₦airaland Forum

I really don't like commenting immediately after defeats cos emotions tends to cloud judgements but even after soaking it in, this defeat has got to go down as the most excruciating for any Barca fan in the past decade, I didn't even feel this way even after the 2-2 draw against shekpites, Our ability to kill off games was all gone..The same players who could kill off a 1-0 lead with excellent game management skills(proven and trusted) over the years were the same players who bottled a 4-1 lead. I'll say EV is to blame emphatically and even winning the Double wouldn't subdue this pain.

Wilderness, here we come.

Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuucccccccccccccccckkkkkkkkkk

Omotaday:
Some of you people are talking like we have already won the league, what if he benches all these players and we lose against leganes, do you know how many points ATM needs to catch up with us? , and how are you sure that benches those players means that we will qualify to the final of the CL or win the CL?. Some of you people no nothing. Right now, we need all games, no joke around. Yes they need rest but the coach knows the best way to do that, he has been doing it and we still remain on top of the game since the season started. Different method for different times.

Alright Sir

tesppidd:
I agree.

But my first eleven would always be;


Semedo Pique Umtiti Alba

Roberto Busquets

Dembele Messi Iniesta

Suarez

Rakitic before Roberto for me this season sha..Iniesta ahead of Phil yes.

tesppidd:


Funny how Rakitic has become Don Corleone.

If I were coach Rakitic still wouldn't make my first eleven.

Well For this season and for our plans, he is very crucial..From next season we fit throw am go wilderness but for now he needs rest.

tesppidd:
I agree with Busquets, Iniesta, Messi and Pique.

Suarez and Rakitic should play.

Maybe something like this!



Semedo Mina Umtiti Alba

Rakitic Paulinho Dennis

Dembele Suarez Coutinho

At least it's not Sevilla so they wouldn't need a half fit Messi to carry them.

Rakitic shouldn't at all..Rakitic travelled to miami and mexico during the break and played both games..Came back and played a gruelling 90 minutes in seville and then 90 minutes against Roma..Gomes should take his place.

Also Alcacer deserves a look in at least, its leganes now.

Awesome01:
Fact. How I wish EV can see this writeup and give some of our first 11 some rest against Leganes.

Busquets,Iniesta, pique, Rakitic, Messi and Suarez shouldn't start at all..Shouldnt even make the squad if you ask me.

SerVik:
Ever tried taking a banana from a monkey's hand? That's what an Eriksen bid is.

Taking the 2nd best player from [color=#000000]any [/color]top team is like taking a banana from a monkey too.

SerVik:
If we are looking for a like for like xavi replacement, we might never get. Geniuses like xavi do not have replacements, they do not have substitutes, they only have alternatives. Players that will hold their own in their stead, not necessarily with same attributes but players that can bring balance in their own unique ways.

Footballers are professionals and an attribute of a real professional is the ability to adapt. The la masia is no longer producing the top quality talents we are used to, that is why we are looking elsewhere and rightly so.
Take Coutinho for instance, he might never get to be peak Iniesta but in his own rights he brings a different dimension that still suits seamlessly with our style of play. That is why our scouting crew do not just reel out names of players to sign. We find players that can suit our style of play and we go all out to sign them. That is the reason we fought so hard for veratti.
Silva and Kdb did not play with each other since they were 10 but they still understand each other perfectly well because they are professionals.

A midfield trio of busquets-Coutinho-Veratti, busquets-coutinho-kdb, busquets-coutinho-thiago might not adequately replace the much revered busquets-iniesta-xavi, but I can bet my balls that they'll hold their own against any midfield on this planet.

These players you listed can never be gotten, An all out bid for Erikssen would do it for me, instead of buying Griezmann whom we don't need imo, an Eriksen would be just perfect and even at that we still won't be as breathtaking as we used to.

VivaLaByke:
How the fück are all our players tired??

He really does though, The disaster lurking would be if he has his mind fixated on trying to preserve the unbeaten run in the league and then continues to start the first team players. Unbeaten run can be a burden at times..The fixture list doesn't get easier too, after roma next week we have valencia and celta vigo all in 4 days, and then Kings cup final by 21st.

All our good work this season can go off in flames in the next 3 weeks really.

