7 - Philippe Coutinho - V1

[Raketa10]

2 AM, 3 attackers that doesn't defend and 30 years old Busquets doesn't sound that great tbh, would want a CM there. And no, Alena isn't a CM yet

If Iniesta and Xavi who were physically much weaker than Alena played CM roles in the best period of our history I really can't see any reason why Alena couldn't be a CM solution for us in years to come. He is for sure still young but we must give him minutes and accept the fact that he will need time to shine. We need to put our trust in this kid and support him even when he is playing bad like he did in Copa this month. IMHO he could be more useful as a CM than CAM for our first team. Also bare in mind that Coutinho can also play as a LW, a position which is being vacant after Neymar left.

With Messi here that CAM (or second striker) place is occupied so if we want Griezmann we should sell Suarez. 4-3-3 is only possible with false 9 since Messi wont go back to RW. We could also try with 4-2-3-1 system or 4-4-2 (like we are playing now) but with Coutinho on the Left and Dembele right.

4-2-3-1 is a problem since we would basically need 2 DM players so this is the reason I see 4-4-2 more realistic. On the other hand I am sure that Sergi Roberto can cover DM and CM role.

Both of this formations are only possible if we press high like we did with Pep since we are not a team that can defend without the ball at least not with this type of players but this was always our way of playing. Look at us now. We have Paulinho, Rakitic and Gomes who are physically good but who the hell want to watch this type of football?! Put technically stronger players in, play pressing all of the time and give our trademark back to us. No one wants to watch this boring shit we are playing right now.


4-4-2

Dembele-Busquets-Roberto (Alena)-Coutinho

Messi-Griezman (or Suarez)

4-2-3-1

Busquets-Roberto

Dembele - Messi - Coutinho

Suarez (Griezmann)

In this formation Alena can be used as a sub for Messi, Coutinho, Dembele or even Sergi in some home games but as I said before we need to have ball possession or this won't work.

 

[MessiCam]

If Iniesta and Xavi who were physically much weaker than Alena played CM roles in the best period of our history I really can't see any reason why Alena couldn't be a CM solution for us in years to come. He is for sure still young but we must give him minutes and accept the fact that he will need time to shine. We need to put our trust in this kid and support him even when he is playing bad like he did in Copa this month. IMHO he could be more useful as a CM than CAM for our first team. Also bare in mind that Coutinho can also play as a LW, a position which is being vacant after Neymar left.

With Messi here that CAM (or second striker) place is occupied so if we want Griezmann we should sell Suarez. 4-3-3 is only possible with false 9 since Messi wont go back to RW. We could also try with 4-2-3-1 system or 4-4-2 (like we are playing now) but with Coutinho on the Left and Dembele right.

4-2-3-1 is a problem since we would basically need 2 DM players so this is the reason I see 4-4-2 more realistic. On the other hand I am sure that Sergi Roberto can cover DM and CM role.

Both of this formations are only possible if we press high like we did with Pep since we are not a team that can defend without the ball at least not with this type of players but this was always our way of playing. Look at us now. We have Paulinho, Rakitic and Gomes who are physically good but who the hell want to watch this type of football?! Put technically stronger players in, play pressing all of the time and give our trademark back to us. No one wants to watch this boring shit we are playing right now.


4-4-2

Dembele-Busquets-Roberto (Alena)-Coutinho

Messi-Griezman (or Suarez)

4-2-3-1

Busquets-Roberto

Dembele - Messi - Coutinho

Suarez (Griezmann)

In this formation Alena can be used as a sub for Messi, Coutinho, Dembele or even Sergi in some home games but as I said before we need to have ball possession or this won't work.

All that wonderful talent and we want to stick them into a flat 4-4-2... What has this world come to?

Before we continue I'd like to add that I think Suarez must be moved on or benched. It looks like the rot is setting in...

