Topic: FC Barcelona

[LFC when it suits]

Definitely not by buying Andre Fucking Gomes.

Teams age all the time. You've got to recruit better than Barca have these last few seasons. Its enough to make Hodgson blush.

Luis Suárez   Liverpool FC   Liverpool   £73.55m
Jérémy Mathieu   Valencia CF   Valencia CF   £18.00m
Thomas Vermaelen   Arsenal FC   Arsenal   £17.10m
Ivan Rakitic   Sevilla FC   Sevilla FC   £16.20m
Marc-André ter Stegen   Borussia Mönchengladbach   Bor. M'gladbach   £10.80m
Claudio Bravo   Real Sociedad   Real Sociedad   £10.80m
Douglas   São Paulo Futebol Clube   São Paulo   £3.60m
Arda Turan   Atlético Madrid   Atlético Madrid   £30.60m
Aleix Vidal   Sevilla FC   Sevilla FC   £15.30m
André Gomes   Valencia CF   Valencia CF   £31.50m
Paco Alcácer   Valencia CF   Valencia CF   £27.00m
Samuel Umtiti   Olympique Lyon   Olympique Lyon   £22.50m
Lucas Digne   Paris Saint-Germain   Paris SG   £14.85m
Jasper Cillessen   Ajax Amsterdam   AFC Ajax   £11.70m
Denis Suárez   Villarreal CF   Villarreal CF   £2.93m
Philippe Coutinho   Liverpool FC   Liverpool   £108.00m
Ousmane Dembélé   Borussia Dortmund   Bor. Dortmund   £103.50m
Paulinho   Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao   GZ Evergrande   £36.00m
Nélson Semedo   SL Benfica   Benfica   £27.51m
Gerard Deulofeu   Everton FC   Everton   £10.80m
Yerry Mina   Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras   Palmeiras   £10.62m
Marlon   Fluminense Football Club   Fluminense   £4.50m

In fact, the only players they've signed who actually suit the way they play have been signed from us!

Suarez didn't really suit the way they played when they bought him. That was the beginning of Barca going down the route of relying on individual brilliance from Neymar, Messi and Suarez rather than controlling and dominating like they did under Pep as Xavi and Iniesta began to age. Now that Neymar has left and Suarez has declined, they only have the individual brilliance of Messi to rely on which is why they have been exposed at elite level in recent seasons.

[elsewhere]

Dare I say we are a much better "team" without Coutinho since all of our midfielders tracks back? I don't have the numbers with me but the results are there to see. Our attack is much more fluid too.

[disgraced cake]

Iniesta is off to China as everybody basically already knows.

One of the best midfielders ever

[The Final Third]

[Qston]

Great picture.

One of my favourite players to watch. The way he glides across a pitch and makes it look so effortless is something to behold.

[SlowRap]

I reckon he could still do a job for a few years here

[kcbworth]

Coutinho finished the season with a bang for them, became their main goalscorer (4 goals in the final half a week)

Must have been banging the ball in frustration the rest of the team he walked away from still get to play a final he'll miss

[Qston]

I reckon he could still do a job for a few years here

I agree but I think he will take a move to the US or China for a last 'payday'. He has done everything in the game

[firing squad]

Coutinho finished the season with a bang for them, became their main goalscorer (4 goals in the final half a week)

Must have been banging the ball in frustration the rest of the team he walked away from still get to play a final he'll miss

People keep mentioning this but I highly doubt it.  They've won the double this season and are pretty much always top favorites to win the CL so I reckon he's well aware that he'll get plenty of chances to win it in the next couple of seasons.

[El Lobo]

People keep mentioning this but I highly doubt it.  They've won the double this season and are pretty much always top favorites to win the CL so I reckon he's well aware that he'll get plenty of chances to win it in the next couple of seasons.

Aye of course he will, but the two trophies he's 'won' this season he hasn't really had any particular impact on. Its still a shame he didn't just stick around for another six months, but there you go. If Luis had an amazing six months at Liverpool the season he left, then left in January and we won the league I'm sure there'd have been quite a hefty tinge of regret too.

