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Old 23-09-2015, 20:42
davethecue
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Make it 4-0
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Old 23-09-2015, 20:44
batdude_uk1
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Wow, this is one heck of a thumping.
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Old 23-09-2015, 20:51
JSemple3
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Don't often see Barca getting embarrassed like that
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Old 24-09-2015, 12:33
whedon247
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juve still terrible. inter still unstoppable.
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Old 24-09-2015, 16:07
Pee
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I've not seen a Barca performance this sloppy since the bad old days of the end of the Rijkaard era. in a way, it was to be expected at some point, especially with the Copa America and that silly preseason schedule. the first half of the season was always going to be brutal with the ridiculous run of fixtures (Athletic, Atletico, Celta, Sevilla, Real, Valencia and Espanyol ALL away before Christmas), and an already-small squad being decimated by injuries. yesterday was the perfect storm of all those factors meeting a bang-in-form Celta who did pretty much every single thing right.

this is a team that tends to peak at the right time though, so I won't be that concerned even if a few more points are dropped between now and the New Year.
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Old 24-09-2015, 19:25
Draca_Noir
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I've not seen a Barca performance this sloppy since the bad old days of the end of the Rijkaard era. in a way, it was to be expected at some point, especially with the Copa America and that silly preseason schedule. the first half of the season was always going to be brutal with the ridiculous run of fixtures (Athletic, Atletico, Celta, Sevilla, Real, Valencia and Espanyol ALL away before Christmas), and an already-small squad being decimated by injuries. yesterday was the perfect storm of all those factors meeting a bang-in-form Celta who did pretty much every single thing right.

this is a team that tends to peak at the right time though, so I won't be that concerned even if a few more points are dropped between now and the New Year.
Luis Enrique knows this, he even admitted before the game that Celta were dangerous. Why then did he not start Rakitic? Always play your best team against the best, he did it after the debacle at Real Sociedad last year and they went onto win the treble.
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Old 24-09-2015, 19:47
Pee
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He rotated, which I think is fair enough given the circumstances, I just think he did it the wrong way round. Sergi Roberto should've played v Levante on Saturday and Rakitic yesterday. He's a bit too wedded to players like Roberto and Rafinha I think, but that's another story. Rakitic also hasn't been playing that well, it has to be said.
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Old 25-09-2015, 08:58
Draca_Noir
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He rotated, which I think is fair enough given the circumstances, I just think he did it the wrong way round. Sergi Roberto should've played v Levante on Saturday and Rakitic yesterday. He's a bit too wedded to players like Roberto and Rafinha I think, but that's another story. Rakitic also hasn't been playing that well, it has to be said.
That's what I would have done. Agree about his love of Rafinha and Sergi Roberto, although he did really well at right back filling in for Alves.

Rakitic has been okay, they miss his energy when he's not in the team.
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Old 25-09-2015, 11:28
Pee
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Sergi Roberto was brilliant at right-back, but that game on Wednesday completely passed him by in midfield. with Rafinha's season-ender, I think we're going to be seeing way more of Roberto in there than I'd like. energy is about all Rakitic is giving at the moment, he's not really influencing games with the ball at the moment. Busquets looks tired, and Iniesta is playing way more than he's able to. I was initially quite "meh" about it at the time, but now I really do think Turan is going to be invaluable in midfield come January. until then, it's really all about shrewd game-management.

in hindsight, it would've been great to still have Pedro. he'd have got a lot of game-time in that front three, allowing Messi to drop back into midfield more often.
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Old 25-09-2015, 12:11
Draca_Noir
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Sergi Roberto was brilliant at right-back, but that game on Wednesday completely passed him by in midfield. with Rafinha's season-ender, I think we're going to be seeing way more of Roberto in there than I'd like. energy is about all Rakitic is giving at the moment, he's not really influencing games with the ball at the moment. Busquets looks tired, and Iniesta is playing way more than he's able to. I was initially quite "meh" about it at the time, but now I really do think Turan is going to be invaluable in midfield come January. until then, it's really all about shrewd game-management.

in hindsight, it would've been great to still have Pedro. he'd have got a lot of game-time in that front three, allowing Messi to drop back into midfield more often.
Agree - the midfield does look tired at the moment, probably why they've conceded so many goals. A shame Vermaelen got injured, as Mascherano could have then played there.

