joviegghead:

Ion think he'll be running up and down the flanks. Probably roaming around the attacking areas where he can cut in to shoot, pass or create magic similar to his Enrique days.

Besides, Messi still has a little bit of pace in him. His dribbling skills and doggedness are enough tho .
Never doubt that guy. If you do. Check out his goal against Napoli on the right wing. You'll know he's dangerous as always.
Semedo will be a good support on the right for him tho. That's if barca aren't planning to sell him as rumors say.

Semedo is athelic but lacks end product. He needs to learn how to cross the freaking ball

IKON360:

Coutinho needs a more mobile DM than Busquets behind him. That's what I said here since. At Bayern too, Coutinho never pressed like Perisic or Coman nor Muller or Gnabry. But when on the ball he played with more confidence due to the presence of Goreztka or Kimmich or Thiago behind him... If FDJ and Pjanic will play dual pivot under Koeman then we could be looking at some good stuff from Coutinho...

I've always defended Countinho, even before the UCL final and when he was loaned. He's very good. That he became unplayable at Barcelona while players like Rakitic and Griezmann were on the field was another proof many things hand to change at the club. A coach like Guardiola would turn Countinho into Iniesta. ...Well, close.

IKON360:

If you were in Setien or Valverde's boots where would you have played Greizman?

What kind of question is this? Mtcheew. Ask a smarter one.

DissTroy:


Coutinho played a free role most times in 2018. But Messi has never really been confined to any one role, not even in 2012 when he played as a CF under Guardiola. He still roamed then but not really to the middle - Iniesta was doing great there. Countinho should have been Iniesta 2.0 - that was the plan but...

Which Coutinho? Played free role?
He was pushed to the left. And that was where his problems started.

DissTroy:


I've always defended Countinho, even before the UCL final and when he was loaned. He's very good. That he became unplayable at Barcelona while players like Rakitic and Griezmann were on the field was another proof many things hand to change at the club. A coach like Guardiola would turn Countinho into Iniesta. ...Well, close.

For one thing, Coutinho never played with Greizman. And Guardiola would not turn Coutinho into any Iniesta. Iniesta tracks back, Iniesta MARKS. Iniesta even gets carded for dangerous lunges. Coutinho doesn't mark, Coutinho can't even follow an opponent till he gets the ball or fouls the guy. At Bayern it was still obvious, Muller was benching him at CAM and Perisic or Coman were preferred at LM. Coutinho is good but he needs no responsibility football to play well.
Guardiola is the king of responsibility football. You can't play for Guardiola if you don't press. That's why Gabriel Jesus was benching Aguero. Aguero was the better finisher but Jesus was pressing far more. Under Guardiola every single player is very good at pressing, from Sane to Sterling to Foden even the two Silvas De Bruyne etc. Coutinho would be benched under Guardiola.

joviegghead:


What kind of question is this? Mtcheew. Ask a smarter one.

It's not a foolish question. You have termed Setien as moronic but I ask you simply, in this Barca with Messi at the right, Suarez as the striker where would you have played Greizman?

IKON360:

[quote author=IKON360 post=93782832]
It's not a foolish question. You have termed Setien as moronic but I ask you simply, in this Barca with Messi at the right, Suarez as the striker where would you have played Greizman?

Griezmann has never been a Barca-esque player, just like Rakitic. He'd score, he assist but he's never been THAT player.

For one thing, Coutinho never played with Greizman.

I never stated he did. I stated clearly that it was odd that Countinho was unplayable while Griezmann was played and I even mention the period - 2018. Everybody knows Griezmann hadn't joined us then. That's deductive thinking.

And Guardiola would not turn Coutinho into any Iniesta. Iniesta tracks back, Iniesta MARKS. Iniesta even gets carded for dangerous lunges. Coutinho doesn't mark, Coutinho can't even follow an opponent till he gets the ball or fouls the guy.

Oh, actually, Guardiola would. See what he did at Barca and, now, Man. City? Who would have believed Aguero and Sterling would track back but Pep made them do it to fit into his team.

At Bayern it was still obvious, Muller was benching him at CAM and Perisic or Coman were preferred at LM. Coutinho is good but he needs no responsibility football to play well. Guardiola is the king of responsibility football. You can't play for Guardiola if you don't press. That's why Gabriel Jesus was benching Aguero. Aguero was the better finisher but Jesus was pressing far more. Under Guardiola every single player is very good at pressing, from Sane to Sterling to Foden even the two Silvas De Bruyne etc. Coutinho would be benched under Guardiola.

