Adiwana:


Let me first start by addressing Benzema.That guy will fit into our system by far because he's very good in link up play.Just that many will prefer Suarez to him because generally Suarez is a better Striker and frankly he sucks but believe me that if he was in Barca,Suarez will heavily step up.This is because he can offer the same services Suarez can offer just that he's still heavily lacking in the striking dept.

Suarez is playing shiit,missing goals and is not really bothered because he knows that Paco and Munir are not really a threat and that Barca board,Coaching staff and players really like him.So he's not playing as if something is at stake.Watching him play for Uruguay shows he's really a beast.He and Cavani heavily complement one another.He has the same partnership with Messi.So why is he not delivering??Because he doesn't see the need to and there's no extra pressure because Messi carries it all and the coaches are afraid to substitute him for whatever reason.its really sad


Then on the issue of Rakitic,am sure he won't really mind dropping out of a few games.Besides we can't use because of what a contract stipulates and play him even when hes not in form and not really performing to his standard.And the issue here is not even his form,just that he needs rest.As I already pointed out,Lopetegui did it on Modric.Rested him for a lot of games.He was brought in some matches due to how bad they performed.If Madrid were on form,Modric won't have seen game time.This really gave opportunity to Ceballos to gain that confidence.Modric is back and is slowly getting back to his old self.Rakitic really needs it and we also need it so that he will be back to his best when the season really gets tougher


Lastly on the issue of Coutinho,Valverde substitutes a Winger and replaces him with a left midfielder and still maintains same attacking play.He will definitely struggle because the manager is not changing his game plan with the substitution made so it means he's dropping in into that role of Dembele.Because if he did the necessary changes in his game plan,Countinho will be bringing play into the midfield other not outside to go play crosses


Take Iniesta for example.Neymar/Pedro/Villa were never substituted for him.He played behind the left winger(Neymar) and he was allowed that freedom to dribble and contribute to the game play.Same thing with Brazil.Coutinho operates behind Neymar and is never asked to play that role by removing Neymar because that is not his role.So Valverde cannot remove Dembele and ask Coutinho to operate in "half space" because it simply doesn't exist.Theres no attacking player in front of him,so by default he has to either fill in that role of attacking which by nature is not his game or simply play in his natural position which then pegs the team to operate in a 4-4-2 system


Now remember in other for him to operate in that half space,he must have a player in front of him and behind.That will free him up to operate.He cannot be operating if hes thinking about his defensive or attacking duties.Hes simply not playing him here because he uses a system of Box-to-Box (Paulinho,Vidal),a DM(Busquet) and a CM (Rakitic).So there's basically no room since Messi must operate in either that no 10 role in front of Suarez or as RW in which a natural LW in Dembele comes in.So in other for Countinho to fit into the system he will drop Vidal

thumbs up bro...I like the way you analyse...it's spot on, insightful and in-depth

Up barca for life

Long live barca
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Long live messi + the players

Treble this season amen

Pls I really need help from you guys, Am David true born barca fan

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Coutinho's problem now isn't whether is playing on the wing or in midfield. He is off form and is poor in his decision making. He dribbles when he is to pass and vice versa. He is so pragmatic with his technique; takes some touches, dribbles across the defence and takes the customary shot into the top right corner. Everybody is familiar with that. He is more like a puppet that has one trick and would keep trying it till he gets a treat. What we get now is that he dribbles too much, stop plays and take silly shots. And mind you, he doesn't need to play so up field to take crosses. Alba has been much of a left back/left winger in recent times and does a lot of work on the left wing.
It's a healthy competition btw arthur, vidal, dembele and coutinho. When vidal and dembele are on the pitch, d team is better defensively. You can see the in the second half when coutinho, messi, suarez and arthur were on d pitch at d same time, we ceded more possession and could have leaked goals if we were against a better team.

As for suarez, he isn't relaxed because he doesn't have competition. He works a lot on the pitch and vents frustration when he isn't getting the goals. 11 goals and 5 assists isn't bad anyway.
Rakitic is and will always remain an essential part of d team. He had a good performance yesterday and i didn't notice any sign of fatigue and moreover, we don't have any match until january 6 and i think that's enough rest. If we're not clamouring for busquets to be rested, we shouldn't be so bent on resting rakitic.

