Re: Athletic Bilbao - Barcelona

by Myesyats Mon Aug 24, 2015 2:47 am

windkick wrote:Yea man, we were SUPER stale the first half. Weren't really doing anything to gain a proper attack, or working passes to even move forward. Of than just just preferring to look around, not see anything they fancy, and would pass the all back to Bravo who would then launch the ball forward and then repeat. Only real chance came with Suarez diving for a PK that Messi missed.
Second half we sorta improved but we still do not look ready to take on any big teams. We are lucky Bibao have had allot of games recently and are heavily injured or they could of caused us trouble, instead they looked like they were just trying to contain us as oppose to trouble us. This team needs to get back in form soon, but I'm sure things will change with Neymar back next game. That will make Rafinha a power sub which is not so bad considering he can play in allot of positions. Not sure I like him on the wing though, would rather Sandro or Munir out there and Rafinha helping out to back up Iniesta/Rakitic.

I'm also all for letting Sergi be the RB back up option, and having Samper being a midfield back up option. Sergi has never looked as good as he has as a RB, so I'm all for him moving out there and not blocking other players progress by scrubbing it up in the midfield.
But knowing Lucho he will have Gumbau be that back up option; I mean Gumbau shouldn't even be on the B team, that guy has no sign of ever being Barcelona quality. Let alone being on the first teams bench...

My 2 cents.

I think it looked like we were stale because LE requested a mega careful approach. Bilbao's pressing and general organization is better than most top teams IMO.

Also i love Rafinha (no homo). I think he does pretty well on the wing. He's sexy everywhere on the field

by Harmonica Mon Aug 24, 2015 2:57 am

windkick wrote:Yea man, we were SUPER stale the first half. Weren't really doing anything to gain a proper attack, or working passes to even move forward. Of than just just preferring to look around, not see anything they fancy, and would pass the all back to Bravo who would then launch the ball forward and then repeat. Only real chance came with Suarez diving for a PK that Messi missed.

Athletic Bilbao - Barcelona - Page 3 3iy4o5i

Athletic Bilbao - Barcelona - Page 3 N3yYi8B

by The Franchise Mon Aug 24, 2015 3:34 am

No a very interesting game, but at least we won in the end.

Team lacks imagination with Neymar, especially when Messi isnt doing anything to destablise the defence. When Neymar plays you get a much bigger threat in behind, a much bigger threat on the counter and some trademark 1-2s and other combination plays. Rafinha is a fine player but obviously not Neymar.

The bench though. Shesh. Not 1 single player who you really imagine can change the game.

by Harmonica Mon Aug 24, 2015 4:02 am

Succesful dribbles per lost balls against Bilbao

9/3 Messi :bow:

3/2 Roberto :bow:

2/0 Mascherano
1/1 Busquets

0/1 Rafinha
0/2 Rakitic
0/2 Alves
0/3 Iniesta :facepalm:

0/7 Suarez Shocked

by Myesyats Mon Aug 24, 2015 4:15 am

Told everyone we'll be fine in defence after the overreactions in mickey mouse games. Everything was fine even with Roberto at RB and Bartra playing.

Bravo is a magnificent goalkeeper. Last 7 games in leauge all clean sheets.

Also Alba was sorely missed too. There was no threat on left wing without Alba and Neymar and it looked much better yesterday with Alba back and running. Everything will be okay when joga bonito returns for next game

0 dribbles on left flank without Nerman.....

Athletic Bilbao - Barcelona - Page 3 CNKpgE4UEAElJUb

Athletic Bilbao - Barcelona - Page 3 CNKpgE4UEAElJUb

by Myesyats Mon Aug 24, 2015 4:27 am

Also Verms with that prime Pique performance :bow:

Was glad to watch it again lol

by billy_gr Mon Aug 24, 2015 4:27 am

I would imagine that we would be more threatening if LE started Munir instead of Raf.
He’s fin in mid but he hasn’t really impressed me as a winger.
As for the rest of the team, Verm and Roberto are big positive surprises.
On the missed penalty I don’t really care since I didn’t want to start the season with a ref gifted present.
Thank God Suarez nailed it in the end

by Myesyats Mon Aug 24, 2015 4:36 am

by windkick Mon Aug 24, 2015 6:21 am

Harmonica wrote:
windkick wrote:Yea man, we were SUPER stale the first half. Weren't really doing anything to gain a proper attack, or working passes to even move forward. Of than just just preferring to look around, not see anything they fancy, and would pass the all back to Bravo who would then launch the ball forward and then repeat. Only real chance came with Suarez diving for a PK that Messi missed.

