14 - Javier Mascherano

[Antimadridista1]

Unfortunately you can't have a good game if you cost your team points.
Mascherano has a great attitude but I am not so sure if he should be our first choice cb.

He is Tata's first choice , only because he's from Argentina too.

 

[JamDav1982]

He is Tata's first choice , only because he's from Argentina too.

No he is first choice because he has been quite easily the best CB at the club the past 2 1/2 seasons.

 

[Cule4life]

He is Tata's first choice , only because he's from Argentina too.

Nope because Tata is too scared/hesitant to make changes.

 

[JamDav1982]

Nope because Tata is too scared/hesitant to make changes.

What is that even based on?

He so far has rested every player in the team and even took off Messi which Pep and Tito were scared to do.

Tata has not shown he is scared of making any decisions at all. It looks like one of his real strengths.

 

[Cule4life]

What is that even based on?

He so far has rested every player in the team and even took off Messi which Pep and Tito were scared to do.

Tata has not shown he is scared of making any decisions at all. It looks like one of his real strengths.

This game was Tata's first game of the season against a big team after the supercup. He opted to play a rusty mascherano coming back from injury 90 min instead of trusting Bartra who was performing well.
If your "rotation policy" is true then we should expect bartra to start the clasico. Let's see if he does. You and I both know its highly unlikely. I fear the rotation is only against La Liga teams. Let's hope i'm wrong then.

 

[JamDav1982]

This game was Tata's first big game of the season against a big team after the supercup. He opted to play a rusty mascherano coming back from injury 90 min instead of trusting Bartra who was performing well.
If your "rotation policy" is true then we should expect bartra to start the clasico. Let's see if he does. You and I both know its highly unlikely. I fear the rotation is only against La Liga teams. Let's hope i'm wrong then.

You have no idea why he chose to play Mascherano though.

It may be that as Pique is carrying an injury and Masch and Puyol are just back from injury that he need Barta for Saturday.

Guess who was Barcas best player in those previous two big games against Atletico - Mascherano by a long way.

Bartra may play against Madrid he may not thats Tatas choice and as long as he chooses what he thinks is the strongest team that is enough.

 

[LM10]

Even when he committed that mistake of a poor clearance, he made another mistake. He got too close to Pique to try to double tag Robinho. Thats the instincts of a DM not a CB. A true CB would have drifted away letting Pique handle Robinho and try to cover any potential cross from Robinho.

We cant afford having such "mistakes" against Bayern, Madrid, Dortmund etc. I wouldnt even call them mistakes as Masch is not a CB. Everyone except the Barca management knows this

And he was outjumped by Mexes on the corner which almost cost a goal. Again with midgets we cant defend setpieces

well everyone is short. even if we had a tall CB, we will still struggle in set pieces. Xavi, iniesta, messi, neymar, alexis/pedro/tello, alves, alba/adriano are all 5'8" or shorter. so putting all the blame on one player for setpieces is nonsense.

 

[JamDav1982]

well everyone is short. even if we had a tall CB, we will still struggle in set pieces. Xavi, iniesta, messi, neymar, alexis/pedro/tello, alves, alba/adriano are all 5'8" or shorter. so putting all the blame on one player for setpieces is nonsense.

Eactly, Celtic had the exact same chance to score with Pique and Bartra at the back.

 

[Cule4life]

well everyone is short. even if we had a tall CB, we will still struggle in set pieces. Xavi, iniesta, messi, neymar, alexis/pedro/tello, alves, alba/adriano are all 5'8" or shorter. so putting all the blame on one player for setpieces is nonsense.

There is a reason that defenders are supposed to be tall. They are supposed to duel in the air against strong attackers like CR7, Lewandowski etc. You can get away with the midfield being short (or in Barca's case even the forwards) because barca can create chances without resorting to kick and rush football and aerial crosses into the box which requires physicality. But there are no alternatives to aerial duels against tall attackers. You cant just do it another way. Barca has tried and failed being vulnerable to set pieces since the departure of Keita Abidal Yaya Henry etc. Plus we have to start somewhere to introduce height in the team. and no offense but mascherano is the most disposable. We can get a good CB which will make his absence unnoticeable and maybe even improve the team. I would want 2Cbs so that Pique can be benched but im dreaming ofc to think we will get 2cbs when we arent even planning to getting one

Plus there are rumours of tata getting a plan b striker. Even he knows height is needed in this team.

Eactly, Celtic had the exact same chance to score with Pique and Bartra at the back.

Pique is complete garbage in the air despite his height. Cesc is taller and slowly he will replace Xavi so that we will get more height in the future. A defensive minded tall FB should be bought. A plan b tall striker will also help. Baby steps are needed to solve this age long crisis.

 

[JamDav1982]

There is a reason that defenders are supposed to be tall. They are supposed to duel in the air against strong attackers like CR7, Lewandowski etc. You can get away with the midfield being short (or in Barca's case even the forwards) because barca can create chances without resorting to kick and rush football and aerial crosses into the box which requires physicality. But there are no alternatives to aerial duels against tall attackers. You cant just do it another way. Barca has tried and failed being vulnerable to set pieces since the departure of Keita Abidal Yaya Henry etc. Plus we have to start somewhere to introduce height in the team. and no offense but mascherano is the most disposable. We can get a good CB which will make his absence unnoticeable and maybe even improve the team. I would want 2Cbs so that Pique can be benched but im dreaming ofc to think we will get 2cbs when we arent even planning to getting one

Plus there are rumours of tata getting a plan b striker. Even he knows height is needed in this team.



Pique is complete garbage in the air despite his height. Cesc is taller and slowly he will replace Xavi so that we will get more height in the future. A defensive minded tall FB should be bought. A plan b tall striker will also help. Baby steps are needed to solve this age long crisis.

Thats fine you take out Mascherano for a big CB and you may be stronger at set pieces but you will decrease your possession of the ball and take out the player that is the best reader of the game defensively at the club.

Its not as simple as thinking the team would be much stronger as having taller players at set pieces.

 

[fcbdna]

This game was Tata's first game of the season against a big team after the supercup. He opted to play a rusty mascherano coming back from injury 90 min instead of trusting Bartra who was performing well.
If your "rotation policy" is true then we should expect bartra to start the clasico. Let's see if he does. You and I both know its highly unlikely. I fear the rotation is only against La Liga teams. Let's hope i'm wrong then.

Couldn't have said it any better, don't know why he got the nod over Batra who is at the moment fitter, taller, faster and a better passer. Plus, I don't get why Masch makes so much mistakes in the CL and everyone turns a blind eye. First Chelsea, then Bayern, now this?

 

[JamDav1982]

Couldn't have said it any better, don't know why he got the nod over Batra who is at the moment fitter, taller, faster and a better passer. Plus, I don't get why Masch makes so much mistakes in the CL and everyone turns a blind eye. First Chelsea, then Bayern, now this?

What mistakes did Masch make against Bayern? He didnt even play.

Bartra on the other hand was torn to shreds in those games.

 

[KingMessi]

What mistakes did Masch make against Bayern? He didnt even play.

Bartra on the other hand was torn to shreds in those games.

That's not fair at all. Bartra was thrown to the sharks in the semis.

 

[fcbdna]

What mistakes did Masch make against Bayern? He didnt even play.

Bartra on the other hand was torn to shreds in those games.

Maybe you did not see the first leg. Besides Batra was playing what I think was his first CL game along side Masch in the first leg and Calamity Pique in the second.

 

[JamDav1982]

Maybe you did not see the first leg.

Maybe I did...... and Mascherano didnt play in either game.

Getting blamed for games he didnt even play in? Good going.