[RedSince86]

People keep mentioning this but I highly doubt it.  They've won the double this season and are pretty much always top favorites to win the CL so I reckon he's well aware that he'll get plenty of chances to win it in the next couple of seasons.

They have a massive rebuild and this at the wrong time when they have a 84% wages to turnover to fix and replace some key positions and not a lot of money to spend.

I read an article a few weeks ago by Reddy on  the Coutinho/Klopp malaise.

Klopp in one of the first sit downs with Coutinho  told him that the likes of Barca,Real and Munich won't be in the picture for a few seasons in the CL because all 3 have major rebuilds with aging stale squads and that clubs like us and a few others will be the new force in Europe until those clubs get their squads in order and moving to those clubs now wouldn't be a good time.

Right now Barca cycle looks over,they have about 5-6 key positions to replace,Iniesta Suarez Rakitic Pique Umtiti (looks United bound with a low buy out clause) all have to be replaced in the next 12-24 months.

Right now we are equipped better to get further than Barca in the CL for the next 4-5 years under Klopp with the squad age average 24-25 years old.

[El Lobo]

They have a massive rebuild and this at the wrong time when they have a 84% wages to turnover to fix and replace some key positions and not a lot of money to spend.

I read an article a few weeks ago by Reddy on  the Coutinho/Klopp malaise.

Klopp in one of the first sit downs with Coutinho  told him that the likes of Barca,Real and Munich won't be in the picture for a few seasons in the CL because all 3 have major rebuilds with aging stale squads and that clubs like us and a few others will be the new force in Europe until those clubs get their squads in order and moving to those clubs now wouldn't be a good time.

Right now Barca cycle looks over,they have about 5-6 key positions to replace,Iniesta Suarez Rakitic Pique Umtiti (looks United bound with a low buy out clause) all have to be replaced in the next 12-24 months.

Right now we are equipped better to get further than Barca in the CL for the next 4-5 years under Klopp with the squad age average 24-25 years old.

Messi still has another good number of seasons left, and as long as he's there they'll always compete for the big honours.

[firing squad]

...

Theoretically you're right, it all sounds reasonable "on paper", however they still have Messi and always seem to end up on top of things. When Ronaldinho left there was talk of an "end of an era" and so on but they still stayed up there.  Not to mention that they're a player magnet and can easily attract any player in world football so I'm not that worried about their prospects.

[jooneyisdagod]

Coutinho seems to be really impressing the Barca fans based on what I'm reading online. Then I looked at his record and it looks like he's started to score quite a few goals off late. I still think we'll look at the fee and think that it was a bargain for a player of his quality. I think he's that good and I think he'll dominate at the world cup.

[bird_lfc]

Coutinho finished the season with a bang for them, became their main goalscorer (4 goals in the final half a week)

Must have been banging the ball in frustration the rest of the team he walked away from still get to play a final he'll miss

Maybe a little, but at the same time I reckon he’s still chuffed we made it and will be cheering us and the boys on...

Glad he’s doing well. seems like the transfer has worked well for both parties.

[TepidT2O]

Griezmann staying at Atletico it seems (according to reliable Spanish journalist).

[LallanaInPyjamas]

Coutinho seems to be really impressing the Barca fans based on what I'm reading online. Then I looked at his record and it looks like he's started to score quite a few goals off late. I still think we'll look at the fee and think that it was a bargain for a player of his quality. I think he's that good and I think he'll dominate at the world cup.

Got him at 80/1 each-way for the Golden Boot the other day. Crazy odds for a guy in goalscoring form. Like you, I can see him ripping it up.

[RyanBabel19]

Aye of course he will, but the two trophies he's 'won' this season he hasn't really had any particular impact on. Its still a shame he didn't just stick around for another six months, but there you go. If Luis had an amazing six months at Liverpool the season he left, then left in January and we won the league I'm sure there'd have been quite a hefty tinge of regret too.

