Barcelona Thread

[mil1lion]

Yes Messi is arguably their greatest ever player but I don't think any player should have the absolute run of the place. Ultimately the manager has to still have the authority regardless of how talented a particular player is. Obviously it's still possible to have success even with that kind of unhealthy level of player-power, but that doesn't mean that it's a good thing.

Love him or loath him, I think most people would say SAF was the greatest manager of the modern era (if not ever) and famously one of his core principles was that no player should ever be bigger than the manager and no player should ever be bigger than the club. It was based on this principle that he was able to build not just one but a succession of 3 or 4 teams that would go on to be massively successful and I don't think that's a coincidence.

The now legendary Barca team with Messi, Xavi, Iniesta etc. all managed by Pep was a truly great team. But now that it's kind of ended up with Messi being too powerful yes they're still a very good team, but they're nowhere near that level and I don't think it's possible for them to be. Same applies to Real Madrid with Ronaldo - they were a good team and won 3 CLs in a row or whatever it was, but as silly as it probably sounds, they were never a truly great team. There was just too many on and off the field issues, a lot of which were either caused or made worse by the fact that everyone at the club was just fawning over "CR7" the whole time.

I don't think Messi has ever been disruptive though. He does voice his opinion but he's the captain so should be able to. I'm sure he and Valverde actually have a good relationship anyway but I exaggerate when I say he should do what he likes. Only within reason he should have high priority at the club. As long as it doesn't affect the harmony of the team.

 

['O Zio]

I don't think Messi has ever been disruptive though. He does voice his opinion but he's the captain so should be able to. I'm sure he and Valverde actually have a good relationship anyway but I exaggerate when I say he should do what he likes. Only within reason he should have high priority at the club. As long as it doesn't affect the harmony of the team.

Yeah fair enough. You're right as far as I know he's not been deliberately disruptive, but just having a player that's got too much influence and gets whatever he wants I think is just a bad idea regardless of whether it's one of these once-in-a-generation players or not. I think that situation is just inherently disruptive in a way.

Like I say, you can still be successful like that but to achieve the "dizzying heights" of that team under Pep I don't think is possible when you have one player basically having the final say on everything. I suppose the trouble is there are very few managers who realistically are going to come in and be as significant as Messi is to the club, other than if they got Pep back in or something.

 

[Thewobbler]

They look like they're gonna be spending a lot of money again with De Jong secured, looking like they're gonna get Griezmann and aiming to get another number 9 and possibly de Ligt in.

How do they do this with FFP rules though?

I know in the past the Spanish government bailed them and Real Madrid out of massive debts...

They will probably sell a few to make some cash back.

Didn't they get in almost a billion in revenue last season, not sure what their net profit was. The barcelona brand makes big money.

 

[werty]

Lost 2-1 to Valencia in the Copa Del Rey Final.

Would be surprised if Valverde lasts.

 

[yankspurs]

Lost 2-1 to Valencia in the Copa Del Rey Final.

Would be surprised if Valverde lasts.

Klopp to barca, please

 

[Krule]

Lost 2-1 to Valencia in the Copa Del Rey Final.

Would be surprised if Valverde lasts.

That's a big loss....Messi only saying earlier how important it was to do the double after Liverpool embarrassment.
Copa del Rey final: Valencia end Barcelona's double dream - http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48367455

 

[TheChosenOne]

 

[Krule]

Roberto Martinez first choice for a new manager apparently.....I find that staggering to be honest. Hardly the 'adventurous' type the fans seem to be demanding.
Koeman, Allegri and Emery also in the running.

 

[allatsea]

Roberto Martinez first choice for a new manager apparently.....I find that staggering to be honest. Hardly the 'adventurous' type the fans seem to be demanding.
Koeman, Allegri and Emery also in the running.

would be a silly appointment after his failure at Everton.

 

[spursfan77]

Roberto Martinez first choice for a new manager apparently.....I find that staggering to be honest. Hardly the 'adventurous' type the fans seem to be demanding.
Koeman, Allegri and Emery also in the running.

would be a silly appointment after his failure at Everton.

He’s stealing a living as a top level manager. No way good enough for Barcelona. If he goes there he’ll be out in 9 months. Mind you, this is the club that signed Paulinho and KPB, so who knows what they’re thinking.

 

['O Zio]

Roberto Martinez first choice for a new manager apparently.....I find that staggering to be honest. Hardly the 'adventurous' type the fans seem to be demanding.
Koeman, Allegri and Emery also in the running.

Martinez would just be a bizarre appointment. Fans couldn't get rid of him quick enough at Everton and he's if anything underachieved with this "golden generation" Belgium squad. If a mid-table kind of team wanted to take a chance on him I could understand it, but Barcelona? Fucking hell that's barrel scraping for them.

 

[Shadydan]

Roberto Martinez first choice for a new manager apparently.....I find that staggering to be honest. Hardly the 'adventurous' type the fans seem to be demanding.
Koeman, Allegri and Emery also in the running.

Did think that until I read the last sentence and then suddenly thought maybe he's not so bad after all

 

[carmeldevil]

Lol Barca went with Croatia style kit

 

[Spurger King]

Lol Barca went with Croatia style kit

I quite like that actually.

 

[Krule]

https://www.bbc.com/sport/48602166
Lionel Messi edges out Cristiano Ronaldo to head Forbes top 100 highest paid athletes


Nice little earner....

 

[mil1lion]

Griezmann has signed now. Fair play to AM for getting his buyout.
Just an 800m euro release clause on his Barca contract

 

[chrissivad]

And AM looking at legal action against them.
They seem to think they should get more money as the negotiations started earlier and his value was higher... Or something.

Cant see them winning that one.

 

[Marty]

And AM looking at legal action against them.
They seem to think they should get more money as the negotiations started earlier and his value was higher... Or something.

Cant see them winning that one.

If Griezmann actually signed his contract before July 1st Atletico might have a case, but I cannot imagine Barca's legal department being that stupid.

 

[DJS]

Neymar seems desperate to go back to Barca now.

What an idiot, I remember when he moved to PSG being astounded that he’d want to leave Barcelona for them in the first place, a waste of two years of his career.

If they got him would be interesting as they’ve just signed Griezemann who used to play left side although also has been deployed far more centrally in recent times.

Guess they could go Messi - Griezmann - Neymar with Suarez thrown in mix (although he’s getting on a bit now).

Messi is also getting on a bit but shows no signs of stopping! Wonder if he should be pushed out to right side though as has been good down centre.

 

[Hakkz]

Rivaldo seems desperate to go back to Barca now.

What an idiot, I remember when he moved to PSG being astounded that he’d want to leave Narcelona for them in the first place, a waste of two years of his career.

If they got him would be interesting as they’ve just signed Griezemann who used to play left side although also has been deployed far more centrally in recent times.

Guess they could go Messi - Griezmann - Rivaldo with Suarez thrown in mix (although he’s getting on a bit now).

Messi is also getting on a bit but shows no signs of stopping! Wonder if he should be pushed out to right side though as has been good down centre.

Rivaldo is 47, surely he is a bit old for Barca now?