Aguero backtracking didn't improve under Guardiola? Same Aguero? Have you been watching the MLS version of Man. City?
Using Bayern to measure Countinho's style of play isn't a fit-for-purpose yardstick. Same Bayern complained they disliked how Pep changed their style of play and reverted to the default immediately he departed from the Allianz Arena. Bayern doesn't play tiki taka which is the style of play Iniesta adhered to all his footballing career. So, why wouldn't Countinho have fit into his shoes if you've watch both play?
In fact, replacing Iniesta was the main reason Barca courted Countinho. The fans kept reiterating he could. Still the only player the fandom has identified as the Iniesta heir. ...And a gazillion reasons abound for that tag.

IKON360:

It's not a foolish question. You have termed Setien as moronic but I ask you simply, in this Barca with Messi at the right, Suarez as the striker where would you have played Greizman?

Since setien was too weak to bench Suarez and give Griezmann a chance in the middle, is it also too much to ask the fool to be bold enough to abandon the 4-3-3 system and play a 4-1-2-1-2 formation? I mean, abandon wing play and play through the middle in the absence of wingers.

Even valverde utilized a 4-4-2 system frequently with Messi and Suarez up front and we thrived a little.

Anyway, he(setien) tried it once or twice after we had surrendered the title to Madrid. It was too late. Afterwards, Griezmann went on injury.

IKON360:

For one thing, Coutinho never played with Greizman. And Guardiola would not turn Coutinho into any Iniesta. Iniesta tracks back, Iniesta MARKS. Iniesta even gets carded for dangerous lunges. Coutinho doesn't mark, Coutinho can't even follow an opponent till he gets the ball or fouls the guy. At Bayern it was still obvious, Muller was benching him at CAM and Perisic or Coman were preferred at LM. Coutinho is good but he needs no responsibility football to play well.
Guardiola is the king of responsibility football. You can't play for Guardiola if you don't press. That's why Gabriel Jesus was benching Aguero. Aguero was the better finisher but Jesus was pressing far more. Under Guardiola every single player is very good at pressing, from Sane to Sterling to Foden even the two Silvas De Bruyne etc. Coutinho would be benched under Guardiola.

Aguero started tracking back. If not for injury G.Jesus would still be on the bench.

[quote author=DissTroy post=93784165][/quote]

Rakitic was a crucial player at Barca. From his arrival till his departure Rakitic was crucial to Barca. You remember he was a crucial and consistent starter during Enrique's time and Valverde's time at Barca. So saying he isn't Barca-esque us wrong.

Valverde played Coutinho for over 29 or more matches, man didn't track back nor press well. Let's not talk about the entertainment at Anfield where he and Alba built express on their wing for Trent Arnold to enjoy. Guardiola doesn't have that kind of patience. If you don't give him what he wants you are benched.
Who in Bayern complained about Guardiola? Lahm? Lewandowski? Robben? Ribery? Who? Guardiola guided them to unusual levels of excellence and was just unfortunate to keep losing at Semi finals of the UCL.
And I don't see Coutinho being any heir to any Iniesta throne. He should play his beat football for 30 matches and remove shame from our faces. And any wing that can help him do that, no problem. But I am certain that it would be hard to give him a free role without responsibilities in this team.

Sommyroy10:
Aguero started tracking back. If not for injury G.Jesus would still be on the bench.

Initially Aguero was neither tracking back nor pressing. But he was always the better striker. So as he improved his pressing and tracking he would naturally bench Jesus

joviegghead:

Since setien was too weak to bench Suarez and give Griezmann a chance in the middle, is it also too much to ask the fool to be bold enough to abandon the 4-3-3 system and play a 4-1-2-1-2 formation? I mean, abandon wing play and play through the middle in the absence of wingers.

Even valverde utilized a 4-4-2 system frequently with Messi and Suarez up front and we thrived a little.

Anyway, he(setien) tried it once or twice after we had surrendered the title to Madrid. It was too late. Afterwards, Griezmann went on injury.

We used both formations you suggested, it was a mixed result. Fans cried to revert to 433.

joviegghead:

Since setien was too weak to bench Suarez and give Griezmann a chance in the middle, is it also too much to ask the fool to be bold enough to abandon the 4-3-3 system and play a 4-1-2-1-2 formation? I mean, abandon wing play and play through the middle in the absence of wingers.

Even valverde utilized a 4-4-2 system frequently with Messi and Suarez up front and we thrived a little.

Anyway, he(setien) tried it once or twice after we had surrendered the title to Madrid. It was too late. Afterwards, Griezmann went on injury.

