I guess it signals club's commitment to the manager and as a result the players stay committed to the manager rather than half assing it until next manager appears. No idea if that works in practice.

haitike

Spain2742 Posts

February 16 2019 22:12 GMT

#2383

I'm tired of Valverde and this team.

Again the team is burnt out in February before the final stages of CL and players like Suarez are out of form and playing terrible. And Real Madrid is recovered now for the last months. All the seasons the same bad planning.

Pandemona

Charlie Sheens House51493 Posts

February 17 2019 01:10 GMT

#2384

This time around it is even stranger as the squad is the deepest it has ever been no? Minus an out-and-out striker to replace Suarez, they have so many more players to come in midfield and the wide positions. They should all be in peak condition by now.

WillyWanker

France1915 Posts

February 17 2019 08:04 GMT

#2385

There's not much rotation, he keeps fielding the same guys. Guys that are 30+ now, so recovery isn't the same as before. Best example being Busquets who has been flawless his whole career until last season. They're definitely not going to win the CL playing like that, and the Liga is going to be rough.

Pandemona

Charlie Sheens House51493 Posts

February 17 2019 12:28 GMT

#2386

Ahh right, do you think he might be sacked then in the off season if you fail to win a trophy? Or has he got the backing from the board still.

Bacillus

Finland2074 Posts

February 17 2019 12:46 GMT

#2387

Meanwhile Real is in trouble vs Girona. I tuned in a bit late, but the commentators seem very critical towards Marcelo and point him to be a huge defensive liability right now.

Edit: Aaand there's the red for Ramos.

WillyWanker

France1915 Posts

February 17 2019 13:00 GMT

#2388

It had been a long time haha. Improving his own record. Damn, didn't expect Madrid to drop a single point until at least the Clasico. Barça has to go to Sevilla next, then Madrid; 9 points is a lot more comfortable x)

I don't know if they would fire Valverde. Losing the Liga to Madrid, eliminated by them in Copa, and no CL, I'm sure something would happen, but it might just be a big turnover instead of letting Valverde go. Also, Valverde's new contract ends when there will be the new presidential elections. I don't see Bartomeu taking big risks by appointing someone else and start a completely new project...

sharkie

Austria18713 Posts

February 17 2019 13:01 GMT

#2389

Real saving Barcelona!

haitike

Spain2742 Posts

February 17 2019 18:33 GMT

#2390

On February 17 2019 17:04 WillyWanker wrote:
There's not much rotation, he keeps fielding the same guys. Guys that are 30+ now, so recovery isn't the same as before. Best example being Busquets who has been flawless his whole career until last season. They're definitely not going to win the CL playing like that, and the Liga is going to be rough.

I hate how Alcazer played fine the few times he played, but Valverde ignored him, never rotating Suarez. Until Alcazer left the team. And now there is not Suarez replacement.

WillyWanker

France1915 Posts

February 18 2019 04:36 GMT

#2391

It's difficult to bench Suarez. He misses everything for 5 matches and suddenly does some ninja moves in a big game and makes you win. He should definitely rest a lot more now that he's 30+, I think that was the idea with Boateng... But wrong player haha.

Alcacer is doing good in Dortmund but, imo, he's not a Barça starting level player, and given that he's still young, having him be just a sub does not feel right. They should get someone older with a different profile, like they did with Larsson a few years ago.

Pandemona

Charlie Sheens House51493 Posts

February 18 2019 09:21 GMT

#2392

An FA Cup game tonight to prepare you for the upcoming Champions League fixtures later on!