Hans-Dieter Flick

[Jozh]

Spain play Pedri deeper in a two now.

FDJ/Pedri Olmo is Barca best midfield for taking ball in tight games.

But still the reason teams can press them like that is in large part due to how Barca lack pace particularly at CF and how poor likes o Kounde/Araujo and BAlde are when asked to make decisions to pass ball under pressure.

Chelsea were up the arse of Barca all game as no threat at all being caught out with ball in behind.

Pedri plays with Zubimendi / Rodri who can actually defend space.

 

[MonteCuler]

Why doesn't anyone who whines on Flick notes that until the red, we had several correct combinations that broke their pressing, and released Balde in space (the left half space) with 3vs 3 or 4 vs 4 situations for us?

Of course, it didn't always work because we had an imbecile in Ferran trying to make correct one time passes

People on here keep saying we got dominated before the red

It's blatant lie. Some people should seriously rewatch the first 20-25 minutes. Chelsea barely sniffed our side of the pitch. Only opportunities they had were offside and handball goals from set pieces

 

[JamDav1982]

Pedri plays with Zubimendi / Rodri who can actually defend space.

Zubimendi is not a strong defender.

He isnt for example doing more for Arsenal than Frenkie does for Barcad defensively.

Pedri hasnt played it with Rodri yet really.

 

[Birdy]

Ferran and Fermin fucked up multiple times that Balde and Frenkie broke game open in first half.

Balde can do it on the dribble.. ask him to pass ball and its a hard watch.

We know Balde can't pass well, but the combinations were set up well to release him in space.

Agree about both Ferran and Fermin. Fermin is overrated because Olmo sucks. Ferran can't play other position than CF, and against teams that are better than midtable LL

 

[Jozh]

Long-term is a different discussion.

Short-term, Flick plays with 2 at the base. Right now the best 2 to play there are Pedri and De Fraud.
That's not changing.



Not in a million years. The moment someone like him comes to Barca, fans would want him out after a game.
Bernal as DM could work, but that's for the future

Hmmm let's think about that then, Flick plays with 2 at the base, those 2 at the base cause problems... 🤔 so what do you think Flick should do

a) Stop playing with 2 at the base and change so you can compensate

b) keep playing with 2 at the base so we can keep getting screwed against teams who know what they're doing

 

[JamDav1982]

Olmo is the better AM v the top teams.. when confident.

He was better than Fermin when came on today. Even with 10 men.

 

[Temptation]

I might get crapped on for saying this, but I genuinely think this Chelsea side has a better overall squad than any other team this season. FFS, they were missing arguably their best player and still could slot in at least two players for him with very minimal drop in quality.

I could see them going very far in the CL this season, most likely semis. Maresca does a good job of increasing the intensity in the big ties.

Well you're wrong. Arsenal have a better squad. Liverpool and PSG have a better 11. Barca and City have a much better attack.

 

[JamDav1982]

Hmmm let's think about that then, Flick plays with 2 at the base, those 2 at the base cause problems... 🤔 so what do you think Flick should do

a) Stop playing with 2 at the base and change so you can compensate

b) keep playing with 2 at the base so we can keep getting screwed against teams who know what they're doing

Far from 'two at base causing problems'.

By far bigger issues than that.

 

[Jozh]

Hmmm let's think about that then, Flick plays with 2 at the base, those 2 at the base cause problems... 🤔 so what do you think Flick should do

a) Stop playing with 2 at the base and change so you can compensate

b) keep playing with 2 at the base so we can keep getting screwed against teams who know what they're doing

God forbid you change the things that aren't working and actually tactically do something.

 

[Birdy]

Hmmm let's think about that then, Flick plays with 2 at the base, those 2 at the base cause problems... 🤔 so what do you think Flick should do

a) Stop playing with 2 at the base and change so you can compensate

b) keep playing with 2 at the base so we can keep getting screwed against teams who know what they're doing

The problem is not at the base. It's with the CBs and full-backs.
We have several like Araujo Kounde, Balde at times, who can't pass, and get trapped in the opposition's pressing

 

[serghei]

Spain play Pedri deeper in a two now.

FDJ/Pedri Olmo is Barca best midfield for taking ball in tight games.

But still the reason teams can press them like that is in large part due to how Barca lack pace particularly at CF and how poor likes o Kounde/Araujo and BAlde are when asked to make decisions to pass ball under pressure.

Chelsea were up the arse of Barca all game as no threat at all being caught out with ball in behind.

Spain setup is a bit different, I can agree with this. They have a DM in Rodri/Zubimendi, and a box to box in Fabian/Merino, Merino more attacking and Fabian with more defensive contribution. De Jong is not a real box to box, not a DM either, a difficult player to fit in. The pair De Jong and Pedri is too lightweight, easily pressable. Not robust enough for a direct style.

 

[JamDav1982]

The problem is not at the base. It's with the CBs and full-backs.
We have several like Araujo Kounde, Balde at times, who can't pass, and get trapped in the opposition's pressing

And lack of options out of it as Fermin doesnt have the thought to try and take game into his feet to relieve presure and there is no pace at CF or threat of early ball there.

 

[Jozh]

I never said not but I was under the impression that defending was something we were discussing

Far from 'two at base causing problems'.

By far bigger issues than that.

 

[FinBarcelonafan]

The problem is not at the base. It's with the CBs and full-backs.
We have several like Araujo Kounde, Balde at times, who can't pass, and get trapped in the opposition's pressing

we needed Pedri badly today. We had almost no player who wanted to take the ball from defense and bring it up.

 

[JamDav1982]

Spain setup is a bit different. They have a DM in Rodri/Zubimendi, and a box to box in Fabian/Merino. De Jong is not a real box to box. The pair De Jong and Pedri is too lightweight, easily pressable. Not robust enough for a direct style.

Thats not how Spain have been setting up recently.

Pedri been deeper and Merino at AM to add physicality in box.

Spain also dont have to play teams of standard of those top teams in CL either.