Ronald Koeman

[serghei]

Depends on what's your plan?
For a team with many weaknesses that aims to win something, EV is perfect choice.
If we want rebuild, we need something different. At this point rebuild/retool is what we need

Sorry, but maybe when the weaknesses were in still early and medium stages, when the veterans were still 29-30, not 33. Like 1 year after humiliations started in Europe (which is 2017). Maybe then. Now, EV would not win anything.

What applied then, doesn't apply now.

 

[BusiTheKing]

Yea, let's see us how we cope defensively against teams that pose offensive threat. You're losing a midfielder in a team that already had defensive issues playing with 3 in midfield. Don't see how playing with 2 now is going to improve that, unless we're seeing some pretty incredible work-rate from the 4 above them.

Just don't see it at this point.

Just play 4-3-3 with Messi central, Dembele - Trincao wide, and use a 3 man midfield of Pjanic/Puig - De Jong/Pjanic - Puig/Coutinho.

It remains to be seen. I think getting Messi off the wing and Suarez out is going to be a major improvement defensively. Wingers on both sides that track back and shut down the spaces, preventing those breaches from trickling through the chains and requiring some constant type of tactical contortion.

 

[serghei]

It remains to be seen. I think getting Messi off the wing and Suarez out is going to be a major improvement defensively. Wingers on both sides that track back and shut down the spaces, preventing those breaches from trickling through the chains and requiring some constant type of tactical contortion.

Sure, if the 3 behind Messi (and it is essential to use Messi as the 1 up front) drop down quick, with the opponents, and we form a classic 4-5-1 shape defensively it can work. It depends how quick our attack -> defense transition is gonna be. Those 3 need to be very quick to transition on lost balls, or else De Jong and Pjanic will be toast. If the transition is slow, then we are very exposed.

For that you need fitness and intensity to the level of Bayern or Liverpool, or not much lower anyway. If you use both Suarez and Messi you're dead. The damage both of them will do when the ball is lost with their crap movement and work rate is impossible to recover from (as seen in CL in previous seasons).

 

[CatalinR10]

,, I was told Barcelona can get either Haaland or Mbappe this transfer period but luckily I got to phone these two in time and tell them that players their age need a lot of games , as many as possible , to develop nicelly and right now we have too many players on their position , not to mention Suarez impressed me in the trainings , the best thing for them was to look for another club" [sport]

 

[bismp]

Are we seriously going to play with Coutinho and Griezmann in the same time?

We need either Dembele or Trincao to become a regular starter,we need some pace.

 

[Messigician]

There are definitely improvements to be excited about. The biggest one is probably putting Messi in the free, exogenous role which lets us defend as a solid collective unit without him causing holes. Having an actual winger that tracks back and exploits the flank in attack is a huge step up towards looking like an actual balanced team.

Against Elche, we probably created more chances than in 9 out of 10 of Valverde's games against similar sides. Friendly, yes, but still a positive indication.

Rubbish, Valverde destroyed Juve in friendlies the same Juve that humiliated us the same year in ucl

 

[gasgas]

Rubbish, Valverde destroyed Juve in friendlies the same Juve that humiliated us the same year in ucl

Lol friendlies

 

[vegitot]

Lol friendlies

Destroy Juventus 3-0 in UCL 2017 as well.

 

[George_Costanza]

Are we seriously going to play with Coutinho and Griezmann in the same time?

We need either Dembele or Trincao to become a regular starter,we need some pace.

He is another clueless manager who will implement favoritism & nepotism over meritocracy. Seeeh

 

[BADGERBHOY]

We need Valverde back, to be honest

 

[Laplacian]

Are we seriously going to play with Coutinho and Griezmann in the same time?

We need either Dembele or Trincao to become a regular starter,we need some pace.

what did you expect from the guy that wanted 3 number 10s and played them all at the same time back in everton?

 

[FCMessi]

this kuntmannder likes old farts just like the other dumb coaches.

 

[JohnN]

Messi can bring one on one take ons, consistent goal scoring, FKs and godlike assists.

Coutinho has a great right long shot that he manages to pull of a couple of times per game, and some good close range passing and close space dribbling.

Dembele is so fast on acceleration he can create (and possibly destroy) a couple of chances per game on his own.

Fati brings good wing play with 1v1 tries, running towards goal, nice ability to combine and looks like a good goal scorer.

Trincao is a pure right winger with good combination play and nice runs. Also, not at all bad at 1v1.

What is Griezmann's contribution to all of this? Tracking back?

 

[FinBarcelonafan]

Messi can bring one on one take ons, consistent goal scoring, FKs and godlike assists.

Coutinho has a great right long shot that he manages to pull of a couple of times per game, and some good close range passing and close space dribbling.

Dembele is so fast on acceleration he can create (and possibly destroy) a couple of chances per game on his own.

Fati brings good wing play with 1v1 tries, running towards goal, nice ability to combine and looks like a good goal scorer.

Trincao is a pure right winger with good combination play and nice runs. Also, not at all bad at 1v1.

What is Griezmann's contribution to all of this? Tracking back?

He is a winner. World Cup. The master of defense.

Yeah, Griez looks very bad. I expected him to do better.

 

[BusiTheKing]

If Koeman brings in a replacement for Suarez and puts Messi back on the wing, then the project of a new and balanced offense is dead in the water.