08-05-2019, 17:15
(This post was last modified: 08-05-2019, 17:18 by Slick_Footwork.)
I have to say the game plan from Valverde was quite Jimmy Shan esque away from home.
Sit everyone so deep that there's no forward options and no way to get out.
From the start, it felt like a Liverpool win was inevitable. It was one way traffic with Liverpool attacking and Barcelona setup simply to hold out. Like us at Championship Level, Barcelona are too good to be just 'holding out' and moreover, they don't have the players who are capable of doing it.
Had Valverde started with the vibrant attack minded Artur, who always looks for a penetrative forward pass, rather than the negative and past his best Arturo Vidal, I have no doubt that Barcelona would've scored the away goal they needed to progress.
Unfortunately modern day managers lose sight about what this game is all about. The vast majority of them manage with fear.
Despite the tactics, Messi still managed to lay on 3 superb chances with picture perfect through balls, unfortunately Coutinho, Suarez and Alba couldn't finish their dinner. While Messi is still at the top of his game, some of his aging colleagues - Rakitic, Pique, Busquets and especially Suarez - are far from what they once were.
That said, fair play to Liverpool. It was a vibrant old school performance jam packed with energy, intensity and hunger. It' rare to see this type of intensity from modern day players who often resemble robots. Klopp has to be commended for managing to get this type of reaction from his players.
It was also fantastic to actually see a young English player showing brilliant speed of thought for the 4th goal. I can genuinely see Alexander Arnold becoming a central midfielder, because there's no way a player who has his technical ability and vision should be playing at right back.
If I was Messi, i would honestly consider moving to City for the last couple of years of his career. This Barcelona side haven't shopped in the upper echelon of the market in the last few years. I can't help thinking linking up with Guardiola again would give Messi a final champions League victory that he deserves. He would also be the final piece of the jigsaw for City.
I do fear this kind of result for us at Villa. With us setting up a similar setup to Barcelona enabling them to run riot.
Sit everyone so deep that there's no forward options and no way to get out.
From the start, it felt like a Liverpool win was inevitable. It was one way traffic with Liverpool attacking and Barcelona setup simply to hold out. Like us at Championship Level, Barcelona are too good to be just 'holding out' and moreover, they don't have the players who are capable of doing it.
Had Valverde started with the vibrant attack minded Artur, who always looks for a penetrative forward pass, rather than the negative and past his best Arturo Vidal, I have no doubt that Barcelona would've scored the away goal they needed to progress.
Unfortunately modern day managers lose sight about what this game is all about. The vast majority of them manage with fear.
Despite the tactics, Messi still managed to lay on 3 superb chances with picture perfect through balls, unfortunately Coutinho, Suarez and Alba couldn't finish their dinner. While Messi is still at the top of his game, some of his aging colleagues - Rakitic, Pique, Busquets and especially Suarez - are far from what they once were.
That said, fair play to Liverpool. It was a vibrant old school performance jam packed with energy, intensity and hunger. It' rare to see this type of intensity from modern day players who often resemble robots. Klopp has to be commended for managing to get this type of reaction from his players.
It was also fantastic to actually see a young English player showing brilliant speed of thought for the 4th goal. I can genuinely see Alexander Arnold becoming a central midfielder, because there's no way a player who has his technical ability and vision should be playing at right back.
If I was Messi, i would honestly consider moving to City for the last couple of years of his career. This Barcelona side haven't shopped in the upper echelon of the market in the last few years. I can't help thinking linking up with Guardiola again would give Messi a final champions League victory that he deserves. He would also be the final piece of the jigsaw for City.
I do fear this kind of result for us at Villa. With us setting up a similar setup to Barcelona enabling them to run riot.