The Importance of Being Ernesto - The 2017-2018 Season thread [R]

Maybe you have different sources than I have, but a quick look around the net gives the impression that after Iniesta announced departure, City/Pep got into some sort of contact, but Iniesta was very clear that he retires from the top level.

Further, I don't think player-coaches exist in today's top football (for the reason that they are two separate and different full-time jobs).

 

Hasn't the the China deal fallen through and left him with a dilemma?

Also , if anyone could manage it for next season it would be Iniesta .

 

I think there ought to be many options for players like Iniesta to choose from when it comes playing somewhere after retiring from the top level. If a deal in China fell flat, other deals might not (and who knows, maybe the China deal flatness rumours was just part of negotiation process or something). There have been some Japan rumours.

Agree to disagree. But I'd too think he could very well make a good coach, not that it's gonna happen too soon (as it does take time to transition from top player to good coach). He is years behind Xavi, and Xavi hasn't even started coaching, let alone coaching Barca's first team (though admittedly progresses don't always go the same route/speed).

 

So no match thread for tonight's epic friendly?

Starting XI:
Iniesta, Luisito, Dembele
Denis, Busquets, Rakitic
Digne, Mina, Alena, Semedo
MAtS

Messi not even on the bench it appears(?)

 

Alena at CB??

 

Just guessing. Maybe Busquets more likely at CB.

And I guess Messi is on the bench (according to FCB's Twitter)

 

No, Iniesta has been firm that he is leaving elite football, leaving European football, and will not play against Barcelona. He has basically said he is deciding between China and Japan options (Australia has been mentioned by others, not by Andres). Even Manchester press reports this today: https://www.manchestereveningnews.c...news/man-city-news-iniesta-guardiola-14659687

Now offering him a player coach role is interesting, but I think that the path to coaching is more the Xavi way. Play in lesser league, get paid, take coaching classes on side and get certificate, then you are ready to coach a squad upon retirement.

 

Really nice youtube stream from La Liga:

 

Can't believe EV is playing busi as CB , he needs to rest him not put more pressure on him on that difficult position , hope he doesn't get injured

 

Suarez had a through ball, controlled it in the box, then got tangled up with the goalie and appears in pain still. Could've been a PK, not really clear. The point of my post is that just imagine a player gets hurt before the World Cup playing in this friendly for cash.

Barca up 0-2 from Dembele and Suarez

 

2nd half starters (or Gomes last minutes for Barca):

Cillessen
S. Roberto Piqué J. Cuenca Jordi Alba
Paulinho André Gomes R. de Galarreta
Aleix Vidal Paco Alcácer Coutinho
​

Still no Messi, hopefully everyone who played first half is un-injured.

 

Leo warming up, crowd goes crazy.

This right after Gomes last goal for Barca. So maybe his 3rd total? First time left footed shot after a lazy pass to the keeper was intercepted in the box and passed to him.

 

next season:

 

^^^
Better than this season's shirt, anyway.

 

^ wouldn’t even know the difference without seeing the new and 2017-18 kit side-by-side.

 

#OnThisDay in 2006, Samuel Eto'o & Juliano Belletti struck as Barcelona beat Arsenal 2-1 in the #UCLfinal. 🏆 pic.twitter.com/ztLXCCBPrN

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) May 17, 2018

 

This probably should have gone in the Other Teams thread but both Andre Gomes and Nelson Semedo, part of Portugal's provisional 35 player World Cup squad, were dropped today and won't be going to Russia. Really surprised that Semedo didn't make it. Have to wonder if his lack of playing time played a part in the decision.

 

Yeah that's odd. Its not like they have so many better options, do they?

 

It's very hard to trust non-regularly playing players in a format like the World Cup, where you have so little room for error.

 

Thank you EV. Shame, I think would have done well.

 

You got my hopes up !!

I saw your post and assumed that Valverde had RESIGNED !!

Gutted !!