In a way it is, but we're in a champions league final. Who knows if we would be there had he stayed

[The North Bank]

 Coutinho golden ball Neymar golden boot. Together they’ll be unstoppable, I expect over 10 goals for Brazil just by those 2 alone. Only Harry Kane can stop them.

[stevieG786]

As soon as he cuts in on his right from 25 yards you know it’s curling in the top corner.

Coutiniho was a boss, no ill feelings from me

[OOS]

Got him at 80/1 each-way for the Golden Boot the other day. Crazy odds for a guy in goalscoring form. Like you, I can see him ripping it up.

Shout that

[Xxavi]

Griezmann staying at Atletico it seems (according to reliable Spanish journalist).

That would be great. Barca are broke yet keep spending $$$ on players that we shouldn't need. Its criminal that the club buys Dembele a season later, they are seemingly ready to give up on him.

I rate Griezmann highly, but if his arrival means Dembele's departure, no, thanks.

[TepidT2O]

That would be great. Barca are broke yet keep spending $$$ on players that we shouldn't need. Its criminal that the club buys Dembele a season later, they are seemingly ready to give up on him.

I rate Griezmann highly, but if his arrival means Dembele's departure, no, thanks.

We got £50m more out of them by holding on to Coutinho for a few moths longer.  .... 

If they don’t get Griezmann (still an if) then they would be mad to loan Dembélé out.  Although I think they would be mad anyway.

[DangerScouse]

Barcelona were unaware that the video was being made and vice president, Jordi Mestre said at the unveiling of Eric Abidal as the club's new sporting director, that the manner in which the Barca fans were made aware of the French striker’s decision to remain in the Spanish capital was unfair.

"As a club, we respect Griezmann's decision to renew with Atletico as we respect any player's right to decide their future," he said. "But we feel bad for the supporters who felt disappointed with the way it happened and the way the final resolution came out.

https://m.independent.ie/sport/soccer/other-soccer/barcelona-to-probe-gerard-piques-involvement-in-video-of-antoine-griezmanns-decision-to-snub-catalan-giants-37028532.html

Used to be a big admirer of the club. Not much admirable about them these days.

[vivabobbygraham]

Barcelona were unaware that the video was being made and vice president, Jordi Mestre said at the unveiling of Eric Abidal as the club's new sporting director, that the manner in which the Barca fans were made aware of the French striker’s decision to remain in the Spanish capital was unfair.

"As a club, we respect Griezmann's decision to renew with Atletico as we respect any player's right to decide their future," he said. "But we feel bad for the supporters who felt disappointed with the way it happened and the way the final resolution came out.

https://m.independent.ie/sport/soccer/other-soccer/barcelona-to-probe-gerard-piques-involvement-in-video-of-antoine-griezmanns-decision-to-snub-catalan-giants-37028532.htmli

Used to be a big admirer of the club. Not much admirable about them these days.

Article not there, mate

[Djozer]

Barcelona were unaware that the video was being made and vice president, Jordi Mestre said at the unveiling of Eric Abidal as the club's new sporting director, that the manner in which the Barca fans were made aware of the French striker’s decision to remain in the Spanish capital was unfair.

Poor Barca, feel terrible for them. Football can be so cruel sometimes.

[DangerScouse]

Article not there, mate

https://m.independent.ie/sport/soccer/other-soccer/barcelona-to-probe-gerard-piques-involvement-in-video-of-antoine-griezmanns-decision-to-snub-catalan-giants-37028532.html

That should be it now mate.

[vivabobbygraham]

https://m.independent.ie/sport/soccer/other-soccer/barcelona-to-probe-gerard-piques-involvement-in-video-of-antoine-griezmanns-decision-to-snub-catalan-giants-37028532.html

That should be it now mate.

Got it. Cheers, scouse

[Dim Glas]

they feel bad for the supporters?  Couldn't make that sort of shit up considering the underhand and scummish way they behaved towards Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund recently, and others in the past. And no doubt someone else very soon.

My heart bleeds.

