Nelson Semedo

Semedo has had plenty of playing time to show us something and all excuses aside, the fact remains that he hasn't. If his name was Andre Gomes this fact would be celebrated. For some reason everyone thinks that if Semedo was just given the chance to play every game, every week, he'd be the next Dani Alves or something but we've seen plenty of times with other players who also underperform that forcing a player into the lineup no matter how little he offers only makes his stock drop faster. Just look at Paulinho. The infinite praise and hype for him vanished when his "One bad game" became two, and three, and four, and five, and six...

Clearly, Semedo was set up to succeed here when he arrived but he failed to impress Valverde. As safe as Valverde is, I find it hard to believe he's benching Semedo just because of an arbitrary dislike of him, and when watching him play it's clear he's not better than Roberto. Our inability to move Roberto to midfield and use Semedo is a tick against Semedo in my eyes, not a tick against the manager who is just trying to use the best man for every position; even if his idea of who the best man is is often wrong. It's the same case for Yerry Mina. Excuses are thrown out all over the place but the fact remains, we're probably never going to see Mina play again unless all of Pique, Umtiti, and Vermaelen are unavailable, and rightfully so, as he's far inferior to each and every one of them, and it's unlikely any of them will be leaving at the end of the season, either, meaning his spot on the team likely won't improve.

Semedo in training could be struggling to attack or gel with his teammates, the same way he does in the actual game. Demands for Semedo to play more are more likely to reveal we've signed a RB Gomes than they are to reveal we signed a great RB who just needed more playing time. With Umtiti, Rakitic, Suarez, Alba and other signings who have walked into our starting XI it was clear they belonged with the team, even despite the massively overstated slow starts they had, but with Semedo he hasn't looked much better than Digne so far, and as such has earned himself the same role.

Raki13 said:

Roberto has done absolutely nothing attacking wise almost every time he plays in defence and has been terrible in plenty of them but still manages to start most games.

Its Semedos natural position and this week onwards he should be playing there for the next few games.

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Done nothing attacking wise but second to Messi for assists for Barca in the league?

He has been far better than Semedo going forward and not much in it defensively but Semedo is being mythed into some great defender so far for people trying to make the argument of him and Roberto even a close one.

JamDav1982 said:

Done nothing attacking wise but second to Messi for assists for Barca in the league?

He has been far better than Semedo going forward and not much in it defensively but Semedo is being mythed into some great defender so far for people trying to make the argument of him and Roberto even a close one.

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Jordi Alba is second mate.

I'd still prefer to see Sergi taking over Paulinho's job and Semedo playing RB. Doubt we'll see that though since Dembélé will get his chance on the right side.

God Serena said:

Semedo has had plenty of playing time to show us something and all excuses aside, the fact remains that he hasn't. If his name was Andre Gomes this fact would be celebrated. For some reason everyone thinks that if Semedo was just given the chance to play every game, every week, he'd be the next Dani Alves or something but we've seen plenty of times with other players who also underperform that forcing a player into the lineup no matter how little he offers only makes his stock drop faster. Just look at Paulinho. The infinite praise and hype for him vanished when his "One bad game" became two, and three, and four, and five, and six...

Clearly, Semedo was set up to succeed here when he arrived but he failed to impress Valverde. As safe as Valverde is, I find it hard to believe he's benching Semedo just because of an arbitrary dislike of him, and when watching him play it's clear he's not better than Roberto. Our inability to move Roberto to midfield and use Semedo is a tick against Semedo in my eyes, not a tick against the manager who is just trying to use the best man for every position; even if his idea of who the best man is is often wrong. It's the same case for Yerry Mina. Excuses are thrown out all over the place but the fact remains, we're probably never going to see Mina play again unless all of Pique, Umtiti, and Vermaelen are unavailable, and rightfully so, as he's far inferior to each and every one of them, and it's unlikely any of them will be leaving at the end of the season, either, meaning his spot on the team likely won't improve.

Semedo in training could be struggling to attack or gel with his teammates, the same way he does in the actual game. Demands for Semedo to play more are more likely to reveal we've signed a RB Gomes than they are to reveal we signed a great RB who just needed more playing time. With Umtiti, Rakitic, Suarez, Alba and other signings who have walked into our starting XI it was clear they belonged with the team, even despite the massively overstated slow starts they had, but with Semedo he hasn't looked much better than Digne so far, and as such has earned himself the same role.

