Subscriber RandoEFC+ 7,644 Posted October 27, 2021 Subscriber Share Posted October 27, 2021 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spike 5,100 Posted October 27, 2021 Share Posted October 27, 2021 what a club Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Gonzo 8,180 Posted October 27, 2021 Share Posted October 27, 2021 Steve Bruce's time to shine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cicero 5,265 Posted October 27, 2021 Share Posted October 27, 2021 How can they afford to sack him? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluewolf 7,161 Posted October 27, 2021 Share Posted October 27, 2021 He was always on to a loser there... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redcanuck 175 Posted October 27, 2021 Share Posted October 27, 2021 I You can't say it wasn't coming, but the financial mess that Barcelona is in has as much to do if not more than Koeman's coaching for the position they are in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subscriber Mel81x+ 3,612 Posted October 28, 2021 Subscriber Share Posted October 28, 2021 5 hours ago, Dr. Gonzo said: Steve Bruce's time to shine I can see him writing the title of his next book - Geordie Goes To Catalonia - The Bruce Saga. Guaranteed page turner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator Stan 18,367 Posted October 28, 2021 Administrator Share Posted October 28, 2021 Rodgers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator Stan 18,367 Posted October 28, 2021 Administrator Share Posted October 28, 2021 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inverted 1,776 Posted October 28, 2021 Share Posted October 28, 2021 Bruce is googling the Catalan translation of "ticking over" as we speak. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waylander 166 Posted October 28, 2021 Share Posted October 28, 2021 Always interesting when an old legend takes the reins. Not often successful yet interesting. He will certainly get a warm reception. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScoRoss 800 Posted October 28, 2021 Share Posted October 28, 2021 Any time period put on this? Just seems strange to appoint an interim, if Xavi is going to be taking over as imminently as it seems to suggest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator Stan 18,367 Posted November 5, 2021 Administrator Share Posted November 5, 2021 https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/59175269 Quote Former Barcelona star Xavi is set to take over as the club's manager with Al Sadd saying they have agreed to allow him to join the Spanish giants. The Qatari club had previously said their 41-year-old boss would not be allowed to leave. Xavi, who played 779 games and won 25 titles with Barca, had said publicly he hoped "to go home" as Barca boss and that an agreement could be reached. Al Sadd say Barca have paid the release clause in Xavi's contract. The World Cup and two-time European Championship-winning former Spain international left Barcelona for Al Sadd in 2015, first joining the club as a player. He took over as head coach after retiring in 2019 and led them to last season's league title. They are unbeaten in 36 league games. The Qatari club tweeted that Xavi "is an important part of Al Sadd's history" and wished him success in the future. "The administration has agreed on Xavi's move to Barcelona after the payment of the release clause stipulated in the contract," the club posted on Twitter. "We've agreed on cooperation with Barcelona in the future." Since Barcelona sacked Ronald Koeman on 27 October, Xavi has been heavily linked with a return to the Nou Camp where he spent the majority of his illustrious playing career. Barcelona are ninth in La Liga after winning only four of their opening 11 games, leaving them nine points adrift of leaders Real Sociedad. "Xavi informed us a few days ago of his desire to go to Barcelona at this particular time, because of the critical stage his hometown club is going through, and we understand this and decided not to stand in his way," said Al Sadd chief executive Turki Al-Ali. The Catalan club has this season struggled under financial pressures, and failed to extend Xavi's former team-mate Lionel Messi's stay because of salary constraints. Barcelona were unable to spend any money on new signings in the summer, with Memphis Depay, Sergio Aguero and Eric Garcia arriving as free transfers and striker Luuk de Jong joining on loan from Sevilla. Barca president Joan Laporta has previously said: "I have always said one day [Xavi] will be Barca's head coach but I don't know when." Loved him as a player. Hope it works out well for him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cicero 5,265 Posted November 5, 2021 Share Posted November 5, 2021 It was always meant to be. With Laporta back and Xavi now manager, they are taking yet another step towards back their original philosophy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Machado 1,710 Posted November 6, 2021 Share Posted November 6, 2021 Excited to see what his football looks like. Should drop the 2003 haircut. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carnivore Chris 2,606 Posted November 8, 2021 Share Posted November 8, 2021 On 05/11/2021 at 15:49, Cicero said: It was always meant to be. With Laporta back and Xavi now manager, they are taking yet another step towards back their original philosophy. It's going to take time though as it's a bunch of very young players. He should be given time because you can't expect instant success. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Its only Ray Parlour 4 Posted November 11, 2021 Share Posted November 11, 2021 On 28/10/2021 at 15:20, Waylander said: Always interesting when an old legend takes the reins. Not often successful yet interesting. He will certainly get a warm reception. Ronaldo Koeman is an old Legend from Barcelona. I was at Wembley Stadium watching him score the goal to win Barcelona's first European Cup. Its a real shame how he was treated by the club and press considering his status as a player with 192 appearances scoring an amazing number of 67 goals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny 2,201 Posted November 11, 2021 Share Posted November 11, 2021 Guardiola’s Barce...Xavi, Iniesta and Busquets. Going to have to wait a long time to see a midfield that good Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cicero 5,265 Posted November 11, 2021 Share Posted November 11, 2021 Ramires, Raul Meireles, and John Obi Mikel give them a run for their money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waylander 166 Posted November 11, 2021 Share Posted November 11, 2021 7 hours ago, Its only Ray Parlour said: Ronaldo Koeman is an old Legend from Barcelona. I was at Wembley Stadium watching him score the goal to win Barcelona's first European Cup. Its a real shame how he was treated by the club and press considering his status as a player with 192 appearances scoring an amazing number of 67 goals. Yes indeed though think Xavi is real Barca rather than the Dutch import (no disrepect intended to RK) just that for me the Barca way is the tipa taka game. Have heard that Xavi is demanding players train for longer and no dangerous hobbies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spike 5,100 Posted November 11, 2021 Share Posted November 11, 2021 Barcelona can't see beyond their noses. Since Rijkjaard they have had ten head coaches and only two of them had no prior affiliation with the club. