Ronald Koeman

[Klysmakabouter]

Neither his time at Valencia nor Everton has shown that so far. With the dutch team, I didn't particularly see any tactical masterclass either - it was the dutch youngsters doing what do well, run, press, crisp passing, etc. That doesn't mean he cannot be successful at Barcelona, but that statement is from out of the blue given his track record so far.

Not out of the blue per se. He did wonders for the Dutch NT, just notice how things have already declined under the short leadership of Frank de Boer. Also keep note of the dire state the NT was in when Koeman started managing the NT. Koeman then proceeded to win against France, Germany, England etc etc in a period Dutch football was deemed death. Also he had good stints at PSV (reaching quarter-finals in CL), Feyenoord (reaching qualification for CL, for the first time in 11 years) and Southampton (nominated for manager of the year). Everton was a mess at all levels when he coached there, not just from a managerial point of view. Valencia was deemed a managers graveyard in those years.

Sure, enough fair points of criticism are to be made. But there seems to be a selective bias against Koeman when people are talking about his past achievements.

 

[fergus90]

Not out of the blue per se. He did wonders for the Dutch NT, just notice how things have already declined under the short leadership of Frank de Boer. Also keep note of the dire state the NT was in when Koemansstarted. Koeman won against France, Germany, England etc etc in a period Dutch football was deemed death. Also he had good stints at PSV, Feyenoord, AZ and Southampton. Everton was a mess at all levels when he coached there, not just from a managerial point of view.

Sure, enough fair points of criticism are to be made. But there seems to be a selective bias against Koeman when people are talking about his past achievements.

Yeah he’s definitely been a mixed bag wherever he’s been but in football who hasn’t bar the real top level managers. Even proven guys like Ancelotti had iffy spells. Is Koeman a top level manager capable of doing something revolutionary, probably not but Barca could definitely do a lot worse.

 

[Messi983]

Two things that are often overlooked when trying to project coach's success based on his past work (because 3 games are way too soon to fairly judge Koeman's work here so far) are his adaptability and knowledge of the club/league. Not every coach will work at every club/in every league.

There are not many coaches who can move from one club to another or even tougher between top 5 leagues and keep at least some kind of success. Ancelotti is the most "adaptable" coach out there right now. IIRC he's the only current coach who has managed in all top 5 leagues (someone please correct me if I'm wrong) and tbh I don't even remember someone who has done it in 4 of the top 5 league in last decade or so. And as mentioned above even he wasn't perfect everywhere.

So far Koeman did better with teams he knows from his playing career (Ajax, PSV, Netherlands NT) and not so well in other teams/leagues he didn't have previous experience with (Valencia, Benfica, Everton). He surely knows Barca even though he has played here 25 years ago and things have changed but he has also followed the club as a fan in the meantime and he knows exactly what's expected of him.

As much as people complain about us usually only hiring former players our two worst coaches in the last decade were the two who had no previous connections with the club. Tata and Setien. Yes, circumstances were not easy for either of them when they arrived but things are never easy at this club. And someone who knows how the club works from within has better chances to succeed.

 

[Respekt_III]

Or more like lower level leagues (Ajax, PSV) and international football lol a joke (Netherlands NT) vs 2 better leagues an another league just as bad as the previous two.

Like I said I'm skeptical because of the ways he's uilt teams in the past and how he seems toike to play a bunch of hybrid 10s that just don't really work at the absolute elite level.

 

[Vilarrubi]

Ronald Koeman will introduce rotations against Getafe. Pjanić, Dest and Trincao all have options to start on Saturday. [sport]


In b4 Busi, Roberto and Griezmann start.....

 

[Andresito]

Ronald Koeman will introduce rotations against Getafe. Pjanić, Dest and Trincao all have options to start on Saturday. [sport]


In b4 Busi, Roberto and Griezmann start.....

Alba and Firpo are injured, right? So Dest starting no matter what.

 

[Messi983]

Ronald Koeman will introduce rotations against Getafe. Pjanić, Dest and Trincao all have options to start on Saturday. [sport]


In b4 Busi, Roberto and Griezmann start.....

Hoping for something like this in coming two weeks. Ideally no player will start all 4 games.


Getafe: Neto, Roberto, Pique, Lenglet, Dest; FDJ, Pjanić; Trincao, Griezmann, Fati; Messi

Ferencvaros: Neto; Dest, Araujo, Lenglet, Firpo; Puig, Busi; Dembele, Coutinho, Pedri; Griezmann

Yeah, way too many changes I know so surely won't happen. Not that this team shouldn't win at home against the worst team in the group but don't see Koeman going into full Lucho mode with heavy rotations so early in the season. I really hope Messi will stay on the bench this game if he won't do that against Getafe (they're still a stronger opponent though so I expect him to start there) and that at least two of Araujo, Puig and Pedri/Trincao will start.

