Ronald Koeman

[Bobo32]

I think he fucked up in many more areas, but it's hard to judge too much from the outside, when you aren't involved with the trainings etc.

Pique was great in some parts of the games, looking like the best defender of the team, but he was very lazy or unconcentrated in most games at the end of the season. Can still be good with the right surrounding.
Roberto was not inferior to Dest, but was hurried back and struggled both with injuries and personal stuff it seems. He is a decent player.
Umtiti played very little overall, but it was a bit strange some of the times. The team won most games in which he participated though...

Messi, Busquets and Alba were the three best players of the team, only De Jong can sort of make a case for himself.

That even Koeman, who so clearly want a different kind of style, still realize that these players are the best alternatives, show that they are indeed still very good.

 

[serghei]

Nah, the level of entertainment in our football this season deserves a passing grade imo, which is why him staying for 1 more season and having the chance to fix his poor decisions from this past season is not really a bad idea.

Tbh, if he didn't fuck up in the last stretch of 6-7 games, he'd be unsackable with a domestic double in the bag. Koeman is not all bad, it's just that he has visible flaws and he needs to show that he can improve in these areas, especially if he wants to stay for more than his 2 year contract.

Personally, I was always split with him 50-50, it's just a shame that he's not tactically better, because personality-wise, he is indeed a leader in a way not many other managers are.

Even him speaking out against the squad, while it may not have been the most intelligent calculated move, it was a ballsy direct one, and I think we need a manager who doesn't take shit anymore. It's just that the manager needs to also have other dimensions besides this rebellious nature. This can only take you so far. Besides that, you need to come up with the goods when up against other serious managers. And this is where Koeman has fallen short.

There are top managers who are poor rebuilders, and there are good rebuilders who are not top managers. Koeman is the latter type. He is a good option for a team struggling, but not the man to reach the top with the foundation he sets. But right now, we're still not in a position to challenge for the top, so he may as well be a good option still. the window is closing though, and he needs to show more.

 

[Bobo32]

I don't think it was ever very entertaining, but that's subjective of course. The first few games with Coutinho and a 4-2-4 was a bit entertaining although not really what I want personally, very chaotic.

I wish this result talk would end - if they didn't quite luckily win every game for two months they'd be nowhere near the league title either - in the end they reached less points than in ten years and were 7 points behind with a losing h2h against both teams. With the teams they faced in the cup it would be a disappointment not to win and you know how close they were to go out multiple times and against which teams.

But I am one who could see further than results, if things are looking promising - I don't think they do, I think the team is in almost free fall under Koeman currently, he has tried a lot and disregarded a lot of solutions, I don't think he has many potential answers left. Maybe it will look a bit better for a while with the right transfers for his style - but that style isn't the right one for Barcelona going forward I am certain.

I agree that what has been needed is a bit of authority, which is why I was Koeman-positive from the start. I think he has shown to be a very weak leader a lot of times though, concerned about having a picture of being 'tough' more than being able to take the tough and correct decisions and get the players along with it, it seems to me.

 

[serghei]

Another argument for keeping Koeman is that he already had his warm-up season, so the pressure he feels for winning La Liga next season is gonna be great for us. It really is make or break time for Koeman and this is good for the club. To have a manager knowing that this year he absolutely needs to flat out deliver after failing in his first year in La Liga from a winable position.

If he doesn't win La Liga at least next season it's gonna be a massive failure on his part.

Whereas with a new manager you have to give him the first season of accommodation, especially considering that we don't have a team that could challenge for big titles from the first day with a new manager.

 

[Bobo32]

Another argument for keeping Koeman is that he already had his warm-up season, so the pressure he feels for winning La Liga next season is gonna be great for us. It really is make or break time for Koeman and this is good for the club. To have a manager knowing that this year he absolutely needs to flat out deliver after failing in his first year in La Liga from a winable position.

If he doesn't win La Liga at least next season it's gonna be a massive failure on his part.

Whereas with a new manager you have to give him the first season of accommodation, especially considering that we don't have a team that could challenge for big titles from the first day with a new manager.

