A little Q&A with our new coach: Q: So, uh, Lucho, can I call you that? A: Q: Cool, so Lucho, what do you say to the naysayers that claim you don't have enough top-level experience to lead Barça to glory again? A: Q: In the next Clásico, your first in charge of the team, how many goals do you want to put past LPB? A: Q: I like that intensity and commitment to our tradition of manitas vs. the mandriles. So was this job a dream for you, and what was your face when you awoke from that dream to hear you'd be coaching the Barça senior squad? A: Q: Well, rest up, Lucho! It's gonna be a big year, and you are the man to bring that energy and fight back to the team. In the locker room, do you plan on sharing your experiences with the current players about what kind of player you were for us? And what is that message? A: Q: What's your outlook for next season? What can we expect? A: Thanks for your time, Lucho. Good luck brining us back to our best next season. The Culé Nation is behind you! P.S. This is also a shout-out to one of the forum's esteemed senior members, @Lucho-the-Legend. Come back anytime, Lucho.
Y'know with Puyol gone it's nice to think that if we need a respected team member to kick a little ass, we have one.
Maybe now that we absolutely have to buy some CB's we can overspend, get about 12, and have them duke it out Royal Rumble style.
This post would be better in the old season's thread but that is closed. We never got the 3 (or more) 20 goal scorers, and never got the 4 (or more) players with a combined 30 goals and assists. I do think we did better on Messi dependency though partly due his being injured and not putting up quite the same crazy numbers of past couple seasons (Cesc had another strong start statistically, Alexis had his best season ever and I'm offended to see him being potentially sold for less than we paid (or sold at all), Pedro did OK, Neymar did well for his first season when not injured). In total Messi was involved in 37.16% of our total goals, Alexis in 24.32%, Cesc in 20.27%, Pedro in 18.92%, and Neymar in 17.57% of total goals scored including other team's own goals. Messi 55 (41+14), Alexis 36 (21+15), Cesc 30 (13+17), Pedro 28 (19+9), and Neymar 26 (15+11). GOALS: 148 Messi 41 Alexis 21 Pedro 19 Neymar 15 Cesc 13 Tello 5 Adriano 4 Alves 4 Pique 4 Xavi 4 Busquets 3 Iniesta 3 Bartra 2 Puyol 2 Dongou 1 O.g. 7 ASSISTS: 107 Cesc 17 Alexis 15 Messi 14 Iniesta 11 Neymar 11 Pedro 9 Xavi 7 Montoya 5 Adriano 4 Alves 4 Tello 4 Alba 2 Busquets 2 Bartra 1 Song 1
No matter how many changes are made and who were brought in/let go, someone will have a complaint or ten. It's inevitable.
Well, the kit is great anyway. http://www.footyheadlines.com/2013/11/fc-barcelona-14-15-2014-15-home-and.html
Lucho was presented as the coach today as he signed his contract! Some interesting quotes... 469079442586103808 is not a valid tweet id 469081188452564992 is not a valid tweet id 469081630125338624 is not a valid tweet id 469077588846338048 is not a valid tweet id 469074611003748353 is not a valid tweet id
I think he'll be doing fine. Lack of experience? sounds like something people said on Pep? unless training B team counted the same.
Messi only got 38 goals in 2008-2009 season, now 40+ goals is being considered as very bad season, pretty amazing. 41 goals + 14 assists despite missing out for 2 months.... if he started the season without injury, he'd easily finished with 50+ goals. I think those stats did not sum up our season well because the whole team looks on fire in first half of the season, dropped a bit earlier this year but rise again during second round against City , second El classico and reaching CDR but after that... we blame everyone for being not good enough, for some reason they the whole team did taken a nosedive in last 2 months.
encouraging press conference. I think it's pretty clear he doesn't favor Xavi staying also avoided answering questions regarding Cesc.
Yup. I particularly like what he said about Xavi and Masch. It looks like he wants to reduce the former's playing time and move the latter back to CDM.
during his playing days at camp nou, the team often played with more of a 4-2-3-1 type of shape. he was also one of the most versatile and tactically flexible players i've ever seen - i remember seeing him excel in just about every position on the field. i'd like to see that same kind of adaptability in his coaching as well.
Great overview by Graham Hunter about Lucho: http://www.espnfc.com/blog/_/name/laliga/id/1956?cc=5901
I think you're right. Btw, what's with the Navas avatar? Kinda missing a golden opportunity to sport Abidal...
I'm stealing celito's avatar idea but using Spain's players. Yesterday I had Pepe Reina. Tomorrow will be David Silva.