[Krijn]

Now VG resigned, a little summary of his achievements with Barça...
Everything started well. Although we were kicked out of the CL (we all remember Dynamo Kyiv), VG brought us the European Supercup, La Liga and the Copa del Rey. It was our first double in 58 years. The second season we should do better in the CL, but finalists Bayern Munchen and Manchester United didn't agree with us. But hey, we still won La Liga. In his third season he should have taken it all. And we would have, if it wasn't for VG. And that's something we can't forgive him. His stupid 3 defender-system made us lose La Liga and the CL, and by his arrogance we were disqualified in The Copa. No Barça-coach ever was so successful and so hated as VG. A very strange combination....

VG said when he started: my aim is to play with many young Catalans...
He brought Gabri, Xavi,Puyol, Mario, Nano and Santamaria (although the last two played only one match...) to Barça A.

BUT: He never was true Barça. Never he and the fans agreed. He always was in a kind of war with the media... Barça never was a stable team under his supervision...

So I'm looking back with very mixed feelings...

 

[dado]

I agree that VG screwed Barca at the end of this season as best as he could, but we all have to admit that the last 3 years with Barca weren't that bad - we won something every year (except this last - and I admit I was very wrong and too optimistic - luckily for Labas and Co.) and that is something not many clubs can be proud of.
Barca was VERY dominant in La Liga in the 90s and their European matches were always a "story" (more often a good one than a bad one). We all have to respect that and hope it'll continue in the 21st century.
BTW I supported Labas in the AC Milan forum - I'm getting weird, am I not????

 

[ST]

If u look at results I think VG did good. I think what settled it was that he was too arrogant. He never had a good relationship with Players, fans or the media. It also shows that second place just isn't good enough in Barca.

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SEMPRE VIOLA!

 

[Krijn]

After he resigned, VG said he felt he has been Nunez' man to do the dirty work. He felt he had to grab the prizes for Nunez to keep him at his position.

LOUIS, THAT YOU FINALLY KNOW THAT AFTER 3 YEARS!

 

[Guest]

In the speacial conference VG had to anounce his resignation, he still mentoined Rivaldo was a "persona non grata" whatever that means.

And he also anounced that he won't be coaching next season, and he won't be Rijkaard's supervisor or assistent for Euro 2000, because Ruud Krol is.

Van Gaal has been very succesful with Barcelona, with Ajax it took a few seasons to win many prizes in one season, but with Barcelona he immediately won 3 in his first season.

VG's "Poldermodel" didn't work with Barca, and many fans still hate him for selling catalan favourites such as Giovanni, Sonny Anderson, Ivan De La Pena, Oscar Garcia, and Hristo Stoichkov.

 

[hala]

This guy is a real case! He said that "in 6 years in Ajax I've accomplished more than I would in 100 years in Barca"! Pathetic!

We won't even step out in style...

!FUERA Y ADIOS!

 

[THE DANE]

I think vg bought that many dutch players because he did'nt know them, and if you look at the players he bought without catalanian eyes i think they all did very well, about rivaldo, vg did the only right thing to do never to let a player control you.
i feel a bit sorry for vg.


ps:he changed barca's system from 4 def. to 3 def. because barca's qualities is the attacking formation.


[email protected]

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[Krijn]

I think Rivaldo wasn't that good behind the strikers. And even with 4 defenders our defence was shaky, so why even get back to 3 defenders?? And even with 4 defenders we still played offensive. In fact, with 4 defenders 5 players played offensive (Kluivert, Rivaldo, Figo, Luis Enrique and Cocu) and with 3 defenders, only 4 (Kluivert, Figo, Rivaldo, Zenden).