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Barcelona (h) CL 18/19 ratings

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MOTM


  • Total voters
    83
There is a very obvious solution, it's just we chose not to do it in the summer
I know and agree but since Jack Grealish is our level of expectation than there is no solution. Unfortunately the will is lacking above , so to Labour the point to the self harm imbecile disfunctional brigade who tell us constanly comically "lm all right Jack " is like being in an episode of the Twilight Zone.
Even if it's obvious.
 
I'm not too sure.

He's pretty experienced for his age and a full Brazilian international. Being partnered by the excellent Rakitic and Coutinho all whilst going up against a midfield 2 of Wanyama and Winks would have been a piece of piss for him (or anyone else they decided to play there). Comparison with Skipp was so wide off the mark considering Skipp is nearly 5 years younger without a single appearance against a mens team let alone Barcelona.

I agree he was excellent though. He was the one who absolutely BOSSED us in pre-season.

Not to mention Busquetes. Fair point, it was a poor comparison, but I would still have liked to see Skipp and Winks either side of Wanyama in a proper CM3, I don’t think it could possibly have been any worse than theCm2 Poch played behind the fumblesome four attackers.

And the irrationality of my comparison was no worse than your blaming Trippier(not Lloris) in the match thread for the first goal, and your completely disproportionate criticism of him every week.
 
Not to mention Busquetes. Fair point, it was a poor comparison, but I would still have liked to see Skipp and Winks either side of Wanyama in a proper CM3, I don’t think it could possibly have been any worse than theCm2 Poch played behind the fumblesome four attackers.

I would just like to see Winks play for another club, he is a waist of space.
 
I know and agree but since Jack Grealish is our level of expectation than there is no solution. Unfortunately the will is lacking above , so to Labour the point to the self harm imbecile disfunctional brigade who tell us constanly comically "lm all right Jack " is like being in an episode of the Twilight Zone.
Even if it's obvious.

There is a third group that would happily have liked us to procure a midfielder or two, but don’t entirely blame “above” but think middle management are as much or maybe more to blame for wasting huge chunks of money in fees and wages on players that aren’t good enough or weren’t needed, and now can’t be shifted to make way for the much needed recruitment for vital areas that need it.
 
Trippier seems to have become the new Jenas.

He wasn't out of position for the first goal (or second), or anywhere he wasn't supposed to be last night. He didn't do anything stupid or rash. He didn't defend anything as badly as Alderweireld did for the fourth goal, where he can see what's unfolding and instead of moving toward play, just stands there watching Messi in 8 yards of space.

Many seem to be rating Davies higher, despite the fact that he offered fuck all going forward and also got caught out by Messi about 18 times.

iz futbal iz futbal
Your demolition of Winks is pretty daft. I agree, he's not defensively brilliant, have always said so, and I don't think he'll ever be Modric either, but defending has never been his strength, he's not a DM, he's not a 6, he's not even a hybrid, he's pretty much a pure 8. And for Poch to put him into a CM2 in 4231 against Coutinho, Rakatic, Artur, Busquettes and Messi behind a front 4 that don't press properly was plain stupid. You flagged up that Sissoko completed 90% - of his 11 passes. You didn't mention that Winks completed 94.6% of his 56 passes. The best passing figures from anyone in our side, under intense press as well. Dembele is averaging 37 passes a game in the PL and 89%. Nobody was dispossessed more, but that's partly because ahead of the CB's nobody saw anywhere near as much of the ball as him. And Kane lost the ball more than him (dispossessed and miss-controlled) 7 times in total (Winks 6).

Players get dispossessed all the time. Thats not a problem if you are the dribbling kind of player. Since you keep the ball longer. But since he wasnt really trying to go past players with the ball, getting dispossessed easily was a sign of slow thinking and being flustered.

Winks should be played in a CM3, and he took a while to adjust to what was a very tough test, but he still was probably our most influential player last night.
Mentioning Sissoko's 90% passing and Diers 96% was a joke. I thought Winks was slightly better than Sissoko so didnt bother with his passing %.

I think it is pretty silly to say he was the best player for us, when Kane and Lamela were visibly better to anyone who knows anything about football without even looking at any stats.

Also Kane miscontrolling balls is not a problem. Strikers receive much more difficult passes than midfielders while surrounded by players who know how to defend. When already in control of the ball, Winks was dispossessed the most out of any player.

Reminds me so much of Ryan Mason. Same poor composure when pressed, no positional awareness, no defensive reponsibility, losing players and then sliding in with tackles. For me he is a horrible player for a 2 CM midfield . Has to play much further up with little defensive responsibility or learn a lot really quickly. I think you might be infatuated with the fact that he is 'young' and 'academy product'. Other than that , Im not sure theres that much going for him other than being a better passer than our other CMs (hardly an acheivement). But if thats what we wanted, then bring back Tom fooking Carroll. He is a better passer. I think Winks' celing is to play for something like Everton or Southampton or Leicester or be a squad player here against poorer teams.

