PBP: Copa del Rey | R16 Leg 1 | Levante v FC Barcelona | 10 January 2019 [R]

Denis did well, awful PK but luckily the keeper was even worse.

 

Coutinho with 15 goals in his Barca career, four coming against Levante.

And I agree with the props for Denis. Great run.

 

This ended rather well after the horror start.

 

• Murrillo was busy --- but solid (though I missed 1st half)
• SiKK, I mean SikKkKkK feints by Denis Suarez to secure the penal
• Kinda felt bad for Coutinho, he stopped trying that cut/screamer move of his after a while, but on 2nd thought not so bad because he makes a lot more money than me

 

Well if you merely want to keep alive our dream of a treble, and our dream of a never-done-before Copa five-peat, as well as an avenue to play squad players, then it was worth it the 800,000 as that away goal may prove huge next Thursday.

And, as you first suggested, if we sell him now that bit of skill might fetch a higher price for him. Or, if we keep him till summer, Valverde can now play him 9 more times without worrying about that provision.

 

This was a bit risky, but kinda got away with it. Think Barca can still advance even with just 3 or 4 regulars starting next week, as long as one of them is Messi.

 

Well after getting a 1-1 away draw in first leg last year in this round last year, EV put out about 7 regular starters plus pretty strong squad players: Cillessen, Semedo, Mascherano, and Gomes in the return leg, so I think it will be similar next Thursday, mostly starters plus Cillessen, Semedo (if Roberto is back to starting RB as seems to be the case), maybe Murillo again, maybe Arthur, maybe Coutinho.

 

https://www.sport-english.com/en/ne...-was-a-risk-but-we-have-to-take-risks-7239699

"I picked the best team I thought we could pick," said Valverde, who left Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Ivan Rakitic, Gerard Pique and Jordi Alba in Barcelona.

"It's served us to evaluate players in some tough moments, like in a Primera Division game. I know it's a risk, but you have to take risks a lot of the time."

Valverde said he was happy with new signing Jeison Murillo's debut but admitted it was a tricky game for B team defenders Chumi and Juan Miranda.

He added: "I am happy with Murillo, he has experience and he knows how to approach these type of games. As for the kids, it was a difficult test, but that's how it is, no?"

Valverde was also asked about Coutinho, who struggled to impress after starting the game after being left out of the last four La Liga lineups.

"When Dembele wasn't playing, everyone was asking me about him," the coach responded. "Now, Dembele's playing and Coutnino's not and the reverse is happening.

"What the players have to do is work hard to revert the situation. Both of them have played tonight. And if one of them isn't happy, they have to fight to turn things around. But, come on, one or the other is nearly always playing.

"Coutinho gives us a lot and will keep giving us a lot. I will say the same about Dembele. It's a repetitive question, with interchangeable names."

 

Good for you EV putting inexperienced players to play together without much playtime together! It was tough! No shit!

 

what's wrong with that? he has to earn his minutes like everyone else.
he's competing with players who also cost a lot of money.

 

Coutinho was pretty decent last season tbh. I hope there’s no tension between Coutinho and Valverde.

 

Don’t Chumi and Miranda play together almost every week?

 

Start Dembele and use Coutinho as a sub in La Liga and then start Coutinho and use Dembele as a sub in CL.