SerVik:
The problem is that most fans are used to one way of playing football, the barca way of playing. They want us to control the game every single time. They don't want the ball crossing into our half, they want us to win every game 6-0 with at least 70% ball possession. They don't want us losing the ball and if we do, we must win it back in 6 seconds. Anything less that this is failure and should warrant a sack to the head coach.

This is the delusion that most barca fans have continued to wallow in. They do not know that to play that kind of total football, you need huge midfield presence, a luxury we have not had since xavi left. Matter of fact, our problems in midfield shifted focus to the deadly MSN trio, a lightning quick attacking combination that can carry out the quickest of counters even without midfield presence.

Many years after xavi left, we are yet to replace him and therein lies the real problem. We need a midfield controller. Iniesta is yet to retire but we already have 3replacements(Coutinho, denis Suarez and gomes), who do we have for xavi? We are overstocking the LM without any real talent at RM.

The fans should know that the midfield is the link between the defense and attack. Without midfield, the attack suffers, the defense suffers. Compromises have to be made to cushion the midfield problem, that is what EV is doing. Without any real controlling midfielder, I won't blame EV for being pragmatic and realistic.

Pep used Xavi and Iniesta when they had the legs for it..The 5seconds rule worked because those guys were fully fit and were very technical..As xavi, iniesta and Busquets got older it was clear we couldn't keep up with the total pressing game..As technical and fantastic as Xavi was, what people don't get was Xavi covered lots of distance in that midfield, like a whole lot

That suggests very few players can be Xavi really, very very few, defacto there was always going to be a paradigm shift as that pepito's team was one of a kind..Xavi knew Iniesta from la masia, they knew busquets from lamas, if xavi closes his eyes he knows where busquets was, he knows the weight and projectile of pass Iniesta won't have problems controlling..Iniesta knew if he gave Xavi the ball with 3 defenders marking him Xavi would still retain possession, have you noticed the kind of inside pass bisque gives messi or iniesta, he doesn't give Phil or Luis suarez the same kind of pass?, why?, he doesn't trust them and its absolutely normal..so those Pepito's 4 years can't happen again,We can never play like that again even if we buy the closest player to Xavi today, We just can't play that way again..

Whereas i take your point that we didn't adequately replace Xavi nor Alves, Yet I'm of the opinion Xavi alone isn't the only reason we stopped playing the best football we got used to.

Isomerizm:
Many of the guy's decisions this year have been atrocious TBH. And there's every likelihood this trait of his diffuses into next season, even after been equipped with the perfect players.

His obsession with, and bias against certain players can't be overlooked too.

To me, his purpose in consolidating the team's defence is fulfilled. An attack- and top table- oriented manager is what will revolutionise this team into the Barça I grew up loving.

If his decisions have been that "atrocious", we won't be talking about a possible treble winning season, As regards certain bias towards some players, ill take that to mean Andre gomes in particular, Have you ever thought that Enrique stuck with him and EV is doing the same..It appears the guy has immense talents(cc his valencia days), does so well in training but can't possibly transcend it to the pitch, The only proven method of solving that is restoring confidence back to the player and confidence is only restored through increased playing time.it hasn't worked thus far but its a proven method that has worked over the years. Lets not forget he had a floppy suarez for most of the season as the main striker(Suarez last scored a champions league goal last march against psg), Bottomline by next season if things don't change we can then call for his head but hitherto EV has done a fantastic job.

Upnepaa:
Mehhhhnn i hate the great reduction in tempo and intensity in our games this season. It is true that we are more balanced now but our midfield is still a weakling of the team.Valvade is also too defensive mind to be a barca coach He needs to improve.


The last time we played with high tempo and intensity was the first year of luis enrique ever since then our midfield has been found wanting most often than not. This season we are too dependent on messi and we look ordinary and average in his absense and in truth there is no more maggi,salt and other football seasoning ingredients in our style again and this is so much"unbarca" . We played averagely many times this season, taking the Chelsea and roma match as a case study we played averagely for so long then boom the messi effect happens then we massacred our opponents. Too often we were toothless in our attacks,no attacking threat at some point and our passes are less dangerous.The truth is we can't depend on messi till eternity.


