Ronald Koeman is repeating the same mistakes with Anotoine Griezmann of Ernesto Valverde and Quique Setien.
Drawing 1-1 against Sevilla should be a wake up call that certain players, Griezmann in particular, aren’t fitting into the system.
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Going into the international break, Koeman should recognize that the honeymoon is over, and that the next decisions he makes will either carry the team forward in a new positive direction, or propel them backwards to a place no one wants to return.
The most critical factor is to remember how the team was run the last few years. Think about the tactics, and how the players were used.
A good place to start is to not recycle those failed ideas. Even if the team is to fail this year it should be by bravely trying new things.
Koeman deserves all the credit for jump starting Philippe Coutinho, who has become perhaps the most important player to start the year.
We thought he’d do the same for Griezmann and Ousmane Dembele. It seems that Dembele is being held back because of transfer considerations, but Griezmann is very much part of the plans.
He’s started every game this year, but he’s also been substituted early on in all of them.
It’s true that he hasn’t offered much of a performance. The question is whether he shoulders the blame, or if we should question Koeman’s vision for him.
I believe it’s the latter.
Griezmann does not belong on the wing. Not ever. To pay the money Barcelona paid for him, and to not play him in his natural position is misguided, and will cost not only the player but the club financially.
A part of this analysis is to recognize that Messi is also not working as a false 9. La Pulga does, however, have a track record of excelling on the right wing where Griezmann is playing now. Swapping these two players positionally would give the team new attacking opportunities on the flank, and a proven scoring threat up the field and in the box.
Isn’t this what we thought we were going to see all along? I personally was surprised to see Koeman use Messi and Griezmann the way he is now.
The problem may be Messi himself. Koeman may be afraid that he needs Griezmann for his defense knowing that Messi won’t contribute if played closer to the midfield.
Looking at Messi now his tendency to spend the game walking is as bad as it’s ever been.
For the sake of the team, Koeman needs to speak up, assert himself, and make decisions that are in the best interest of the team and not individual players.
If he does, we should see Griezmann and Messi played in different positions when the season resumes.
Like Coutinho, Griezmann is a world class talent who needs his coach to unleash his potential.
Barcelona should learn the lesson now before it’s too late. The season depends on it.