getting rid of him, the mistake was getting rid of him without having a proper replaced lined up. Griezmann has never been prolific and Martin Braithwaite is Martin Braithwaite.

Spot on. Needed Halaand or similar, not Braithwaite or Griezmann.

 

[Fati_Future_BallonDor]

Suarez should win the la liga title, play Copa america and then go to MLS. He cant run anymore, the injuries has fucked him.

 

[malvolio]

Suarez has worked well for them as carrying one player that cant run/move as expected is not the same as having two..particularly when one of them is Messi.

Who has said Simeone is stupid? Good on him if they win league.

Barca last season were winning less when had Suarez on park despite the goals and needed to change direction even if painful at first.

It would be Suarez for another two seaons and style of play and approach at club geared towards protecting legs of multiple old players and winning nothing most likely.

You still bang on about covering for tired legs. Atletico just needed a goalscorer. Morata or Costa weren't some pressing/running monsters either.

Coming back to us - we still let opposition have countless chances, every game. So it's not about just pressing, defense is still shit and attack is worse.

Fati and Pedri would still have gotten games with Cowman. We playing the same players. Just swap Braithwaite and Griezmann with Suarez and Dembele. Braithwaite or Griezmann pressing/running doesn't mean shit to our game right now.

Only gripe with keeping Suarez would have been that automatic extension.

We just sold him and Rakitic because of the financial situation. Braithwaite/Griezmann + Pjanic, are worse players.

 

[JamDav1982]

Spot on. Needed Halaand or similar, not Braithwaite or Griezmann.

Braithwaite is shite and never a CF but even with him and his 3 goals Barca are top scorers in the league and more or less identical to last season for goals from open play. About only difference is Mess FKs being poor this season and a couple missed pens.

If Braithwaite is only getting 3 and the team are keeping pace that surely shows that rest of team have improved as a unit going forward in terms of goals compared to last season.

Barca winning more last season when Suarez did not start and the team keeping still scoring goals so far points to it not quite being mistake as made out even if should have a lot better than Braithwaite.

The prospect was a Suarez that can barely run being at Barca for another two seasons and that couldnt happen.

 

[JamDav1982]

You still bang on about covering for tired legs. Atletico just needed a goalscorer. Morata or Costa weren't some pressing/running monsters either.

Coming back to us - we still let opposition have countless chances, every game. So it's not about just pressing, defense is still shit and attack is worse.

Fati and Pedri would still have gotten games with Cowman. We playing the same players. Just swap Braithwaite and Griezmann with Suarez and Dembele. Braithwaite or Griezmann pressing/running doesn't mean shit to our game right now.

Only gripe with keeping Suarez would have been that automatic extension.

We just sold him and Rakitic because of the financial situation. Braithwaite/Griezmann + Pjanic, are worse players.

Yes I 'bang on' about Barca whole system being off by trying to cover for x2 old legs in front line and not the same if have to do it for one as Atletico are. Particularly when one of them is Messi who runs far less than any attacker going at top clubs.

The attack is not worse really and that is with three goal Braithwaite. Barca are top scorers in league and have similar goals from open play average. Biggest difference has been missing pens and drop in Messi FK goals. Neither on Suarez.

Lets not make out Suarez banged in a heap of goals last season. He scored 14 from open play in La Liga and 8 assists.

Dont agree Fati and Pedri get same game time or freedom on park. Last season of all the Fati goals/assists he managed one with Messi and Suarez on park in last game of season. Likes of him and Dembele need ball earlier and more freedom than in front line with Messi/Suarez and both would not play either.

Suarez was sold because of financial situation and it was too much to carry with so many old legs while also had teams who would take him and not same loss on books. But was still a football decision and the correct one.

 

[Daisymorr]

He was kicked out because of his high wages. I know he has his fitness problems and a bad knee but he was still our best CF. If we were going to invest in a new Top Class CF then fine, sell Suarez. The fact is we have not signed a better CF so the only reason he was sold was because the Club wanted him off the wage bill.

 

[JamDav1982]

He was kicked out because of his high wages. I know he has his fitness problems and a bad knee but he was still our best CF. If we were going to invest in a new Top Class CF then fine, sell Suarez. The fact is we have not signed a better CF so the only reason he was sold was because the Club wanted him off the wage bill.

He was kicked out due to wages and how was impacting team trying two carry players that cant run and prospect of that lasting for another two seasons.

