21 - Frenkie de Jong

[draconifire]

Casado was impecable agaisnt the big ones. He just had a dip of form, after playing constantly without rest.
Those things are bound to happen to any player, let alone a young player playing his first season on an A-Team.

 

[JamDav1982]

Wouldnt day he was impeccable - first half away to Real before it was changed midfield was not great.
Was bullied for the opener v Real in Supercopa then had a good game.
Also v Ateltico he set up their goal in the 2-1 defeat.
Benfica was a big game. He was terrible.
Good around that though across the board.

But Barca also won 1 in 8 league games with Casado largely starting at DM and were struggling as fell 7 points behind Real. Not all his fault clearly but he was not in great form.

This year he has started 4 games in League/CL/Cup and Barca/Casado struggled in three of them coming off at HT in two league starts and after an hour v Benfica as struggling and Barca 3-1 down to then go on and win 5-4.

With Casados minutes reduced the team has clawed back the 7 pt deficit and looked better.. Pedri has looke better again also.

You have opposition coached commenting on how much harder it was to press once Casado off pitch and others on in that time.

Fair to say he had a better than expected first few months and some great moments but to act as if dont know why Flick has reduced his minutes at this point is naive at best.

The balance of team and defence has not looked worse either despite the fact Casado will win more tackles than likes of FDJ for most part. The flip side is he is also more likely to be pulled out of middle as chases ball and if dribbled past team is open. Also there is an argument that keeping ball better in turn is a form of defending.

Up to him to win place back.

Said it already but if FDJ leaves Barca wont sit on Casado/Bernal. They will look to get another midfielder in.