[classycarra]

c*nt of a club in behaving like c*nts shocker

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-44965630

[Dull Tools]

c*nt of a club in behaving like c*nts shocker

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-44965630

They are the first club to do a joint tour? How is that them behaving like c*nts?

[CraigDS]

Women's team added onto the tour at a later date, got given 2 or 3 economy seats each as there were no premium seats left available on the plane.

Bit of a non-story, surely?

[SlowRap]

Story for the perpetually offended

[classycarra]

They are the first club to do a joint tour? How is that them behaving like c*nts?

Are you sure they're the first club? The article only says it's the first time they've done it.

And the reason they're c*nts is sort of precisely summed up by your implication. They have cynically used the women's team joining their tour to promoted themselves as being virtuous, and have managed their PR to make sure pictures imply that everyone is being treated the same (ie both in business class, since that's where the pics were taken). That the club decided to hide this shows that they were aware it's a shitty thing to do, and have cynically decided to do nothing about this (such as treating the women's team equally) and only tried to manage their image.

So they care more about their brand and appealing to people like you, who have seen their PR coverage, rather than their employees. That's a cuntish cynical big business thing to do, in my book

[CraigDS]

Are you sure they're the first club? The article only says it's the first time they've done it.

And the reason they're c*nts is sort of precisely summed up by your implication. They have cynically used the women's team joining their tour to promoted themselves as being virtuous, and have managed their PR to make sure pictures imply that everyone is being treated the same (ie both in business class, since that's where the pics were taken). That the club decided to hide this shows that they were aware it's a shitty thing to do, and have cynically decided to do nothing about this (such as treating the women's team equally) and only tried to manage their image.

So they care more about their brand and appealing to people like you, who have seen their PR coverage, rather than their employees. That's a cuntish cynical big business thing to do, in my book

They also posted pictures of them in the economy seats, so they clearly weren't trying to hide anything. It's probably more that if they want to take a group shot it's easier to do where there are less seats.

Honestly, it appears you've looked at one picture and article and decided to get angry when if you look they've not done what you're accusing them of.

[classycarra]

They also posted pictures of them in the economy seats, so they clearly weren't trying to hide anything. It's probably more that if they want to take a group shot it's easier to do where there are less seats.

Honestly, it appears you've looked at one picture and article and decided to get angry when if you look they've not done what you're accusing them of.

I think you're confusing me commenting on a dickhead club with being angry. I've taken this information second hand off a mate telling me about it.

So you're saying they didn't know, when they were booking business tickets for the men, that the women would be coming on the tour? Do you have a source for that?

Will happily retract, and just limit my thinking they're c*nts for everything else

[CraigDS]

I think you're confusing me commenting on a dickhead club with being angry. I've taken this information second hand off a mate telling me about it.

So you're saying they didn't know, when they were booking business tickets for the men, that the women would be coming on the tour? Do you have a source for that?

Will happily retract, and just limit my thinking they're c*nts for everything else

From the article you yourself posted the link to....

Alexia Putellas told Spanish news outlet Mundo Deportivo that the women's team had been added to the tour at a later date - and that the club had "to organise everything practically at the last minute".

Barcelona said there simply were not enough business class seats on the plane once the women's team joined the tour - and that it had allocated two to three seats each for every female player in economy class for their comfort.

Alexia Putellas is a Barca player (woman).

[classycarra]

From the article you yourself posted the link to....

Alexia Putellas is a Barca player (woman).

Hahah fair enough.

Still, be interested to know when the tickets were bought, rather than just hearing one of the players defending their club.

Doesn't sound like all that great a "first mixed tour" if it was just something they threw together after the men's preseason was sorted out!

All fine and everything, up to them, but if a big company tries to use 'we're taking women's football seriously' cynically to brand themselves as 'more than a club' they probably won't be surprised if people calling them out for it being relatively empty rhetoric.

[Lycan]

Used to have a real soft spot for Barca, but I don't like the club they have become.

[PhilV]

Used to have a real soft spot for Barca, but I don't like the club they have become.

They don't even know what their own slogan means anymore.