Ronald Koeman

serghei

Senior Member
It's the amigo-ball. Passing the ball around in the most sterile fashion because that way our senior amigos do not have to run and get their seniority exposed. Pass pass pass pass... They were not happy with valverde for no valid reason. To establish this amigo-ball sterile players like Roberto are important.

Yea. Something like that. In the collective amigo mindset, Roberto is a top player that should be passed to because he makes stuff happen. In the real world, he's a poor player on the ball.

But the thing is, the manager should see these things and correct them. Not encourage them.
 

Porque

Senior Member
Three CBs sitting behind the ball and none of them good enough on ball or mobile enough to step into midfield.

Those three often joined by Busquets dropping deep to make it a four when Granada didnt even attempt to close them and sat deep and narrow.

What can expect two more advanced midfielders and Messi/Griezmann to do when it is more or less then four of them vs 9/10 players sitting deep?

Only out ball was the full backs and back to Busi other than trying to force low % moves when drasically outnumbered.

Puig would not have made a difference.

The issue was outnumbered in middle of park and too many players on outside of game whether it be the three CBs and Busi or the two full backs.

Your right about the CBs. This setup works/has worked against better sides where we need to be more balanced. At home against a team that will sit back we will suffer.

With regards to Puig I disagree. He is very good in tight spaces, finds the passing channels and would have helped increase our tempo / tried to force it. I think he could have provided more in possession in that AMC/AML space that Ilaix had although we would probably suffer more out of possession. You mentioned being out numbered in the middle of the park but part of that was because Koeman had Ilaix out of the midfield.

But I have this loss more on the whole team than individuals and especially Koeman. We were as good/poor (however you want to look at it) as our last 4 LaLiga games until Granada scored. After that point we went from bad to worse. 2 weak goals conceded from 2 attacks. When the game is 2-1 then everything went out the window and the shape totally went- as per usual with Koeman.
 

JamDav1982

Senior Member
Roberto bombing forward is then asking Busi to plug gaps.. and he is too slow. Mingueza to cover and he is a poor defender at anything but winning ball early really, Pique who tries to organise defence in way he is always spare and not one on one situations.

Barca more or less played with three sweepers today.

Lenglet is about only CB that can actually step out and play ball early/accurately.
 

serghei

Senior Member
It's the amigo-ball. Passing the ball around in the most sterile fashion because that way our senior amigos do not have to run and get their seniority exposed. Pass pass pass pass... They were not happy with valverde for no valid reason. To establish this amigo-ball sterile players like Roberto are important.

Also, when you have CMs who don't show up for the ball and don't have this quick momvent to always offer options for the ball carrier, passing to fullbacks standing in some space becomes the routine pass.

But it is called routine pass for a reason, it's the easiest attacking development to block, especially since we have no target man, so once in the wing, all you have to do is block Messi from linking up. It's not like Roberto has any 1 vs 1 ability. He'll always look to pass to Messi.
 

Bobo32

Senior Member
If you look at Dest's number of touches normally, compared with Roberto's touches, it's quite astonishing how more often the ball is released to Roberto without any positional advantage. It's complete shit. It's as if we believe Roberto has the playmaking ability to construct attacks from poor positions. As if he's a reference in our attack. :lol:

Stop giving him the ball. He'll always be semi-open because he's not a threat on the ball lol. He's slow, can't dribble for shit.

He is not a winger, and Barcelona have no forwards to cross to.
Dest plays very similarly, maybe tries to dribble halfheartedly a bit more, losing the ball more often. He is slower up the pitch than Roberto, Roberto was doing Pedro runs in behind the defence all first half...

If anyone of these two are expected to cover the whole flank, their main task will be to keep the width. A pass out to them will not be threatening or expected to end up in a finish, but will be made in order to force the opponent to move most of the time. I can agree that they might've passed Roberto too much, but the blame shouldn't be on Roberto then.

Busquets made 10+ through balls, I can't remember Frenkie or Ilaix creating much though, neither Messi or Griezmann... Barcelona should have an advantage centrally playing only two wide players, but they are also wasting three players at the back though...
 

JamDav1982

Senior Member
Also, when you have CMs who don't show up for the ball and don't have this quick momvent to always offer options for the ball carrier, passing to fullbacks standing in some space becomes the routine pass.

But it is called routine pass for a reason, it's the easiest attacking development to block, especially since we have no target man, so once in the wing, all you have to do is block Messi from linking up. It's not like Roberto has any 1 vs 1 ability. He'll always look to pass to Messi.

Puig would buzz about making a heap of passes getting nowhere is the reality.
 

Total-Football

Senior Member
Also, when you have CMs who don't show up for the ball and don't have this quick momvent to always offer options for the ball carrier, passing to fullbacks standing in some space becomes the routine pass.

But it is called routine pass for a reason, it's the easiest attacking development to block, especially since we have no target man, so once in the wing, all you have to do is block Messi from linking up. It's not like Roberto has any 1 vs 1 ability. He'll always look to pass to Messi.

Yeah when I say amigo ball almost everyone is a culprit including the CMs.. It's a mindset as u worded it.. It's above player-level at certain point. Truly a cancer that is difficult to get rid of.
 

jairzinho

Senior Member
Roberto bombing forward is then asking Busi to plug gaps.. and he is too slow. Mingueza to cover and he is a poor defender at anything but winning ball early really, Pique who tries to organise defence in way he is always spare and not one on one situations.

Barca more or less played with three sweepers today.

Lenglet is about only CB that can actually step out and play ball early/accurately.


Granada burned us on the counter. Bob, Busi and Pique are too slow to plug gaps. Bob starting was a big big mistake this game especially with Machis a huge threat. Not surprising that both goals came from the same side.
 

fergus90

Senior Member
I think Laporta ditches him if he doesn't win the league. I do like aspects Koeman's management but he is seriously lacking in others and he's fucked up on several occasions this season alone.

He's done well with some youngsters but if injuries hadn't forced his hand Pique,Roberto, Coutinho etc would be shoe horned in every week.
 

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