11 - Raphinha

[KingLeo10]

I believe the plan will be the same, attract some big names past their prime but still with plenty of football left in them.

This is only possible because of the prestige of FC Barcelona. That's why this CL is so important that we make the final, it'll keep that prestige shining for another 4-5 years which we need.

AC Milan also has as much prestige and similar pull to Barcelona historically, but look what's happened to them since it's been 20 years since they were relevant in CL (reached a final).

Huge kudos to Xavi and Laporta if they pull this off...with like 4-5 teenager to 21 year olds as starters

 

[jamrock]

I'm worried more about the 9 than the DM. Lewa next year will get worse.

True, hopefully roque turns out to be decent.

 

[serghei]

This is only possible because of the prestige of FC Barcelona. That's why this CL is so important that we make the final, it'll keep that prestige shining for another 4-5 years which we need.

AC Milan also has as much prestige and similar pull to Barcelona historically, but look what's happened to them since it's been 20 years since they were relevant in CL (reached a final).

Huge kudos to Xavi and Laporta if they pull this off...with like 4-5 teenager to 21 year olds as starters

Yeah, exactly.

 

[Loki]

I'm worried more about the 9 than the DM. Lewa next year will get worse.

We just bought Roque for 40 million €. Lewy will be good enough next season if he gets his rests. He showed yesterday what kind of a performance is still in him, if he is rested and recharged. After half a year settling in and a full pre-season, he needs to be on a level where he can help the team.

 

[serghei]

Lewa has next season and that's it. At 37 he's gonna be like ronaldo post Juve, finished for the top level. Let's hope Roque starts to deliver by then to take over.

 

[Total-Football]

Lewa has next season and that's it. At 37 he's gonna be like ronaldo post Juve, finished for the top level. Let's hope Roque starts to deliver by then to take over.

People worry too much about DM. Whereas that's indeed an important position, it can be filled by an alternative to some degree.. it's the 9 position that is extreamly critical because that's where the money is at (goals)

 

[DonAK]

#9 will be a priority in 2025 for sure, but this summer it's definitely a CDM along with a LW if possible.

 

[Porque]

To be fair I think Jammy was one of his biggest critics, and he said that Raphi needed to be played down the middle to get the best out of him.

Birdy also is correct in that Xavi was playing him on the right as a touchline winger and exactly the same down the left.

He's been on the left a number of times in his career here and never excelled until recently when Lamal astablished the width on the right (able to play in isolation) and Cancelo on the left (able to play in isolation), with Xavi allowing Raphi the freedom to move centrally. Like how Arsenal unlocked Alexis.

There is one last caveat. Here are the highest number of km run by the teams in the quarter finals.

1. Man City - 117,8km
2. Barcelona - 117,7km
3. Arsenal - 117,6km
----
4. Dortmund - 116km
PSG / Madrid / Atletico - 114km

You can see how the team has peaked physically over the past 5/6 weeks and is able to play at EPL intensity which benefits Raphinha game immensely as he can work more in chaos and exploit the movement and space.

If you go back to the second round 2nd leg versus Napoli, we covered 119km(!). Only Copenhagen ran move (124km vs City) but that number is an exception given it was an effort to overcome the skill gap.

So yeah, if tldr ... Perfect storm

 

[Andresito]

#9 will be a priority in 2025 for sure, but this summer it's definitely a CDM along with a LW if possible.

That's not for sure though. Roque will be 20/21 years old by then and will have had a year and a half to adapt, while learning from Lewandowski. I think there's a big hope he'll be the starter by then. Unless he turns out to be a proper bum of course, but that's too early to conclude.

 

[FinBarcelonafan]

This is only possible because of the prestige of FC Barcelona. That's why this CL is so important that we make the final, it'll keep that prestige shining for another 4-5 years which we need.

AC Milan also has as much prestige and similar pull to Barcelona historically, but look what's happened to them since it's been 20 years since they were relevant in CL (reached a final).

Huge kudos to Xavi and Laporta if they pull this off...with like 4-5 teenager to 21 year olds as starters

We have a lot of pull, maybe the most in the world, if we had same money as others. Barcelona is attractive.

The city itself is awesome. Players must love that.

 

[FinBarcelonafan]

To be fair I think Jammy was one of his biggest critics, and he said that Raphi needed to be played down the middle to get the best out of him.

Birdy also is correct in that Xavi was playing him on the right as a touchline winger and exactly the same down the left.

He's been on the left a number of times in his career here and never excelled until recently when Lamal astablished the width on the right (able to play in isolation) and Cancelo on the left (able to play in isolation), with Xavi allowing Raphi the freedom to move centrally. Like how Arsenal unlocked Alexis.

There is one last caveat. Here are the highest number of km run by the teams in the quarter finals.

1. Man City - 117,8km
2. Barcelona - 117,7km
3. Arsenal - 117,6km
----
4. Dortmund - 116km
PSG / Madrid / Atletico - 114km

You can see how the team has peaked physically over the past 5/6 weeks and is able to play at EPL intensity which benefits Raphinha game immensely as he can work more in chaos and exploit the movement and space.

If you go back to the second round 2nd leg versus Napoli, we covered 119km(!). Only Copenhagen ran move (124km vs City) but that number is an exception given it was an effort to overcome the skill gap.

So yeah, if tldr ... Perfect storm

Finally we are getting there physically. Super important. We have lacked the pace and physicality of Euro games for a long time.

 

[FinBarcelonafan]

Lewa has next season and that's it. At 37 he's gonna be like ronaldo post Juve, finished for the top level. Let's hope Roque starts to deliver by then to take over.

In our financial situation, I'd happily send him to Saudi for 50mil. I mean it would be the smartest thing to do.

 

[FinBarcelonafan]

We just bought Roque for 40 million €. Lewy will be good enough next season if he gets his rests. He showed yesterday what kind of a performance is still in him, if he is rested and recharged. After half a year settling in and a full pre-season, he needs to be on a level where he can help the team.

Lewy demands to play every game. He needs to change that. You need more rest when older. Let Roque play more, he's been wasted this season.

 

[jamrock]

Nah even when he didn't move to the middle he still always contributed for us and had an impact on the game when he was "hugging" the touch line.

We don't win the league without him last season, always popping up with important goals and this season when fit again he always showed up when needed.

He's not just now all of a sudden starting to play well, he's been playing well since we signed him.

The forum was just wrong about him, because he can be some what frustrating and because he isn't a Neymar level dribbler.

But he isn't just now coming good.

 

[serghei]

Nah even when he didn't move to the middle he still always contributed for us and had an impact on the game when he was "hugging" the touch line.

We don't win the league without him last season, always popping up with important goals and this season when fit again he always showed up when needed.

He's not just now all of a sudden starting to play well, he's been playing well since we signed him.

The forum was just wrong about him, because he can be some what frustrating and because he isn't a Neymar level dribbler.

But he isn't just now coming good.

He attacked often through the middle even last season. He scored quite a few important goals like that.

This season there is added quality in midfield with Gundogan, so he receives better service also. Plus Lamine.

Xavi is also trusting him more and gives him more freedom.