Ernesto Valverde: Double-winner and on course for a Treble, but the Barcelona coach is still not good enough for the critics

Ernesto Valverde: Double-winner and on course for a Treble, but the Barcelona coach is still not good enough for the critics
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, 2019

Virtually 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, 2019

For 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.4

Boateng completed a shock move to Barcelona last month

But the fans who long for the Bara football of old would argue that these days even a full strength XI is still too far away from the clubs positional-football identity.One extreme take on Saturday was that the reigning LaLiga champions are now ‘tactically lost’.

En 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, 2019

With 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.4

Valverde has had to deal with the lofty weight of expectation

And, crucially, the players are happy enough with the approach of their current boss for dressing room heavyweights to back the club’s decision to extend Valverde’s contract.The same squad veterans who have the benefit of first-hand experience of what it was like to play for the best Barcelona sides are perhaps more realistic about how difficult it is to repeat the levels of performance from those days than some fans are.4

Valverde has the support of his senior players, such as Lionel Messi

Even if disgruntled observers complain that Valverdes team isnt excelling enough, straw polls suggest his detractors are far less certain, however, about who could do any better.

Question for Bara fans not happy with Valverde: who would you rather have and why?— Lee Roden (@LeeRoden89) February 15, 2019

Of 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.getty4

Valverde has been forced to follow era-defining Barcelona teams – and the expectations that come with that

It is tempting to think that many of the purists are in reality simply swayed by one solitary result in particular – Barcelonas dramatic collapse to Roma in last seasons Champions League quarter-final.If Valverde can right that wrong and bring home the clubs sixth European Cup later this year – continuing with tonight’s visit to Lyon, which is LIVE on talkSPORT 2 – will the same critics of his Barcelonas style still be as vocal?

---

Back in April 2014, Demba Ba's goal at Anfield -- following Steven Gerrard's slip and crucial loss of the ball -- proved to be the decisive moment in that season's title race with City. Liverpool
Man City v Liverpool: The best ever English title race

---

Danny Murphy reveals conversation with Jamie Carragher following Liverpool legend's spitting storm. Carragher was filmed spitting at a football fan and his 14-year-old daughter while driving away

---

'Another spy in the camp' - John Terry and Jody Morris poke fun at Leeds United while celebrating reaching Championship Play-Off Final John Terry has poked fun at Leeds United whilst
'Another spy in the camp' - John Terry and Jody Morris poke

---

Tottenham Hotspur vs Liverpool confirmed teams: Spurs fans

---

Tottenham Hotspur F.C. became a limited company, the Tottenham Hotspur Football and Athletic Company Ltd, on 2 March 1898 so as to raise funds for the club and limit the personal liability of its members. 8,000 shares were issued at £1 each, although only 1,558 shares were taken up in the first year.

---

England made a winning start to their 2019 Women's World Cup campaign as they saw off Scotland 2-1 in Nice. In front of a crowd of 13,188 at the Allianz Riviera Stadium, Nikita Parris put the Lionesses ahead with a 14th-minute penalty awarded for handball via VAR and Ellen White's curled finish made it 2-0 in the 40th minute.
Women's World Cup: England 2-1 Scotland, Nikita Parris and

---

Tottenham new stadium update: Mauricio Pochettino feels it will be 'tough' for Spurs to move in this season The manager's gut is telling him the switch will happen in 2019/20 instead By
Tottenham new stadium update: Mauricio Pochettino feels it

---

'I dreamed to play in the Champions League and one day win it': Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino is fulfilling a vision laid out by chairman Daniel Levy in his pyjamas
Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino reveals all on BIZARRE

---

Maurizio Sarri 'struggling' to manage Chelsea stars - 'He's a dead man walking' Inter Milan have decided to sell Chelsea target Mauro Icardi to Juventus (Pic: GETTY) That would make Icardi the second highest-paid player in Serie A behind Cristiano Ronaldo. Despite Napoli's bold move, Inter Milan have reportedly decided to sell to Juventus.

---

Report Heung-Min Son and Juan Foyth were shown red cards on either side of half-time as Nathan Ake struck in the 91st minute Nathan Ake's injury-time goal for Bournemouth left nine-man Tottenham's Champions League hopes in doubt on Saturday.
Bournemouth 1-0 Tottenham: Nine-man Spurs suffer late defeat

---

News Corp is a network of leading companies in the worlds of diversified media, news, education, and information services.
~ Rangers transfer news: Steven Gerrard planning to hold

---

Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino says that his team did not deserve to be knocked out of the Champions League by Juventus. The North London outfit were beaten 4-3 on aggregate by
Mauricio Pochettino refuses to discuss his future as

---