They are not the side they used to be, but they are very solid. Credit to Valverde for this.
Barcelona 2017/18
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Barcelona have more defensive consistency and the chances in the CL are bigger than last year.
They could very well draw any away game if they need to.
I can't see disasters like that against PSG in the Parc des Princes happening this time.
They could very well draw any away game if they need to.
I can't see disasters like that against PSG in the Parc des Princes happening this time.
O. Dembele is almost fit isn't he?
on the other hand, several times this season they've won games through sheer luck and superior individual talent. Even just the juventus game, where they didn't concede many truly great chances, but did concede quite a few good ones and only had 2 of their own...
Leganes had more and better chances last weekend until barca's second goal killed the game. Against an opponent like PSG barca goes to halftime down 3, not up 1-0...
Yes, i saw all their games, is not brilliant or even dominant.
I think they struggling in some games is due to two factors.
1 - The tactical richness of La Liga; even small sides can press high or explore your weakness. And all tems are really brave.
Real and Barca keep winning the tittle but the individual games are tougher year after year.
2 - Suarez(despite his last goals) was in bad form, i think due to some injury in his knee.
Many games where Barca should be winning with few minutes tend to be tough because Suarez is not scoring.
Thing is you only have to play well enough to beat the team in front of you. What's good enough to beat Leganes won't be good enough to win against Valencia. So, we'll see how or if Barca can raise their level to match the opponents they meet. Scoring 3 and conceding 0 from Juve in 2 games is a step in the right direction. So far, the defense holds up well and the team is scoring goals. Also, unlike the past year, they give the feeling that even a 1 goal advantage can be well handled and transformed into a narrow win, which is key when you try to win La Liga.
oh absolutely, just pointing out that while they did improve the defence and still look as strong as anyone on paper, they haven't been anywhere near as good as their record so far suggests. But then again, given the individual quality on that team, this might very well be sustainable, and they might yet have an extra gear for the big CL clashes.
I should know, we weren't much different last season(except rather than defending well, we just kept outscoring our opponents)
I should know, we weren't much different last season(except rather than defending well, we just kept outscoring our opponents)
They're topping the league & their CL group without being impressive and there is clearly a few gears they can go up. Nevermind the squad reinforcements that are imminent, so much to look forward to - we have to because Valverde is boring as hell
Rafinha & Dembélé back to full training
How's deulofeu doing? Thought he was genuinely useless at Everton after a promising start to his original loan spell
For me, I believe he continues to be a good example of poor planning for the development of a player with great potential. He's 13th in the squad in terms of minutes and has been largely relegated to mopup or CDR duty. Valverde either doesn't count on him or waiting for Dembélé to return to the XI since they've largely been playing a 4-4-2 and not really using wingers.
He's rumoured to go out on loan as understandly he is frustrated at his lack of playing time. Attacking players need continuity and that has not happened.
Constantly breaching laws/rules, ban them for 4 transfer windows.
Let's not forget their approach of Dembele which angered BVB and handing a Gremio player a Barca shirt from their director.
The club stinks and they act so holy.
Let's not forget their approach of Dembele which angered BVB and handing a Gremio player a Barca shirt from their director.
The club stinks and they act so holy.
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Didn't the same happen with both Dembele and Coutinho?
Mess que en club!
Good. Don't know the ins and outs of the Griezmann saga but Barcelonas behaviour towards signing players over the years has been shocking (Cesc anyone?)
There is a theory doing the rounds on FB stating that Messi rattled the post so many times against Deportivo La Coruna on purpose, in order to break Gerd Muller's long standing record at the Santiago Bernabeu. It's funny because he also scored his 500th goal there.
More than a club breaching rules every day.
Supposedly Griezmann met up with Barca for secret talks. If only there was someway he could of disguised himself.
Ban the cnuts.
Playing dirty again. Not a surprise. If i remember well, they did the same or something similar with Fabregas at Arsenal.
Every club does it at some point or another, the ones we hear about are the ones who get caught.
Safe to say that we haven’t quite declined in the way everyone was predicting is to? 
There’s still room for improvement though. Hopefully we buy Arthur in January and clear the deadwood (Turan, Gomes).
There’s still room for improvement though. Hopefully we buy Arthur in January and clear the deadwood (Turan, Gomes).
Safe to say that we haven’t quite declined in the way everyone was predicting is to?
There’s still room for improvement though. Hopefully we buy Arthur in January and clear the deadwood (Turan, Gomes).
