They're a fair bit behind the all conquering side under Pep but along with Madrid, still probably the biggest draw for South Americans anywhere outside South America, with the exception of Neymar, but that's another story altogether

I think Real have been ahead of the game.

Their recruitment in the last 5 years has been much better than Barca's.

They have bought players at good ages who could develop with the existing quality players and be ready to take over.

Barca haven't bought very well, (considering we are told everyone wants to play for them) and have also had a lot of upheaval in the coach position.

Barca also need to rebuild the stadium and I think a post Messi lull is inevitable for them and has polrobably already begun.

They would still beat our teams though more often than not.

Their style had become over-reliant on MSN to drag them through games while the rest of the team performed at a sub-par level for a Barcelona team.

Perhaps losing one of the star forwards, and with a new head coach at the helm, they will begin to resemble the teams that were so dominant just a few years ago. Even with their ageing stars, there is still plenty of talent in the squad.

I think currently they are miles behind because they fell short in Europe last season with Neymar and they have an old squad.

There is absalute you no guarantee they are going to be winning any league titles
Or European cups for the next few years with their current squad in my opinion yet every time I turn the TV on everyone is saying Coutinho must go to them to win trophies like it's a given maby 3 years ago it was a given not now...

I think the OP is correct.

Neymar saw the same and has jumped ship at the best possible time.

I also don't think Coutinho will go to Barca, I think he is now destined to go join Neymar at PSG.

Suarez, Messi, Mascherano & Iniesta will all be gone before the start of the 19/20 season.

Meanwhile dembele has gone on strike. He really does want to go Barca

Said when barca were in for couts, their cycle has ended. Couts could stay with us and we coukd surpass them imo.

All their top players have left or are past their best. if clubs keep their players and dont allow barca to poach i can see them being nothing special at all

I agree GB see how attractive they are next season if they can't strengthen that squad they are in full on panic mode why should anyone help them... Even if they did sign Dembele and Coutinho I would say they would struggle to win the league or CL

They've had the best players in the world for decades along with madrid, rivaldo, Romario, Ronaldo, ronaldinho, messi, figo...they still have the best player and Suarez. Second best team in the world currently

Said when barca were in for couts, their cycle has ended. Couts could stay with us and we coukd surpass them imo
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Lol

comment by Nickalopodis-bye bye costa (U9257)
posted 9 seconds ago
Said when barca were in for couts, their cycle has ended. Couts could stay with us and we coukd surpass them imo
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Lol
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He's pure gold isn't he?

He can't be serious atleast. Imagine talking about cycles. I doubt a Liverpool player would get in a top 20 players between the two clubs since 1990

That's a 27 year cycle lol

comment by Bobby Dazzler (U1449)
posted 15 minutes ago
comment by Nickalopodis-bye bye costa (U9257)
posted 9 seconds ago
Said when barca were in for couts, their cycle has ended. Couts could stay with us and we coukd surpass them imo
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Lol
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He's pure gold isn't he?
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They was a cracker

comment by Got_Better (U6241)
posted 50 minutes ago
Said when barca were in for couts, their cycle has ended. Couts could stay with us and we coukd surpass them imo.

All their top players have left or are past their best. if clubs keep their players and dont allow barca to poach i can see them being nothing special at all
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Barca are still a force. They get to the final stages of every competition they enter.

They can attract the best talent, they are owned by their 180,000 members, have an amazing academy.

That Pep team was amongst the best ever, of course the standard has dropped a bit.

Barca, like Utd, are too rich not to be successful for any sustained period. Plus as a club they're still a massive draw and will remain so.

The team needs some work but they'll be amongst the best again.

Laughable to say Messi isn't as good as he was. All he's done is change his game from being the primary source of goals to still scoring plenty but helping dictate the play. Partly because he sees the game better and partly because he has to. He's still devastating.

They've not bought wisely in the last couple of years, the likes of Turan, Andre Gomes, Matthieu, Vermaelen and Douglas have been average at best, disastrous at worst. 2-3 quality signings and they can reclaim the throne. Epic fail by messing up and allowing Thiago to leave though

Must be shlt having £220 in the bank and no top club willing to sell them players. I would turn to hazard if I was them.

comment by Thank God for Clippity Klopp (U12976)
posted 23 minutes ago
Must be shlt having £220 in the bank and no top club willing to sell them players. I would turn to hazard if I was them.
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To be fair, I think Chelsea will want more than 220 quid for hazard.

Clippity...ha, yeah i was thinking the same...be hilarious if they hit cfc and arsenal for players

I would offer £60m for Sanchez

Thing is we're not really a selling club when we don't want to. Even costa we're letting rot than selling for a cut price.

Benefits of challenging for titles and being in London. Something you wouldn't know about GB