I agree. And what further makes it tricky is that the results even these post-Pep times when "tiki-taka has been dead" have been sort of so good that it doesn't fast forward the changes. With a team like, say, ManU, it's been the opposite: results are bad enough so big enough focus goes to what should be changed, whereas with us, the still-good results perhaps blind us a bit of the weaknesses.
I don't think it's that simple. I mean for one, Pep's last Barca didn't win Liga, whereas right when he left, we won again.
I have no ideea what tiki taka has to do with players shooting off target. It's the players not the system. When players make mistakes that Under-xx are not allowed to make, it's not the system, it's not the coach or freaking Pinto
Or maybe Messi, Iniesta, Xavi, Puyol have aged a bit since Peps prime. Give the team from 4 years ago to Tito, Tata, Titi, Toto then maybe you'll have a treble too or something. If Pep came back today I seriously doubt he could do much with the style. Why? Cause every one else have evolved except Barca. Just my too cents, Pep is an amazing coach but don't forget, right, time, right place.. right players. Sometimes Pep gets to much credit when compared to other coaches.
Tough day for possession football ! First Pep's Bayern lose 3-0 to Dortmund, then Barca loses tonight
Agreed. I'd like Suarez and shifting Messi to the right. But that's a pipe dream. Luckily Madrid are a mess as well so it could still go either way. But yeah the sentiment has definitely shifted since the 4 x 3. I don't personally care for the CDR much but it's against Madrid so I'd like to win it.
well, that happens when he is the most successful coach in Barça´s history, than goes to an already victorious Bayern to implement a completely different playstyle, faces resistance in the beginning and then suddenly starts making Bayern even more successfull than it already was. True... maybe it IS the players. After all, you are not giving Pepe a 2nd division club and seeing if Pepe can get that club to first division, than to win the first division than the Premier League. But even so, Pep HAS a star...
Our major problem is a lack of a back up plan for when Tiki Taka aint working. I dunno how we can fix that any time soon.
What I actually liked about tonight's game was that there was at least a sense of urgency compared to other times. Shame it didn't pay off.
Anyone else think that without Messi it would have looked different tonight!? Sometimes I feel he could make the change to winning 5-0 and sometimes that he´s just in the way. Remember when he was injured!? Somehow games felt more open than lately!? Alexis, Pedro, Cesc pierced more often.. Cesc for example had much more assists/goals when Messi wasn't fully fit I feel introducing him/removing him could make more impact sometimes.
Did you feel this way when he was winning the Ballon D'Or 4 yrs straight? or when he scored the hattrick against Madrid....dont have such a short memory.
the hat trick involved 2 pks lets not over emphasize the feat its a valid question he asked and for example could be considered a tactical masterstroke if it worked however if it does not work the coach would be savaged in the press question is who has the balls to sub out Messi whn the game is on the line?
No I didn't. I'm talking about this season, lately..in some games. Perhaps you didn't read properly, go back and try again. With your logic, Barcelona should bring Ronaldinho, Maradona, Eto'o etc back just cause of their resume. I know Messi has had a great 2014 but his presence could lead to a parked bus which with bad finishing could give you what we saw tonight. True it's hard (it takes a Ferguson ;-) ) Well maybe not sub him out necessarily. I think the display against AM warranted a start from the bench and introduced when/if things gone sour. That perhaps could have been a masterstroke as you put it. (although masterstroke makes think about other stuff, something we all could use right about now )
All of them were good to go only when Ten Cate was around. Once he left after Paris '06, the team chemistry off the pitch was gone and so too were the titles.
I'm not even suggesting bringing back Deco, whom I felt was the key figure from that squad (besides Puyol's leadership). Just mentioning the unsung father figure who rarely gets credit.