Ernesto Goes to Work: The 2018-19 Season Thread [R]

All good.

summer transfer window? i am more concerned with the January transfer window given the liga is wide open! i think the primary concern should be on this season prior to focusing the attention on summer transfer window.

I mean, its clear some help is needed.. both in the midfield and defensive side of the pitch. I am not worried about the front 3.. Suarez is getting back into form and still has some left in the tank.. atleast enough to carry Barca into the summer, at which point they can explore other options.

Defensively though, its quite embarrassing.. not only is the lack of talent clear, they have no depth. a CB and yes, maybe even a LB to help give Alba some rest at times will be beneficial to the team.

How are people viewing the chances to retain the liga championship?

 

Umtiti hasn't played well for over 6 months so we can't assume he's gonna be any better than Pique

 

This is one point where I think Valverde could do better. We have the personnel available to defend better than we do, and while the coach has limited power on how the players play, it's his job to get good stuff out of players. Umtiti is top level (and while not always at his best, "not played for last 6 months" is not really true.

 

I said he's not played well for the last 6 months ( or more ) ..

He started off fabulously well but then it went a bit pear shaped .

He had that nightmare in the WC when he got slaughtered for that ridiculous handball resulting in a penalty and then there's the niggling injuries and his brother getting involved ...

 

He also had brilliant moments in WC, and I wouldn't overestimate his injuries (or hold him wanting to be paid properly too much against him / it's not like he did in the muy triste or Rooney way).

He's alright. But collectively, our defending needs to step up (and he is part of that).

 

He's just too slow getting around and passes sideways or even back to the defence rather than being creative

 

Really !??

He went well off form a while back ... maybe a mix of injury and his brother trying to get more money or a move .. he also had a poor World Cup .. remember that disastrous defending when he gave away a penalty with one of the daftest handballs ever

 

like the rest of the team he's had his ups and downs, sure. but to say he 'hasn't played well for over six months' is a silly exaggeration. yes, the ball hit his hand once but he was also central to France's WC win and was central to Barca's league+cup double. and it's not like we've been seeing defensive masterclasses since his latest injury. he is capable of giving more, ok, but you make it sound like he's crap and that's just plain wrong.

 

It's not exaggeration, it's easily verified with our own MoM voting. He went from top 3 player of our team to not even feature in the voting after his brother started talking money.

 

yup, here it is in english

get your sh*t together Ousmane

 

Time is ticking !!!

There was a pundit on the radio last night saying ManU are well into talks with Zidane !?!

Any thoughts?

 

Who takes the reins on this driverless train~wreck then ??

 

Most certainly not a Madridista. Anyone but.

 

What are your feelings as regards Louis Enrique as a player !?

 

Yep great player for sure .... but he came from Real as you rightly pointed out ..

 

Love the guy. Very good player who felt underappreciated in Madrid. He left LPB with hard feelings.
Any player that leaves LPB directly for Barca should be held in high esteem by Culès, especially one as quality as Luis Enrique.

Look at his emotion the two times he scored for Barca at the Bernabeu...

@4:59 of video


@0:33


He also scored the crucial opening goal in the 2-0 'Return of Figo' match in 2000.

@1:19

 

Surely the fans would take one of the worlds best ever player over this charlatan !

 

Why only Zidane. Let's also bring in Sergio Ramos for added leadership on the pitch and in the training ground.
And since we all want to see Bartomeu ousted, let's convince Florentino to right the ship.

Then again, let's not.