Ernesto Valverde - V1

[DonAK]

To return to a true 4-3-3 we will probably have to move on from Iniesta and Rakitic to more agile and faster players to make up for the lack of workrate in other areas of the team.

More for next season I think.

Obviously also need the players to move the ball faster and with a purpose.

 

[JamDav1982]

That’s what I told him... A parked bus is a parked bus. He also says that the 4-4-2 is better against counter attacks. It’s not!

Regarding the results. Stegen was beaten all ends up thrice. Post saved us twice.

You posted stats that show 4-4-2 for Barca is the best formation defensively and resulted in Barca having the best defence in top three leagues in terms of chances created against.

 

[Cule4life]

If he doesnt play Semedo and Dembele in next match and sticks with the same tactics then there's no defending him.

 

[henias]

I don't like the whole 433 or 442 debate tbh
As many coaches say, this isn't what happens on the pitch, they tell a player to move a few meters up or back and you have different formations. It is about the role they give to each player
Right now our problems aren't about 442 or 433, it is about the pace we are attacking, very passive possession isn't gonna work. If you want to play defensive then you need to be fast in attacking which isn't happening, only happened when they have done a mistake. Dembele and Coutinho would probably solve this issues next year but not this season and EV will need to raise his game.
And today we made same mistake 3 times and midfield didn't cover for shooting outside the box.
Using opponents defensive error is ok tactically, but when you are doing your work perfectly and have a plan B when you need it.
His worst game since super cup

Yes it does matter, even Chelsea with a 343 has so much width to cause havoc in our defence. With a 442 and Messi dropping deep Suarez is basically isolated upfront, he was creating chances at the front but had no support. If he had Dembele or a wide player on his right it would have a different story.

A 442 also limits quick transitional play when we have slow players but good on the ball. We are also likely to lose the ball or misplace because we are passing horizontally sideways in the middle, this would easily allow Chelsea to spring a counter attack from near the halfway line and dont even need to sit deep. Happened with Busquets, Rakituc, Paulinho.

With all the problems with a 442, a 433 would be much suited for our style of play.

 

[Horatio]

How did we do guys?

 

[khaled_a_d]

(Part of) The problem is Gomes/Paulinho/Vidal in the starting XI. They're just not good enough. Scrap that and start Dembele. We have some easy La Liga games before the return leg to integrate him.

No doubt 11th player is a problem, but Dembele is rust and god only knows how good is he atm with all the injuries and rust. Dembele will come with his package too as he is even worse defensively than the other listed players and this could make us put Rakitic to help him which would make midfield even worse.
Overall Dembele could make us better, but this is a team issue tbf, I've supported EV a lot and still do but this one was bad tbh.

Tbh, I rewatched Willian's shots. First one is Busi's fault. He is there in time but he is slow in 1 vs 1. He was always better at stoping players before they get in possession than at winning 1 vs 1s. So for the first shot, Willian is just quicker, he beats Busi and takes a great shot.

For the 2nd, you have Roberto doing one of his stupid clearances that you just don't know where they're gonna land. It lands to Willian, who is great again at shooting almost without any preparation. Just quick touch and shoot. And with power not some mellow attempt.

For the 3rd, this is just a tactical fuck up, probably from Busi as well. You just don't go overcrowding the box because a smart player like Hazard is not just a crossing robot like Deulofeu. As soon as our players anticipate the cross, Hazard sees Willian unmarked, who does what he did in the first two chances only better.

So, I blame Busi and Roberto for most of the defensive problems in this game.

So when our best midfielders make this mistake repeatedly then coach has to take blame. Just like when coach take credit when we win a game with individual brilliance too

 

[Zincubus]

He won't last beyond next season. Short-term manager with zero innovation or ingenuity.

Exactly

 

[Lelouch vi Britannia]

No doubt 11th player is a problem, but Dembele is rust and god only knows how good is he atm with all the injuries and rust. Dembele will come with his package too as he is even worse defensively than the other listed players and this could make us put Rakitic to help him which would make midfield even worse.
Overall Dembele could make us better, but this is a team issue tbf, I've supported EV a lot and still do but this one was bad tbh.

EV has several easy La Liga games coming up to integrate Dembele. There are no excuses now.

 

[Aryagorn]

To return to a true 4-3-3 we will probably have to move on from Iniesta and Rakitic to more agile and faster players to make up for the lack of workrate in other areas of the team.

More for next season I think.

Obviously also need the players to move the ball faster and with a purpose.

Change back to 4-3-3. Start playing Dembele. Rest Iniesta and play Coutinho instead in the league. Start playing Semedo and bring Roberto back to midfield and get him to assume the role as that of Rakitic in his earlier days here (These were the days when Leo had already stopped remaining and helping the defense on the right with Rakitic helping Alves in the right flank)

We don't need to be playing Iniesta regularly to bring him back to his natural position/game. Him rested, Roberto back in midfield and Semedo would be your faster players to make up for the lack of workrate in other areas of the team

This way, we will also have Valverde's favorites Rakitic, Paulinho and Vidal on the bench and we can always switch to his 4-4-2 diamond if required

 

[khaled_a_d]

Yes it does matter, even Chelsea with a 343 has so much width to cause havoc in our defence. With a 442 and Messi dropping deep Suarez is basically isolated upfront, he was creating chances at the front but had no support. If he had Dembele or a wide player on his right it would have a different story.

A 442 also limits quick transitional play when we have slow players but good on the ball. We are also likely to lose the ball or misplace because we are passing horizontally sideways in the middle, this would easily allow Chelsea to spring a counter attack from near the halfway line and dont even need to sit deep. Happened with Busquets, Rakituc, Paulinho.

With all the problems with a 442, a 433 would be much suited for our style of play.

Stagnant 433 is a disaster to say at least, we don't get proper attack, we don't get proper defense and we don't get control in midfield either. I prefer 433 for Barca historically but at the moment we will be sacrificing our midfielder most probably to do so. Iniesta and Rakitic aren't capable of doing it atm. Suarez and Messi can't play on wings either in which case even if Dembele plays it will be more or less 442 we are using with Vidal, which you can read as 433 or 442 depends on your preference but it is still the same tactic we are using atm
Never mind we don't know how good Dembele is at the moment with all the injuries he had

EV has several easy La Liga games coming up to integrate Dembele. There are no excuses now.

Yeah, he will need more playing time in next weeks for sure

 

[serghei]

Iniesta is done past this season. It's not only his stamina, it's also his agility. You can rest him in La Liga all you want, he'll still be slow, and in these games it shows.

 

[Zincubus]

Iniesta is done past this season. It's not only his stamina, it's also his agility. You can rest him in La Liga all you want, he'll still be slow, and in these games it shows.

The worst part is seeing him lose possession more and more , passes going astray and those shots on goal that barely race the keeper ....

 

[Cule4life]

Iniesta is done past this season. It's not only his stamina, it's also his agility. You can rest him in La Liga all you want, he'll still be slow, and in these games it shows.

Ofc he's gonna be playing the Xavi role next season. He's 34, few players last this long at such a high level.

 

[Horatio]

Some credit though: Hazard was nowhere to be seen second half. He was considered a huge threat here.

 

[serghei]

Some credit though: Hazard was nowhere to be seen second half. He was considered a huge threat here.

Made the assist for their goal. I thought he was better in the 2nd than in the first half.