Iniesta's age and the slow adaptation of coutinho and dembele is also a contributing factor to this. Hopefully,next season with the inclusion of King Arthur there will be a drastic improvement but for now,if we really want to get the treble treble achivement Our midfield needs a huge improvement and Suarez should step up in the attack as well. FORCA BARCA.

Truth is everything you said here is true, not new and almost every realistic cule knows this.. However IMO ill manage any victory, i'll take a 1-0 boring,dull victory in the UCL final this season..We need to win the UCL this season, anyhow will do(I know this is not a conventional cule axiom) but based on where we were coming from when this season started last september, with the neymar saga, messi contract renewal, dembele injury, phil not signed when we wanted,This season was deemed a damage limitation season, we were supposed to play second fiddle to madrid all through but EV has turned it around with his balanced plan..I have a feeling this isn't in anyway EV's first plan and 2nd plan self while taking the job but he had to re-adjust and innovate..So mate lets win the UCL anyhow first, Next season we would see a more enticing and entertaining Barca side..Be Excited!

Waiting patiently to see the line up this weekend.. If EV would start Messi or Busquets..Clearly they weren't fit yesterday and need enough rest..Iniesta too needs as much rest as he can cos it's obvious his influence nosedives as the game goes deeper which is largely due to age and not ability..If we are to win the champions league this season,EV's man management skills would be key..Very key.

Nihilstjnr:
I have to give Messi this one though...

Hehehe..Bro at least you always acknowledge once Messi does something Crazy..I remember you acknowledging too after Messi's clasico goal last season.

oseriki9:
Guy your analysis are always on point.

Thanks I Appreciate

The absence of the Cat makes the Mouse shine.

lovelylad:
i heard messi scored yesterday but i ddnt watch the ball and i cant also watch it on my phone[nokia small screen size phone] can you please narrate how he scored the ball? I heard it was outside the box

I see you have been replied..U get the picture now?

obainojazz:
Do you need an ambulance

lol..To carry Madrid fans after we win the treble

Oh i hate international breaks, Especially the one before we play quarterfinals in the month of march..The distance these guys cover while prosecuting these games are crazy..Rakitic for instance travelled to mexico and miami and played..Umtiti particularly was caught out more often than not and quite lacklustre yesterday..Dembele and Phil didn't bail the tired ones out especially since they have fewer games in their legs, Dembele especially needs to improve his decision making very soon(Xavi remains right with his sentiment) and EV needs to understand that it appears Iniesta and Phil can't play together in d same line up especially against the big teams..Too similar and one hinders the other..

All in all we are lucky to have witnessed the Brilliance of Lionel MESSI. I kept saying wow, wow, wow, after that goal.

Nihilstjnr:
After this the judge had to order the arrest of tesppidd and vivalabyke for contempt of court due to their uncontrollable sobbing and wailing.

obiorathesubtle and jonsnow92 felt there was a miscarriage of justice, and became lesbian, vegan and eco-friendly social justice warriors in protest, spawning a variety of hashtags like #dwarflifematters and #mejetstoo

Homesteady just stayed at home, steady consuming the news second-hand from his neighbour who read the story on complete sport at the bus stop. Of course homesteady's neighbour is an illiterate, and so now homesteady thinks that Messi is being hunted by paratroopers sent by a long-deceased General Franco

Dmcdad had nothing to say because he's still in a Catalonian Jail, after travelling as an illegal immigrant through Libya to Spain, just so he could participate the Catalonian independence movement. Sadly he was arrested on his first night in Spain because the local cops mistook him for a prostitute.

Thank You Leo Messi

The Burden of Lionel Messi carrying both Argentina and Barcelona far outweighs that of Atlas.

raumdeuter:
That was the style everyone planned to use with Tyson. Keep him on the perimeter, jab him and hold him

Tyson knew this and he came inside aggressively, delivered his punches hit the target and was out like strike 3

Everyone isn't Alli, No Heavyweight danced like Alli, before and After Alli no Heavyweight comes close with his superb footwork.

Are you also of the sentiment that Prime Tyson would beat Prime Alli?

Nihilstjnr:
There was nobody that fought like Tyson before or since.

Mohammed Ali had no defence. All he had was his incredible footspeed and reflexes.

One of the things you learn as soon as you go in the ring is how to close off angles. When you control the centre of the ring, you control the fight.

