Here’s a more objective set of player ratings: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/may/07/liverpool-barcelona-champions-league-player-ratings It says the 4 best outfield players were Busquets, Messi, Raki and Pique. I would probably add Vidal to that, but otherwise agree.
Exactly, even though I'm never a fan of Coutinho, remember that Pep once made a much inferior player like Pedro a clutch player.
Poor @TitoTata saying Roberto was out of position in the first goal. He shifted over as Pique got beat and they had a clear shot on goal to see if he could block it. That's why you can't be taken seriously.
One could argue what Pedro gave the team has not been appropriately replaced...that is a player outside the big names capable of providing goals
yeah they cant defend a 3-0 lead and seemingly are incapable of getting a key away goal when needed. However.....both Spurs and Liverpool are also fortunate to still be in the competition going by their okeish group stage performances. That's simply how cups roll. Momentum at the right time matters. Cups are unpredictable, and I dont believe its that unlikely for Barcelona to be back in the final next season. Chelsea finally won the Cl with quite possibly their worst team and manager when compared to other Chelsea versions that got fairly far. Liverpool with Rafa in 2005 where miles behind the EPL title. Similarly when they were in the final in 2007 they were also miles behind the title rice. There are a number of teams that have made the champions league final this century while not actually having a good season (as in challenging for their league title). So yeah, I don't think it is implausible for Barcelona to challenge deep into the cup once again next season. Of course a squad upgrade is always necessary.
He's in fact almost forgotten & never get mentioned when people talk about Barca great run under Pep. Also, its not just goals but many of them are crucial goals. He scored multiple times in classico, CDR final, he scored in second leg in 2011 semifinal which basically killed RM chance to comeback. He also scored the opening goal in the final. One of Pep element is the super high preasuring game, and Pedro speed & workrate really fits that.
For me, Pedro cemented himself to Legendary status when he scored the 1-1 equalizer in the 88th minute against Estudiantes in the 2009 Club World Cup final. Barca went on to win 2-1 in extra time. This is why I (desperately) referenced Pedro (along with Bakero v Kaiserslautern in '92 and Iniesta v Chelsea in '09) in this thread' during the closing minutes of the match. That was the match Pep had told the team in the dressing room before kickoff that they would become "eternal" if they brought home World Club trophy for the first time in the club's history (after losing in '92 and '06). And is the only time (I think) that Pep openly cried after a match for all to see. That gap in the club's trophy cabinet really bothered him that much... plus it ended an incredible calendar year of collecting all six trophies they competed for. He may have been mentally drained and just let it all loose.
Pedro is perfect example of player with average skill that being transformed into a world class like player. Pep deserve huge credit on that. You could see how involved Pedro in every passing move that led into Barca's goal during those years. He also scored the winner against Shakhtar in UEFA super cup 2009, despite being late sub for Ibra... also scored the winner in UEFA super cup 2015 in extra time.
Ugh... I was supposed to go to that game in Abu Dhabi but couldn't due to work commitments. Wound up going the following year just to see Inter vs Mazambe
You’re clearly deluded mate ... I like Roberto as an impact midfield substitution ... he should never be played at RB nevermind have him as the default RB for the big games .. You guys who continue to defend Valverde and his bizarre selections and tactics simply bemuse me
We are not defending him. Most of us agree Semedo should start these games. I am saying you place blame where there isn't any. Of course Roberto makes mistakes, but don't point out examples where he didn't make a mistake. You've done that before over and over. And you also ignore the good things he has done. Which are many.
I criticise Roberto at RB because he’s a nightmare in that position ..yet Valverde persists with him there. Now in that crucial game on Tuesday where we knew they would come at us with a fast start .... what does he do ... within seconds he’d done one of his dumbass blind back passes to let them at our throats ... seconds later another error ..a minute later he got tangled up with Mane’s legs which should/could have been a penalty... all in the first 3 minutes .. I’m shocked Valverde hasn’t been sacked tbh
Lucho insisted on Shitmes and ruined the dynamics which imo cost Barca in CL. Now Valverde insist in Craperto and even if he's a average utility player he's ruining alot for the team. I hate this obsession of coaches for average useless players. Craperto didn't deserve to play that many minutes. Jesus when I think about his attempts to cross. He wouldn't even fit in Europa league teams. Blind love! FFS!
So we gonna just ignore that both first goals cam from out left side and just blame it on Roberto ... and third one wasn’t really his fault either . Funny that last year at Roma Roberto wasn’t playing FB.
In the first leg he was outdone on nearly every occasion Liverpool went down his side. Not only did he provide nothing from a defensive point of view but he also offered nothing going forward. Once Semedo was introduced in the first leg Liverpool ran out of ideas and Barca began to dominate as the vulnerability in the defence was patched up and there was also an outlet for Barca with Semedo's pace. He made a couple of decent runs in the 10 or so mins he was on in that game, 1 of which led to half a chance. The same happened in the second leg, while it's true Roberto was not caught out as much as he was in the first leg, he offered nothing going forward, once Semedo came on he again made a couple of positive and dangerous runs forward, something that Barca seriously lacked during the whole game, particularly as Alba was having nightmare. How Valverde could not see this is beyond me, utter madness to start Roberto against a team with so much pace, not once but twice!
TitoTata's schtick: - say something stupid or just plain wrong to get attention. - after getting called-out, shift goalposts and resort to fallback position: "[Valverde/Rakitic/Roberto] suck in general"; "Suarez isn't Liverpool Suarez anymore"; "Barca are boring. Wolves better" - Rinse n' repeat
That’s fine . I am just saying don’t blame him for things that were not his fault . I am honestly more pissed EV didn’t play Malcom over Coutinho. That left side was there for the taking .
Now that two days have passed, I've accepted that we got beat by a very good team. Even the 1st leg scoreline flattered us. I think they had more possession than us in Camp Nou and arguably outplayed us. Still to be up 3-0 and them missing two crucial players and us having more rest and to still blow it. It feels so sad to not win despite so many factors being in our favour... We just looked lifeless out there. I can't forget it.
Same, i mean Malcolm is not exactly in top form at the moment but he would have provided an attribute (pace) that was missing in the side that was very much needed. In top form i'd take Coutinho all day long over Malcolm but the truth of the matter is he is extremely low on confidence at the minute and should not have started.
i will watch only the copa del rey final,others matches are meaningless. laliga is done,just two friendly matches remain which could help messi win golden boot but i doubt messi want to play. i wont watch ucl final. its just too hurt to watch,hope tottenham win it
There seems to be no sign of resurrection after this match. totally different than last year. well,prepare yourself if we lose copa del rey final as well