Dude, between Valverde and Setien who do you dislike more? Lol

Well I think the first problem was, why was Greizman signed? The attempt at signing Depay is far more sensible than the signing of Greizman. Setien was too cowardly and the powers that be made it harder for him

In other news, Higuain's contract with Juventus has been terminated today. So Suarez to Juventus may still be possible... And we can use the light change to sign Depay

IKON360:

Initially Aguero was neither tracking back nor pressing. But he was always the better striker. So as he improved his pressing and tracking he would naturally bench Jesus

Exactly our point, Coutinho pressing can be worked on. In the National team, Coutinho is not always lackadaisical when not with ball or looses the ball, in fact he do track back.

IKON360:
In other news, Higuain's contract with Juventus has been terminated today. So Suarez to Juventus may still be possible... And we can use the light change to sign Depay

Juve might not pay more than 3mil for Suarez that's if they are going to pay anything.

Sommyroy10:
Juve might not pay more than 3mil for Suarez that's if they are going to pay anything.

Na light change. Let it come. Depay won't be a terrible buy. He is cheaper, far cheaper than Lautaro Martinez.

Sommyroy10:
Exactly our point, Coutinho pressing can be worked on. In the National team, Coutinho is not always lackadaisical when not with ball or looses the ball, in fact he do track back.

Coutinho has an opportunity to impress under Koeman. I pray this signals a turn around in fortunes for him. It would be so good to see him thriving in the team, confident and dangerous

Sommyroy10:
We used both formations you suggested, it was a mixed result. Fans cried to revert to 433.

Under setien? Nope!
Do you remember the game we scored 5 goals?
That was like the first time the fool played a double strike force with Suarez and Griezmann. Messi played behind.

That match is still our best match this season. That match was glorious to watch. The attacking football I saw that day was something else. He tried it again next match. The result wasn't like the first. I guess we faced a defensive side. Next thing, Barca reverted back to 4-3-3.

IKON360:

Dude, between Valverde and Setien who do you dislike more? Lol

Well I think the first problem was, why was Greizman signed? The attempt at signing Depay is far more sensible than the signing of Greizman. Setien was too cowardly and the powers that be made it harder for him

Na setien o. In fact, I'm confused.


No! It's setien. That man knows nothing. Valverde is dull, setien a dead brain.

IKON360:


Rakitic was a crucial player at Barca. From his arrival till his departure Rakitic was crucial to Barca. You remember he was a crucial and consistent starter during Enrique's time and Valverde's time at Barca. So saying he isn't Barca-esque us wrong.

You still don't get it. It's because since Luis Enrique, Barca deviated from tiki taka. Rakitic wouldn't have fit into that system. Valverde was from freaking Athletic Bilbao - completely different style of play to Barca. It's like saying Varane getting play time at Madrid and getting good statistics makes him a Barca-esque player. Rakitic, Arda Turan, Griezmann... They should never have been in a Barca first team in the first place.

Valverde played Coutinho for over 29 or more matches, man didn't track back nor press well. Let's not talk about the entertainment at Anfield where he and Alba built express on their wing for Trent Arnold to enjoy. Guardiola doesn't have that kind of patience. If you don't give him what he wants you are benched.

Same Valverde who nearly turned Barca to Athletico Madrid, but with less brute? Like the tiki taka is only about tracking back. Compared to Griezmann or Rakitic, Countinho can dictate the pace and mode of play in a heartbeat - accurate passes, dribbles, stall, pressure defenders.... That's mostly what made Iniesta unique. Countinho plays like an ATM, same as Iniesta. Not a CM or DM like Xavi. Iniesta never tracked back as much as Xavi did.

Who in Bayern complained about Guardiola? Lahm? Lewandowski? Robben? Ribery? Who? Guardiola guided them to unusual levels of excellence and was just unfortunate to keep losing at Semi finals of the UCL.

Most people at Bayern did after Guardiola left, even the fans while he was there. The complain basically was Pep was trying to make a Barca 2.0 from scratch instead adapting to what they already had. In fact, after winning the last UCL weeks ago, fans were saying the style of play was basically who they are. It took them time to shed off most of Pep's philosophy. Countinho would thrive under Pep.

And I don't see Coutinho being any heir to any Iniesta throne. He should play his beat football for 30 matches and remove shame from our faces. And any wing that can help him do that, no problem. But I am certain that it would be hard to give him a free role without responsibilities in this team.

Well, to be fair to Countinho, Iniesta set the bar too high but Countinho would be the closest we can get to Iniesta 2.0. Not exact but close. It's like trying to get a Messi or Xavi heir. The closest to Messi is Neymar. Certainly not exact but the closest football offers.

Luis Suarez is studying to take his Italian exam next week. There are no doubts, Juventus are working day and night on this deal. @romeoagresti via @juvefcdotcom #Mercato ��⚪️⚫️⏳

CuteMercury:
I swear!!!! If Suarez don't leave Barcelona This season, it will be very very very very difficult for Barcelona to win a trophy.

