Claudio Bravo

[Hamzah]

I would keep bravo, He's still in his prime and hasn't put a foot wrong

Mats will take some time to reach his top level and we will see some of his youthful mistakes, I think while we still have certain players in their prime (messi, Suarez, iniesta etc) we should stay with the sure thing and win as many trophies as possible with this group

Surely mats can be patient until bravo dips in form or go on loan of he's that desperate for playtime, he gets a lot already anyway

 

[God Serena]

I would keep bravo, He's still in his prime and hasn't put a foot wrong.

Mats will take some time to reach his top level and we will see some of his youthful mistakes, I think while we still have certain players in their prime (messi, Suarez, iniesta etc) we should stay with the sure thing and win as many trophies as possible with this group

Surely mats can be patient until bravo dips in form or go on loan of he's that desperate for playtime, he gets a lot already anyway

He didn't play well for us by any stretch of the imagination in the second half of the season, with his 0 saves against Real Madrid being the cherry on top. Then, if his performances for Chile are anything to go by (And I don't see why they shouldn't, as they were used in his favor back when he was playing well), his form is very clearly dropping, and dropping dramatically. At this point if you think Bravo hasn't already had the dip in form you say Mats should wait for it'd probably just be best for you to say we should sell Mats, as there's literally nothing Bravo could do to make you think he's starting to decline.

 

[Mandrake]

He didn't play well for us by any stretch of the imagination in the second half of the season, with his 0 saves against Real Madrid being the cherry on top. Then, if his performances for Chile are anything to go by (And I don't see why they shouldn't, as they were used in his favor back when he was playing well), his form is very clearly dropping, and dropping dramatically. At this point if you think Bravo hasn't already had the dip in form you say Mats should wait for it'd probably just be best for you to say we should sell Mats, as there's literally nothing Bravo could do to make you think he's starting to decline.

When you say his form is dropping dramatically, do you mean by the way he made the save of the tournament in the Copa Centenario final? Or by the way he stopped a Biglia penalty in the shoot out against Argentina, lifted the Copa Centenario as captain and was chosen the best GK of the tournament?

 

[Observer]

I agree he had a bad second part of the season with us, not abysmal like some could point out, but definitely out of his usual performance/stats with us.

His girl condition, plus a bad group stage performance in Copa only added more fuel.

But by far the worst argument I've read, which came out of nowhere (I believe it was to defend Mats CL performance and argument Bravo couldn't handle CL?) was: "Has not been tested in knock-out rounds".

So just for the sake of dismantling flawed logic I went to check Bravo's basic performance stats in last 2 cups elimination stage: (Copa America 2015 - Copa Centenario 2016)

- 1 goal conceded in 600 minutes played (an own goal from Medel in 2015 semifinal vs Peru).
- 2 clutch saves per final.
- 2 PKs saved.

 

[oneirophobos]

I'd be usually on the MAtS squad, defending the guy but I really don't see the criticism of Bravo justified (especially since a lot of it seems to have quite ageist and not performance-based in general). Definitely, the role reversal must happen but at the same time Claudio has been solid for us and a little dip in form doesn't mean he's starting a sudden career downfall a la San Iker Gotta say a part for a few ManCity mentions (that are nothing new because every press outlet seems to believe Pep has been having wet dreams about our GKs since 2014), I haven't seen much talk about transfer offers from other clubs. Not even FCB update twitters, which pick up on every rumour no matter the ridiculousness of it, suggest this is a real issue at the moment. The staff said both GKs are staying and though Claudio might see the role reversal as unjust, is getting less playing minutes at 33 and as Barcelona player really THAT much of a deal that an immediate leave is necessary? MAtS went through that same ordeal for 2 seasons and somehow survived.

 

[sabby]

He's been great in the wale of Valdes' departure. I'm a bit appalled at the fellow cules thinking to get a few millions by selling him when MatS is still not 100% ready for regular big matches. Considering that we wasted hundreds of millions buying aged burned out players and on shady deals / injured players (Douglas, Vermaelen etc) or even selling players much lesser than market value (Cesc etc), I think its better to write off 18-20m than let go of Bravo. If he in fact wants to leave then its a different issue. I'm not sure how good Pepe Reina is these days, if he's half decent he'd be a good back up. Otherwise, if the management can convince Valdes to come back that'd be good too.