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You were having a go at valverde for not playing Mina now you're posting this

behindbrowneyes said:

Jordi Alba is second mate.

I'd still prefer to see Sergi taking over Paulinho's job and Semedo playing RB. Doubt we'll see that though since Dembélé will get his chance on the right side.

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Both are second while Semedo has none.

Digne can also cover at CB. I'd take Digne over Semedo as of now, though that is not saying all that much.

PhilS said:

Digne can also cover at CB. I'd take Digne over Semedo as of now, though that is not saying all that much.

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They don't even play in the same position so that makes no sense.

Hamzah said:

You were having a go at valverde for not playing Mina now you're posting this

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Huh, what? I've always been of the opinion that Mina not starting is for a reason. Just take a glance at the Mina thread, where everyone is labeling me a hater just for recognizing he isn't playing.

God Serena said:

Semedo has had plenty of playing time to show us something and all excuses aside, the fact remains that he hasn't. If his name was Andre Gomes this fact would be celebrated. For some reason everyone thinks that if Semedo was just given the chance to play every game, every week, he'd be the next Dani Alves or something but we've seen plenty of times with other players who also underperform that forcing a player into the lineup no matter how little he offers only makes his stock drop faster. Just look at Paulinho. The infinite praise and hype for him vanished when his "One bad game" became two, and three, and four, and five, and six...

Clearly, Semedo was set up to succeed here when he arrived but he failed to impress Valverde. As safe as Valverde is, I find it hard to believe he's benching Semedo just because of an arbitrary dislike of him, and when watching him play it's clear he's not better than Roberto. Our inability to move Roberto to midfield and use Semedo is a tick against Semedo in my eyes, not a tick against the manager who is just trying to use the best man for every position; even if his idea of who the best man is is often wrong. It's the same case for Yerry Mina. Excuses are thrown out all over the place but the fact remains, we're probably never going to see Mina play again unless all of Pique, Umtiti, and Vermaelen are unavailable, and rightfully so, as he's far inferior to each and every one of them, and it's unlikely any of them will be leaving at the end of the season, either, meaning his spot on the team likely won't improve.

Semedo in training could be struggling to attack or gel with his teammates, the same way he does in the actual game. Demands for Semedo to play more are more likely to reveal we've signed a RB Gomes than they are to reveal we signed a great RB who just needed more playing time. With Umtiti, Rakitic, Suarez, Alba and other signings who have walked into our starting XI it was clear they belonged with the team, even despite the massively overstated slow starts they had, but with Semedo he hasn't looked much better than Digne so far, and as such has earned himself the same role.

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Who are you and what have you done to God Serena?

JamDav1982 said:

Done nothing attacking wise but second to Messi for assists for Barca in the league?

He has been far better than Semedo going forward and not much in it defensively but Semedo is being mythed into some great defender so far for people trying to make the argument of him and Roberto even a close one.

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All about opinions and you obviously see something i don't , Roberto is an accident waiting to happen in defence and it has happened many times when he plays there. Semedo imho is a far better full back and should be played there. Roberto is better in midfield and everyone but the manager knows it.

Raki13 said:

All about opinions and you obviously see something i don't , Roberto is an accident waiting to happen in defence and it has happened many times when he plays there. Semedo imho is a far better full back and should be played there. Roberto is better in midfield and everyone but the manager knows it.

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It is not even really opinion that Roberto has been far better going forward. It is there in black and white.

Semedo has not looked nearly as solid defensively as folk make out either. It is being over played to try and make an argument between the two.

If he is a 'far better full back' he needs to show it. Hopefully gets a chance tonight.

Valverde is an idiot. The idea behind signing young players with potential to be great is that you play them in order to build them as players. That's what you do. Everybody says Roberto is this great RB. The fact is that he isn't. He's just marginally better than Semedo at the moment and the thing is that that's what you'll get with him, his room for growth in this position is limited, because, well, the reality is that he's a made-up RB. His instincts aren't even those of a defender.

