Re: Match Day Thread 20/21

by Myesyats Wed Dec 23, 2020 1:41 pm

I agree but good luck selling them with their salary. Bartomeu has completely ruined the wage structure and nobody will be able to meet such crazy demands.

I'm afraid we will be stuck with these 2 for a couple more years....

by BarrileteCosmico Wed Dec 23, 2020 2:38 pm

@danyjr wrote:Both Griezmann and Coutinho are dead weights. Completely incompatible with Messi and can't be relied upon to save the team's ass when Messi isn't playing. Should have sold them both in the summer and signed a proper winger who would have given you width.

Messi is leaving in the summer, so making decisions around who suits Messi might not be the best strategy

by danyjr Fri Dec 25, 2020 1:31 pm

Honestly, even if Messi leaves these two aren't good enough to have a team built around them.

Liverpool wasn't built around Coutinho. France wasn't built around Griezmann. Only Atlético was built around Griezmann and they were an ultra defensive and counterattacking team. He would only do well in a such a system.

by Myesyats Sat Dec 26, 2020 2:32 pm

No doubt both Griezmann and Coutinho should be sold

by alexjanosik Tue Dec 29, 2020 9:50 pm

Struggling first half as we barely created chances. Game changed completely with the introduction of Dembele who was his electric self. Should have won if not for poor finishing and a screw up from Araujo.
3 at the back seems solid defensively. MaTs barely had a save to make. I like Araujo's profile. He is clearly limited on the ball and was responsible for the goal. But, he is a tremendous athlete, a tank who can dominate any forward, tremendous in the air who can clear headers, and a presence in both boxes. He also seems to have the right mentality. Great mentality after the screw up. In a team which has severely lacked phsyicality over the years, we need his profile of defender. He can get better on the ball, like Masch and Puyol before him.
Likewise Mingueza, who is not as talented a defender as Araujo. He has the fire in him and is a good physical presence.
Pedri with another good game. Kid is going to be an absolute star.

Target this season should be top 4 and blooding youngsters. Doubtful on the first but positive about the second.

by BarrileteCosmico Thu Dec 31, 2020 2:50 pm

I'm confident we'll be able to clinch that top 4 slot, if only barely. We still have most of the season to make it through.

by Myesyats Mon Jan 04, 2021 12:07 pm

Top quality: Messi, Alba, De Jong, Ter Stegen
Decent/bench/developing: Lenglet, Dest, Pedri, Ansu (injured), Pique (injured)
The rest: trash

4 quality players is not good enough because we don't have a striker and Messi's finishing has laughably declined. Top 4 will be a success.

by danyjr Mon Jan 04, 2021 12:22 pm

Is Dest really better than Semedo?

by Harmonica Mon Jan 04, 2021 12:25 pm

Haven't been impressed bye Alba in a long time now.

by Myesyats Mon Jan 04, 2021 12:30 pm

@danyjr wrote:Is Dest really better than Semedo?

Yes, taking into consideration the current state of our team and small sample size. Will need to wait till he plays a full season to pass final judgement. He's also 7 years younger than Semedo!

@Harmonica wrote:Haven't been impressed bye Alba in a long time now.

He's been our best performer this season alongside Leo, the most consistent. 5 assists, I reckon that's better than any of our midfielders.

by BarcaLearning Mon Jan 04, 2021 1:32 pm

Loool nice list Myesyats, I was gonna say its a bit harsh but its actually pretty much it, only 4 top quality players performing atm... when we know elite top teams that win things basically have close to 11.

With the young players, I think given the situation the fact that Koeman seems to be giving more of them more game time is good, in the hope they can develop quicker, we havent got much to aim for this season anyway. We dont seem to have much to spend, so hopefully come next season with the injured back and if a couple of the youngsters improved enough who knows we might be decent again. We do need a striker or a consistent goal scorer though so either it be the current stars stepping up or we will need to find somewhere money to buy a decent one.

Dest Im really hopeful about, compared with Semedo hes definitely more talented, although physically he needs to become stronger, time will tell.

by Myesyats Mon Jan 04, 2021 9:35 pm

Griezmann + Coutinho + Dembele + Braithwaite = 9 goals

Suarez = 9 goals.

math checks out

Match Day Thread 20/21 - Page 10 JS68480933

by alexjanosik Thu Jan 07, 2021 5:43 am

Great game from us.

@Myesyats wrote:Top quality: Messi, Alba, De Jong, Ter Stegen
Decent/bench/developing: Lenglet, Dest, Pedri, Ansu (injured), Pique (injured)
The rest: trash

4 quality players is not good enough because we don't have a striker and Messi's finishing has laughably declined. Top 4 will be a success.