Yeah as long as the players doesn't desperately want him out, or there is a clearly great opportunity to replace him, keeping a manager is often the best option - I don't think I ever said otherwise with regards to Koeman either, his final month didn't matter much to me. I wanted Xavi in ASAP but if that wasn't possible, then better continue with Koeman than change for the sake of it, despite Koeman showing clearly to me that he isn't fit.

He is surely half way out the door already though, a bad start and he is probably done. A bit smart from Laporta it seems to me, I wonder if he thinks Pimienta will step in in that case, or if he has some other option in mind.

 

[iniestaGOAT]

Ter stegen isnt going to be kicked out anytime soon so he stays
If laporta could manage depay and gini for free
Gaya cheap through swaps and valencia being in shambles
and de ligt some how as the only singing of the summer where money is invested

we should at least be fighting for ucl

 

[Bobo32]

Ter stegen isnt going to be kicked out anytime soon so he stays
If laporta could manage depay and gini for free
Gaya cheap through swaps and valencia being in shambles
and de ligt some how as the only singing of the summer where money is invested

we should at least be fighting for ucl

Gaya 43p La Liga (13th) didn't play in Europe
Wijnaldum 69p PL (3rd) out vs Real Madrid
Depay 76p Ligue 1 (4th) didn't play in Europe
de Ligt 78p Serie A (4th) out vs FC Porto

This season, so all players are taken from teams performing even worse than Barcelona last year...
Gaya is in a spot to take the next step but plays the same position as Alba, who would probably still start the games.
Wijnaldum and Depay are poor fits and on their way down.
de Ligt was very hyped before and I don't think he's the perfect fit but I don't rule it out. Maybe he'd be a good buy but at what price?

 

[Devils]

Koeman enjoying his vacation.

 

[FinBarcelonafan]

Gaya 43p La Liga (13th) didn't play in Europe
Wijnaldum 69p PL (3rd) out vs Real Madrid
Depay 76p Ligue 1 (4th) didn't play in Europe
de Ligt 78p Serie A (4th) out vs FC Porto

This season, so all players are taken from teams performing even worse than Barcelona last year...
Gaya is in a spot to take the next step but plays the same position as Alba, who would probably still start the games.
Wijnaldum and Depay are poor fits and on their way down.
de Ligt was very hyped before and I don't think he's the perfect fit but I don't rule it out. Maybe he'd be a good buy but at what price?

Yet they are one of the best players from those teams. Pretty irrelevant comparing position and player quality.

 

[Bobo32]

Yet they are one of the best players from those teams. Pretty irrelevant comparing position and player quality.

Yeah one of the best players, which they wouldn't be in Barcelona probably.
Anyhow, it doesn't tell the whole story obviously, they can all be successes if they fit perfectly into their roles - but they probably need to do that if they are to even improve the team.

Still think there is a point to be made there somewhere in my list.

 

[Joan]

Steve Walsh claims Koeman said Haaland wasn't good enough and stopped his transfer to Everton.

 

[fergus90]

Steve Walsh claims Koeman said Haaland wasn't good enough and stopped his transfer to Everton.

Steve Walsh I think is held to the same level of contempt as Koeman at Everton, the man made plenty of dodgy signings regardless.

He scouted Vardy, Mahrez and Kante for Leicester so had quite the reputation, but when he joined Everton, him and Koeman were a disaster.

 

[DonAK]

Steve Walsh claims Koeman said Haaland wasn't good enough and stopped his transfer to Everton.

I have a hard time to believe Haaland would have moved from Molde directly to Everton anyway.

Every move he's made is calculated which is not a surprise given his father played football.

 

[JamDav1982]

Steve Walsh I think is held to the same level of contempt as Koeman at Everton, the man made plenty of dodgy signings regardless.

He scouted Vardy, Mahrez and Kante for Leicester so had quite the reputation, but when he joined Everton, him and Koeman were a disaster.

At best Haaland had just turned 17 and doubt Everton were looking at him as a first team player at that point when barely scored all that much for Molde.

 

[fergus90]

At best Haaland had just turned 17 and doubt Everton were looking at him as a first team player at that point when barely scored all that much for Molde.

Yeah , can't see it being true whatsoever. Walsh just trying to throw shade at Koeman, but he didn't cover himself in glory there either.