11 - Raphinha

[FCBfan22]

Dembele to start and Sub in Raphinha around 60min as they're both not great in lw. I see one of them eventually leaving for more game time

Would start both on the LW before current Ansu and Ferran. If we get a better LW, then, yes.

 

[serghei]

Raphinha is not good on LW imo.

I would play Raphinha at RW more often than Dembele personally, and would use Balde RB and ask him to do more overlaps and occupy higher positions as to allow Raphinha more to cut inside and occupy a slightly more central area, much like Messi and Alves in 2015.

You have to provide width, but it doesn't have to be the winger that does it on almost permanent duty. Xavi needs to learn to be more fluid, because you need to put your best players in the positions they love to play in and where they can do the most damage.

So whether you use Dembele or Raphinha at RW, this should change the type of moves the corresponding fullback will be tasked with doing. Alba LB and Balde RB is a good option until we hopefully sign a top quality rightback.

 

[fergus90]

He's honking at LW, but when he's on the right and able to drift centrally he's top notch.

 

[JamDav1982]

Be better off with Dembele LW with width and Raphinha from right coming narrowe with an over lapping RB than Raph LW and Dembele RW.

 

[FCBfan22]

Raphinha is not good on LW imo.

Yeah. But if you start Dembele there and order them to switch once in a while, that creates confusion in defense. This is the thing that we don't exploit enough.

Imagine Maguire defending against Raphinha one minute and Dembele the next...

 

[gregorrin10]

He needs to be starting at RW. Period. Enough with this Dumbele obsession, Xavi. Raphinha to overtake as starter this season, then sell Dembele in the summer, while we can still get at least some money back for him. He won't get better than this, after 5 years that much is clear. And bring Moukoko for free as Raphinha's understudy! And Ferran can also play RW if needed, since he seems to feel more comfortable there (kinda like Pedri did) anyway.

 

[FCBfan22]

He needs to be starting at RW. Period. Enough with this Dumbele obsession, Xavi. Raphinha to overtake as starter this season, then sell Dembele in the summer, while we can still get at least some money back for him. And bring Moukoko for free as Raphinha's understudy! Ferran can also play RW if needed, since he seems to feel more comfortable there (kinda like Pedri did) anyway.

Sell Ferran is the solution IMO.

Biggest honker of a transfer recently. Scores an occasional goal and that's it.

 

[vuji_31]

Zaha for free and sell Ferret.

 

[gregorrin10]

Dembele to start and Sub in Raphinha around 60min as they're both not great in lw. I see one of them eventually leaving for more game time

Need to avoid that by selling Dembele next summer while we still can. Can't be bothered to give him another extension...he's just not worth it.

 

[fergus90]

Wilf Zaha would be a lovely free transfer.

 

[serghei]

True, we should use Ferran's best form when it happens to make a move and sign a better LW.

 

[FinBarcelonafan]

Zaha for free and sell Ferret.

True. Zahas skills fit us better if the plan is to know how to dribble and score some.

 

[gregorrin10]

Dembele would never.

Dembele would try to stop the ball and tripped over himself. Or he would've blasted it out of the stadium.

 

[abiabi]

Dembele is much better at running at the defense. Playmaking wise they seem similar, but Raphinha is even more prone to stupid passes. Raphinha is a better shooter of the ball but hasn't shown it yet.

Raphinha is the better off ball runner.

For all Dembele's speed, it always seems to be when he has the ball. When does he use his pace to make diagonal runs or smart runs without the ball?

 

[serghei]

Wilf Zaha would be a lovely free transfer.

True, the idea that we are looking at him as an option is pretty good, it means we are moving in the right direction.