La Liga (Spanish League) Prediction Thread 2023/24

[OcTradism]

Their starting eleven against Bayern in the UCL had an average age of almost 30 years! (Source). Piqué (33), Messi (33), Vidal (33), Rakitic (32), S. Busquets (32), Suarez (33) or Alba (31) ... All these players probably had their best time in the past but still play(ed) an important role. Barcas management simply failed to integrate younger players in the team. So I totally agree what @Daniel91 said. They have to focus more on young players but intergrating them into the team is a process that takes its time.

Koeman is a good coach for their rebuild plan with youngsters. Messi took advantage of the similar team rebuild under management of Pep Guardiola who straightfully opened the exit gate for Ronaldinho and put Messi as a hub of his plan. What Koeman said directly with Messi (as media shows) is very similar to what happened with Ronaldinho. I do think Messi knows what is waiting for him.

The difference between Messi and Ronaldinho is their professionalism and their lifestyes after matches. Messi is more professinal but life does not stop and he will become older. If Messi stays he can play well in Barcelona next one to three seasons but his ending will be the same of Ronaldinho. He does not want such ending. It is an important knot of the drama.

From what Messi shown in the clashes with Napoli I see he loves Barcelona too much and even if he planned to leave before the defeat with Bayern, he did want to have a happy ending with a last Champions League trophy with Barcelona. It is a sad story when he failed and will leave Barcelona with a noisy drama.

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[hilariousetc]

Barca's squad could be decimated if they're not careful. Messi potentially going to City and a couple of news outlets are already reporting it's a done deal but nothing confirmed yet, Suarez likely leaving and looking like he might be going to Juventus. Coutinho was absent from training and speculation he's going too. I already thought City will dominate the big competitions this upcoming season but with Messi that's only going to be strengthened, but I still just can't see him going. Is he really going to tarnish his legacy at Barca? He'll already go down as a legend there but it's going to sully his favour with the fans if he leaves on bad terms. Barca will probably give him whatever he wants to it can't just be about the money or is he wanting to continually win things and add a PL trophy to his cabinet which City will likely win this year with or without him. He's not going to last forever though so maybe it is time to move on before it's too late.

[slaman29]

You really think so? Coutinho, Griezmann, Dembele ... all transfers that did cost a lot of money but failed to deliver. I'd say the management did an awful job. Otherwise they wouldn't have to put together an (almost) new team now.

To be fair, these guys ARE talented but simply did not fit into the system. Now as much as I love Messi and want him to stay, could his leaving us finally open Koeman to use a system that actually works? AND that allows Griezmann and Coutinho to take up their respective roles on the pitch? Because when they have played, they have done well...

[EdenHazard]

Barca's squad could be decimated if they're not careful. Messi potentially going to City and a couple of news outlets are already reporting it's a done deal but nothing confirmed yet, Suarez likely leaving and looking like he might be going to Juventus. Coutinho was absent from training and speculation he's going too. I already thought City will dominate the big competitions this upcoming season but with Messi that's only going to be strengthened, but I still just can't see him going. Is he really going to tarnish his legacy at Barca? He'll already go down as a legend there but it's going to sully his favour with the fans if he leaves on bad terms. Barca will probably give him whatever he wants to it can't just be about the money or is he wanting to continually win things and add a PL trophy to his cabinet which City will likely win this year with or without him. He's not going to last forever though so maybe it is time to move on before it's too late.

It's hard to know what's really going on with messi if he did not even speak a single word to public or yeah he could be in trouble if he doing that ?? Oops yeah i forgot that being a public figure is not advisable to speak too loud in public.

But here's the thing that lately there's another rumor that pep himself suggests him to stay at Barcelona until the end of the contract for one more year and then he can go to Manchester City as for now any club won't be able spend that much money in messi clause .
The messi saga might be over with messi get fined for training absence and he is stay with a little bit negotiations to rise his salary for one more season .
I know this sounds like so conspiracy but who knows?
The la liga match will start within two weeks now, things should be settled very soon otherwise Barcelona transfer plan might be fvcked up.

[Darkoth89]

You really think so? Coutinho, Griezmann, Dembele ... all transfers that did cost a lot of money but failed to deliver. I'd say the management did an awful job. Otherwise they wouldn't have to put together an (almost) new team now.

To be fair, these guys ARE talented but simply did not fit into the system. Now as much as I love Messi and want him to stay, could his leaving us finally open Koeman to use a system that actually works? AND that allows Griezmann and Coutinho to take up their respective roles on the pitch? Because when they have played, they have done well...

