Did not blame Valverde too much, won't blame him too much. On the tactical side, Messi is the number one obstacle in the team and has been for years. 3 coaches in a row trying to work around it somehow and it's impossible. EV came closest and did the most logical in his first season.
Lucho "wide midfielders Rakitic covering the wings", EV 4-4-2 lower block conventional defending, Setien experimenting with 3 man backline and FDJ covering the right.
Trying to play positional pressing possession football with a player who does not move without the ball, switches positions however he feels like it (winger on paper, right central attacking midfielder in reality) and does no pressing work is a joke.
Whenever Arthur or De Jong have the ball, what exactly is supposed to happen? Messi immediately drops and demands ball to feet, simple 10 yard pass to Messi, Messi looks to play the ball wide to the left wing where Alba is waiting to fuck up every attack. Rinse repeat.
On top of that there is no real quality in the team. No wingers, no pace, no proper fullbacks, no box presence and 3 midfielders that do the same thing, like playing with 3 Busquetses.
Biggest joke is the transfer policy which happens irrespective of the coach. Generational talent like Neymar I do understand, no need for coach greenlight. But Coutinho, Démbéle, even Arthur? If the coach wants Willian to play him as a RCM in 4-4-2 for his system buy him Willian, not a wannabe Xavi or Gervinho Mk2. If you don't agree with the system of the coach, don't appoint the coach in the first place.
Clowns thought this is a golden team that only needed another coach or "anyone but Suarez, with Messi everyone can score". 3 games in and reality hits home. Could have lost 0-4 to a Valencia side without their best player with 1 goal disallowed and 1 penalty saved. Waiting for CL away games against elite teams, now that EV is gone and CL bottler Suarez is injured, I expect fireworks from Barca like everyone else.