Hindsight isn't 2020 - The 2019-20 Season Thread [R]

That's nice.

Another recent chess-football crossover merit is Magnus Carlsen momentarily leading the Fantasy Premier League this season.

 

He should have taken 100%. Owes Barca nothing. Rare that managers make it to the end of their contracts. Fulfilling 60% of it is already a lot.

 

Look at this muppet. Why are journalists always so pessimistic? https://www.businessinsider.com/guillem-balague-quique-setien-fc-barcelona-la-liga-2020-1

 

why do internet users always overreact over nothing?

 

lol I plead guilty!

 

Dembele is back in training

 

For Barca's first (round of 32) Copa match in Ibiza, 3 of the older veterans are getting rested: Messi, Busquets, and Pique to stay in Barcelona. Full squad will also allow Abel Ruiz to show what he can do in Suarez's absence (not sure he will get to start or even play but he is the closest to a 'true striker' that Barca B has):



This is riskier than in year's past, as this leg and the next few are single matches, so we do not have a second shot to beat Ibiza at home if we cannot manage to win on the road. Also, we will generally be playing all of these single matches on the road, as the lower division teams host (not clear if both are Liga teams who hosts, presumably luck of the draw).

Also worth noting, no away goals rule except for the double-legged semifinal, for all single-match legs a draw results in extra-time and then PKs if still tied.

Barca, like Valencia, Real Madrid, and Atletico joined one round later due to participation in the Super Copa.

Here are details from wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019–20_Copa_del_Rey

Round of 32 14 Jan 2020 22 Jan 2020 16 32 → 16 New entries: Clubs participating in Supercopa de España gained entry.
Opponents seeding: Teams from lowest divisions will face La Liga teams.
Local team seeding: Match played at home of team in lower division.
Knock-out tournament type: Single match.

Round of 16 24 Jan 2020 29 Jan 2020 8 16 → 8 Opponents seeding: Teams from lowest divisions will face La Liga teams.
Local team seeding: Match played at home of team in lower division.
Knock-out tournament type: Single match.

Quarterfinals TBD 5 Feb 2020 4 8 → 4 Opponents seeding: Luck of the draw.
Local team seeding: Match played at home of team in lower division.
Knock-out tournament type: Single match.

Semifinals TBD 12 Feb 2020 2 4 → 2 Opponents seeding: Luck of the draw.
Local team seeding: Luck of the draw.
Knock-out tournament type: Double match.

4 Mar 2020
Final 18 Apr 2020 1 2 → 1 Single match, stadium TBD by RFEF.
UEFA Europa League qualification: winner will qualify for the 2020–21 UEFA Europa League Group stage.

I guess we will hand Neto a start in goal, as is tradition, and otherwise play a strong team, on artificial turf. Hard to predict but I'd like to see this:

Neto
Semedo-Chumi-Lenglet-Junior
Arthur-De Jong-Vidal
Fati-Griezmann-Perez
​

Sub on Ruiz to play striker, sub on Puig to spell Arthur.

 

LOVE the single match format as well as lower division clubs hosting ties. It reduces the number of matches and gives lower clubs a better shot of advancing which is, as they say in England, what the magic of Cup football is all about. And for this reason I feel it makes winning the Copa more special.
Two-legged semi finals kind of sucks but it’s a minor gripe compared to the format of recent past. (I’d like to see one off semis staged in neutral grounds)

 

hmm.. but neutral site for a mid-week match is a bit risky. What if nobody bothers travelling for it? Barca have already had trouble selling their allocation of tickets for the past 2 CdR finals, which were played on weekends. You could have the semifinal on a weekend but that would mean you are messing up the league fixtures for that weekend in February.

So I kind of understand why they went with this format. Lets see if this rejuvenates the Copa a bit.

 

True, although I'd be surprised if there are more than 3 lower-division teams in the round of 16 draw, so chances are it'll be all top flight opponents after this round (meaning a 50-50 chance of hosting).

 

Safely landed in Ibiza at least 3 hours ago (per FCB's own twitter footage), which is great given that storm Gloria had forced some clubs to take trains and buses to their matches due to high winds making plane travel more dangerous. Match is in less than 2 hours.

 

That's a fair argument although that's not to say fans of the other semi-finals wouldn't turn out in numbers.

Barca's attendance for their semi-final home Copa ties were quite disappointing (unless it was a Clasico).

2018-19
92,008 Wed 6 Feb Real Madrid (Copa) 21:00

2017-18
50,959 Thur 1 Feb Valencia (Copa) 21:30

2016-17
67,734 Tue 7 Feb Atlético Madrid (Copa) 21:00

2015-16
60,635 Wed 3 Feb Valencia (Copa) 21:00

2014-15
57,378 Wed 11 Feb Villarreal (Copa) 20:00

2013-14
38,505 Wed 5 Feb Real Sociedad (Copa) 22:00

2012-13
95,002 Tue 26 Feb Real Madrid (Copa) 21:00

2011-12
69.476 Wed 8 Feb Valencia (Copa) 21:00

2010-11
49,875 Wed 26 Jan Almería (Copa) 22:00

2009-10
Failed to reach semi-finals

2008-09
52,932 Thu 5 Feb Mallorca (Copa) 21:30

 

Official lineup, not sure if Roberto is CB or double pivot in 3-4-3 or what:

Neto
Semedo-Roberto-Lenglet-Junior
Rakitic-De Jong-Puig
Fati-Griezmann-Perez

or

Neto
Semedo-Lenglet-Junior
Rakitic-Roberto-De Jong-Puig
Fati-Griezmann-Perez​

 

88% possession but we are down 1-0

 

Nice goal for Ibiza. lol

 

I just created a thread for this match, didn't realize it was being discussed here. Should I delete it?

 

Nah, keep it. We'll move over there.

 

Lenglet shoved by Ibiza forward who then scores, goal disallowed. Still "just" 1-0.

 

No, I'll move over to your match thread. Thanks for starting one.

 

We should turn the screw a notch and outplay them.

 

Rodrigo 101 million !!!!!

Wtf