I never said that these aren't good players. But the job of a good management board (sporting director, scouts etc.) is to get players that do fit into the system and not just buy players because of their names or because they are famous. And in that regard, Barcas management didn't make a good job imho.

With your second point, I fully agree. Once this whole Messi drama is over, Koemann can start to build a new team around Coutinho, Griezmann etc. For them this situation can be a good opportunity to finally justify what Barca once paid for them.

[AakZaki]

Promotion of the team to the Spanish League there are three Cadiz, Huesca and Elche. I don't really know the history of this club. Are they able to survive? I'm not sure. Then look at the Spanish league from school to date, the Spanish league champions are controlled by two clubs, Barcelona and Madrid. Indeed, the names of great players are on average in every position in these two clubs. Will this continue for next year? Call it for example Vilareal, Atletico Madrid, or Sevila, often making winning clubs difficult to win when competing. I think if there is a new champion it will be great.

[hilariousetc]

Barca's squad could be decimated if they're not careful. Messi potentially going to City and a couple of news outlets are already reporting it's a done deal but nothing confirmed yet, Suarez likely leaving and looking like he might be going to Juventus. Coutinho was absent from training and speculation he's going too. I already thought City will dominate the big competitions this upcoming season but with Messi that's only going to be strengthened, but I still just can't see him going. Is he really going to tarnish his legacy at Barca? He'll already go down as a legend there but it's going to sully his favour with the fans if he leaves on bad terms. Barca will probably give him whatever he wants to it can't just be about the money or is he wanting to continually win things and add a PL trophy to his cabinet which City will likely win this year with or without him. He's not going to last forever though so maybe it is time to move on before it's too late.

It's hard to know what's really going on with messi if he did not even speak a single word to public or yeah he could be in trouble if he doing that ?? Oops yeah i forgot that being a public figure is not advisable to speak too loud in public.

But here's the thing that lately there's another rumor that pep himself suggests him to stay at Barcelona until the end of the contract for one more year and then he can go to Manchester City as for now any club won't be able spend that much money in messi clause .
The messi saga might be over with messi get fined for training absence and he is stay with a little bit negotiations to rise his salary for one more season .
I know this sounds like so conspiracy but who knows?
The la liga match will start within two weeks now, things should be settled very soon otherwise Barcelona transfer plan might be fvcked up.

I doubt he'd get in trouble but he's probably not saying anything because nothing is confirmed on either side so he's best to keep quiet until something is finalised. Messi has informed them he wants to leave and Barca are saying it's not valid and they may or may not be right. It's a grey area with covii delays, but either way they won't want him to go and especially not for free. Messi will have no problem finding another club but he might also just be using this as a bargaining chip to try get his own way and get people out of the club he doesn't like along with a meatier pay packet which Barca will probably all too happy to pay to sort the drama out quickly. I read today that the clause in his contract was that he can leave at any time as long as he gives 20 days notice before the start of the season, which may make it valid as he faxed in his notice on the 25th and the La Liga starts on the 13th. It looks like Messi's father is doing the bargaining right now in Barcelona so I'm sure we'll hear news soon. I still think he's likely to stay. To get a deal of this magnitude wrapped up within two weeks seems a stretch and it would be far easier for him to stay and work on a deal with City to leave at the end of this season. Maybe he could even go out on a high note and win something with Barca this season but my money's not on them right now.

[kassex]

~
Barcelona also needs to change their long term strategy,  have to focus more on young players in the future.
They need new people in the management, new president etc
They should forget about Messi, sell him well and use money from him in smart way, for young and talented players.
It's time for new Barcelona. 😀
Everything change in life and obviously now is time for Barcelona to change everything and start over.

Young players will not give results immediately. Many need results now. Barcelona is lucky with the golden generation. There may not be a second chance like this. Or it will take too long.

young players take a huge time to prepare themself. but if they can adapt themselves to the team, they can serve the team for many years.  now Barcelona is going through bad times. they should now rely on new and younger players. hope Barcelona will be able to return to their devastating form in few years.

You are right, but will the fans wait for an unknown number of new cups? Are the club's management ready to wait until the next golden generation of Barcelona grows up? I think not, so if Koeman cannot win at least one cup next year, he will be fired.

[nelson4lov]

You really think so? Coutinho, Griezmann, Dembele ... all transfers that did cost a lot of money but failed to deliver. I'd say the management did an awful job. Otherwise they wouldn't have to put together an (almost) new team now.

 They have to focus more on young players but intergrating them into the team is a process that takes its time.

