Failure to plan is a plan for failure...
So, here we are at the business end of the season and this is especially true in this season of ‘20-21 when the La Liga title race is intensely alive and on a knife edge.
Barcelona host Granada at Camp Nou and lose 1-2 at home. Before the match Koeman talks about rotations and makes some changes to the starting line up. These changes prove to be problematic and with what will play out in the coming last 5 games of the season, possibly disastrous changes and decisions from the Barcelona manager.
But the fault in the choices made, is not purely about a singular game, or about the choices made to line up against a particular team but it is in part the fault made at a particular stage of the season. It’s also however, more about an entire season, an entire campaign and the lack of foresight, planning and a failure of imagination. And it falls squarely at the feet of Ronald Koeman.
I will not go into the entire background of how Koeman has done an admirable job to raise a tattered team in disarray in very trying times to a title contender and a cup winner in a “transitional” season. Let’s give the man kudos and acclaim for what he has achieved to this point in time in less than a year.
BUT, ( and it is a big “but”), what has been exposed in this singular loss to Granada is the lack of foresight and the lack of imagination of Ronald Koeman.... it seems he may not be good enough for the toughest and biggest job of his coaching career.
There are a few things that have become clear and are showing cracks in the facade of success.
The first is that the seeming strength of Koeman finding his team of starters to play his strategy, his way, and the 352 formation that has brought success and winning ways is also now evident as a weakness and an Achilles heel of Koemans Barcelona.
Why? Because he has hung his hat on these choices and has nothing to back it up, switch to, or any answers to any team that successfully counters this team with that formation and strategy. The “parked bus” defense and attack on the counter is still a valid tactic against Koeman’s Barcelona. ( Ridiculous that Granada defeated Barcelona with a possession of less than 20% for the entire match at Camp Nou! )
As an addition to this fault ( which either brings on the fault or makes it worse ), as was exposed in the game against Granada; if there is a rotation of the “first choice starters”, the players who are brought on as a substitute in these now “key” positions are not up to speed with the requirements of that particular playing position in the structure. This was clearly seen with Sergio Roberto in Dest’s position, Moriba in Pedri’s position and Umtiti in Lenglet’s position .... all of them failed to hold the position with the same impact and strength as the first choice players. Not to mention the fact that the flow on effect of those replacements affected the greater attacking and defensive structure and tactics of the team. Evidenced by the fact that at least in the first half and probably a great proportion of the second half, absolutely no attacks came down the left flank through or feeding to Jordi Alba. One of Barcelona’s best and most successful attacking options all season! Not one attack for over 45 minutes! That is not down to Alba, that is down to the shifting structure and ability of the team and the players in key positions to make that happen. Moriba has no chemistry or knowledge of how to use, feed and structure that attack in combination with Alba and purely and simply looked for Messi at all opportunities and only played a direct attack into the box. Pedri implicitly knows the best option and how and when to use Alba as a foil and as an attacking option. So in this failure we see the fault of Koeman whether through fear or obstinance to not do what almost all other coaches in La Liga do and that is to make substantial changes in all games throughout the season at the 60 minute mark of the match. This gives your backup players of key positions a substantial amount of time on the pitch to assimilate the team tactical play and learn the options and opportunities. [ And this is why so many cules have been crying out for Puig to get some time on the pitch, because if there is a player who has Barca DNA and the experience and talent as well as the will to be molded to shape to play Koemans structure, it is Riqui Puig. Now, if only Koeman had not maligned the player throughout the entire season and had nurtured his talent and asked more from him to fit into his team tactics; had him come on in many games to replace Pedri with 30 minutes to play, then you would have had two things; a player that could fulfill the role if Pedri needed replacing and a Pedri that wasn’t burnt out and in need of rotation in the first place! Failure of imagination from Koeman, failure to use the tools at his disposal to create a functioning and interchangeable midfield structure ( also remembering here that Moriba only joined the first team over the last couple of months ). Koeman had all season to set this up. A huge failure. A massive missed opportunity, whatever his reasons, it’s a failure to use the players he has, and to nurture and use their talents and prepare for potential problems. ]
Furthermore, why wasn’t Dest subbed on for Roberto, when Roberto made no incisive or helpful attacking runs? Surely that’s a substitution to be made at 60 or 70 minutes. Especially since Dest is not burnt out and in need of rest and has literally opened opposition defenses with his wide runs and crosses.
No, Koeman brings on Trincao, who, with the exception of one lucky game where he scored, has been singularly useless as a late additional attacking option, ALL SEASON. And yet, Koeman insists on this substitute late in a desperate game, in a vain and insane attempt to make a difference. It has only worked once, and Trincao got lucky that time with a helpful deflection. ( Don’t get me started on the dumb Koeman Trincao bromance...! )
Another striking question of the Granada game... Why play Umtiti when Araujo was available...? It is arguable that Umtiti was actually responsible for the first goal from Granada as he didn’t shut down the move initially and was then out of position to defend at that point...
