PBP: UEFA Champions League - Matchday 3 | FC Barcelona v Inter Milan | 24 October 2018 [R]

celito · Oct 25, 2018

Forzabarca said: ↑

True signings don't always work but it doesn't always depend on the player.. it could also depend on the coach, club or?

I think a signing like Dembele has been handled very poorly, same for Malcom.

I think it's stupid from clubs to try and discipline players by playing worse players ahead of them just to punish so they will stay in line. It's more destructive than constructive if someone doesn't know how to. EV is a simpleton in that regard.
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Well, we really don't know what types of conversations they've had with Dembele do we ? You're assuming that he is being punished without any warnings. But I'd assume if his tardiness has been recurring since last season, it's an issue that has been discussed.

evil_allan · Oct 25, 2018

🗣 [@Marsallorente] | Barça says that Dembélé arrived on time because the club had allowed the players to be present at the Camp Nou between 7PM till 7:30PM, the Barça No.11 arrived around 7:20PM, therefore he arrived on time pic.twitter.com/jfT0jjxfEE
— BarçaTimes (@BarcaTimes) October 25, 2018

celito · Oct 25, 2018

evil_allan said: ↑

🗣 [@Marsallorente] | Barça says that Dembélé arrived on time because the club had allowed the players to be present at the Camp Nou between 7PM till 7:30PM, the Barça No.11 arrived around 7:20PM, therefore he arrived on time pic.twitter.com/jfT0jjxfEE
— BarçaTimes (@BarcaTimes) October 25, 2018

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Cover up ...

evil_allan · Oct 25, 2018

for those asking why Arthur was subbed off:

Word is that Arthur sustained a minor calf strain during the Inter match on Wednesday.

But sorry Madrid fans: He's expected to be fit for the Clasico! pic.twitter.com/zWHhyVHODG
— total Barça (@totalBarca) October 25, 2018

Umm I just play FIFA · Oct 26, 2018

BocaFan said: ↑

But like others, seems like you're asking for things that are almost impossible. When Dembele was playing regularly, people were saying how come EV isn't playing Arthur? Then he plays Arthur and all I hear is, how come he's not playing Dembele and Vidal?

You can't start 15 guys each match, unfortunately.

When Dembele was dropped, Barca started controlling matches, getting more possession and better results. We can debate whether that's merely a coincidence or if its cause and effect, but the correlation is clear and obvious.
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The correlation is just a correlation, not a causation. Its particularly muddy when EV has made other changes as well.

We always dominate possession.

In the the two key games before Dembele was benched, he really wasn't doing horribly.

In the tie against Girona, Dembele was doing fine till he was subbed off. That was the game Lenglet got an early red card.

We had 78% possession against Leganes; the two goals they scored were from long ball counters against our out-of-position backline, one of which was directly from a bad Coutinho lay-off pass.

I like Dembele, I like Arthur, I like Coutinho. Coutinho is Dembele's direct replacement. I just think there needs to be a better way to rotate Dembele and Coutinho, particularly with the business end of things coming up.

The deeper issue is not just that Dembele isn't playing, it's also that he hasn't played at all in important matches lately.

I really hope that all this playing Rafinha/Munir business is just showing the kids tough love or something.

Forzabarca · Oct 26, 2018

celito said: ↑

Well, we really don't know what types of conversations they've had with Dembele do we ? You're assuming that he is being punished without any warnings. But I'd assume if his tardiness has been recurring since last season, it's an issue that has been discussed.
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Yeah I don't know but I feel there is an agenda against the kid in order to get rid of him be it due to Dembélé himself or the management it still feels weird. I for some reason hope he leaves if he's not playing so he can reach his potential. Question is what loss are the board ready to take, 50-70M€? More? I doubt anyone will pay 140M€ for him now being unsettled.

Someone also said its cause board doesn't want to pay Dortmund the addons etc?! Trying to keep the cost down?