I agree with you. Barcelona have made some "irrelevant"  signings in the past. They bought players that they didn't really need. For instance, Greizman is a solid player but his preferred position is occupied by someone else. So instead of just offloading players in the market and building a new team, they should reconsider. Building a new team is a lot harder than it seems. Nurturing young players till they breakout and become stars is a lot more harder.  It'll also take a tool in their 2020/2021 campaign with a new team and new system. Doesn't sound good. Their best bet would be to keep whoever is left and keep the team "as is".

[Indymoney]

Promotion of the team to the Spanish League there are three Cadiz, Huesca and Elche. I don't really know the history of this club. Are they able to survive? I'm not sure. Then look at the Spanish league from school to date, the Spanish league champions are controlled by two clubs, Barcelona and Madrid. Indeed, the names of great players are on average in every position in these two clubs. Will this continue for next year? Call it for example Vilareal, Atletico Madrid, or Sevila, often making winning clubs difficult to win when competing. I think if there is a new champion it will be great.

New champion in La Liga is not near in future because right now gape is too much between these two giants and other clubs they have no resouses like these two and have no serious investors like Manchester City and Chelsea in last season few teams try hard but fail to do some good result and as usual staying near them like Sevilla Atletico and Villareal hopefully they will bring something special in future for big change here.

[kawetsriyanto]

New champion in La Liga is not near in future because right now gape is too much between these two giants ~

Indeed. The gaps are very big. You are right, one of the reasons is about the investors or club resources. It is a bit hard for the other clubs to sign many top players as the two giants. Also, when other clubs have shining players, the two giants directly try to sign them. Finally, the players move to the two giants and it makes more gaps among them. The situation is the same as in Bundesliga, one or two clubs dominate the competition.   

[OcTradism]

New champion in La Liga is not near in future because right now gape is too much between these two giants and other clubs they have no resouses like these two and have no serious investors like Manchester City and Chelsea in last season few teams try hard but fail to do some good result and as usual staying near them like Sevilla Atletico and Villareal hopefully they will bring something special in future for big change here.

You forgot that there are three competitive big clubs in La Liga: Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Atletico Madrid. Last season, Atletico Madrid fell behind the trophy race because they was in transitional season but they will come back in the new season. The squad of Real Madrid is too old and in the last season, if there was no sudden break as a pandemic consequence, I don't think they would have managed to beat Barcelona. The break help them a lot.

Barcelona, there is no need to discuss about their competitive ability in the new season.

Atletico Madrid moved earlier than these 2 clubs and I think with Simeonoe they will know how to take advantage of that and take the trophy. Joao Felix in his second season in La Liga can be shined.

[Tipstar]

New champion in La Liga is not near in future because right now gape is too much between these two giants ~

Indeed. The gaps are very big. You are right, one of the reasons is about the investors or club resources. It is a bit hard for the other clubs to sign many top players as the two giants. Also, when other clubs have shining players, the two giants directly try to sign them. Finally, the players move to the two giants and it makes more gaps among them. The situation is the same as in Bundesliga, one or two clubs dominate the competition.   

There's something different on la liga that is going to make a larger difference in the near future. Barcelona and Real Madrid always has been two best team on the league from the right start of the league. They have collectively won 60 league trophies of total 89 played. They are the richest clubs and can buy the best players for them. But what we've seen on last few years is Barcelona is disintegrating, they have trouble with the finances and they're being considered more a Catalonian team that a Spanish one. Many have and many are wanting to leave the team for those two reasons.

[Swordsoffreedom]

New champion in La Liga is not near in future because right now gape is too much between these two giants ~

Indeed. The gaps are very big. You are right, one of the reasons is about the investors or club resources. It is a bit hard for the other clubs to sign many top players as the two giants. Also, when other clubs have shining players, the two giants directly try to sign them. Finally, the players move to the two giants and it makes more gaps among them. The situation is the same as in Bundesliga, one or two clubs dominate the competition.  

There's something different on la liga that is going to make a larger difference in the near future. Barcelona and Real Madrid always has been two best team on the league from the right start of the league. They have collectively won 60 league trophies of total 89 played. They are the richest clubs and can buy the best players for them. But what we've seen on last few years is Barcelona is disintegrating, they have trouble with the finances and they're being considered more a Catalonian team that a Spanish one. Many have and many are wanting to leave the team for those two reasons.

I think next few seasons Real Madrid will rule alone in La Liga.  Barcelona's defense is already bad, Barcelona needed better player in defending lineup. But they didn't repair the defense lineup.  we heard some rumors that, Vidal and Rrakitich will leave Barcelona. on the other hand, Barcelona wants to release Suarez, you know Messi does not want to stay in Barcelona anymore. Then who will be the next game changer in Barcelona? 

