Preseason 20/21

And Dembele looks as braindead as ever, the ultimate deceivement defraudation by Hans

A 4-2-3-1 with Messi as the most forward player. Griezman behind but moving to accomodate Messi's movement.
Recipe for disaster.
Also, it seems Koeman's top pivot is Busquets and FDJ
Nothing's changed.

They have collected more than 20,000 signatures while 16,250 are needed. Allowing for a number of invalid votes, the treshold should be comfortably crossed.

I hope Bartomeu gets what he deserves and has to answer for the Club's deficit from his own pocket.

@alexjanosik wrote:A 4-2-3-1 with Messi as the most forward player. Griezman behind but moving to accomodate Messi's movement.
Recipe for disaster.
Also, it seems Koeman's top pivot is Busquets and FDJ
Nothing's changed.

I think with Pjanic available, Busquets will be dropped

Hope to see Araujo-Lenglet with Pique on the bench too.

Would you guys mind saying where you watch these preseason friendlies live? I know some sites upload the recorded game but I get bored of watching recorded games.

https://twitter.com/FTTV10/status/1307354009171361792

you can watch the game here ^

Can't believe it is 2020-21 and I still see Busquets in the starting line-up

Guys should have been demoted 2-3 years ago.

All the players involved in the 8-2 play.
Koreman talking about winning the ball back. Messi walking with the ball 5 yards from him

Griezmann has got to be the worst passer in this team. Poor accuracy, wrong weight, consistently.

That shape. Griezman running all over the place to plug gaps

You could play against Bayern tomorrow and it will be 8-2 again.

Dembele comes on and immediately creates danger. I know a lot don't like him but he is extremely dangerous. I think when fit, he has been quite good.

New kits are sexy but the team is shit so there's that. Komean giving Roberto the starting spot says it all

Sacked within 6 months imo

in the 2nd half vs elche Messi was playing as the highest man up the pitch and I think that's the way to go. Koeman should instruct him not to drop too deep because it disrupts the entire flow.


let others be more creative

I didn't watch much of the game, but one positive from it was no Messi-dependencia. Players weren't constantly looking for Messi to pass to and every player had the same value on the pitch. Hadn't seen that in like 5 years.

Of course there were also a lot of negatives. You played a very inefficient game with a lot of wasteful running just to cover the gaps in the formation. Against a better/faster team you will be punished.

A lot of it is due to Messi strolling around. Obviously a well-prepared athletic team will run circles around us if our main man is in the middle of the pitch just hanging around unbothered and not even trying to press. Having him near the box and letting others do the running in the centre is more beneficial, still makes us vulnerable but as long as Messi is here I don't see any other options.

I re-watched the 2nd half today and Messi did zero running. That's like a playing a man down tbh.

Anyone have any notes on Pjanic? How he is being used and how he has been so far in training and pre season?

He hasnt trained much given that he had Covid and was sidelined.

Had like 2 training sessions with the team and played about 30 minutes only.

Too early to judge but seems like Rakitic 2.0..... just 2 years younger. Good player but won't elevate the team by much. Need someone younger with lots of energy a la Camavinga.

I don't understand why we're not fighting for Aouar and Camavinga. That's midfield set for years to come.

@Myesyats wrote:A lot of it is due to Messi strolling around. Obviously a well-prepared athletic team will run circles around us if our main man is in the middle of the pitch just hanging around unbothered and not even trying to press. Having him near the box and letting others do the running in the centre is more beneficial, still makes us vulnerable but as long as Messi is here I don't see any other options.

I re-watched the 2nd half today and Messi did zero running. That's like a playing a man down tbh.

This. The 4-2-3-1 is not going to work. Against Elche, Messi predictably went right and then you had Griezman running all over the place trying to cover gaps. Better teams than Elche will tear us to shreds.

@Arquitecto wrote:Anyone have any notes on Pjanic? How he is being used and how he has been so far in training and pre season?

Lethargic. Pointless signing. Just not the right fit for a Messi team. Guy looks slower than Busquets and Rakitic and I didnt think that was possible.

Pjanic is not a physical stamina based runner as it is.

We must understand he is an old school archetype of a #10 and has not played that since his Roma days.

As a deep lying CM he will perform but all the roles assigned to him over the years have eroded his form and he looks without identity now.

I sincerely hope Koeman will recognise this and have play -to his strengths-.

If so then he will be world class in Barça, no doubt.