This ideally is how I want us to lineup to start off next year:
-Nothing too overly complicated, just a bit of a revamp of our classic 4-3-3. Nothing too surprising, and most importantly it puts all of our players in their most natural and comfortable positions.
-You will notice in any formation that Villa is in, he is the center striker no matter what. The fact that he was able to score as much as he did as a LW in his first season with us is remarkable and why Pep has continued to play him out of position is beyond me. Messi needs to be moved back out to the RW when Villa returns for the sake of the team in general, I think we will flow a lot smoother and be much more offensively balanced if Villa returns back to the center. As far as limiting Messi's scoring chances, if Ronaldo could match Messi on goals this season on the LW, there is no reason Messi can't score as much as Ronaldo has on the RW.
-Best formation to have with Cesc, Xavi, Iniesta and Dani Alves all on the same pitch at once. A 4-2-3-1 conceptually with a slightly different setup. Notice the high defensive line we will need to employ in order to accommodate defensively for our attacking wingbacks. The wingbacks will give extra width to our attack and make the necessary overlapping runs for our attacking three, that way we don't have the issue of our front three getting spread too wide and becoming isolated
-Many, I am sure, will raise an eyebrow of the defensive position I have put Xavi in. I think as he gets older, he needs to start evolving into a deeplying playmaker, very similar in nature to how Pirlo was used at Milan during Ancelotti's time there. In this setup, he can be a backup option to Cesc and should have a lot of space to run into and time on the ball. Xavi has the potential to make 6 forward, offensive passes: he has got Dani Alves to his right, he could switch field and play the long diagonal ball to Jordi Alba making that darting run down the left wing, he has the potential to play through balls to either Messi, Villa, Iniesta or Cesc and is close enough to form passing triangles with Dani Alves, Cesc, Messi and Iniesta, of course, could drop back and provide support just like he does when they are in their classic 4-3-3.
-Key players in this formation are Cesc and Jordi Alba. This formation is tailored for Cesc to flourish in, he will have much more space to run into to make those darting, dynamic runs he made when he was with Arsenal. He also has space to drop back and dictate the flow of the attack and with Messi close to his right, Villa right in front of him and Iniesta close to his left, two passing triangles are created simultaneously that will cause nightmares for defenses. The other man, Jordi Alba, is key because his runs down the wings will help keep the defenses spread and worried with him on left and Dani Alves down the right.
-This could be our go-to formation as the season progresses. If executed well, it is very, very difficult to counter, even if a Bus is parked in front of it.
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-This 4-3-3 is the setup we need to take whenever we do play Messi in the false nine role. If Villa begins to dip in form offensively, Xavi and/or Iniesta need a rest or we play a slower team like Milan, this formation will function on speed, quick passes and quick breaks
-Thiago could become a much bigger influence next year due to his ability to keep our offense ticking and dominate possession like Xavi does but at a quicker rate. Here, we will make use of Messi, Cesc and Thiago's quick passing and movement that will have teams chasing a quicker ball. With Pedro and Sanchez making fast diagonal runs and again, Dani Alves and Jordi Alba on the overlap, we will still have plenty of possession. Think tiki-taka, but a few notches quicker.
-This team would also be
deadly on the counter-attack. With the speed of Thiago and Cesc coming down the middle, we could break on teams in an instant, Real Madrid style if need be.
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-The only 3-4-3 that can work and still be somewhat defensively sound. No Adriano/Jordi Alba or Dani Alves in this, our defenders have to be straight-laced, no non-sense defenders who are good in the air and in the tackle. Without a doubt a formation we should transition into during a game if need be when we need a goal.
I know it was a lot to look at and read, but if I was Pep, these are the tactical changes I would make for next season. Thoughts and critiques?
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