Welp, I didn't expect Lyon to get past Man City :D

Now it looks like everything can happen except for Bayern in the finals.

Bayern vs PSG? Not that bad.

WombaT

Northern Ireland27148 Posts

August 17 2020 11:04 GMT

#4622

Pep’s a fine coach. It’s not really mentioned much because it’s a small sample size but he does leave a solid skeleton for the next guy and he does improve what he’s got.

Barca he made ballsy moves that don’t seem it nowadays through hindsight but he took big risks in overhauling that side. When he left that squad was in great shape and Enrique got another CL. It’s only now that the wheels are falling off, and so removed from Pep one can’t blame him at at all. He also to be fair inherited a quality Bayern squad, absolutely. He stepped them up another level technically (despite CL disasters) as well as converted some players and their positions pretty successfully and a good chunk of that work is still out on the pitch these days.

If he was to leave City this summer that’s a squad that most coaches would love the chance to work with. Definitely needs a lick of paint (or a whole can of it) in defensive areas though.

Plenty of negatives too, I’m unsure what his problem is with having good central defenders and having faith in them. Stones was an expensive acquisition who has a lot of talent but I imagine his confidence is just destroyed by now. He chops and changes centre back combinations so much (ok injuries but just make it Laporte + 1 when he’s fit) that it feels disruption in that area over and above merely who’s playing is part of the problem there.

He does his getting his tactics totally wrong in the Champions League at least once a season and we’ve seen it cost them again. Of course he does get them right at times too, but I think psychologically he’s hampering his team in Europe here. Not merely for getting the tactics themselves wrong, but countering his opposition rather than his team’s own strengths. There’s no way to make a mental block bigger than by drawing more attention to it and completely changing approach.

His approach to Sane was strange as well, rumours of various kinds have abounded there. Having a more orthodox wide player with express pace to compliment City’s assortment of neat playmakers and Sterling could have been a real other option and asset, even if he was set to leave for Munich.

WillyWanker

France1915 Posts

August 17 2020 11:31 GMT

#4623

Imo the Lyon game is his fault, the same way that the first game game against Tottenham was. Both games he renounced his attacking tactics (at least until the 60th against Lyon) and it cost him dearly. His team was far superior to the other 2 and he didn't capitalize on it by playing it too careful. In both games, he conceded and had to run after the score. Yes, his players missed crazy chances but he exposed himself to losing to individual mistakes.

Bayern is a great example of a team that knows they're the favorite and play like they are. I really admire that in them. I don't exactly know why Pep is scared, he's always played very conservative in CL, even back in the day with Barça. His thing is to play it safe the first game and be more bold for the second.

sneirac

Germany3464 Posts

August 17 2020 12:15 GMT

#4624

From reddit, seems kinda relevant

[image loading]

{CC}StealthBlue

United States41117 Posts

August 17 2020 12:39 GMT

#4625

sharkie

Austria18689 Posts

August 17 2020 12:54 GMT

#4626

That would actually be a good transfer for PSG, neymar is injured so often

Sapaio

Denmark2037 Posts

August 17 2020 13:32 GMT

#4627

I really dislike Neymar, but properly one of the greatest players around so guess it would make sense, just feeling that destroy the locker room.
But so much news in and out of Barca. Hard to tell what is real and not. Just sure the coach is getting fired.

Sapaio

Denmark2037 Posts

August 17 2020 13:46 GMT

#4628

Fun fact, if Bayern win. Barca have to Pay Liverpool 5 mio euro in Coutinho deal.

WombaT

Northern Ireland27148 Posts

August 17 2020 13:54 GMT

#4629

It makes almost no sense. Barca have so many other problems, that this is the stuff being leaked about the board says all one needs to know about their incompetence.

Let’s say you are in a trash local bar band, drummer can’t keep basic time, singer’s off-key on the rare occasion he’s sober. Even if you hire Yngwie Malmsteen as your new lead guitarist your band is still going to be trash, even if he is one of the best at what he does.

To carry this tortuous analogy further, you used to be in a good band and had Mr Malmsteen on lead geet, but you let him go and had 3-4 failed attempts to replace him. Your band got old and sucky and then you decide to try woo him back.

A few years ago when Suarez could still run, the team was overall younger and slightly more dynamic then Neymar could have been that extra injection of quality to take Barca over the line in Europe.

Now? The team looks really lacking across the pitch, especially in terms of physical dynamism and pace.

For all Liverpool pulled off one of the great comebacks, (and Roma too, although it felt a bit more of a crazy night), it’s easy to forget that Barca did pull off a good first leg in both. If the stars had aligned they still could have advanced.

Against Bayern they got absolutely eviscerated outside of the crazy opening 20 when they did create chances too. They got absolutely bossed in so, so many areas. Hey the Semis are all in Lisbon Neymar was probably nearby, even if we’d inserted him they have got annihilated.

haitike

Spain2737 Posts

August 17 2020 14:52 GMT

#4630

If this was a different season with no covid, after the 8-2 the whole Camp Nou would have gone mad booing and asking Bartomeu to resign. The pression would have been huge and if he wouldn't have resigned, the other candidates probably would have started colllecting votes from the "socios" for initiating the process of a vote of no confidence against the board and force elections.

But with the current covid situation is impossible to do public staff like that. So the parasite of Bartomeu will be there until next summer.

sneakyfox

8217 Posts

August 17 2020 22:03 GMT

#4631

Barca are having presidential elections in March.

WillyWanker

France1915 Posts

August 17 2020 22:58 GMT

#4632

@Wombat, good summary haha. The biggest thing you lack is intensity and you bring Neymar haha. Neymar was here for the 4-0 vs PSG, 3-0 against Juve. Anyway.

Elections anytime after the break means another year down the drain. I don't get why Koeman would accept to get into this. How anyone would...

Acrofales

Spain18348 Posts

August 17 2020 23:00 GMT

#4633

On August 18 2020 07:58 WillyWanker wrote:
@Wombat, good summary haha. The biggest thing you lack is intensity and you bring Neymar haha. Neymar was here for the 4-0 vs PSG, 3-0 against Juve. Anyway.

Elections anytime after the break means another year down the drain. I don't get why Koeman would accept to get into this. How anyone would...

I'll train Barça. I'll settle for a million less than whatever they're offering Koeman!

WillyWanker

France1915 Posts

August 18 2020 00:23 GMT

#4634

Can I be your physical trainer? I'm really good at couch sitting and pasta eating.

WombaT

Northern Ireland27148 Posts

August 18 2020 07:16 GMT

#4635

Rather bizarre, how can the board not seemingly get this?

I mean that aside on Koeman, maybe he thinks he needs to take the shot when he’s offered it or he won’t get another? I’m not sure he’d be right in thinking that given Barca seem to rather weight being a former pretty highly but hey.

@Acrofales I shall join your ticket as either a video analyst or official Barca forum poster (not social media though, you’ll need someone else for that)

Harris1st

Germany7294 Posts

August 18 2020 11:09 GMT

#4636

On August 17 2020 22:54 Wombat_NI wrote:
Against Bayern they got absolutely eviscerated outside of the crazy opening 20 when they did create chances too. They got absolutely bossed in so, so many areas. Hey the Semis are all in Lisbon Neymar was probably nearby, even if we’d inserted him they have got annihilated.

Neymar never performs vs German teams, would have been no use at all

Barca need some long term rebuilding like Kloppo did in LFC. I mean buying Griezmann for a bonkers amount just to never play him and now sell him again. Solid plan there