In review it will be found that Umtiti was a poor decision and inclusion in this match. Again, if you don’t have players who are up to speed with the strategy of the team due to lack of rotation and actual minutes on the pitch, then this is the result when you do; they are out of position and don’t know what they are supposed to be doing within a strict team structure. This is not the first time this has happened to Umtiti this season, his first game back from injury he did the same thing and through poor positioning and lack of awareness gave away a goal. Why was he played, when Araujo was fit, available and in top form and supremely up to speed with the team tactics? - A complete failure of the coach to put on the pitch the best available players...
And if you want to talk about the defense and then try and put blame on Mingueza or Pique for being out of position... ask yourself what is the difference from the rock solid defense of the last couple of games..? Guess what? It’s Umtiti instead of Lenglet. If Pique and Mingueza were out of position, marginally, or majorly, it was most likely because Umtiti wasn’t in the position or making the right choices that Lenglet would have in those circumstances. Problem : Koemans choice and lack of preparation of a suitable player to be able to substitute for Lenglet. But Araujo was available. Why wasn’t he played? Koemans choice, Koemans responsibility, Koemans fault.
The Messi question... He does his best with the shifting sands of attacking options that surround him... he does at most times, and especially this season, literally carry the team, especially in attack. But when the cogs of the machine around him are changed for less functional ones ( due to Koemans failure to have options ) then Messi’s job becomes that much harder. And opposition teams know that if they check his runs, stop him with 3 or 4 players, which happens all the time, then in this 352 structure there are few options or other attacking opportunities for Barca when the defensive bus is parked and the box is overloaded. The only one who can, by himself crack that overload and still score is Messi. Stop Messi, stop Barca... especially when the wings aren’t functioning, like what happened with the changes in the squad against Granada...
Griezmann has become a brilliant partner for Messi this year and should be commended and celebrated for his commitment and his lion-hearted efforts . He will run and run and run. This year he is no longer a player purchased from Athletico, he is a Barcelona player and a Barca legend. Again, in this match he played with heart, concentration and entire commitment.
The litany of bad decisions and lack of preparation of depth and options in the team has set up this Barcelona team for catastrophic failure on the verge of brilliant success.
I hope as much as all Barcelona supporters that somehow we can get through the next 5 games with wins and things can fall the way of our team to deliver an unlikely but deserved La Liga title - the players deserve it ; Koeman....? Maybe ... but he is showing his lack of ability in this most important moment of his coaching career. He hasn’t planned well, he’s got lucky. He worked out a winning formula with the brilliant players he has, but has all his bets on them and has saved nothing nor prepared anything to weather the maelstrom of the final weeks of the title race. Yes he may coach Barca next year, but if he doesn’t get smart and prepare depth and options in the team he won’t last beyond next year, because he is one or two injuries away from a complete team structural failure. He ( and we all ) may get lucky with Neymar, Aguero & Depay to bolster the attacking options, but he is seriously walking a tight rope. He has not proven that he is a chess master of the pitch or brilliant battlefield marshal and without those attributes his Barcelona is walking a knife edge between ecstasy or agony. Sadly, the players, the team, and the fans are the ones who will suffer if Koeman fails to prepare...
Comments
out of all Am innocent iniesta Migisha am living in Rwanda am barça lover I have a caw 🐃 for Messi please how Messi can get it? thanks 🙏
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LoL😇😂
Nice article. Just two point I don't align with though. 1) Koeman got a team in disarray.. I'd say the coach that got a team in disarray was Setien. Koeman got a team that had hit rock bottom and were ready for a change and still got so many crucial decisions wrong. I know a lot of people will disagree with this point. But ask yourself this: which team is easier to manage? A team that didn't support your appointment and were still showing support for the previous coach or a team that was ready for a change? 2) Griezmann is a Barca legend. If some assist and some goal is all it takes to be a Barca legend then the team I supported is long gone
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You're mixing up events that's why. Bartomeu Out started ever since Liverpool lost. when the fans started waving white handkerchief in Camp Nou. The pandemic, financial problems, club embroiled in controversy, internal politics and fractures, Bayern lost. All presided Koeman's appointment. After the Bayern lost, the likes of Rakitic, Vidal, Rafinha, Arthur (even before the lost) were all to be sold. A vote of no confidence was already in motion ever since the Bayern lost. Messi never made his mind up about leaving until he met with Koeman and as per media reports as at that time "he told Messi is privileges days at Barca were over". A few days later, Suarez was informed that his services were no longer needed. Then right after that, Messi sent the burofax. Koeman was only confirmed as Barca coach a week to our first game in la Liga. If we're being honest, Setien was the manager when the bulk of all the problems you list started. Koeman met the end of it. Like I said, when Koeman was appointed, the team was ready for a change. Meaning whatever idea he brought was bought. Setien met a team that didn't like him from day one, he had to convince them he was the man for the job before getting his idea across.. That's a much tougher job.
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😂😂... Quite right
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Stop sharing your phone number or you will be banned