Ali relied on jabbing while dancing backwards to keep his opponent at bay. 88 Tyson had both hands up in front of his face at all times, and would advance straight forward crouching. Ali's only option would be to make illegal body shots to the top of his head.

Go and watch the Frazier fights again. It had nothing to do with age, after all Ali technically won two of the 3. But when you look at the styles involved in both, you would understand exactly why Ali suffered so much in that fight.

And Tyson was a better fighter on the inside than Frazier.

I cant overemphasize this - you control the centre, you control the fight. 88 Tyson owned the centre bruv

Bro Frazier was able to get back in the fight in Mannilla because he had Endurance and Stamina,which Clearly Tyson didn't have as fights wore on.

Its true, Tyson controlled the centre but Alli was a more calculative fighter and stronger physically, Only those guys who fought Alli recognised how physically Strong Alli was. He was able to tie down monsters like Frazier, Foreman and the like, wear them out physically, simply by restraining their arms and forcing the referee to separate them, but not without leaning on them and forcing their heads down for a bit. With time this would get to tyson and he'll tire out..Tyson would try to close the distance and draw Alli to the centre,Ali would clinch like he did with foreman and frazier all through, The ref forces them to separate, Ali fires off a couple of shots, Tyson rushes in, Ali clinches, cycle continues. Both men would get tired, but Ali would still be the man with the taller body, longer reach, and be the one landing punches.

Nihilstjnr:
Joe Frazier already proved that Alli was a sucker for aggresive inside fighters, and Tyson had a far better defence than Frazier did.

See this chairman talking about Head movement.

Fam you can't duck your ribs.

Tyson(and Fraizer) didnt have time to stand up and trade jabs with Ali. The man was 6'3 with arms as long as skipping rope. Tyson was 5'10. Frazier the same height.

As a boxer, when you don't have the reach advantage, you close the distance. Go and ask Ali what happened to him when Frazier was agressively closing his angles and beating him like Micheal Jackson. If Tyson had got that same opportunity, I promise you he would have broken Ali's ribs.

88 Tyson was God.

The premise is Prime Alli vs Prime Mike.. Frazier gave all tough time when Alli was out of boxing for 3 solid years, in his 'prime' Alli had clearly lost his legs and had to reinvent his style in order to take more punishments and become more patient.

A prime Alli won't allow Tyson come close, talkies of giving him rib punishment.Alli would move 2 steps back, tip toe round the ring and dance for 10 rounds, It'll get frustrating for Tyson and Tyson showed he couldn't go the distance laye.

Liston was also an inside fighter(not as aggressive as Tyson though) but still Cassius beat him so tay baba go form shoulder injury after fight.

Nihilstjnr:
All this one is story. Your argument is that Mike Tyson did not fight Top Class Opposition.

I don't need him to fight top class opposition to predict who he would have beat.

His Legacy is different from a theoretical matchup between two fighters.

I'm looking at the technique and his style in the late 80s and comparing it to Mohammed Ali's style and I'm confident, Ali would have been bagged up like Weed.

Tyson switched up his style in the 90s and went off the rails. Went to jail a couple of times, and struggled with mental illness.

Ring magazine will look at his entire career including these dark times where he was skipping training sessions in camp to go and party.

I'm looking at a very specific era. A very specific year.

1988 Iron Mike was GOD. That 20 year old will have killed ANYBODY. Ali especially would have been finished like Mo Salah

A prime Alli between 64-67 would beat anybody..Alli was untouchable,Alli ducked 21punches in 10 seconds with just head movement during that tim.. Also Sonny Liston at the time was more intimidating that Tyson, Liston was beaten like a baby by a 22yr old Alli.
All the guys that beat Tyson were significantly taller and had longer reach, add that to Alli's superior foot speed and his ring savvyness and Alli's superior psychological advantage..Alli would have gotten into Tyson's head even before the fight and when the fight starts, Alli would win.

Ibime:
Holmes beat Norton while Norton was champ. Also Holmes wasn't a showman and wasn't an Olympian. These are the things that turn fighters into contenders at an early age. If you have no Olympic record, it will take you 7 years to reach where an Olympian will reach in 1 year. Also people will be ducking you as the fight money will not be enough to put themselves at such risk against you. Also Holmes didn't turn professional till 24. . . so he became World Champ in 5 years without Olympics. That's laudable.