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spike 5,100 Posted November 11, 2021 Share Posted November 11, 2021 2 hours ago, Waylander said: Yes indeed though think Xavi is real Barca rather than the Dutch import (no disrepect intended to RK) just that for me the Barca way is the tipa taka game. Have heard that Xavi is demanding players train for longer and no dangerous hobbies. Real Barcelona is a Dutch import, the current identity of Barcelona was created under Johan Cryuff. Without him there would be no Xavi or tiki-taka. It is quite literally an adaption of Dutch football practices adjusted for Spain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waylander 166 Posted November 12, 2021 Share Posted November 12, 2021 13 hours ago, Spike said: Real Barcelona is a Dutch import, the current identity of Barcelona was created under Johan Cryuff. Without him there would be no Xavi or tiki-taka. It is quite literally an adaption of Dutch football practices adjusted for Spain. Yes indeed yet how long are those current Barca fans' memories, there have been many since and many more trophies too also many under Spanish or Catalan managers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Its only Ray Parlour 4 Posted November 12, 2021 Share Posted November 12, 2021 16 hours ago, Waylander said: Yes indeed though think Xavi is real Barca rather than the Dutch import (no disrepect intended to RK) just that for me the Barca way is the tipa taka game. Have heard that Xavi is demanding players train for longer and no dangerous hobbies. The No dangerous hobbies is nonsense, this is already in their contracts with the club, even from players around in the 90's. Ian Wright owned a motorcycle that he had to keep quiet as it was in his contract that players were not allowed to ride motorbikes or do other activities that could cause an injury. Also If I am correct it was a Dutch import Louis Van Gaal who introduced Xavi to the Barcelona team. Barcelona would not be the club they are today without the Dutch influence, Not just Johan Cruyff but the start of this process was with Rinus Michels. This Xavi appointment is more than just a media lovey appointment to take the fact Messi is not at the club anymore, Koeman was never going to survive from day one due to the fact he was attached with the blame that Messi left also he was blamed by the fans/press about Luis Suarez. My knowing of a club like Barcelona, The Coach had nothing to do with how this club was run, players like Messi, Griezmann and Suarez were forced to leave due to the economical impact their wages were causing a strain on the clubs finances and the debts Barcelona have go against the rules of La Liga. Contracts were set out by the previous regime and even the current president Joan Laporta didn't want to take any blame of Messi's departure so it was easy to pin the blame on the clubs downfall on the coach Ronald Koeman. Joan Laporta convinced fans that Messi would stay with a new contract but it was rejected by the officials of La Liga. The club are a disgrace to how they have treated one of their most important players in history as the current crop of fans were not around at the time when Koeman was a player for the club. This happens a lot now in this modern area of plastic fans that follow a huge marketed club such as Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester United and now PSG will be added on this list in the new future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waylander 166 Posted November 12, 2021 Share Posted November 12, 2021 9 minutes ago, Its only Ray Parlour said: Also If I am correct it was a Dutch import Louis Van Gaal who introduced Xavi to the Barcelona team. Barcelona would not be the club they are today without the Dutch influence, Not just Johan Cruyff but the start of this process was with Rinus Michels. This Xavi appointment is more than just a media lovey appointment to take the fact Messi is not at the club anymore, Koeman was never going to survive from day one due to the fact he was attached with the blame that Messi left also he was blamed by the fans/press about Luis Suarez. My knowing of a club like Barcelona, The Coach had nothing to do with how this club was run, players like Messi, Griezmann and Suarez were forced to leave due to the economical impact their wages were causing a strain on the clubs finances and the debts Barcelona have go against the rules of La Liga. Contracts were set out by the previous regime and even the current president Joan Laporta didn't want to take any blame of Messi's departure so it was easy to pin the blame on the clubs downfall on the coach Ronald Koeman. Joan Laporta convinced fans that Messi would stay with a new contract but it was rejected by the officials of La Liga. The club are a disgrace to how they have treated one of their most important players in history as the current crop of fans were not around at the time when Koeman was a player for the club. This happens a lot now in this modern area of plastic fans that follow a huge marketed club such as Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester United and now PSG will be added on this left in the new future. Some good back history there. Begs the question whether Koeman was appointed as an expedient manager to cut the backroom staff in a way a Spanish or Catalan manager could not because of the media power. Now Koeman himself may have hoped he could get them playing well why this transition took place yet for me was never a flair player so never likely to succeed at the Nou Camp. Now Xavi seems to be making a clean break or at least trying to with his media posts. You would think he would also use the early Mourinho strategy of saying the whole world is against them we must stick together and train and even socialise together. Very interesting to see if Xavi can bring back the good times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.