Pavel Buchnevich
Drury and Laviolette Must Go
Ligue 1 = Best league in the world
They call it Ligue 1 for a reason.
Ligue 1 = Best league in the world
This reminds me of Netherlands-Spain from World Cup 2014.
xG models had Dortmund with a far bigger advantage over Benfica than PSG had over Barca tonight. I am mad.
See you next year I guess. Could easily overcome a 2-0 deficit, even a 3-0 could be overcome but a 4-0 just too much.
I guess PSG played their best game in a decade and we were not ready for it. We were just blown away by the intensity and play of PSG, we played bad but nothing to take away from PSG who were just miles better.
Some heads need to roll after today's game.
We are going through, as long as there aren't any big defensive errors in leg 2 and Ederson doesn't steal them another game. I saw possession was like 60-40 for us in the away leg, crazy for an okay team like Benfica to be outplayed so badly at home. Speaks to the Dortmund performance. Should've been no less than 2-1 or 3-1 Dortmund.
And Barcelona is so soft. Almost as soft as Arsenal. They need more height, more toughness, someone willing to put in a tackle.
No they're not, and no they don't.
I know everyone has this idea of what Barcelona must play like, but don't you think playing that way eventually takes a toll on the defensive side of the game? At their best, Barcelona could play that way because no one could take the ball from them.
Now, they aren't as good going forward and in possession, and they've only gotten worse defensively.
They can't play the same way anymore. Won't work. Doesn't mean they need to play hoof-ball, but the days of 100% tiki-taka is over, as long as Barcelona wants to be the best team in the world. They'll get their lunch eaten by the better teams in the world who are much more well rounded than they are.
Unless they do some major spending on players like Verrati, Weigl, De Bruyne, to try to replicate some of what their original midfield was, they have to change how they play. Their midfield is severely weakened from what it was at their best. The back line talent is also eroded. No Dani Alves, Pique getting older, Mascherano no longer capable of playing center-back.
Not sure where you get the idea that "someone who can put in a tackle" will make a bigger difference than even one of those players you named. Of course they need to get younger players in the molds of their current/past stars if they want to continue playing the way they have. No one disputes that. Their midfield in their most recent treble season was already very different in roles and skill level than they were under Pep btw.
I said they either try to mold a midfield after their past stars, so one with those players or they vary their style of play. Either would work, both styles can yield very good results.
Plus, yeah, there's always a chance that Messi, Suarez and Neymar carry them to trophies, but they shouldn't have to be expected to do everything.
Messi to United in the summer for Hfboards to explode
With his goal against Barcelona tonight, Julian Draxler has scored on his debut for PSG in all three competitions (Coupe de France, Ligue 1 & Champions League)!
He's been putting up excellent #s since moving to France. I really hope that moving to PSG is the push Draxler has needed these past few years to take that next step into the truly world class attacker that he should be.
Luis Enrique to get sacked and be replaced by Arsene Wenger?
Most of Barca's best players are old and their transfer policy has been really bad recently. Their financial power isn't endless either, despite their high revenue. Enrique gone won't be enough. I'd be very worried about the future if I were a Barca supporter.
Barcelona has done this to themselves. No one but them to blame.
Their world class academy is of no use to them anymore. They have such an old squad. Not one player on their listed first team younger than 23. They fill their holes with players out of position, it can only get you so far. In the summer, they need a starting RB, a starting CB, a proven central midfielder who can defend, and a proven striker with some height.
I don't know why Barcelona thinks they are going to get good results with Gomes, D. Suarez, Alcacer, Digne, Umtiti as back ups. Players at that age need to play regularly. They shouldn't be back ups. You'll get inconsistent performances from them as back ups. Its a very poor buying strategy.
And Barcelona is so soft. Almost as soft as Arsenal. They need more height, more toughness, someone willing to put in a tackle. They should also experiment with some different formations. They get shredded apart at times in the current set up.
I know everyone has this idea of what Barcelona must play like, but don't you think playing that way eventually takes a toll on the defensive side of the game? At their best, Barcelona could play that way because no one could take the ball from them.
Now, they aren't as good going forward and in possession, and they've only gotten worse defensively.
Its the same thing as a pitcher getting older, and not being able to throw 98 anymore, instead having to pick corners and mix pitches at five miles less.
They can't play the same way anymore. Won't work. Doesn't mean they need to play hoof-ball, but the days of 100% tiki-taka is over, as long as Barcelona wants to be the best team in the world. They'll get their lunch eaten by the better teams in the world who are much more well rounded than they are. Thats what happens when you lose Xavi, Iniesta gets older, Busquets gets older. Unless they do some major spending on players like Verrati, Weigl, De Bruyne, to try to replicate some of what their original midfield was, they have to change how they play. Their midfield is severely weakened from what it was at their best. The back line talent is also eroded. No Dani Alves, Pique getting older, Mascherano no longer capable of playing center-back.
I said they either try to mold a midfield after their past stars, so one with those players or they vary their style of play. Either would work, both styles can yield very good results.
Barcelona is very different now from their last treble season. Plus, yeah, there's always a chance that Messi, Suarez and Neymar carry them to trophies, but they shouldn't have to be expected to do everything.
When I was watching the game today I noticed they said Draxler was left footed, and I could've sworn he was right footed. I know he's very two footed, but CGF I'm sure you can tell me if I'm wrong or not here.
-Lucho makes some poor selection choices and some players have suffered as a result. Rakitic comes to mind, and don't get me wrong as Rakitic owns some of that himself, but he's been rotated too much.