With Dembele/Wanyama on the decline and probably leaving, Dier and Winks just not good enough, we really need to buy 2 proper CMs in the summer or hopefully Jan. Should have got NDombele this summer.
 
Trippier seems to have become the new Jenas.

He wasn't out of position for the first goal (or second), or anywhere he wasn't supposed to be last night. He didn't do anything stupid or rash. He didn't defend anything as badly as Alderweireld did for the fourth goal, where he can see what's unfolding and instead of moving toward play, just stands there watching Messi in 8 yards of space.

Many seem to be rating Davies higher, despite the fact that he offered fuck all going forward and also got caught out by Messi about 18 times.

iz futbal iz futbal
Your demolition of Winks is pretty daft. I agree, he's not defensively brilliant, have always said so, and I don't think he'll ever be Modric either, but defending has never been his strength, he's not a DM, he's not a 6, he's not even a hybrid, he's pretty much a pure 8. And for Poch to put him into a CM2 in 4231 against Coutinho, Rakatic, Artur, Busquettes and Messi behind a front 4 that don't press properly was plain stupid. You flagged up that Sissoko completed 90% - of his 11 passes. You didn't mention that Winks completed 94.6% of his 56 passes. The best passing figures from anyone in our side, under intense press as well. Dembele is averaging 37 passes a game in the PL and 89%. Nobody was dispossessed more, but that's partly because ahead of the CB's nobody saw anywhere near as much of the ball as him. And Kane lost the ball more than him (dispossessed and miss-controlled) 7 times in total (Winks 6).

Winks should be played in a CM3, and he took a while to adjust to what was a very tough test, but he still was probably our most influential player last night.
Trppier was utter shite last night, AGIAN!.
Every single one of their goals came from Tripps side of the pitch. The first goal, ball played behind him to Alba (as is the tactic of every single team we play, doesn't matter if it's Brighton or Barca, the oppo target the space behind Tripps), Lloris is at fault, no way is he going to make that BUT just watch it back again, watch Lloris and how quickly he comes out for the ball, he does this as soon as the ball is played, before it's behind Tripps. The reason I bring this up is that Lloris anticipates this, he is actually expecting it to happen (which it does every game). Had Lloris have confidence in this not happening I doubt he would have attempted to come out for it.

The 2nd goal he's playing 15yrds higher up the pitch than Lucas!!!!! He fails to put pressure on the ball and it's played behind him to Messi, who is now in achers of space, playing in the exact position where you would expect your FB to be!! As a direct consequence, Toby is now out of position as he's been pulled over, do so there is now huge gaps that even Cardiff would fill their boots with. Also in typical fashion he's not even attempting to get back, just fucking jogging, still higher up the pitch than Lucas, he doesn't even enter our own penalty area!!

Their 3rd goal, he just trotts over to the oppo with his fucking hands behind his back, ball is crossed. I mean fucking hell, he doesn't stand the player up, get close to blocking it, don't show him the line, doesn't ask a single question of the oppo, it fucking pathetic.

4th goal, ball played out to him, he has time (I've highlighted this as I saw you wrote earlier that it was Lloris's fault for passing to him!!!! Look again, if we have a player that can't receive this type of ball, with the oppo more than 10yrds away from him then we are utterly fucked) but plays a fucking woeful ball (not to feet but a bouncing ball that comes waist height) to Sissoko who has Alba right up his arse, who then nicks the ball.

*Every game he has played the oppo find the space behind him, every game we are pulled all over the place as a direct consequence. Every game I draw this to your attention. Every game you fail to see he is our weakest link in the side that is routinely being targeted.

He is shite.
 
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I know and agree but since Jack Grealish is our level of expectation than there is no solution. Unfortunately the will is lacking above , so to Labour the point to the self harm imbecile disfunctional brigade who tell us constanly comically "lm all right Jack " is like being in an episode of the Twilight Zone.
Even if it's obvious.
Never forgive, never forget. They need to be reminded of their folly or else we open the door to the revisionists

:pochlol:
 
Lamela and Kane are the only players who deserve any kind of merit.

Winks was much improved second half but was still abit pedestrian when defending. He and Wanyama doesn't look like it worked, I said before the game that whenever they've played alongside each other previously theyve looked poor.

Trippier, Lloris, Son and Wanyama were all shocking.

Sanchez and Lucas were disappointing. Toby and Davies were just Meh.