Madrid: Neto; Roberto/Dest, Pique, Lenglet; Alba/Dest; FDJ, Pjanić; Messi, Coutinho, Dembele; Fati

This will probably never happen with how RK is treating Dembele so far and him playing on the left is also not ideal but we could really use his speed in this game and with Carvajal probably out I'd really like to expose Madrid's right side as much as possible.

Juve: Neto; Dest, Pique, Araujo, Alba; FDJ, Pjanić; Messi, Coutinho, Fati; Griezmann

 

[Andresito]

Let's rank the players fitness wise:

Well rested
Neto, Dest, Pique, Alena, Dembele

Fairly fit (with NT but not undisputable)
Roberto, Lenglet, Busi, Pedri, Riqui, Trincao, Ansu

Rest? (Played many minutes with NT, the Europeans have 1 game left tonight)
Pjanic, Frenkie, Coutinho, Griezmann, Messi, Braithwaite

We should IMO have two half strong lineups (6-7 regular starters) against Getafe and Ferencvaros.
Idk about the fitness of our left footed defenders, but I assume they're out.

 

[Vilarrubi]

Alba and Firpo are injured, right? So Dest starting no matter what.

Didn’t know that. Excited to see him given full 90.

 

[Vilarrubi]

Hoping for something like this in coming two weeks. Ideally no player will start all 4 games.


Getafe: Neto, Roberto, Pique, Lenglet, Dest; FDJ, Pjanić; Trincao, Griezmann, Fati; Messi

Ferencvaros: Neto; Dest, Araujo, Lenglet, Firpo; Puig, Busi; Dembele, Coutinho, Pedri; Griezmann

Yeah, way too many changes I know so surely won't happen. Not that this team shouldn't win at home against the worst team in the group but don't see Koeman going into full Lucho mode with heavy rotations so early in the season. I really hope Messi will stay on the bench this game if he won't do that against Getafe (they're still a stronger opponent though so I expect him to start there) and that at least two of Araujo, Puig and Pedri/Trincao will start.

Madrid: Neto; Roberto/Dest, Pique, Lenglet; Alba/Dest; FDJ, Pjanić; Messi, Coutinho, Dembele; Fati

This will probably never happen with how RK is treating Dembele so far and him playing on the left is also not ideal but we could really use his speed in this game and with Carvajal probably out I'd really like to expose Madrid's right side as much as possible.

Juve: Neto; Dest, Pique, Araujo, Alba; FDJ, Pjanić; Messi, Coutinho, Fati; Griezmann

Just can’t see Messi missing any games. Imo he should start then get subbed if we’re ahead in any.

 

[Laplacian]

Interview basically confirmed it. He wants this to be a second Dutch NT. Literally ignore far better options in the market to get his little Dutch buddies in the club. Thank god we're fucking broke.

 

[Illuminator]

Just can?t see Messi missing any games. Imo he should start then get subbed if we?re ahead in any.

Messi once said he really doesn't like to start and then to be subbed off. He explained that the opponents tend to make more mistakes past minute 60, get more tired and the game overall peeks then when the score is not 3:0 or so. He thinks he can do most in the last 30 min of a game i guess. He also said if he is to be rested by the trainer or because he feels discomfort, he prefers to start on the bench and be subbed in because of explained reasons. Would be nice for a change to don't start Messi against Getafe and sub him in minute 60.

 

[Rory]

I wouldn't even include him in the squad. Two south american wcq's one of which being high altitude bolivia is a lot for any player, he'd be practically begging for an injury starting him.

 

[Illuminator]

That would be even better by Koeman. This is Messis third english week, and he played 3 matches for barca and 2 for argentina for 90 minutes in 17 Days.

 

[Vilarrubi]

Messi once said he really doesn't like to start and then to be subbed off. He explained that the opponents tend to make more mistakes past minute 60, get more tired and the game overall peeks then when the score is not 3:0 or so. He thinks he can do most in the last 30 min of a game i guess. He also said if he is to be rested by the trainer or because he feels discomfort, he prefers to start on the bench and be subbed in because of explained reasons. Would be nice for a change to don't start Messi against Getafe and sub him in minute 60.

Makes sense. But often when that happened under Valverde we’d struggle without him on the pitch then he’d have to come on to try rescue the score. Too risky imo. Better him start, get 2/3 goals ahead then him come off but fair enough.