This is one reason why I dont think that Flick is a "great" manager. I think he's "adequate," which is a far sight better than an inexperienced Xavi. But honestly, the indiscipline in the players, AND a complete and total inability to shift gears tactically into DEFENDING A LEAD, taken together makes me doubt Flick. Or, at least question his quality as a manager. As an aside, I didn't see why Balde was out of the lineup. Is/was he injured, or did he stupidly show up late, leading Flick to bench him?
True, but Martin did foul Aspas after he was booked earlier. Martin was reckless and lacked discipline; Barça could have been down a man at half. There were enough examples of indiscipline and unprofessionalism to go around. Barça can't complain about Casado being sent off, IMO. Casado made that foul, because he was afraid that guy was gonna beat the offside trap. I honestly have no fvkcing idea as to why Barça were playing a high line, and an offside trap, while UP 2 GOALS in minute 82. WTF was Flick thinking about? Up 2, THAT LATE? Park the fvkcing bus, and leave with a win. But he didn't.
Lucky not to be losing after 15 minutes. Las Palmas with 2 good chances, and having no trouble beating the offside trap.
Balde out injured after colliding at full speed with a Palmas player. Probably not too serious but still a disappointing first half from all aspects. Well, Raphinha looked his best self in the last 5 minutes.
That goal isn't on Iñaki. His positioning was alright. Good shot after a great counter. We're not pressing like we should
This would be a disastrous result given what lies ahead in the next 3 games. Triple sub happening. But no Szczesny.
It was a good shot but seemed too easy. Wouldn't it have been tougher if Pena cut the angle down?. He had a lot to shoot at, and no chance of a pass.
I kinda expected it. Early kickoff, big anniversary distraction, team not in great form, key injuries... These things seem to happen more often than not
Against a relegation struggler, and at home? Nah, I can't agree. Flick is kinda-sorta looking as one-dimensional as Xavi: Xavi wanted to do everything under heaven and earth to get to 1020% possession in a game, even if it meant playing with Cancelo vs P$G, while a man down, or going into this season, getting rid of Lewandowski, so that he could find a more defensive #9 to help in the press. Now, Flick just HAS TO play a high line and an offside trap, no matter what. Just wish the gaffer had more tactical variety than a one-note symphony.
Injuries, kickoff time and anniversary are all really bad excuses, imo. Only injuries are the long-term ones plus Fati. A bunch of 20 year olds probably don't care or notice things like anniversaries and kick off times. The team is just in poor form. At least I hope it's just "form". It could also be seen as a normalization i.e. luck from early this season is kinda evening out now.
Agreed completely. Kids give zero fvkcs about the anniversary, only us old fat fvkcs care about any of that. Kickoff times can and do vary. Injuries can and do occur. Let's not engage in bullshytyery. You're the league leader, playing at home, against a relegation struggler. That should be a fvkcing layup, all day and all night, every single day, and twice on GameDay. See, I hope you're right, and I hope I'm wrong. I hope its just "form," and not the entirety of the footballing world having access to scouting and video enabling lesser mortals to figure out Flick's one note symphony of tactics. I hope this isn't JUST LIKE what we saw after the 1st half of Xavi's 1st season as manager: every single manager in La Liga figured out what he wanted to do, and easily countered it. Variations in form can and do happen. Injuries can and do happen. Stoopid refs can and do make stoopid decisions. VAR can and does think that Lewandowski has a US Size 30, half-a-meter-long feet. Its all baked into the cake. And all of this is ALSO why one shouldn't rotate away to a tough team like Osasuna, and why one shouldn't be playing a fvkcing offside trap at the midfield stripe in minute 82 WHILE UP 2 GOALS away to Vigo. And maybe why having a second set of tactical ideas can and should be in place, if you want to execute the overall strategy of winning the league. This run of "form" has been going on for a bit. I hope that's what it is, and they can figure it out.
because the coach was never really the problem to begin with. all the anti-Xavi propaganda the club has been peddling is already starting to ring hollow. the Flick Honeymoon is over. their start to the season showed what they're capable of, now they have to show what they're made of...