 

[khaled_a_d]

If we make it to top 4 then it is ok he left.
We weren't winning Liga with him anyway it would have been difference between 4th and 2nd place? Nah, that is ok.


But if we lose top 4 place, then it is regrettable move, because it is will be huge loss that set us back.

 

[JamDav1982]

If we make it to top 4 then it is ok he left.
We weren't winning Liga with him anyway it would have been difference between 4th and 2nd place? Nah, that is ok.


But if we lose top 4 place, then it is regrettable move, because it is will be huge loss that set us back.

Would agree with that... if Barca finish outside top four is an error as could have kept the exact same squad and still got CL place.

More than just about Suarez that though as it would have meant happier Messi, less turmoil and off field distractions etc.

Could even say same about Rakitic and Vidal in that case as well.

Can expect some steps back to rebuild but out of top four is not acceptable clearly.

 

[FinBarcelonafan]

I agree with that. If we miss top4 it can be counted as a mistake.

 

[malvolio]

Yes I 'bang on' about Barca whole system being off by trying to cover for x2 old legs in front line and not the same if have to do it for one as Atletico are. Particularly when one of them is Messi who runs far less than any attacker going at top clubs.

The attack is not worse really and that is with three goal Braithwaite. Barca are top scorers in league and have similar goals from open play average. Biggest difference has been missing pens and drop in Messi FK goals. Neither on Suarez.

Lets not make out Suarez banged in a heap of goals last season. He scored 14 from open play in La Liga and 8 assists.

Dont agree Fati and Pedri get same game time or freedom on park. Last season of all the Fati goals/assists he managed one with Messi and Suarez on park in last game of season. Likes of him and Dembele need ball earlier and more freedom than in front line with Messi/Suarez and both would not play either.

Suarez was sold because of financial situation and it was too much to carry with so many old legs while also had teams who would take him and not same loss on books. But was still a football decision and the correct one.

Suarez is a guaranteed 15 goals a season striker. He scored 14 last season, while also being injured.

Best attack in La Liga with Madrid being most sterile in years and Atletico being Atletico(not scoring much anyway).

Fati was barely breaking into the first team last season, Dembele was dead and Pedri not here. But go ahead, tell me how Suarez was not letting those guys play their best game.

Thank God we got rid of a guaranteed 15 goals a season. We have goals from all over the pitch now

 

[JamDav1982]

Suarez is a guaranteed 15 goals a season striker. He scored 14 last season, while also being injured.

Best attack in La Liga with Madrid being most sterile in years and Atletico being Atletico(not scoring much anyway).

Fati was barely breaking into the first team last season, Dembele was dead and Pedri not here. But go ahead, tell me how Suarez was not letting those guys play their best game.

Thank God we got rid of a guaranteed 15 goals a season. We have goals from all over the pitch now

I agree he probably would get 15 goals but it is what impact he has on team due to limitations.

Injuries at his age are part of the considerations as well.... during that injury Barca won 8 of 10 games when he did not start. Won 2 of 5 previous and 3 of 5 after he came back...

Best attack in La Liga so far and without a CF really while also same pace as last season for goals from open play.

Fati played a fair bit but less when Messi/Suarez around and did not perform as well when played with them either.... I never said Suarez was impacting Pedri or Dembele last season so can forget that strawman argument.

Yeah you are right goals enough to cover for Suarez so far in comparison to last season and that is with Messi missing more chances than ever, players and Messi missing pens and Messi not same from FKs. None of that is one Suarez not being there. Will wait for response as if 'blaming' Messi though and not getting it.

Suarez the 15 goal striker who when started last season the team picked up less points. Same one.

 

[Birdy]

Would agree with that... if Barca finish outside top four is an error as could have kept the exact same squad and still got CL place.

More than just about Suarez that though as it would have meant happier Messi, less turmoil and off field distractions etc.

Could even say same about Rakitic and Vidal in that case as well.

Can expect some steps back to rebuild but out of top four is not acceptable clearly.

We don't know whether we would have missed top-4 with Suarez, Raki, Vidal still here as well. When decline kicks in every passing year makes the player worse than the previous one.
The fact we finish 2nd last year with that core does not mean we would finish 2nd this year as well with all of them 1 year older.

IMO, I would sacrifice even CL spot to make the transition happen. Transition is always painful and there is no magic path that takes you to the next great team without sporting losses (in trophies, and prestige).
But I think we will make at least 4th spot this season

 

[Blackened]

Hat trick in coming.