Once Pedro was going, I thought they would get Nolito, who was brilliant for Celta.
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Old 26-09-2015, 15:15
batdude_uk1
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Not good to read about, Messi coming off in today's match with what is said to be a knee injury.
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Old 03-10-2015, 16:19
batdude_uk1
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Barca proving that they seem to be a one man team, no Messi and they are getting beat 2-0 by Sevilla.

If Sevilla can get the win, that will give them plenty of confidence going into the City match shortly.
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Old 03-10-2015, 16:23
Will_Johnson
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Calling Barcelona a one man team is absolutely ridiculous.
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Old 03-10-2015, 16:27
batdude_uk1
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Calling Barcelona a one man team is absolutely ridiculous.
Well someone needs to step up in the great man's absence.

Neymar and Suarez are wonderfully talented players, but they are not Messi.
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Old 03-10-2015, 16:33
Will_Johnson
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That isn't the argument. You said Barcelona seem to be a one man team, which is completely different to saying Messi is better than Suarez or Neymar.
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Old 03-10-2015, 16:43
zieler
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Barca proving that they seem to be a one man team, no Messi and they are getting beat 2-0 by Sevilla.

If Sevilla can get the win, that will give them plenty of confidence going into the City match shortly.
Bloody hell.
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Old 03-10-2015, 16:45
batdude_uk1
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Okay then maybe that was a wee bit ott, I take that back then, I perhaps got caught up in the moment.
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Old 03-10-2015, 16:47
Will_Johnson
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I'd accept that from a four year old.
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Old 03-10-2015, 16:56
catsaregrey
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looks like someone has been on the Buds again
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Old 04-10-2015, 04:50
007Fusion
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Calling Barcelona a one man team is absolutely ridiculous.
Actually, I wouldn't say its far off base. Their front three are spectacular but their influence individually is not as great as Messi's is on the team; with him on the pitch, the players can relax knowing he can, may, or will do something wondrous for them. He's likely to shoulder the blame & focus, too. For me, I think he also inspires them as much as he acts as a security blanket for them. So yeah, with him? awesome team. Without...a lot more fragile, which shouldn't be the case with so much attacking talent at the club.
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Old 04-10-2015, 08:15
Will_Johnson
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Claiming Messi's absence would weaken a side is a world away from saying they are a one man team without him. He has not singlehandedly won all of the Champions League titles he has under his belt and when you look at the other players associated with those victories it is little short of astonishing that they could be discredited to that extent.
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Old 06-10-2015, 17:19
kobashi100
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Once Pedro was going, I thought they would get Nolito, who was brilliant for Celta.
Remeber the Transfer embargo was still in place so it would be similar to the turan deal meaning he couldn't play till January.

Turan is gonna make a huge difference when he finally gets to play.
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Old 06-10-2015, 17:45
batdude_uk1
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Remeber the Transfer embargo was still in place so it would be similar to the turan deal meaning he couldn't play till January.

Turan is gonna make a huge difference when he finally gets to play.
Whose position will Turan take in the team that plays now?
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Old 06-10-2015, 19:36
kobashi100
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Whose position will Turan take in the team that plays now?
I think he will play in the midfield three.
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Old 07-10-2015, 11:04
ihatemarmite
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just been in (wonderful) San Sebastian just before the Basque derby (a turgid 0-0) but have never seen such lack of excitement around Real Sociedad.
Surely they have to get rid of Moyes? They have some good players, but they're awful to watch this season.
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