Ronald Koeman
- Thread starter barSELOna
- Start date
It will be even much worse with all senior players gone. No replacements soon (honestly, how can you even replace all of Messi, Pique, Busquest, Alba or maybe even Roberto at one).
Xaviniesta
Senior Member
jesus christ this is sad. made this psg team look brazil 1970
JohnN
Senior Member
We really can't. We missed the chance to replace 1 player per season for 4 seasons now.
Xaviniesta
Senior Member
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31Vp5_vaO94
First few minutes of this interview probably rings true today and the past few years as well
First few minutes of this interview probably rings true today and the past few years as well
The seniors will be gone and will be replace by other turning seniors and will be called club de amigos soon
Birdy
Senior Member
All of them are not what they used to be. We are talking about replacing players that are now below the top level and are rapidly declining.
The 'how can you replace them' line has been this team's downfall the last years.
Look at how people here go ecstatic when Suarez scores for Atleti. As if he would have scored as much for Barca, as if he would have stopped being a burden both in pressing and in link-up play.
You just do it. You just say goodbye to them, ship them out if you can (like Raki, Vidal, Suarez), if you can't permanently bench them.
Play whoever is the replacement and have faith. Dest has eclipsed Roberto even at 19, Araujo is doing things Pique can't, Pedri has proved miles ahead of Raki even at 18. If Fati hadn't been injured no one would be talking now about Suarez.
If we keep asking 'how can we replace them', we will never exist this impasse.
MTL_Barca
Well-known member
The team is way past the point of hoping for any form of smooth transition, now it's big cut and hope for the best. And it's not like there are any alternatives without much money to spend and the veterans being 32-34 years old already.
Biggest problem aren't even the seniors now, it's that pretty much every replacement failed. Lenglet, Umtiti, Dembele, Coutinho, Griezmann etc should be what the new team is built around but reality is we talk about selling each and everyone of them here all the time.
Biggest problem aren't even the seniors now, it's that pretty much every replacement failed. Lenglet, Umtiti, Dembele, Coutinho, Griezmann etc should be what the new team is built around but reality is we talk about selling each and everyone of them here all the time.
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Birdy
Senior Member
Agree for the rest, not for Dembouz
Respekt_III
Anti-everything
He really needs to step up his game for that to be true. Don't get me wrong I think he's needed in this team but that's because our other options are even worse.
Hes lost 3 years of development due to his injuries so there's always a chance that it can all click but to date it's onky happened on rare occasions. I've expected a lot more from him and he isn't delivering.
Least of our problems though
Mrgandalf
Curious member
If Dembele finishes this season without injury, it is a standard process. Hand him over to a top coach and see how he becomes a key player. We are not talking about finished players. He is one of the best football talents. And has risen from a three-year injury. Who in our team was at his best and most influential level that you expect to be Dembele as well?
behindbrowneyes
Well-known member
This. His end product needs to improve.
Dembele is now slowly reaching an age where he no longer counts as a talent. He has to win points and ensure victories, like Neymar, Suarez did before him. That is how he will be measured. In the end this is what he was signed for. This has nothing to do with his pricetag. A forward at Barcelona has to deliver, if Barcelona wants to win something. Can't always rely on Messi and put even more weight on his shoulders after losing firing power year after year, season after season. It's time for Dembele to step up and offer more than contributing to a goal every third game.
That being said, a #9 might improve his output a lot. He had a great partnership with Auba at Dortmund and was more of an assister than a scorer there (which suits his strenghts and weaknesses more). There were numerous situations this season when wingers (Dembele and Trincao mainly) suffered from a lack of presence in the box. Frenkie is helping sometimes, but neither Griezmann nor Messi offer that.
khaled_a_d
Senior Member
If we judge him based on this, then it is better to let him go because there is no way he will reach those levels.
It is either to forget about the initial hype of him, due to price tag and favoring him over Mpabbe, and act like he is a good squad player/border line starter or just move on from him.
Dembele's issues aren't tactical or team based, though. He gets plenty of time on the ball, plenty of opportunities for 1vs1s, gets opportunities for counter-attacks every game, and though he does face plenty of low blocks he still receives the ball in plenty of situations where he has time and space to think. When you're 1 on 1 with a defender and you slow down, take 5 touches, and give time for the defensive line to recuperate that's on you. When you're 1 on 1 with a defender and you fake shot (being one of your only two skills) and you hit the ball straight at the CB and lose possession, that's on you. When you're 1 on 1 with a GK and you pass the ball straight at the keeper, that's on you. When players like Fati are constantly finding themselves with opportunities for a shot on goal because they're moving inside the box, and you're not getting opportunities because you're busy sitting on the sideline, that's on you. When fullbacks now know how to neutralize you because your other preferred skill is just kicking it and running, then that's on you.
He fails to convert opportunities because of his decision making and lack of creativity, not because of the team. He knows how to sprint and cross, but he has no idea how to function as a forward. But yes, he's the least of our problems; though he is a big one.
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