There are many legitimate criticisms to be made over how relevant Barcelonas ‘more than a club’ motto is these days, but what undoubtedly remains true is that the question of style of how Bara should go about winning is still more important than for any other team.Its for that reason Baras announcement earlier this week that Ernesto Valverde would be extending his contract as head coach was met with mixed reviews.
By renewing Ernesto Valverdes contract we are guaranteeing the continuation of a coach and person who so excellently represents the FC Barcelona values and our way of understanding football. Were sharing a winning project for Bara pic.twitter.com/wAaGeorjW5— Josep Maria Bartomeu (@jmbartomeu) February 15, 2019Virtually anywhere else, the decision to continue working with a coach who won a league and cup double in his first season, and is still on course for a treble in his second, would be seen as a no-brainer.But not at Camp Nou; or at least, not for a vocal section of the Barcelona support.
Lyon vs Barcelona is LIVE on talkSPORT 2! Tune into the Champions League round of 16 clash this evening from 7:30pm
The Blaugranas 1-0 win over Valladolid on Saturday will have done little to change the minds of Valverdes critics.Bara got the job done, taking a victory that ensured their lead at the top of La Liga remains comfortable, but it wasnt exactly a performance to tell the grandkids about in years to come. Peppered with moments of quality but at other times disjointed and lacking the zip on the ball Bara are known for at their best, the win was, in part, built upon individual excellence from key players like Gerard Pique, and also upon Valladolids chronic lack of quality up front; their ability to squander excellent counter-attack situations was often perplexing.
| GOAL! | Penalty Barcelona, Messi fires it home! The #LaLiga leaders are in front pic.twitter.com/fJ2To5W6kx— Eleven Sports (@ElevenSports_UK) February 16, 2019For much of the match Barcelona played with a number of second-string players, and it is hardly a revelation that Kevin-Prince Boateng does not deliver the same qualities as Luis Suarez, nor Arturo Vidal the same as Arthur.
4En lo tctico, est cado el Barcelona como equipo. La prdida de los impulsos individuales de Arthur ha terminado por confirmarlo.— David Len (@DavidLeonRon) February 16, 2019With Valverdes record in his 97 official games now extending to 66 wins, 22 draws and only nine defeats, that seems harsh to say the least. A near 70 percent win percentage is not achieved without a thorough grasp of tactics and a clear plan, even if they arent the tactics some would prefer.
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4Question for Bara fans not happy with Valverde: who would you rather have and why?— Lee Roden (@LeeRoden89) February 15, 2019Of the few names that tend to be put forward, there is always at least one significant caveat to be added.Real Betis boss Quique Setin, for example, favours an exciting style of football but has struggled to produce consistent results from his top flight teams; Betis have not won back-to-back games in LaLiga since December.Home-grown options such as former Bara Juvenil A coach scar Garca or current B team boss Garca Pimienta tend to be founded in a romantic view that they can repeat the exceptional step up made by Pep Guardiola, but that likely wouldnt stop the knives from coming out should results not quickly be delivered to match the more palatable brand of football.Results are what Valverde produces better than most, and even if the displays may not be as consistently dazzling as Guardiolas team, or as electric as the best of Luis Enriques, the ridiculously high standards in the Catalan capital make the current side out to be far more simplistic than it truly is.
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Leeds United player still a 'referenced target' for Champions League club Leeds United defender Pontus Jansson continues to get a few mentions from the Portuguese press. Today, it's newspaper Jornal de NotÃcias who says the 28-year-old is one of the targets Benfica have for the summer window.
Live Coverage of Tottenham Hotspur vs. Borussia Dortmund Wednesday, February 13, 2019 on MSN Sports Looking at the replay of Lucas' first shot a few moments ago, Spurs had a claim for handball
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Ghanaian born Italian Mario Balotelli took to social media to troll Manchester following their 2-0 defeat against Paris Saint Germain on Tuesday in the UEFA Champions League.
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Every Premier League club's run-in - from hardest to easiest with four games to go by: 161385360554578 — Talk Sport 15 Apr The curtain is beginning to fall on the 2018/19 Premier League season but plenty of business is still to be done.
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Uncle Mike's Musings: A Yankees Blog and More This is mostly about sports, and then mostly about baseball. It will favor the New York Yankees, the New Jersey Devils, Rutgers University football, and the London soccer club Arsenal.
Shaun Harvey will step down as chief executive of the English Football League at the end of the season, the organisation has confirmed. The 48-year-old has run the league since October 2013
Shaun Harvey calls time after surviving Football League
Suso has developed into one of Serie A's most creative stars over the past couple of years. Since joining the Rossoneri from Liverpool in 2015, the silky Spaniard has scored 23 goals and made 35 assists in 135 appearances. Enticingly for other clubs, Suso supposedly has a release clause of €38 million (£33 million).
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Ajax 2-3 Tottenham: Klaas-Jan Huntelaar 'threw bottle at referee' after losing Champions League semi-final to Spurs by: 161385360554578 — Talk Sport 10 May Klaas-Jan Huntelaar threw a bottle at referee Felix Brych following Ajax's collapse against Tottenham, it has been claimed.
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