IKON360:

Coutinho doesn't play as a winger in Barcelona, in fact he has never been a winger, he is not pacey enough and he rarely crosses, Mourinho called him a fake left midfielder, and if you've watched Coutinho operate from the left, he utilises "half spaces" the little space between the right back and the right centre back. However for him to be effective he needs his confidence, his last very good match was against Tottenham, he played rather well utilising the half spaces and pinging lofted passes to Munir. The coach is giving him matches sha, I believe its just a phase and he will get better.
.
Please never in your life compare Benzema with Suarez. Besides the only striker in the top 10 goal scorers in Europe that scored so far this weekend is Aubameyang, Lewandowski didn't score, Lacazette nor Aguero nor Cavani scored but Suarez doesn't and you people are complaining na wa o.
.
Rakitic has a clause in his contract that states he must start any match as long as he is fit, someone on this thread pointed it out. Shey Arthur and Alena and Coutinho played, we won with a clean sheet. What's the problem with Valverde now?

You need to start seeing Suarez for the striker he is at the moment.

I think very soon i am going to have beef with all these "Coutinho out" apostles.

What da fuuuuuck!

tesppidd:
I think very soon i am going to have beef with all these "Coutinho out" apostles.

What da fuuuuuck!

When he offers sh#t he should not be called out?

stuff46:


When he offers sh#t he should not be called out?

It is not totally his fault, i know he isn't in form, but then he's never gonna have the legs to play as a left winger...he must be accommodated as a left midfielder.

10Dove:
It is not totally his fault, i know he isn't in form, but then he's never gonna have the legs to play as a left winger...he must be accommodated as a left midfielder.

He has got to put in some really impressive performance to be on par with persons on that position (Vidal and Arthur are really doing nice). That is actually a no go zone at the moment except after the break if he improves.

Vidal and Arthur can be moved to accommodate him.

10Dove:
You need to start seeing Suarez for the striker he is at the moment.

leave Suarez alone na, oya who do you want us to replace him with? Please don't say Richarlison or Benzema

stuff46:


He has got to put in some really impressive performance to be on par with persons on that position (Vidal and Arthur are really doing nice). That is actually a no go zone at the moment except after the break if he improves.

Vidal and Arthur can be moved to accommodate him.

do you know that our worst matches this season were matches we played Coutinho Dembele Messi and Suarez, those matches we lost. Busquets has always been slow, we don't have ball retainers like Xavi or Iniesta, but we have good markers like Rakitic or Vidal, so these with Arthur or Busi can play well. Coutinho is NOT a central midfielder, never has and never will, Barcelona play with two box to box central midfielders and one defensive midfielder. Please if Coutinho doesn't want to improve let him remain on bench.

tesppidd:
I think very soon i am going to have beef with all these "Coutinho out" apostles.

What da fuuuuuck!

finally its just a phase, he will get better, he's just off form and for now Dembele is better than Coutinho.

ayoalani:
Coutinho's problem now isn't whether is playing on the wing or in midfield. He is off form and is poor in his decision making. He dribbles when he is to pass and vice versa. He is so pragmatic with his technique; takes some touches, dribbles across the defence and takes the customary shot into the top right corner. Everybody is familiar with that. He is more like a puppet that has one trick and would keep trying it till he gets a treat. What we get now is that he dribbles too much, stop plays and take silly shots. And mind you, he doesn't need to play so up field to take crosses. Alba has been much of a left back/left winger in recent times and does a lot of work on the left wing.
It's a healthy competition btw arthur, vidal, dembele and coutinho. When vidal and dembele are on the pitch, d team is better defensively. You can see the in the second half when coutinho, messi, suarez and arthur were on d pitch at d same time, we ceded more possession and could have leaked goals if we were against a better team.

At barca only value players when they leave us.

Coutinho started off very well but has had a bad couple of months and what do hear?

Coutinho out!!!

We know Coutinho's talent and he's only passed 26.
EV should continue giving him game time until he gets back his mojo.(Not at the expense of Dembele, but 20 to 25 minutes is OK)



But am not really surprised with all of the castigation and the "Coutinho out" movement which is beginning to show face.

After all there was a time some years ago when some people on this thread wanted Messi sold for losing form for about 3 months or so.

Yes am not halucinating, there was once a "Messi out" movement on this thread.

IKON360:

finally its just a phase, he will get better, he's just off form and for now Dembele is better than Coutinho.

