Is it really important to win the ball posession?

Seeing Barça lost in posession for the 1st time in 5 years, MD has this poll. I thought it'd be nice to see the opinion here as well.

For Barca, it is. Chelsea can win with 25% possession but I prefer Barcas way, even when we lose.

It is, in a moment we have such a bad defense we should keep the ball as much as we can, of course this won't avoid the opponents create chances but certainly it's something better than them having the ball and attacking us more than usually.

Against small teams-No
Against big teams-Yes

I think the Rayo game was a one off, but like Meitux said, we need to keep the ball as much as possible with the current defense.

Here's a related article

Unlike some people here I honestly don't mind counterattacking sides who don't dominate possession (as long as it's not just 10 men in front of the goal), but for Barca's current style & philosophy possession is crucial.

I guess I agree with Semi-Neutral, in that most of the time against smaller teams, even if we're outpossessed it's still possible to win. Against bigger sides though it's really necessary that we see much more of the ball than them especially with our current weaknesses.

There should be a third option for the poll like "it depends on the opposition".

Possession is a byproduct, and frankly I don't care if we have 80% or if we have 30% as long as they use it well when they have it. We'd be better off defensively having more control on some occasions, but giving up the ball would help us against parked buses and actually getting space for quick, vertical attacks.

Yes. It is.
Which teams could win Barça in the ball posession?
Let's see,
Bayern? ..... maybe.
Madrid? ....never.
Chelsea? Ball, wtf is the ball?.
B. Dormunt? No way.
Manchester City? Will see this season.
Anyone else? Nope.

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Yes it is, mostly because teams with higher average posession take more points on average for a variety of reasons, psychological ones included

That said, ball posession is not an end in itself but needs to serve the higher purpose of winning the game: Passing the ball around till the cows come home with nothing being created but the occasional counter-attack by the opponent out of a false sympathy for tradition serves no purpose. Sticking to the posession game whatever it takes as a matter of principle might bear some romantic value, but isn't helpful in the bigger picture either.

Therefore, having the majority of ball posession should be aspired in general not only because it gives the team an edge but also because it's an integral part of Barcas' overall gameplan; yet the team has to stay flexible and accommodative to the situation at hand, which means that the idea of having the bigger slice of posession can and should be discarded if the situation demands for it.

Yes absolutely, for the type of players Barca possess, it is imperative they win the possession battle against the better teams. However, along with that, we need to get back to being the Barca of 2011 - that is quick, sharp and fast passing. This element has been missing for quite a while now, even in the big wins that we sometimes rack up.

The current Barca dominates possession but has become too formulaic with it. It reminds me exactly of how I play FIFA with Barca and struggle, I am incapable (it is also pretty difficult) to play the close control tiki-taka game with constant fluid movements to open spaces and make runs in behind.

We're lacking the spark of previous Barca seasons - think 09/10, 10/11 and the first half of 11/12. Obviously, this has a lot to do with teams getting a solid formula of pressing and holding back in zones but make no mistake - players have regressed too and are just not as smart with their plays and movement.

I am of the opinion that Barca cannot play counter-attacking football, they don't have the players for it against the big teams. Against a team like Bayern, we cannot hope to concede any kind of possession on the wings, the link ups between Ribery-Alaba and especially Robben-Lahm was what killed us last season. The winger-full back pairs created space for each other and bent in inch perfect crosses (especially Lahm ) to Mandzukic/Gomez. We need to swarm all over the wings whenever our opponents get the ball there, or better yet don't even let them reach an attacking position. We must keep possession but not as far up the pitch as we do currently, invite the midfield line to pressure so that there's spaces between the lines for Messi to exploit.

The best game that Spain ever played was against Italy (4-0) and Spain actually had less possession before Motta got injured and Italy went down to 10 men. Possession alone says very little. What matters is in which areas you have possession. Passing the ball from side to side infront of 2 blocks of 4 defensive lines with 2 tucked in wingers without going anywhere and conceding the inevitable counter goal has become an eyesore in recent times. And afterwards people go into the Sanchez and Pedro threads and slate them for not dribbling past 5 bodies. Organized teams don't fall for those tactics anymore. Not even Celtic. 70 % possession is too much and suffocates too much space. 55 - 60 % should be the aim. Doesn't mean we're going to turn into Chelsea. The most state of the art football currently is being played by Dortmund. High pressure, lightning quick transitions, only 44.5 % possession in the CL last season.

It is important to get the appropriate amount of possession, And that's what martino is working on, He wants the team to have as much as possession as possible while at the same time playing vertically in the correct amount, Now what is the figure exactly, Unknown, It can varys with opponents, What's important is to be flexible, Nothing has to be written in stone.

I would make the point that possession is more important to Barca when the scores are level. If Barca take the lead then counter-attack by definition becomes a natural consequence. In fact it becomes an obvious and intelligent choice. In getting a lead a team earns the right to better protect its goal and put the onus on the opposition to take more risks to try to equalise.

The above post is correct. Flexibility. Too much possession is as harmful as playing Chelsea like. It comes a point where it serves no purpose, where a change is needed, a different approach is required. We need to move on, evolve and accept it. The Barca style of the past will never be as effective as it once was for the simple reason that if at certain point it was a step ahead, well others have feet too. Teams have adapted to it, have come to understand it, and ultimately it's just another way of playing which must evolve, and must avoid staleness. I'm not saying completely abolish all the principles of our game, on the contrary take all of its good, but also take notice where it lacks and see where it can improve.

This is why I agree with what Tata is doing, we all love dominating possession- it is an incredible sight to see a team do this
But will it be useful in all situations? Will it be worthwile against a team with 10 men behind ready to counter? Or can we be flexible enough to change our approach and add more direct play, or whatsoever the moment calls for.

Of course with that comes the disillusionment of seeing our "perfect" tiki taka take a turn, which even myself have felt when in ocasions I'm crying out for posession. But hell, ultimately I want to see the team win and do good. Gotta accept it time to move on.

Some good points in here, especially by Urs.

Some people fail to realize possession for the sake of possession is meaningless. Also, remember as even Pep has said, one of the most dangerous moments for the teams is when they have the ball.

Tata is being very clever and proactive.