I still maintain we were hella stale that first half and didn't do much of anything. You posting 2 clips that are about a few seconds long each doesn't transpire what I saw over 45 minutes plus stoppage time. Are you implying we were an omni force of creativity and attack that first half with those gifs? What's your point?

by Harmonica Mon Aug 24, 2015 6:33 am

windkick wrote:
Harmonica wrote:
windkick wrote:Yea man, we were SUPER stale the first half. Weren't really doing anything to gain a proper attack, or working passes to even move forward. Of than just just preferring to look around, not see anything they fancy, and would pass the all back to Bravo who would then launch the ball forward and then repeat. Only real chance came with Suarez diving for a PK that Messi missed.

I still maintain we were hella stale that first half and didn't do much of anything. You posting 2 clips that are about a few seconds long each doesn't transpire what I saw over 45 minutes plus stoppage time. Are you implying we were an omni force of creativity and attack that first half with those gifs? What's your point?

You can maintain your 1 chance delusion all you want. I'm just showing what bs you talk in every post.

by windkick Mon Aug 24, 2015 6:48 am

Takes a bullshiter to know one, eh?

by Myesyats Mon Aug 24, 2015 2:08 pm

What is Harmonica still doing on 50% after all these years of his crap?

Spoiler:

by Winter is Coming Mon Aug 24, 2015 5:38 pm

linetty wrote:

I just notice they (Bilbao defence) were so focused on Messi they left Suarez open there Laughing

by Winter is Coming Mon Aug 24, 2015 5:43 pm

linetty wrote:Told everyone we'll be fine in defence after the overreactions in mickey mouse games. Everything was fine even with Roberto at RB and Bartra playing.

Bravo is a magnificent goalkeeper. Last 7 games in leauge all clean sheets.

Also Alba was sorely missed too. There was no threat on left wing without Alba and Neymar and it looked much better yesterday with Alba back and running. Everything will be okay when joga bonito returns for next game

0 dribbles on left flank without Nerman.....

The problem with this is Bilbao played 3 games in 6 days.

by Great Leader Sprucenuce Mon Aug 24, 2015 7:13 pm

You'll be fine lol, the attack won't be stopped by most teams in La Liga.

CL will be an issue regardless though.

by FennecFox7 Mon Aug 24, 2015 10:49 pm

those were barely chances. the first gif was a half chance at best.

by Myesyats Tue Aug 25, 2015 2:57 am

Winter is Coming wrote:I just notice they (Bilbao defence) were so focused on Messi they left Suarez open there

It was right after an injury forced Valverde to take off Balenziaga. They were disorganized because of that substitution and Suarez clearly took advantage of that.

Yeah but 4 of them was following Messi lol

by Harmonica Tue Aug 25, 2015 5:15 am

Winter is Coming wrote:
linetty wrote:<iframe src="https://streamable.com/e/nanl" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen scrolling="no"></iframe>

I just notice they (Bilbao defence) were so focused on Messi they left Suarez open there

That was the theme in these 3 games. On Suarez goal Messi was surrounded with four players, Roberto left alone, and three on three on the left flank. Great team goal.

Messi is not only the best active player, but the best passive player.

by Myesyats Wed Aug 26, 2015 3:05 am

Busquets will almost certainly be available for the Malaga game this Saturday

Alves could be out for even up to a month

by Bankz Wed Aug 26, 2015 3:24 am

MSN returns for the game against malaga..
Mama mia!!!

by Bankz Wed Aug 26, 2015 3:24 am

Heard basquets might play too..

by Myesyats Wed Aug 26, 2015 5:01 am

The sad thing is if Busquets couldn't play LE would force Masch into DM where he sucks donkey balls or start Gumbau...

Neymar is finally ready bounce

by billy_gr Wed Aug 26, 2015 6:07 am

does anyone know why Samper is overlooked?

by Myesyats Wed Aug 26, 2015 6:44 am

Nobody knows tbf.

Haven't come across a situation in which the fanbase completely agrees with everything the manager does.

LE probably thinks it's not the right time yet for some weird reason.

Samper would already play 20 games a season under Pep.

by windkick Wed Aug 26, 2015 6:48 am

billy_gr wrote:does anyone know why Samper is overlooked?

Cause our manager trusts experience over age. But at this rate Samper is never going to develop if we flat out don't trust him to get playing time. Reminds me of Thiago how we dicked him around (situations are different, but neither was getting proper PT at that age.)

by Myesyats Wed Aug 26, 2015 6:54 am

Samper is training with first team btw (video from today morning)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moZ397JHfvw

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