 

[God Serena]

When you say his form is dropping dramatically, do you mean by the way he made the save of the tournament in the Copa Centenario final? Or by the way he stopped a Biglia penalty in the shoot out against Argentina, lifted the Copa Centenario as captain and was chosen the best GK of the tournament?

I mean him consistently failing to perform for Barca as someone who is undoubtedly better than the keeper. I mean him conceding howler after howler in the Copa while much less mistakes are magnified to a huge scale when commited by Mats in mere friendlies. I mean him riding off the momentum from seasons past where he was better, instead of actually being better, right now.

 

[Mandrake]

I mean him consistently failing to perform for Barca as someone who is undoubtedly better than the keeper. I mean him conceding howler after howler in the Copa while much less mistakes are magnified to a huge scale when commited by Mats in mere friendlies. I mean him riding off the momentum from seasons past where he was better, instead of actually being better, right now.

He had a pretty bad start of the Copa, but came through in the big games, being brilliant in the final against Argentina. Regarding his "riding off the momentum of seasons past", I remember an amazing match from him against Real Madrid last season, in a league we once again won. It probably would be a good idea for you to specify the "howler after howler", and the games that Bravo cost Barcelona points, and we can compare that with the brain farts MATS has had. Cant really compare MATS performance in his NT with Bravos, since he's sitting in the bench.

 

[Observer]

- Wins Zamora first year.
- Clean-sheet record.
- Clutch saves in LL first season and first part of 2nd season.
- Clutch saves in WCC.
- Top notch stats in knock-out rounds for both NT Cups.

Consistently failing

 

[God Serena]

He had a pretty bad start of the Copa, but came through in the big games, being brilliant in the final against Argentina. Regarding his "riding off the momentum of seasons past", I remember an amazing match from him against Real Madrid last season, in a league we once again won. It probably would be a good idea for you to specify the "howler after howler", and the games that Bravo cost Barcelona points, and we can compare that with the brain farts MATS has had. Cant really compare MATS performance in his NT with Bravos, since he's sitting in the bench.

He committed countless howlers in the Copa, not with Barca. With Barca he was just a man standing in the sticks since January, the moments when he was able to save the team were so few you could almost say he never did, which certainly doesn't qualify give him much claim to being undeniably better than Mats.

- Wins Zamora first year.
- Clean-sheet record.
- Clutch saves in LL first season and first part of 2nd season.
- Clutch saves in WCC.
- Top notch stats in knock-out rounds for both NT Cups.

Consistently failing

Try to keep up. Not a single one of those is an accomplishment for Barca in 2016, which is my entire point.

 

[Mandrake]

Dude, you said his form dropped dramatically. You said that he wasnt performing for his NT. Is your whole argument predicated on the couple of mistakes at the beginning of Copa Centenario which he eventually won with a huge performance in the final? You've been unable to show any other evidence of the form drop other than that. And it wasnt even for Barca!

 

[God Serena]

Dude, you said his form dropped dramatically. You said that he wasnt performing for his NT. Is your whole argument predicated on the couple of mistakes at the beginning of Copa Centenario which he eventually won with a huge performance in the final? You've been unable to show any other evidence of the form drop other than that. And it wasnt even for Barca!

That was just part of what I was saying against him. Can you even name one good game he played, for Barca, in all of 2016?

 

[Galning]

Lucho counts on him so he won't leave.

 

[El Guaje]

He's been great in the wale of Valdes' departure. I'm a bit appalled at the fellow cules thinking to get a few millions by selling him when MatS is still not 100% ready for regular big matches. Considering that we wasted hundreds of millions buying aged burned out players and on shady deals / injured players (Douglas, Vermaelen etc) or even selling players much lesser than market value (Cesc etc), I think its better to write off 18-20m than let go of Bravo. If he in fact wants to leave then its a different issue. I'm not sure how good Pepe Reina is these days, if he's half decent he'd be a good back up. Otherwise, if the management can convince Valdes to come back that'd be good too.

Say what? Didnt he prove the opposite by playing very good in CL KO games? And how do you expect him to get ready to play regularly by sitting on the bench? He has already missed 2 years of time to improve his skills and get experience. He is ready to play and he has already proved it. Either reverse their roles, split the games by 50/50, let them play 2 months each or whatever or loan MaTS out.

 

[vinni]

Bravo > Stegen!

I hope we continue as we did the last two season. Mats didnt prove that he is better then bravo so why change it?