He has paid his dues but mehn!!! Suarez will give many Barca fans heart attack and high blood pressure this new season. This dude is a forking disaster.

Actually barca don't have enough money to buy a new 9.
Suarez move to juve is being hindered by passport issues
Athletico will likely not match his wages
No club will pay more than 5million pounds to buy him

All this compounded together is the reason Suarez might be in a barca shirt this season

joviegghead:

Under setien? Nope!
Do you remember the game we scored 5 goals?
That was like the first time the fool played a double strike force with Suarez and Griezmann. Messi played behind.

That match is still our best match this season. That match was glorious to watch. The attacking football I saw that day was something else. He tried it again next match. The result wasn't like the first. I guess we faced a defensive side. Next thing, Barca reverted back to 4-3-3.

Nah bro.....our top 3 matches this season were all under Valverde.
1. vs Mallorca... where Suarez scored that back heel

2. vs Betis...5-2 also Griezmann's best match ever

3. vs Valencia...5-2....tho Setien's best ever was the last league match, I think against alaves 5-0.

DissTroy:

You still don't get it. It's because since Luis Enrique, Barca deviated from tiki taka. Rakitic wouldn't have fit into that system. Valverde was from freaking Athletic Bilbao - completely different style of play to Barca. It's like saying Varane getting play time at Madrid and getting good statistics makes him a Barca-esque player. Rakitic, Arda Turan, Griezmann... They should never have been in a Barca first team in the first place.


Same Valverde who nearly turned Barca to Athletico Madrid, but with less brute? Like the tiki taka is only about tracking back. Compared to Griezmann or Rakitic, Countinho can dictate the pace and mode of play in a heartbeat - accurate passes, dribbles, stall, pressure defenders.... That's mostly what made Iniesta unique. Countinho plays like an ATM, same as Iniesta. Not a CM or DM like Xavi. Iniesta never tracked back as much as Xavi did.

Most people at Bayern did after Guardiola left, even the fans while he was there. The complain basically was Pep was trying to make a Barca 2.0 from scratch instead adapting to what they already had. In fact, after winning the last UCL weeks ago, fans were saying the style of play was basically who they are. It took them time to shed off most of Pep's philosophy. Countinho would thrive under Pep.

Well, to be fair to Countinho, Iniesta set the bar too high but Countinho would be the closest we can get to Iniesta 2.0. Not exact but close. It's like trying to get a Messi or Xavi heir. The closest to Messi is Neymar. Certainly not exact but the closest football offers.

Oh well. I still think that Rakitic thrived under Enrique's style of play. And he would have thrived under Guardiola but not as a starter. Aside that Barca's biggest problem has been the board. Not the coaches but the board. There are many players that can press while offering Iniesta's dribbling, ball carrying and passing as at that time. Bernardo Silva, Isco, even Pogba, Cazorla, Thiago of Bayern and many others. Coutinho played too differently from Iniesta to be anything like Iniesta

haymekus:
Luis Suarez is studying to take his Italian exam next week. There are no doubts, Juventus are working day and night on this deal. @romeoagresti via @juvefcdotcom #Mercato ��⚪️⚫️⏳

Higuain has left so Suarez is on his way to Juventus. Anything Juventus give us, we go collect

arabmoney14:

Actually barca don't have enough money to buy a new 9.
Suarez move to juve is being hindered by passport issues
Athletico will likely not match his wages
No club will pay more than 5million pounds to buy him

All this compounded together is the reason Suarez might be in a barca shirt this season

Suarez is going. Higuain has left and even if Suarez is going for free, that's good too.

Have you seen how much Frenkie De Jong earns at Barca?

Moura7:



Nah bro.....our top 3 matches this season were all under Valverde.
1. vs Mallorca... where Suarez scored that back heel

2. vs Betis...5-2 also Griezmann's best match ever

3. vs Valencia...5-2....tho Setien's best ever was the last league match, I think against alaves 5-0.

I think it was the Valencia match.
I just know the game was interesting. The best I've seen in a long time. Forget scoreline.

IKON360:

Suarez is going. Higuain has left and even if Suarez is going for free, that's good too.

Have you seen how much Frenkie De Jong earns at Barca?

how much?

DancingSkeleton:
how much?

Man's the 3rd highest earner in the club

joviegghead:

I think it was the Valencia match.
I just know the game was interesting. The best I've seen in a long time. Forget scoreline.

You are talking about the Villareal match. It ended 4-1.

IKON360:

Man's the 3rd highest earner in the club

This is one of the reason I love florentino perez