So you would keep a player like Coutinho for 90 minutes on the bench because of Dembele?

You guys are jokers!

Put Coutinho on the market now, and watch big clubs like Man U, PSG or Inter chase him for 80 million and more.

tesppidd:
So you would keep a player like Coutinho for 90 minutes on the bench because of Dembele?

You guys are jokers!

Put Coutinho on the market now, and watch big clubs like Man U, PSG or Inter chase him for 80 million and more.

guy calm down and understand my post na, when Dembele was off form earlier this season, I never advocated for him to be sold rather he had to change his mentality and work hard. See Dembele now, even if he doesn't contribute to attacks at least he tracks back and helps in linking play and offering support to the midfield. Coutinho is easily our most talented young player, but he is just off for now. He will still get better, maybe he needs rest or he is distracted or maybe he isn't working hard enough, but he is going no where. Its just form, sometimes its on sometimes its off. But he will get better.

Am not advocating for Coutinho to start games.

But he must be in the mix despite his current poor form. On his day Coutinho is only second to Messi technically in our squad.


Play him 90 minutes against some lowly teams and maybe 25 minutes as a sub in big games.

EV must not abandon Coutinho.

EV must support him to rediscover his form.

IKON360:

leave Suarez alone na, oya who do you want us to replace him with? Please don't say Richarlison or Benzema

No mind them

I still wonder why people call Richarlison,they think barca is an average team?

So because someone has scored 8 goals so far in everton this season means he his barca standard? some people are just so funny bro

As for benzema,suarez with one leg is better than a benzema with 2 legs

Abeg leave those people make dem dey complain

tesppidd:
Am not advocating for Coutinho to start games.

But he must be in the mix despite his current poor form. On his day Coutinho is only second to Messi technically in our squad.


Play him 90 minutes against some lowly teams and maybe 25 minutes as a sub in big games.

EV must not abandon Coutinho.

EV must support him to rediscover his form.

well you already know that EV will always start Suarez and Messi, leaving the other option between Dembele and/or Coutinho, Coutinho is still playing sha but by next year, he will turn up. I'm sure.

tesppidd:
Am not advocating for Coutinho to start games.

But he must be in the mix despite his current poor form. On his day Coutinho is only second to Messi technically in our squad.


Play him 90 minutes against some lowly teams and maybe 25 minutes as a sub in big games.

EV must not abandon Coutinho.

EV must support him to rediscover his form.

Only people who dont know about football will say coutinho out,those ones are beer parlour barca fans

If dembele is not playing well coutinho should easily be starting, Do you think coutinho still have a place in barca midfield?

But i dont see EV dropping any of his midfielders.

andrew444:


No mind them

I still wonder why people call Richarlison,they think barca is an average team?

So because someone has scored 8 goals so far in everton this season means he his barca standard? some people are just so funny bro

As for benzema,suarez with one leg is better than a benzema with 2 legs

Abeg leave those people make dem dey complain

lol, that's what I've been trying to say since, Suarez is bad ok. But nobody can name 5 strikers better than him. In yesterday's final against Al Ain, Madrid's best player was Modric. Benzema didn't even score. The only striker in my eyes that can replace Suarez is G. Jesus or Lacazette but Man city nor Arsenal will sell them to us. Lewandowski is 30+, Aguero 30+, Cavani 30+, Tottenham won't sell Kane, we can't sign Firmino, Morata is a sham of a striker. Diego Costa has one league goal this season. But we have Suarez yet Barca fans are complaining, na wa o. It could be worse, so much worse.

andrew444:


Only people who dont know about football will say coutinho out,those ones are beer parlour barca fans

If dembele is not playing well coutinho should easily be starting, Do you think coutinho still have a place in barca midfield?

But i dont see EV dropping any of his midfielders.

the way Vidal is starting ahead of Arthur is even strange, Arthur keeps the ball easy and simple, this non chalant effectiveness in possession, but Vidal's energy is relentless and we are conceding less and less. Coutinho has no place in that midfield. I even prefer Alena to start in that midfield ahead of Coutinho. Coutinho is better than Dembele but on current form, Dembele has to start.

IKON360:

do you know that our worst matches this season were matches we played Coutinho Dembele Messi and Suarez, those matches we lost. Busquets has always been slow, we don't have ball retainers like Xavi or Iniesta, but we have good markers like Rakitic or Vidal, so these with Arthur or Busi can play well. Coutinho is NOT a central midfielder, never has and never will, Barcelona play with two box to box central midfielders and one defensive midfielder. Please if Coutinho doesn't want to improve let him remain on bench.

