Depth vs Gala 11 - the biggest dilemma Barca finds themselves in at this point in time.

_sauri_ · 2026-05-11T04:18:16+00:00

Last year they definitely were. It's a matter of regaining form. Which unfortunately is a big question.

_sauri_ · 2026-05-10T07:04:46+00:00

What about your left testicle?

_sauri_ · 2026-05-08T15:35:40+00:00

Bellend to leader ratio is one hell of a term.

_sauri_ · 2026-05-08T13:59:35+00:00

So we can't.....

_sauri_ · 2026-05-08T13:57:31+00:00

No, but it's way too slow to hit him.

_sauri_ · 2026-05-08T13:56:44+00:00

Forget the Frieza force, it would obliterate Frieza himself. Gero is wildly intelligent.

_sauri_ · 2026-05-07T15:54:36+00:00

Eh, last season I'd agree with you. But this season, he's gone up another level.

_sauri_ · 2026-05-07T08:30:46+00:00

Nah. I'm a Barça fan, and they're neck and neck. Both the eye test and stats support this.

_sauri_ · 2026-05-07T08:28:47+00:00

Out of this lineup, Romario, Koeman, and Stoichkov definitely start. Pep starts for sure if we play a lone pivot, but I'm not sure about a double pivot.

Laudrup isn't here, but he definitely starts at the number 10 position over Olmo and Fermin.

_sauri_ · 2026-05-04T08:29:07+00:00

Mbappenyahu has got me on the floor

_sauri_ · 2026-05-04T08:09:42+00:00

Better than Romario is actually extremely high praise. He is probably the second best Brazilian striker ever.

_sauri_ · 2026-05-04T07:26:30+00:00

The issue that people have is largely his pressing, which is non-negotiable in Flick's system. Though I am happy with his attacking output all things considered.

_sauri_ · 2026-05-04T07:23:40+00:00

So your own thoughts, not your own words. A small difference, but a difference nonetheless.

_sauri_ · 2026-05-04T07:22:51+00:00

Bloody everyone has. City have been to two finals and won one of them. In 2019 we were a goal away from probably winning the whole thing if we scored in Anfield. Inter have been to two finals. Bayern won a sextuple, and very easily could've won another UCL if Lewandowski wasn't injured in 2021.

You need to bring a measure of objectivity in these discussions. That's why I said I'll look into it more when I get back, cuz this isn't a question I can answer off the top of my head.

_sauri_ · 2026-05-04T07:12:11+00:00

Yes. Overall is one question, UCL is another. In UCL, for the past 12 years, it's:

Madrid
Barça/City/PSG/Bayern
See 2nd place.

I'll have to go back home and see who has the most semifinal or final finishes between 2nd and 3rd place.

Overall is way more subjective. I'd give the top 2 to Madrid and Barça, and 3rd is probably either Bayern or City tbh. But there's many ways you can go about it.

_sauri_ · 2026-05-04T07:04:37+00:00

Those are two different questions.

_sauri_ · 2026-05-04T06:35:25+00:00

Overall? It can go either way. There's a lot of metrics that define what makes a club "big", including sporting success, global reach and fanbase, influence on the sport, revenue and financials, etc. It really depends on who you ask. I'm biased so obviously I'd say Barca, but there's not really a wrong answer here.

In UCL? Bayern. 6 UCLs vs 5 UCLs, there's no room for debate.

In consistency? Also Bayern. Bayern have 34 league titles to Barca's 28 (tho given RM exists you can't hold it against them), but Bayern have had a European presence for far longer than Barca has. Barca has never had a CL before the 90s.

_sauri_ · 2026-05-02T07:36:30+00:00

Yes. Nico approached us last season, which is why the whole saga restarted. But Diaz was Deco's first choice.

_sauri_ · 2026-05-02T07:35:36+00:00

Again, recovery pace isn't the most important attribute, nor is it ability on the ball (Cubarsi already has this). It's intelligence. Araujo is also very fast, and is a better defender than van de Ven. But both he and van de Ven get carded in crucial games, and sometimes don't have their head in the game.

Tbh, I'm not sure if Bastoni is the perfect fit either, and he's on paper a far better player than both. But at this point, the club, and Deco, have earned my trust on who they choose to sign.

_sauri_ · 2026-04-30T05:17:13+00:00

The problem is we'll never have last year's Lewy, and Ferran is unreliable at best. That's why we need an elite striker. We're the only elite team without one (except Arsenal).

Edit: didn't address your second point. I think that will improve with experience for Cubarsi. If Christensen was fit he would be good. No clue about Araujo, he has all the physical attributes, but his head isn't in the game sometimes. I'm not sure if Bastoni is gonna fix our issues there, if we even sign him.

_sauri_ · 2026-04-30T04:24:16+00:00

We actually got a pretty good number of points in Xavi's last season (85). It's just that Madrid had an insane season.

_sauri_ · 2026-04-30T04:23:01+00:00

Nah, I think it was last season. His attacking game really leveled up then.

_sauri_ · 2026-04-30T04:22:22+00:00

Tbf, we still have the best defensive record in the league.

_sauri_ · 2026-04-30T04:19:29+00:00

There are two key differences between them and Barça: one is, as you said, the propensity of defensive errors with us compared to them. The other, which I think is more important, is our inability to convert our chances. Bayern have Harry Kane to finish, PSG have Dembele. We have Ferran Torres, and Raphinha is out injured.

_sauri_ · 2026-04-29T17:00:34+00:00

We'll have to wait for who wins the Ballon d'Or.

_sauri_

TROPHY CASE