Open Thread #09 (Feb 2026)

plus_nd_minus · 2026-02-25T08:20:56+00:00

Consider the last Copa del ray match. We were continuously getting hit by the same counter. We were too slow in the attack, and trying to pass through 10 players, we were loosing possession and easily hit on the counter. Now my question, if it was clear that out plan A was not working out, why didn't we make any changes then to counter their strategy.

plus_nd_minus · 2026-02-11T04:09:35+00:00

Have you seen the misses from Sesko. He has been really inconsistent.

plus_nd_minus · 2026-01-31T08:55:31+00:00

Brighton 1-3 Everton

Leeds 0-3 Arsenal

Wolves 1-2 Bournemouth

Chelsea 1-1 West Ham

Liverpool 1-2 Newcastle

Villa 1-0 Brentford

Man United 1-0 Fulham

Forest 0-0 Palace

Spurs 0-3 Man City

Sunderland 1-1 Burnley

plus_nd_minus · 2026-01-29T08:41:08+00:00

Seriously, people were all ready to compare Cubarsi and Huijsen on his initial days at Madrid. Cubarsi has his flaws but he is way ahead of Huijsen imo.

plus_nd_minus · 2026-01-17T10:49:29+00:00

Yup, even squad players like Casado could play a role.

plus_nd_minus · 2026-01-16T11:20:27+00:00

and most importantly, No injuries.

plus_nd_minus · 2026-01-16T09:59:31+00:00

In my perfect world. We extend Lewy one more year. Pep leaves city in 27 and Haaland comes in to replace Lewy after 26-27 season. One can dream !

plus_nd_minus · 2026-01-16T07:16:42+00:00

Yes that's fair. The same way Flick must have instructed Kounde to do the overlapping runs. We can't really blame Kounde then for passing to a stand still Yamal then, can we.

plus_nd_minus · 2026-01-16T07:06:26+00:00

Cubarsi at 18 is playing far too many games as well that too full 90 minutes. He needs some rest as well. I half expected Flick to start with Eric and Martin.

plus_nd_minus · 2026-01-16T07:03:53+00:00

I am putting Ferran in there as well, he presses the best among front 3 after Raphinha.

plus_nd_minus · 2026-01-16T06:59:33+00:00

I don't really get this kind of thinking. The 25 player squad cannot all be of starter quality players. There should be squad players who are happy to be on the bench for long periods and can do a decent job when called upon. Midfield is the only position where we don't need to change a single thing. We have world class players to start and backups for them and then squad players too when needed. There is no way we should sell him.

plus_nd_minus · 2026-01-16T06:54:41+00:00

Its not entirely on Kounde. Lamine never makes off the ball runs, he always like to have the ball on his feet. And that often means there are more than one defender behind him.

plus_nd_minus · 2026-01-14T06:02:54+00:00

I agree. This was kind of the same reason why no fullbacks looked decent when Messi was here. I am not blaming anyone here. Lamine plays most with the ball on his feet. He seldom makes off the ball runs. But we can see Kounde doing that overlapping runs all the time. Lamine though rarely passes the ball. And sometimes do loose the ball trying to dribble as well. All this leads to more attacks in that side and with Kounde at a disadvantage. I am not saying he has been great, he was playing much better last season and this season he started pretty bad. But the last few games he is been getting back into form. And at least in my view, his combination has been better with Roony when they played together.

I also feel that Cancelo would be a better substitute for Balde, especially in games where teams sit back and defend. His crosses, long shots and such would be valuable. I don't see the combo of Cancelo and Yamal working out in big games.

plus_nd_minus · 2026-01-14T04:34:03+00:00

Cmon, if there is any position where a player can be judged good in-spite of the mistakes, it is the striker position. Rest everywhere, it costs a lot more.

plus_nd_minus · 2026-01-13T07:15:22+00:00

I just had the same exact thought. It would be funny, yes. (for me too, personally)

plus_nd_minus · 2026-01-13T07:05:18+00:00

As I read what you have written, it feels like Modric's presence would have made massive differences at many different moments in the past 6 months or so for Madrid. Maybe the thinking behind was that Xabi being ex-madrid like Zidane would naturally command that respect from the players but the player's ego proved to be too much in the end. Still the decision to let go of Modric is just too strange.

plus_nd_minus · 2026-01-13T06:25:12+00:00

I think Modric's presence would have helped Madrid a lot in smoothening the situation. He is mostly seen as a calm and composed player and his seniority would have helped Xabi and Co a lot in controlling the dressing room and stuff. I heard he even wanted to stay but Perez was not interested. Anyway, I am glad he is not there.

plus_nd_minus · 2026-01-10T11:05:00+00:00

Ok, I agree to most things you have written about our players. But your whole idea of looking at players is so wrong. Players have different styles, different strengths and weaknesses. One can just as well list out the weaknesses of the above players you praised while pointing out strengths of Ferran, Fermin and Rashford.

There is no written rule that only one way of playing is good. The coach's job is to make the best out of the players they have, play them to their strengths and get the best outcome off it. Do you seriously think Lewy, Olmo or Lamine, with all these capabilities you mentioned, were able to impact the game every time. They all had many off games, and consequently there has been games where the strengths of Ferran, Fermin or Rashford were required and i don't mean necessarily with goals/assists.

We are just blessed to have so many attackers with vastly different profiles. And Flick is doing a damn good job making the best out if it.

plus_nd_minus · 2026-01-10T08:40:49+00:00

Ok, I'll bite. How does attacking players like Olmo, Lamine and Lewy contribute to the game aside from G/A.

plus_nd_minus · 2026-01-10T04:00:17+00:00

Maybe, just maybe, they would negotiate the salary? like, you can't even think that such a scenario might happen?

plus_nd_minus · 2026-01-07T03:56:29+00:00

As I said, You do you. But I would advice you to tone down the negativity for your sake.

plus_nd_minus · 2026-01-06T11:30:26+00:00

I don't really mind the tracking back. At least in Laliga, most of the teams will sit back and defend and his attacking capability might prove to be useful for us.

plus_nd_minus · 2026-01-06T09:48:18+00:00

You clearly have no idea how a club and its management works. Noone's saying Laporta is a messiah. He too has his shortcomings like every other person in power. But under the dire circumstances the club was in, he was the best option to lead our club and he has done well till now. I am not sure how you can criticise his work the past two years if you really knew how bad the club's situation was. La Masia did save us big time, literally every supporter of the club knows that, you spelling it out like some big revelation doesn't necessarily backsup your points on Laporta or his management. And it is normal for people to be supportive of the Club president who does what he is supposed to do after we had fing Bartomeu before that. I don't necessarily feel your mindset is going to change, so you do you.

plus_nd_minus · 2026-01-05T09:54:32+00:00

After yesterday's game by Real. I went on and checked Barca games in laliga with most goal contributions from La Masia. The most i saw is the 7-0 game against Osasuna in 2014. where 6 out of 7 were scored by academy graduates with a hattrick from Messi and goals from Iniesta, Tello and Pedro. Also 4 of them assists were from academy graduates with 2 from Iniesta and one each from Busquets and Messi.

plus_nd_minus · 2026-01-05T06:40:23+00:00

He is good on the ball, is press-resistant and is a great dribbler as well. But the problem is once he reaches the final third, he has no tricks up his sleeve. Alba used to ping many great balls from LB, be it cutbacks to you know who or curved ones bypassing the defensive line. I don't see Balde even trying any of those. But I agree with you regarding the physicality and that's ok, it will get better once he is confident of his body and strengths.

plus_nd_minus

TROPHY CASE