Michael Spinks did not beat Holmes either. I think that was white mafia judges trying to stop Holmes from tying Marcianos record.

He beat a 35yr old Norton who's seen better years.. Also as regards the Olympic path to stardom, Holmes lost his olympic trials too, so it wasn't as though he didn't want to follow the olympics path, he tried and failed.Whereas been a Champ in 5yrs of turning Pro is laudable, It still doesn't take away the fact that Holmes never fought any Great.

As for the 49th fight, I also believe He won that bout and was robbed.

afrodoc2:
*You are right on Holmes. Those guys clocked 34-38 and he suddenly catapulted to the top at 29. And all those Tim Witherspoon and Gerry Cooney that Holmes was beating would never have been legends in Ali's era. Holmes was great but no way would he have dominated the 70s.*

On Ernie Shavers practically everybody that fought both Foreman and Shavers said Shavers hit harder. Shavers had 2 problems, he started boxing in his 20s and by the time he got title shots he was past 30 and he had a suspect chin himself. Nobody with a suspect chin could have become champion in the cutthroat field of the 70s.

Exactly. Although all Great fighters pad states/numbers by fighting relatively Unknown people but these Golden guys fought great fighters as well..Fought hem a couple of times self. Holmes despite fighting Unknowns, he still couldn't rise up the ranks fast enough to fight any of them.

afrodoc2:
Bert put Tyson at no 14. Points he made against Tyson were that he had just 5 years and he didn't do too well when he faced other greats.
Against Holmes he said Holmes did not face any greats in their prime and fought many also-rans. That was the same point made against Lennox who he said would be about 18 or 19.
One thing he weighed heavily was how you did against other greats in your era and your fighting ability as opposed to just W-L record.

Hear Hear..Totally Agree.

Im talking about fighter for fighter..Holmes vs Tyson in their Prime.

Ibime:
I say the Golden generation (Norton, Frazier and Foreman) became golden because they beat Ali (or in Foremans case, he embarrassed the guys that beat Ali). Maybe they wouldn't become golden if they fought in Holmes era. Berbick, Shavers and Leon Spinks were no slouches but Holmes did not give them light to shine. Foreman is about the only guy from Ali era that I can confidently put money on beating Holmes, and even that is dicey cos Shavers hit harder than Foreman yet lost to Holmes.

Frazier and Foreman would have dominated any era had they not fought during Alli's, Frazier's only losses were against Alli and Foreman(2ce each), so its safe to say had he not fight those 2, he would have retired undefeated. So the same premise could be used for Holmes too cos he never fought any great.

No i don't think Shavers hit harder than George..And even if he did, Shavers was a relative nobody'' compared to other big names.He wasn't considered a big name during the Alli era and Holmes fought him when shavers was 34 self..

Also if Holmes was that good i think he should have climbed up the ranks fast enough, He didn't get his first chance at glory till he was 29, when all the other greats were finished..Also he lost all his comebacks too.

afrodoc2:
In Bert Randolph Sugar's ranking he rated 1)Joe Luis 2)Ali eight)Foreman 9)Frazier 10)Holmes
The other guys in the top 10 were old timers like Rocky Marciano, Ezzard Charles, Gene Tunney e.t.c meaning for modern boxing he ranked Ali, Foreman, Frazier, then Holmes.

P.S Sugar Ray Robinson was not a heavy weight.

Couldnt agree more with Berth with him long cigar, but Holmes ahead of Tyson? ...Hmm in their prime, i'll tilt towards Tyson.

Ibime:
Sugar Ray was not a heavyweight.

Mike Tyson doesn't come into discussion.

Yes, I feel if you put all the greats in a league, Holmes would win the league as he was more complete with fewer weaknesses.

Yeaah True, Ray wasn't a Heavy weight.

Holmes was very good in his own right but we can't particularly say he had fewer weaknesses.He fought during an era when the Golden generation were declining, infant i think the big names Holmes fought and won were 35 years old declining Norton, 40yrs Old finished Alli and maybe Earnie Shavers(that had nothing except his hard punching style)..I can say if he fought those golden generation guys in their prime, he wouldn't have been that good.