You have not included Dembele who had another sensational game. I tend to look on the positive side here. We are not winning anything this season. Top 4 and developing youngsters should be the goal.
We have Mats, Dest, Araujo, Lenglet, FDJ, Pedri, Ansu and Dembele. Thats an exceptional core to build around.
We are 2 smart transfer seasons away from competing for titles. Priority for the first window should be moving on Messi, Griezman and Coutinho (massively reducing the wage bill) and bring on a striker. We are severaly limited financially but surely moving on those 3 should open up funds for a striker. Then we need 2 more signings imo. One great midfield signing and a top CB to compete with Lenglet/Araujo.
If we are smart, won't cost a lot to get in all 3 and we are back to competing for titles.

by Myesyats Sat Jan 09, 2021 5:22 pm

Sure I considered Dembele but I think his low IQ will prevent him from becoming world class. Although, admittedly, I should have included him in the decent category because he's always a goal threat when he plays which is nice. I'm not sure if we should lean on him for the future though..... I'm not convinced yet.

by BarrileteCosmico Sat Jan 09, 2021 5:45 pm

Vs Granada: Ter Stegen; Dest, Mingueza, Umtiti, Jordi Alba; Busquets, De Jong; Dembélé, Griezmann, Pedri; Messi.

And Griezman 0-1!

by Myesyats Sat Jan 09, 2021 5:57 pm

Griezmann finally with an expert finish and good awareness.

Dembele explosive but decision making still lacking.

De Jong and Pedri with another good game, Busquets great passing but so unathletic it doesnt take much to pass him by. Need more athelticism to compete with a powerhouse like Bayern for example.

by BarrileteCosmico Sat Jan 09, 2021 6:09 pm

Umtiti looking pretttty shaky.

Messi back to his scoring days, although there was a clear Busquets handball.

by BarrileteCosmico Sat Jan 09, 2021 6:15 pm

FKessi back too Proud

by Myesyats Sat Jan 09, 2021 6:18 pm

Yep Messi finally scores at will as he always used to.

Dumbele with one bad decision after another though...

by alexjanosik Sat Jan 09, 2021 6:32 pm

@Myesyats wrote:Yep Messi finally scores at will as he always used to.

Dumbele with one bad decision after another though...

This has not been his best game but you can see the difference when he plays and not. We seem a lot more assertive and we play more dominant. Thats because he destabilizes teams even when he is playing bad. Take the FK goal. He created an opening with his explosive pace leading to the Pedri foul and Messi goal. Thats what Dembele brings even when having a shaky game.
Messi's finishing seems much better last 2 games. With Fati cming back, I expect a strong finish for us. Fati instead of Griezmann and Araujo and Lenglet instead of Minguezo and Umtiti.
Seems to be our best 11 now.

by Myesyats Sat Jan 09, 2021 6:37 pm

@alexjanosik wrote:
@Myesyats wrote:Yep Messi finally scores at will as he always used to.

Dumbele with one bad decision after another though...

This has not been his best game but you can see the difference when he plays and not. We seem a lot more assertive and we play more dominant. Thats because he destabilizes teams even when he is playing bad. Take the FK goal. He created an opening with his explosive pace leading to the Pedri foul and Messi goal. Thats what Dembele brings even when having a shaky game.

Yeah agreed thats why Im saying he's always a goal threat but his decision making is shocking you have to agree. He need to be more consistent and I dont think he's smart and disciplined enough to be truly successful here.

Dembele gives us much needed width for sure but he's soon to be 24 years old and I don't think he's made lots of progress since he joined 3 years ago

by Myesyats Sat Jan 09, 2021 6:38 pm

Also how bad is Pjanic if busquets keeps playing instead? What does Koeman know that we don't

by Myesyats Sat Jan 09, 2021 6:41 pm

And Frenkie has finally become the leader of our midfield

Very solid performance again

by BarrileteCosmico Sat Jan 09, 2021 6:56 pm

Even Griezmann is coming good now. Dare we actually feel optimistic for the first time in a year?

by BarrileteCosmico Sat Jan 09, 2021 6:56 pm

@Myesyats wrote:Also how bad is Pjanic if busquets keeps playing instead? What does Koeman know that we don't

That 40m pass to Alba tho Proud

by Myesyats Sat Jan 09, 2021 7:07 pm

My grandma has better 1st touch than Braithwait

by Sponsored content