Re: Match Day Thread

[futbol]

Alena had his best game in Barca shirt, really worked from the beginning to when he was subbed out. He's much more suspectible to pressure than Arthur though, which is why he can't start in bigger games yet. Arthur is doing fine too, he was amazing before the injury just like Coutinho, and is taking time to get back to that level. Dembele is another of the trifecta of recovering from injury, and I think he'll be on his level when we need him. I thought Coutinho was good and confident against Alaves too, although got tired at the end. Hopefully Valencia will do us a solid today.

Aleñá is more susceptible to pressure because he tries to move the ball forward and make something happen, whereas with Farthur it is always safety first (or rather, relieving himself of blunders but not necessarily his team mates). Hell Farthur has easy passing options forward and he still chooses not to play them. Where you have Busquets you don't need another passback merchant because football isn't about keeping possession for the sake of it. Especially when Messi isn't playing and carrying the attacking burden, you need players who can drive the ball forward and create danger up the field. Not to mention Aleñá is fitter and better defensively (Farthur usually hits fatigue at the 75 minute mark). Stats-wise Carles has also done better than the Brazilian but I don't care much for numbers.

The biggest difference between the two boils down to awareness. Aleñá knows where all the players are before he receives the ball and this gives him the advantage to dictate attacking play. This is not the case with Arthur. He always receives the ball then has a look, much unlike the oft-compared Xavi. Another thing I have seen Farthur do a lot is passing back to the defence in tight paces and putting them under pressure to either clear the ball or try to find a risky pass. In a slow build-up, possession-based team, one of the central midfielder's most important tasks is for the under-pressure defenders to pass to him with confidence, knowing he is agile and skilful enough to get out of tight spaces without losing the ball. Look at Modrić, he is a player who doesn't lose the ball easily and is good under pressure but he seldom passes back to an under-pressure defender unless he has no other choice. With Fartman, it is often the opposite.

Regarding Dembélé I've said what I've said and I don't want to repeat them again. Half of the season he is injured and the other half he is "getting up to speed". Which to me they are excuses. The kid has more turnovers than Demarcus Cousins, while does his fair share of tracking back he is not aggressive enough to win balls, and I suspect he has (judging by his poor touch) a below-average 'eye limb coordination'. He almost never wins aerial battles and his control of long balls is dog shite poor.

Pretty much disagree with everything.

[neuro11]

our frontline is totally toothless. suarez Dembele Coutinho all are out of form. frontline will be the biggest difference between us and Liverpool.

[Unique]

our frontline is totally toothless. suarez Dembele Coutinho all are out of form. frontline will be the biggest difference between us and Liverpool.

[windkick]

CAMPEONES

[Unique]

well done to barca.

[Myesyats]

Alena had his best game in Barca shirt, really worked from the beginning to when he was subbed out. He's much more suspectible to pressure than Arthur though, which is why he can't start in bigger games yet. Arthur is doing fine too, he was amazing before the injury just like Coutinho, and is taking time to get back to that level. Dembele is another of the trifecta of recovering from injury, and I think he'll be on his level when we need him. I thought Coutinho was good and confident against Alaves too, although got tired at the end. Hopefully Valencia will do us a solid today.

bunch of rubbish

Pretty much disagree with everything.

Agree with futebol and jiopsi



Hala Barca, campeones once again

Treble is well and truly on!

[windkick]

Coutinho looked lively today, hope he can continue on that and improve his finishing

[Winter is Coming]

I hope the rest we have been giving Messi helps out against Pool. I want to see more of this rotation with Suarez, Pique, Alba and Rakitic.

[BarcaLearning]

Felt like quite a perfect game for us for a few things, we got rotated and rested nicely, even Coutinho is finally hitting form now. After we score he relaxed and they were threatening, so it was a bit of a wake up call for us again. Time and time when we are ahead, we tend to relax and let the opposition back in it, and u can see how frustrated Valverde was, so we definitely need to eliminate that. Our defense seems like its just how it is we cant really improve it anymore though.

Anyway, confident as long as we play to our level we will beat Liverpool, especially now most of our players are in good form.

[danyjr]

Anyway, confident as long as we play to our level we will beat Liverpool, especially now most of our players are in good form.

So are Liverpool players.

[alexjanosik]

Congratulations on the league win. Well deserved winners.

[alexjanosik]

Unbelievable. Dembele with another muscle injury. Probably season over for him Cant catch a break it seems.

Wague, Riqui and Todibo have shown promise. Todibo is really interesting. Physique, technique and pace. If we belive in him, then perhaps wise to skip on MDL. Can invest the 80m elsewhere.

[danyjr]

Should sell Dembélé more urgently than Umtiti. The latter has looked fine whenever he's played. Dembélé on the other hand...

[alexjanosik]

2-0 loss.
Boateng is a lump. Why the hell did we loan him?
The gap has narrowed considerably in La Liga. Every game is a war of attrition nowadays and there are no easy games. Alena was disappointing. Puig outshone him and showed much more determination. Alena was atrocious defensively and provided no cover whatsoever.

[Myesyats]

Lmao another injury? ffs

Nobody will want to buy this boy of glass.

[Thimmy]

Demstrétchérs

[alexjanosik]

Players have overcome muscle injuries. We have examples from our own team. Messi and Alba. Both now rarely get injured. There's Robben who became very reliable after being injury prone early in his career. With adjustments to his conditioning, diet etc. maybe Dembele turns it around. He is a special talent and we need to persist.

Collado had a poor game. He had a chance to impress after coming on early but was poor. I have been impressed whenever I have seen him for the B team and it seems Valverde rates him too. Disappointed that Monchu wasnt called up. He has the least hype out of the 4 of Alena, Puig, Oriol Busquets and him. Yet he is my favorite. Should have been called up and played as a pivot which I think is his best position.

[BarcaLearning]

This season whenever we fielded our second team theyve shown to be disappointing and just not good enough, it also goes to show how competitive La Liga is actually, u cant just field a much weaker side and expect a result.

Alena seems to get a lot of fans, he does has his strength, but he has yet to really impress me and make me think he can become a regular for us at all. Same goes with Puig. Boateng, is at best a backup for us, and has clearly shown hes not really a good fit for us.

[Myesyats]

I think Busquets, Rakitic, Coutinho, Roberto and Vidal should all be sold.

These guys are either finished or have shit for brains.

Valverde getting the sack should also be the obvious next move.

This team is full of cowards with the coach being the biggest one.

[alexjanosik]

What a surprise. The players who got destroyed against Liverpool get to start. Yeah, lets beat up on Getafe to get over the humiliation. Who cares about giving time to players like Alena, Puig, Todibo?
And I am sick of seeing Scruberto starting?

[alexjanosik]

Busquets
What a joke he has become? Does a game go by when he doesnt get schooled or made a joke out of? Twice, he has gotten schooled in this game.

[alexjanosik]

Busquets again gets picked.

[alexjanosik]

Vidal. What a warrior. Had my doubts coming into the team at 32. He has played his heart out this season.

[BarrileteCosmico]

What a surprise. The players who got destroyed against Liverpool get to start. Yeah, lets beat up on Getafe to get over the humiliation. Who cares about giving time to players like Alena, Puig, Todibo?
And I am sick of seeing Scruberto starting?

valverde's faith in the youth has been utterly disappointing. They'll never show their mantle if they're not tested

[futbol]

I think this was more of a "you ain't hiding from the fans" type of lineup.

Luckily match going fans have more brains than Internet spastics and didn't boo.

[alexjanosik]

Surprise again. Busquets and Roberto start.

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