5 - Carles Puyol

[BerkeleyBernie]

Fair to say all the injuries have taken the toll on Puyol. Clearly not the same player he once was, would be a risk playing in big games.

Hard to say. This game was such a tactical mess by Tata. Barça had no time to rest because possession was sacrificed in order to boot the ball up the field, and there was no consistency in positioning. Under normal circumstances I don't think Puyol would have the same problems. The opponent had the ball in Barça's half more this game than any other I can recall.

 

[Galning]

Fair to say all the injuries have taken the toll on Puyol. Clearly not the same player he once was, would be a risk playing in big games.

You don't know that. People have been saying that for the past 4 seasons. For all we know he just lacks match rythm, and to be honest the mistakes he made today were not defensive mistakes but indeed clumsy things that one might make when he hasn't played for a long time.

 

[Catorce]

I think he played well, apart from 2 bad moments. 1 trying to outdribble 2/3 players in the own box and 1 was the awful pass back to Valdes. He needs more rhythm, but it's nice to see Puyol back in action. I think, if both fit and in good form, Bartra and him make a very good partnership.

 

[CatalinR10]

He's just begining playing again after a long time . I'm not concerned.

 

[barcanuck]

He was good today cleared a lot of dangerous situations and led the young Bartra like a true captain

 

[CatalinR10]

 

[KhaledBarca]

He was great in the aerial duels, made some great clearances after corners. But still made 2 mistakes that he shouldn't (1st inside the area tried to dribble? when he should have cleared the ball [Bartar+song helped him to clear the ball]and a short pass to Valdes who saved the day )

 

[Barcafan 2304]

I'd like to see his match time upped now, starting more la liga games.

 

[Flavia]

Puyol: "Playing at full back after a long time? First 25 minutes were difficult for the whole team, but I anyway didn't feel comfortable."

Puyol: "Ajax were a lot more intense than us. In the first half they were far better, and you can't give one half away in Europe."

Puyol: "This defeat should make us think, should make me think that first, I played badly. This has to help us to improve."

 

[abual3bed1]

Good words for el capita. This loss must be a lesson for months to come. The only good thing that it came in a meaningless game.

 

[barcanuck]

I thought he was forcing himself to play like Dani and bust down the right.

 

[Jelboo]

Puyol bombing forward as a RB. Never thought I'd see the day (again).

 

[CatalinR10]

Puyol bombing forward as a RB. Never thought I'd see the day (again).

Who needs Alves when there's Puyol.

 

[Stric]

I missed the game, but now that I read about him playing RB and bombing forward, I so want to watch it.

 

[Flavia]

I missed the game, but now that I read about him playing RB and bombing forward, I so want to watch it.

Don't

Puyol himself said he wasn't comfortable, and that he didn't know when to bomb forward or to stay back... it was really bad. He had no idea what to do.