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We need to trust him more to play the deeper role. Notice I didn't say "Xavi role", we simply don't need another Xavi because his role is irreplaceable and we have to adapt to his decline. Cesc is the best in the world at what he does. If he improves the defensive side of his game we have a...

As I said a couple of weeks ago. Our starting midfield in this tie should be Busi-Cesc-Iniesta. When they play together with Messi we have so much cutting edge, and then there's the little issue of Neymar. I was hoping city win tonight so they have some confidence to attack and not play...

If they field close to their strongest team they'll win, just that it wont be enough to win the tie.

That's fair, my argument was that we should not be judging him on our attacking play when two of our best players had not started a game together since November and only got a consistent run of games in September, a period where we won all six of our games, scored 20 and conceded 5. And but for...

Sure, 2009 CL Semis with Hiddink's Chelsea 1st leg: Hiddink's Chelsea, Sat back and soaked up pressure. Barca being barca, we got a couple of chances at home, Bojan chance and Henry chance. 2ng leg: We were completely destroyed tactically in that game. We got done on the counter over and...

Horses for courses. The biggest problem this team had was its predictability, was it not? teams had started to learn how to adapt to our game. In fact, i'd argue the bigger, organized teams had us sussed from the get go, Chelsea, Inter and the likes. Then with time, even the "just decent"...

We relied on both of them turning up when we looked clueless against Arsenal at home for 45 mins, conceding from ZERO shots on target. I accept criticism, but can you at least criticise while being fair? Let Messi and Iniesta, OUR TWO BEST players get a run in the side before you judge him is...

There was a gameplan, here it is: We are not a strictly possession based team anymore. We don't place as much emphasis on keeping the ball. It's a double edged sword we have to come to terms with. On one hand is helps us against teams that have learned to adapt to our style because we can get...

"Identity"... :neymar: How long have you been watching Barca? You don't remember Barca pre-Guardiola do you? Because if you do, you would know this Identity thing that has creeped up post Pep is as pretentious as it gets.

Everybody has been judging the man with Messi and Iniesta out for long periods. How can you judge a coach when your two most creative players (by far) are out for extended spells?

Your best players are supposed to step up.

Sorry what? September Played 6, Won all 6, 20 goals scored 5 conceded October Played 6, won 4, drew 2, 11 goals scored 3 conceded November Played 5, won 3, lost 1, 13 goals scored 4 conceded December Played 6, won 5, lost 1 20 goals scored 6 conceded (Bear in mind we played a pub team in the...

Two of those players have been out injured for extended periods. And Xavi has been declining for 2 years. We can't use that against him. We were brilliant when Iniesta and Messi played consistently together in September.

We really have to win tomorrow! Goal difference and head to head against both Madrid teams!

Well, I'll have our defensive setup over theirs anyday of the week. Even if we don't have a elite defender in our back 4 we defend better as a unit.

I think the problem Atletico will face now for the rest of the season is teams parking the bus against them now that they are seen as serious contenders. Will hey prevail in those circumstances?

Fair point. The Sociedad game was a weird one. I thought we looked better playing against 11 than we did playing against 10. We missed two sitters before Busi finally scored. That game should have been 3-0 before their red card. EDIT: Well, 3 or 4-1 with Mascherano's brain fart. I'm seriously...

Yup, that is what I've been trying to say. I mean, it is probably trivia information that is fairly obvious. But tonight really highlighted that fact for me.

Errr damn near every game? In games against Barca the DM of the opposing team is LITERALLY another defender.I think its pretty obvious teams play extra defensive against us relative to Madrid For example, against us Villareal played three in the middle with Pina as the DM. Today they played two...

Yet, if Barcelona were winning against Villareal 4-2, you would be running into the Tata (or Masch) thread to moan about our shite defence. :lol: