Soldato
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Seriously some of the theatrics in this game is just a joke, Pepe then went down like he'd been hit by a train!
European Football Leagues 2012-13 [Spain/France/Italy/Germany/other]
- Thread starter Robbo
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Caporegime
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It's all well and good giving Ronaldo and Di Maria space if Real haven't got the ball but you don't give Alonso time and space to find them when they do. Tactically retarded football.
This has been about the most comfortable victory against Barcelona I can remember, it's been so easy for Madrid to both score and defend against them. Still have no idea what's going to happen next Tuesday, if Di Maria keeps up this form though he could single-handily tear us a new one 
Caporegime
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Same old, Barcelona have been moving towards an incredibly single minded way of playing football for a couple of years, and its gotten increasingly predictable and limited. They can't seem to do anything if Messi isn't at his best, which he wasn't for any of the games Barca have looked poor in. Messi was barely moving tonight, zero closing down when they lost possession, when Barca had the ball he was just standing still by Real players, or walking very slowly towards space, his passing and running with the ball wasn't good at all.
The absolute inability for their main striker to work the back line throughout a game is one of their main problems. The team look utterly lost when Messi isn't on it, as I've said before, building a team so completely and utterly around one player can benefit that player while also harming the team.
Barca were terrible defensively mostly because, Pique is retarded in most games, Alba was vastly over rated in the past couple seasons, and Alves isn't actually too bad defensively when he can be bothered. Puyol is normally so good it makes up for Pique being rubbish, when Puyol has a bad game as he had today, the defense looks a shambles. Spending money on Mascherano, then Song, when all they needed the whole time was a top notch CB is ridiculous, they still don't need either of those two players and still desparately need a CB, and realistically with Puyol being so injury prone lately, and coming to the end of his career, its 2 cb's now.
The absolute inability for their main striker to work the back line throughout a game is one of their main problems. The team look utterly lost when Messi isn't on it, as I've said before, building a team so completely and utterly around one player can benefit that player while also harming the team.
Barca were terrible defensively mostly because, Pique is retarded in most games, Alba was vastly over rated in the past couple seasons, and Alves isn't actually too bad defensively when he can be bothered. Puyol is normally so good it makes up for Pique being rubbish, when Puyol has a bad game as he had today, the defense looks a shambles. Spending money on Mascherano, then Song, when all they needed the whole time was a top notch CB is ridiculous, they still don't need either of those two players and still desparately need a CB, and realistically with Puyol being so injury prone lately, and coming to the end of his career, its 2 cb's now.
Soldato
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Barca is without a coach for quite some time now, some keep ignoring this...
.Yes and also good defenders.
Real were very, very good tonight, playing that well I'm not sure there are many sides in the world that would have gotten a better result against a side playing that well. Barcelona were no where near their best.
I expect the 'rematch' on Saturday to be really dull considering Real have all but given up in the league. However, it should be a cracking match in Europe against Manchester United and against AC Milan! Barcelona have got to pick themselves up and find some form again.
Real were very, very good tonight, playing that well I'm not sure there are many sides in the world that would have gotten a better result against a side playing that well. Barcelona were no where near their best.
I expect the 'rematch' on Saturday to be really dull considering Real have all but given up in the league. However, it should be a cracking match in Europe against Manchester United and against AC Milan! Barcelona have got to pick themselves up and find some form again.
This, since Villanova has been off with his illness. Barca dont look anywhere as good as they normally are as was shown by their defeat to AC last week and now this loss to Real.
I thought anyone could manage Barcelona thoughthat's what people say? That it's hard to not be successful with a team that good? Eh? Eh?
Dont know about that tbh but under Jordi Roura they dont look anywhere as good as they normally do.
One thing is for sure, Barca need some decent defenders especially when they play against the better teams in Europe. Pique has been awful lately, perhaps its his newborn baby that was born a few weeks ago iirc from Shakira that has his attention elsewhere
. In the AC game he was bloody terrible to say the least.That is what people on here / the media say though isn't it? So why isn't Jordi Roura making them win games if 'anyone' can manage a team that good?
Once again, nonsense.
I also, largely agree, that the drop in form has come at the same time as their head coach isn't here but according to people that shouldn't be an issue?
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Once again, nonsense.
I also, largely agree, that the drop in form has come at the same time as their head coach isn't here but according to people that shouldn't be an issue?
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Caporegime
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They aren't playing any differently, same tactical decisions as under Tito and since the start of the season. People are just figuring out how to play against them, in part, the other part is Puyol's form has been pretty terrible, and Messi has finally had some useless games, and in doing so, everyone else's on going issues are shown up. Pedro hasn't been in good form for basically 2 years, Villa barely gets a game, Iniesta misses most of his shots and Messi stays FAR to deep for the main striker.