[slaman29]

I never said that these aren't good players. But the job of a good management board (sporting director, scouts etc.) is to get players that do fit into the system and not just buy players because of their names or because they are famous. And in that regard, Barcas management didn't make a good job imho.

With your second point, I fully agree. Once this whole Messi drama is over, Koemann can start to build a new team around Coutinho, Griezmann etc. For them this situation can be a good opportunity to finally justify what Barca once paid for them.

Yes, and we all know Barca's management has been utterly crap for the past few seasons (but Pep would even say it happened even longer before that when he left) because everything there is so highly political, every decision has politics and money, and egos behind the buys.

But yes, we are all hoping for the rebuild now. Messi gone, something we all have to accept. As painful as it is this is a divorce with no way to make up.

[Darkoth89]

I think next few seasons Real Madrid will rule alone in La Liga .  Barcelona's defense is already bad ,  Barcelona needed better player in defending lineup . But they didn't repair the defense lineup.  we heard some rumors that , Vidal and Rrakitich will leave Barcelona . on the other hand Barcelona wants to releas Suarez And Messi  does not want to stay in Barcelona anymore . Then who will be the next game changer in Barcelona?  

Even though I kind of agree with you and also would say that Real is the favourite for next seasons title, you can't rule Barcelona out completely. What are the odds now when betting on Barca? @1.66 for Real vs. @2.75 for Barca to win the title (bet365). They will probably be even better once it's confirmed that Messi leaves. And depending on these odds it might even be smart to place a small bet on Barca then.

[Daniel91]

It seems that Barcelona has finally made a good business decision 
The departures of Ivan Rakitic, Arthur Melo and Arturo Vidal will save the Catalan club some 40 million euros in wages per season.

Given the very poor state of finances in Barcelona, a very good thing for them 
Source: https://www.marca.com/en/football/barcelona/2020/09/02/5f4ebf1f46163f2b268b456a.html

[hd49728]

It seems that Barcelona has finally made a good business decision 
The departures of Ivan Rakitic, Arthur Melo and Arturo Vidal will save the Catalan club some 40 million euros in wages per season.

Given the very poor state of finances in Barcelona, a very good thing for them 
Source: https://www.marca.com/en/football/barcelona/2020/09/02/5f4ebf1f46163f2b268b456a.html

They made some big transfers and some of those are for unknown reasons (Dembele and Griezman). Coutinho's failure in Nou Camp is a big secret but I honestly admit that I can not understand why Bartomeu accepted to pay too much money for Dembele. Griezman can be understood but as an neutral observer, he does not belong to the traditional tactics of Barcelona. Dembele is sensitive to injuries and he is unprofessional as well. At least some hope with Griezman and Coutinho with the new coach, new tactics from Koeman.

How did the transfer fund flow from those big transfer? Did Bartomeu or board members have shady benefits from it? Maybe time will tell.

[hilariousetc]

It seems that Barcelona has finally made a good business decision 
The departures of Ivan Rakitic, Arthur Melo and Arturo Vidal will save the Catalan club some 40 million euros in wages per season.

Given the very poor state of finances in Barcelona, a very good thing for them 
Source: https://www.marca.com/en/football/barcelona/2020/09/02/5f4ebf1f46163f2b268b456a.html

A good business decision maybe, but it looks like half their first team is potentially going to leave, possibly including Messi. At least that would probably save them 100 million. Still no real update on his situation with Messi's father only saying that it's a difficult situation but also that he hasn't spoken to Pep which is a bit worrying regarding his potnetial move to City:

As Jorge made his way, on foot, down an underground car park ramp, he was polite enough to entertain some questions. Staying at Barcelona will be "difficult" - in fact, he said it would be "difficult" three times. Then he added: "No. I have not spoken to Pep."

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11833/12061481/lionel-messis-father-arrives-in-barcelona-for-crunch-talks-with-la-liga-club

I'm sure he'll stay and all this is just a stunt by Messi to show he's willing to walk away if he doesn't get the terms he wants.

[snipie]

-snip-

They will get ride of them soon or later, so better to do it early while trying to build a new and good squad. Some players like dembele and griezman have to follow them and find another team imo...
For Messi, it is still not clear, there was a meeting yesterday between his father and the president which ended without any result. Messi seems to stick with leaving Barca while Barca would profit from the huge fee in the contract...and of course no team seems to be able to pay that fee. Messi didn't join training right now and he may get sanctioned in the next days.