La liga 2021/22

Simeone is done at Atletico, last season's title was his last Hurrah at the club. I think he will leave at the end of the season.
 
That's by design. Xavi is going with the Guardiola 3-3-4/3-2-5 formation here. Lacking a true left winger and Dani Alves has disintegrated as a defender, but otherwise looks solid. It's also the most sensible way for them to play

Yeah its very good tactically from xavi. He has a masterclass video on youtube where he talks about the philosophy behind his tactics which is pretty good. The commentary in this match said athletico have used a 4 5 1 formation more recently with Felix on the left. Would make sense for him to revert to that, have felix in the space that alves is vacating and at least make barca have a thing to think about on that side. Maybe they could get Araujo to vacate centre to cover him or at least reduce the amount of time alves is spending in the midfield.

The other thing I think is overlooked in the Barca style of play is as good as the passing and movement can be, they still need 1 or 2 playes that can beat a man. Something I think Traore is demonstrating.
 
Atletico are fecking embarassing. From one of the best defenses in the league to an absolute shit show.
 
Yeah its very good tactically from xavi. He has a masterclass video on youtube where he talks about the philosophy behind his tactics which is pretty good. The commentary in this match said athletico have used a 4 5 1 formation more recently with Felix on the left. Would make sense for him to revert to that, have felix in the space that alves is vacating and at least make barca have a thing to think about on that side. Maybe they could get Araujo to vacate centre to cover him or at least reduce the amount of time alves is spending in the midfield.

The other thing I think is overlooked in the Barca style of play is as good as the passing and movement can be, they still need 1 or 2 playes that can beat a man. Something I think Traore is demonstrating.
Yeah, Atleti have been pretty bad. The few times they did find Joao Felix in behind on the left they had chances. Ideally this system is designed to help the counter-press and defensive transition, problem is they don't track back quick enough and with enough numbers(unlike city), the forwards tend to stay a bit too high up and Dani Alves can't really defend space anymore. And yes, they lack players who can consistently beat their man and break the defensive structure, aside from Adama, which is why so many of their attacks went through him
 
This is 200% off-topic considering we are at HT of Barcelona-Atletico, but I just saw it and I had to share it



We can now infer 232 > time for Golf > 193
 
Simeone is done at Atletico, last season's title was his last Hurrah at the club. I think he will leave at the end of the season.
100%.

He's been amazing for them but its time for him to step down.
 
Simeone is done at Atletico, last season's title was his last Hurrah at the club. I think he will leave at the end of the season.

He won't. He loves the club and the club needs him. Just like United with SAF. Atlético never had a better period in his history.
 
Wow, I must have been living under a rock lately. Had no idea Auba and Traore ended up at Barca :)

Oh, and the size of Traore :eek:
 
So despite the statistically attacking nice start back - how is Dani Alves looking generally? Thought the Copa would be his swansong, but seems he's magically still got something in him, so much mileage in those legs too.
 
The problem is Oblak. Really that's what it is when it comes down to it. The defence is still really good in terms of not conceding chances, the problem is any shot that hits the goal goes in because of Oblak

That they haven't adapted to this is a black mark on Simeone, but then again they were built for this, it's not his fault the one link that couldn't fail - and was one of their biggest strenghts until last season - collapsed so catastrophically
 
Somewhere in Paris, Messi must be happy. It's always nice to see an ex legend doing well with his former club as a manger unless it's Liverpool. I think Barca has to be favourites for the Europa League now but they need to sort out their defence.
 
The irony of Xavi saying barcelona wouldn't accept defending with 11 men in their half yesterday... :lol: :lol: :lol:
 
Oily boy did well. Proud of him.

Somewhere in Paris, Messi must be happy. It's always nice to see an ex legend doing well with his former club as a manger unless it's Liverpool. I think Barca has to be favourites for the Europa League now but they need to sort out their defence.
Don't think it's going to happen with 3 fossils in the back 4.
 
Oily boy did well. Proud of him.


Don't think it's going to happen with 3 fossils in the back 4.
Most teams in EL seem to go all out and don't even care about defence, they concede a lot of goals. Sevilla will be the biggest threat to Barca.
 
Great fun this match and finally a game where Barca look threatening enough to score multiple goals. The Alves red card will be extremely costly though. Three games without his contribution in attack.
 
Only one team in the Top 13 in Liga has conceded more goals than Atleti this season. Stats you would NEVER imagine you'd hear under Simeone.
 
Good results this day for the options of entering the top 4 of Barcelona