Barca haven't changed in the past two months, their one dimensional tactics and style of the past 18 months is simply so predictable teams are finally adapting to them.
No one here knows how involved Tito was BEFORE his cancer or since. Some managers take every training session and every motivational speech, some do neither, a manager isn't a specific job, its a role that most managers do differently. Wenger by all accounts won't let Bould train the defence as Bould see's fit, other managers barely take any training sessions.
As for people saying anyone can manage a great team, it should be quantified as most people say anyone who doesn't do completely stupid crap, can manage a top team pretty easily, keep the ball rolling is a large part of the job when you take over a successful team, that isn't the same as saying a crap manager can manage a great team and still be successful.
The fact is Barcelona may have had some absurd results and a great run of form in terms of winning, but at the same stage last year they had 12 clean sheets in the league already, this year they have 5. The results are one thing, but they have frequently gone behind this year, they have frequently had late goals to win games, they've had less thrashings of teams, they've been closer to a bunch of losses this year, even if they snatched the win at the end, than last year.
Their overall performances have frequently been worse, despite getting the wins, they've failed to dominate more games and let comparitively worse teams give them more trouble.
They've got more points, but they've played worse football for HUGE spells of games than they did last year, and most definitely the year before.
So Tito, the football hasn't changed in the past 2 months, just the results, the theory that anyone at all can manage, no, the theory has always basically been that winning at Barca doesn't automatically make you a great manager. I think if you look at the Guardiola "is he good" thread, the general opinions were either, he's the best ever, or he took over the best club, he MIGHT be great, he's not proven it, it takes less to take over Barca and win a title than to take over Athletico and win the title.
Compared to last year Barca have conceded 28 goals vs 18 at the same point(roughly) in the season, noticeably worse, they've scored less at home but WAY more away, away last year was where they sucked, 45 goals home and 20 away, this years its 42 and 40, massive massive difference away from home.
They've been worse as a team, and worse defensively but also found their scoring boots away from home.
Except for Messi and his ridiculous scoring record, I don't think there is another Barca player who has played at the same level they did last year.
Barca haven't changed in the past two months, their one dimensional tactics and style of the past 18 months is simply so predictable teams are finally adapting to them.
No one here knows how involved Tito was BEFORE his cancer or since. Some managers take every training session and every motivational speech, some do neither, a manager isn't a specific job, its a role that most managers do differently. Wenger by all accounts won't let Bould train the defence as Bould see's fit, other managers barely take any training sessions.
As for people saying anyone can manage a great team, it should be quantified as most people say anyone who doesn't do completely stupid crap, can manage a top team pretty easily, keep the ball rolling is a large part of the job when you take over a successful team, that isn't the same as saying a crap manager can manage a great team and still be successful.
The fact is Barcelona may have had some absurd results and a great run of form in terms of winning, but at the same stage last year they had 12 clean sheets in the league already, this year they have 5. The results are one thing, but they have frequently gone behind this year, they have frequently had late goals to win games, they've had less thrashings of teams, they've been closer to a bunch of losses this year, even if they snatched the win at the end, than last year.
Their overall performances have frequently been worse, despite getting the wins, they've failed to dominate more games and let comparitively worse teams give them more trouble.
They've got more points, but they've played worse football for HUGE spells of games than they did last year, and most definitely the year before.
So Tito, the football hasn't changed in the past 2 months, just the results, the theory that anyone at all can manage, no, the theory has always basically been that winning at Barca doesn't automatically make you a great manager. I think if you look at the Guardiola "is he good" thread, the general opinions were either, he's the best ever, or he took over the best club, he MIGHT be great, he's not proven it, it takes less to take over Barca and win a title than to take over Athletico and win the title.
Compared to last year Barca have conceded 28 goals vs 18 at the same point(roughly) in the season, noticeably worse, they've scored less at home but WAY more away, away last year was where they sucked, 45 goals home and 20 away, this years its 42 and 40, massive massive difference away from home.
They've been worse as a team, and worse defensively but also found their scoring boots away from home.
Except for Messi and his ridiculous scoring record, I don't think there is another Barca player who has played at the same level they did last year.
Tend to agree with most of this to be frank. Teams are just starting to wise up to Barcelonas style. I am bored of watching them most of the time and to be honest, Barca's players almost look bored at the moment.
The spanish leagues style of play is very receptive to their type of football but Europe has plenty of teams that have the discipline and counter attacking style to combat it. I'm quite pleased really because there was little enjoyment in watching Barcelona camp 25 yards from another teams goal while they pass it 100 times whilst slowly creeping backwards and forwards.