When you sign players for potential, to groom them in starters in 1-2 seasons, you don't leave them on the bench or out of the squad because they aren't good enough at the moment. Of course he isn't good enough at the moment. THat's why he was playing in Portugal for Benfica, and wasn't playing for Bayern, or Madrid, or City. That's why you got him for 30m., not 80. Because you actually have to work him into a great player, and that ain't gonna happen if you leave him out of the squad.

Valverde for all that talk about being great for young players, now that he finally has world class players around him, he seems to have a very Mourinho-esque approach, in that he has forgotten that it's the manager's role to develop those players. Not sit around and ask them to break their way into the team in their first 6 months at a new club. That's lazy work and obtuse thinking. Semedo and a bunch of other great young players who come from different enviroments can't just break into a world class top 3 side after like magic. They need work, in the form of trust from the manager, support from their teammates, time on the field, a whole bunch of things that the club and the managerial team should provide. That's the kind of work you automatically accept when you sign young players with no experience at the top level.

You just have to be sore to not have too many potential players on, like 6-7, or you become Arsenal. But team is good enough to implement Semedo and Dembele (insane potential), and still win a lot in La Liga. So, just fucking do that.

Valverde's handling of Semedo was horrible. He played very well at the start, and in the first game he played poorly, away to Atletico Madrid, he turned him into a bench warmer with some games here and there, playing 2 times a month sometimes, and not even those full games.

JamDav1982 said:

It is not even really opinion that Roberto has been far better going forward. It is there in black and white.

Semedo has not looked nearly as solid defensively as folk make out either. It is being over played to try and make an argument between the two.

If he is a 'far better full back' he needs to show it. Hopefully gets a chance tonight.

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As i said , thats your opinion , mines is different. Semedo is a better full back than Roberto and if they give him a few games in a row you will see that.
Its hard to show how good you are when you never get a chance. Everybody in the game knows Roberto is a far better midfielder apart from the manager.

Raki13 said:

As i said , thats your opinion , mines is different. Semedo is a better full back than Roberto and if they give him a few games in a row you will see that.
Its hard to show how good you are when you never get a chance. Everybody in the game knows Roberto is a far better midfielder apart from the manager.

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Semedo hasnt been as good this season and that is not opinion in terms of what they give going forward it is there in the stats and performances.

He has had a run of games. Played 25 times and today might start his 20th game. This 'game time' idea is flawed. He needs to perform at higher level to get time going forward.

Complete myth that he 'never gets a chance'. Again that is not opinion.

serghei said:

Valverde is an idiot. The idea behind signing young players with potential to be great is that you play them in order to build them as players. That's what you do. Everybody says Roberto is this great RB. The fact is that he isn't. He's just marginally better than Semedo at the moment and the thing is that that's what you'll get with him, his room for growth in this position is limited, because, well, the reality is that he's a made-up RB. His instincts aren't even those of a defender.

When you sign players for potential, to groom them in starters in 1-2 seasons, you don't leave them on the bench or out of the squad because they aren't good enough at the moment. Of course he isn't good enough at the moment. THat's why he was playing in Portugal for Benfica, and wasn't playing for Bayern, or Madrid, or City. That's why you got him for 30m., not 80. Because you actually have to work him into a great player, and that ain't gonna happen if you leave him out of the squad.

Valverde for all that talk about being great for young players, now that he finally has world class players around him, he seems to have a very Mourinho-esque approach, in that he has forgotten that it's the manager's role to develop those players. Not sit around and ask them to break their way into the team in their first 6 months at a new club. That's lazy work and obtuse thinking. Semedo and a bunch of other great young players who come from different enviroments can't just break into a world class top 3 side after like magic. They need work.

You just have to be sore to not have too many potential players on, like 6-7, or you become Arsenal. But team is good enough to implement Semedo and Dembele (insane potential), and still win a lot in La Liga. So, just fucking do that.

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You have it wrong way round.

Valverde should not be continuing to play Semedo even more if Roberto offers more in that position.

Semedo has been given a lot of time and opportunities if people want to class him as a 'developing' player.

Roberto hasnt been 'marginally' better. He has been a lot better. Particularly going forward.