Dembele still to come back yet. Once he's fit and fully integrated into their XI, I can imagine them going up a level just in time for the CL knock outs.
They're cruising the league while remaining defensively solid. Not something you'd expect after them getting played off the park by Real in the SuperCopa games. Once again glorified friendlies don't mean shit.
Quite surprised by Paulinho. Initially I laughed at that transfer but then he started performing well. Brushed it off as a purple patch but fair play to him, he managed to carry on being good.
Suarez and Messi are great (Suarez less so since this year) but they're 30 and might need replacing soon. Iniesta too - which is why they targetted Coutinho, I guess.
Suarez and Messi are great (Suarez less so since this year) but they're 30 and might need replacing soon. Iniesta too - which is why they targetted Coutinho, I guess.
Andre gomes is so fecking useless I can't believe he plays for Barca.
Imagine he would play for utd and the cafs reactions to his performances.
Imagine he would play for utd and the cafs reactions to his performances.
If I'm not mistaken the idea from the beginning was to play like that but Coutinho not joining this summer and Dembélé's injury forced a temporary change:
----------Suarez
Coutinho---Messi---Dembélé
-------Iniesta-Busquets
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Oh, I see. That front four!
I can't see Valverde playing Iniesta in a double pivot, though, especially as Rakitic and Paulinho - two more hard working and defensively better players than Iniesta, have been very good there this season.
Yeah, he's been playing on the left of a 4-4-2, tucked inside and not too dissimilar to his central midfield role in a 4-3-3.Oh, I see. That front four!
I can't see Valverde playing Iniesta in a double pivot, though, especially as Rakitic and Paulinho - two more hard working and defensively better players than Iniesta, have been very good there this season.
Definitely doesn't have the legs to be partnering Busquets in the centre these days.
Oh, I see. That front four!
I can't see Valverde playing Iniesta in a double pivot, though, especially as Rakitic and Paulinho - two more hard working and defensively better players than Iniesta, have been very good there this season.
Don't get caught up with starting formation, it will not be a double pivot - they will want to maximize the best players on the pitch
I think it will look more something like this:
Iniesta can play the Xavi role better than any of the pretenders we may sign in January, the only player that could change my mind on that is Arthur, but I don't think that we'll sign both Arthur and Coutinho.
If we get Griezmann, it will likely be the end of Suarez as a regular starter. Suarez has improved recently compared to his atrotious form at the start of this season, so maybe we won't spend 100M on Griezzy.
We need to offload some of the deadwood in our midfield like Arda, Rafinha, and Gomes. I don't want to sell Denis but I don't see a future for him here either.
Dembele - Suarez - Messi
Coutinho - Busquets - Iniesta
Alba - Umtiti - Pique - Semedo
MATS
Coutinho - Busquets - Iniesta
Alba - Umtiti - Pique - Semedo
MATS
Iniesta can play the Xavi role better than any of the pretenders we may sign in January, the only player that could change my mind on that is Arthur, but I don't think that we'll sign both Arthur and Coutinho.
If we get Griezmann, it will likely be the end of Suarez as a regular starter. Suarez has improved recently compared to his atrotious form at the start of this season, so maybe we won't spend 100M on Griezzy.
We need to offload some of the deadwood in our midfield like Arda, Rafinha, and Gomes. I don't want to sell Denis but I don't see a future for him here either.
I get that, however, Valverde likes to have a balanced team, both going forward and defensively. Regardless of whether it will be a double pivot or not, a midfield three of Iniesta, Busquets and Messi, according to your predicted lineup, screams no balance, in my opinion.
That may be true, we'll just have to wait & see how it shakes out. Busquets & Coutinho would definitely play and Valverde has shown a lot of confidence in Sergi or Paulinho. Iniesta might just be a closer much the way Xavi was in 2015
Coutinho in midfield would be a disaster, Arsenal destroyed the space he left behind.
And that's the other scenario, they may lineup looking like 4-4-2 on paper but Coutinho may play left wing, Ousmane on the right and Leo centrally just ahead of Busquets & Paulinho/Iniesta/Sergi
Dembele likely to start a game soon? I want to watch him play.
CDR against Vigo, medical green light
Going to be something like this
----------------------suarez---------
----------------------Messi----------Dembele
------Coutinho------------Iniesta
----------------------Sergio
----------------------suarez---------
----------------------Messi----------Dembele
------Coutinho------------Iniesta
----------------------Sergio