Overall? I loved the heat and desire shown in the second half but the game was ended in the first half.
Basically started with the same defence and midfield as we did with Watford second string, except Aurier was not at RB.
Who was the best defender that night. Sanchez and Alderwiereld looked very uncomfortable together in a pair that night, being exposed by the midfield.
Watford held their own against that starting line up, over run the midfield at times and troubled the defence, so why would it suddenly be any different v Barca.

After the break 7 games in 21
Is Eriksen suffering from a abdominal strain? If it’s a mild degree strain it can be 3 weeks
Hamstrings, again we don’t know severity, but again just a mild strain can be 3 weeks.
So will these players be recovered, trained and fit enough to play in the 1st 3 fixtures of the 7 v. West Ham PSV and City?
The last of those fixtures 21 days away.

With our best team out we couldn’t have got a result.
But any team would miss their best CB, in form RB, best CM and two top AMs.
Especially when a few of the other options are also just back from long injuries
 
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Trppier was utter shite last night, AGIAN!.
Every single one of their goals came from Tripps side of the pitch. The first goal, ball played behind him to Alba (as is the tactic of every single team we play, doesn't matter if it's Brighton or Barca, the oppo target the space behind Tripps), Lloris is at fault, no way is he going to make that BUT just watch it back again, watch Lloris and how quickly he comes out for the ball, he does this as soon as the ball is played, before it's behind Tripps. The reason I bring this up is that Lloris anticipates this, he is actually expecting it to happen (which it does every game). Had Lloris have confidence in this not happening I doubt he would have attempted to come out for it.

The 2nd goal he's playing 15yrds higher up the pitch than Lucas!!!!! He fails to put pressure on the ball and it's played behind him to Messi, who is now in achers of space, playing in the exact position where you would expect your FB to be!! As a direct consequence, Toby is now out of position as he's been pulled over, do so there is now huge gaps that even Cardiff would fill their boots with. Also in typical fashion he's not even attempting to get back, just fucking jogging, still higher up the pitch than Lucas, he doesn't even enter our own penalty area!!

Their 3rd goal, he just trotts over to the oppo with his fucking hands behind his back, ball is crossed. I mean fucking hell, he doesn't stand the player up, get close to blocking it, don't show him the line, doesn't ask a single question of the oppo, it fucking pathetic.

4th goal, ball played out to him, he has time (I've highlighted this as I saw you wrote earlier that it was Lloris's fault for passing to him!!!! Look again, if we have a player that can't receive this type of ball, with the oppo more than 10yrds away from him then we are utterly fucked) but plays a fucking woeful ball (not to feet but a bouncing ball that comes waist height) to Sissoko who has Alba right up his arse, who then nicks the ball.

*Every game he has played the oppo find the space behind him, every game we are pulled all over the place as a direct consequence. Every game I draw this to your attention. Every game you fail to see he is our weakest link in the side that is routinely being targeted.

He is shite.
Honestly think we should make the most of the fact the media and the rest of the country have been blinded by his set pieces in the world cup and think he's some amazing full back, and sell him on , would probably get ridiculous money for him from someone like Utd.
 
I also dont think hes very good at all but also not a waste of space. Hopefully in the summer we get some money for him from a lower team in the PL and invest in the CM position.
Jesus give the lad a chance. He’s never had a proper run of games to get fully up and running. He’s very young still and with the skill set he’s got has a ton of potential. I still firmly believe there is a lot more to come from him.
 
Far bigger gamble for me is putting a technically deficient player like Sissoko on a pitch.
Experienced French international v promising rookie? If you check through the Sissoko thread you will see exactly what a fucking donkey I think he is, but there is a time and a place for blooding youth & there is no way I would ruin the kid’s confidence by throwing him in at the deepest end possible. At least with Sissoko you will get 100% effort across the pitch even when things don’t come off for him (which is very often) & his head never drops.
 
Honestly think we should make the most of the fact the media and the rest of the country have been blinded by his set pieces in the world cup and think he's some amazing full back, and sell him on , would probably get ridiculous money for him from someone like Utd.
Yep. I said this at the time, imagine getting +£50m for him, fucking hell unreal piece of business. I think paying £4m for the lad was a great bit of business to be fair too. But in all honesty I'd be surprised if any teams would be that foolish to shell out that sort of cash for him, they know he's a liability for us, it's why he is targeted every single game he plays in.

To add to your point, he's in my fantasy team. He's there because the points system only rewards for assists, he will get assists because maybe he registers 1 assist for every 30 crosses he pumps in. In fantasy football, they don't take into account the 29 failed crosses and therefore the 29 turnovers of possession. They don't take into account that he will hit + 10 crosses per game and just how shit he is as a defender. I am absolutely convinced that people base their views on how good a player is by how many points they score in fantasy football.
 
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