What did I just say?

IKON360:

the way Vidal is starting ahead of Arthur is even strange, Arthur keeps the ball easy and simple, this non chalant effectiveness in possession, but Vidal's energy is relentless and we are conceding less and less. Coutinho has no place in that midfield. I even prefer Alena to start in that midfield ahead of Coutinho. Coutinho is better than Dembele but on current form, Dembele has to start.

I agree with you

But why do you say the way vidal is starting ahead of arthur is strange? Is vidal not playing well?

Please explain bro

stuff46:

What did I just say?

you were opining that one of Arthur or Vidal be dropped for Coutinho

andrew444:


No mind them

I still wonder why people call Richarlison,they think barca is an average team?

So because someone has scored 8 goals so far in everton this season means he his barca standard? some people are just so funny bro

As for benzema,suarez with one leg is better than a benzema with 2 legs

Abeg leave those people make dem dey complain

What makes Suarez better than Karim?

IKON360:

lol, that's what I've been trying to say since, Suarez is bad ok. But nobody can name 5 strikers better than him. In yesterday's final against Al Ain, Madrid's best player was Modric. Benzema didn't even score. The only striker in my eyes that can replace Suarez is G. Jesus or Lacazette but Man city nor Arsenal will sell them to us. Lewandowski is 30+, Aguero 30+, Cavani 30+, Tottenham won't sell Kane, we can't sign Firmino, Morata is a sham of a striker. Diego Costa has one league goal this season. But we have Suarez yet Barca fans are complaining, na wa o. It could be worse, so much worse.

Morata no b player nah,that one just get luck because he came from madrid youth

Gabriel Jesus is not bad sha....But i prefer lacazette but we aint getting any of those player

IKON360:

lol, that's what I've been trying to say since, Suarez is bad ok. But nobody can name 5 strikers better than him. In yesterday's final against Al Ain, Madrid's best player was Modric. Benzema didn't even score. The only striker in my eyes that can replace Suarez is G. Jesus or Lacazette but Man city nor Arsenal will sell them to us. Lewandowski is 30+, Aguero 30+, Cavani 30+, Tottenham won't sell Kane, we can't sign Firmino, Morata is a sham of a striker. Diego Costa has one league goal this season. But we have Suarez yet Barca fans are complaining, na wa o. It could be worse, so much worse.

As it stands now you would pick Gabriel ahead of Richardlisson?
Man you are a joker

taiocol:

What makes Suarez better than Karim?

Wikipedia and google is there for you bro.....The last time i checked stats can judge a player

Go and check that for suarez and benzema

andrew444:


Wikipedia and google is there for you bro.....The last time i checked stats can judge a player

Go and check that for suarez and benzema

Funny Barca fans, when the stats favor you guys you remember stats can judge a player when it doesn't favour it's the opposite

taiocol:



As it stands now you would pick Gabriel ahead of Richardlisson?
Man you are a joker

Is Richarlison a striker? the last time i checked he played from the flank at watford, so because he has scored 8 goals this season he is a better striker? he only started playing as a striker at everton

Is it not the same richarlison that scored only 5 goals in 38 epl games last season?

taiocol:

Funny Barca fans, when the stats favor you guys you remember stats can judge a player when it doesn't favour it's the opposite

Lol you cannot even do a simple mathematics

Go and check benzema goals and appearance and compare it to suarez own, let me give you small clue

Luis suarez has played 146 laliga games and scored 121 goals

Benzema has played 292 laliga games and 133 laliga goals

Benzema has score 12 more goals than suarez and before suarez arrive laliga benzema has already played for madrid for 5 seasons , LOL

Oga as far as you are a striker stats and goals will judge you benzema nor suarez is not a defensive midfielder or defender so please stop saying trash if you have no clue of what to say.

I am not here to make meaninless arguement with you.

taiocol:



As it stands now you would pick Gabriel ahead of Richardlisson?
Man you are a joker

thanks, let's use last world cup, who went and who didn't?
Sha let's use current form, mind you we are comparing strikers not players generally, but strikers. Now tell me, how is Richalison a better striker than Gabriel? Striker o!!