I like the 4-2-3-1 idea but you don't have to play two DM's. You could throw Iniesta in one of those positions as a deep lying playmaker and still find good balance. But under no circumstances should Griezmann be used as CF. He is not clinical enough and is much more of an inside forward.

So, with Griezmann I'd go this route...

4-2-3-1

Busquets-Iniesta(Roberto)

Dembele - Coutinho - Griezmann

Messi

With Griezmann and Alena in the squad. I'd go 4-3-3 or 4-1-4-1 as (Barca B plays) at the drop of a hat.

Edit: That said. This is just a pipe dream because getting both Coutinho and Griezmann would cost well over 200 Million.

 

[Messi983]

Lol, there is no way we'll get Coutinho AND Griezmann.

 

[MessiCam]

Lol, there is no way we'll get Coutinho AND Griezmann.

I edited my post...

 

[Raketa10]

All that wonderful talent and we want to stick them into a flat 4-4-2... What has this world come to?

Before we continue I'd like to add that I think Suarez must be moved on or benched. It looks like the rot is setting in...

I like the 4-2-3-1 idea but you don't have to play two DM's. You could throw Iniesta in one of those positions as a deep lying playmaker and still find good balance. But under no circumstances should Griezmann be used as CF. He is not clinical enough and is much more of an inside forward.

So, with Griezmann I'd go this route...

4-2-3-1

Busquets-Iniesta(Roberto)

Dembele - Coutinho - Griezmann

Messi

With Griezmann and Alena in the squad. I'd go 4-3-3 or 4-1-4-1 as (Barca B plays) at the drop of a hat.

Edit: That said. This is just a pipe dream because getting both Coutinho and Griezmann would cost well over 200 Million.

Playing Messi as CF is blasphemy...

 

[MessiCam]

Playing Messi as CF is blasphemy...

Why? He's done it 189 times for Barcelona and scored a whopping 214 goals with 92 assists.

Edit: He is doing it now in the 4-4-2 formation too...

 

[Raketa10]

Why? He's done it 189 times for Barcelona and scored a whopping 214 goals with 92 assists.

Edit: He is doing it now in the 4-4-2 formation too...

Jesus Dude! You would play GOAT as a CF?! You would limit Messi to a CF position? Really? With all of his strengths, with his play-making capabilities?
He is sooooooo much more than CF! He should NEVER play as a CF. He can play as a false 9, or as a RW or as a CAM he should always have a ball in his feet! He should have ball in his possession much more than CF has so wasting Massi on a CF position is beyond any common sense.

 

[MessiCam]

Jesus Dude! You would play GOAT as a CF?! You would limit Messi to a CF position? Really? With all of his strengths, with his play-making capabilities?
He is sooooooo much more than CF! He should NEVER play as a CF. He can play as a false 9, or as a RW or as a CAM he should always have a ball in his feet! He should have ball in his possession much more than CF has so wasting Massi on a CF position is beyond any common sense.

Again someone who thinks an arbitrary name given to a position means the player is glued to that position on the field. In the current 4-4-2 he plays as a CF alongside Suarez does that mean his playmaking abilities have been stripped? I can name various CF that get involved in playmaking... Kane, Ronaldo, Benzema, Merhtens, Griezmann, Ben Yedder, Rodrigo... Messi just does it better than all of them combined and is probably the best finisher in the game.

 

[Raketa10]

Again someone who thinks an arbitrary name given to a position means the player is glued to that position on the field. In the current 4-4-2 he plays as a CF alongside Suarez does that mean his playmaking abilities have been stripped? I can name various CF that get involved in playmaking... Kane, Ronaldo, Benzema, Merhtens, Griezmann, Ben Yedder, Rodrigo... Messi just does it better than all of them combined and is probably the best finisher in the game.

So you would play him as a CF so he can play as a CAM? A CF who is everywhere except in the box? So your idea is basically to play without CF, or should I say your idea is to put him in CF position just on paper and have no one there so we can again have that RW problem from last year when there was actually no one playing on the right side? Thank God you are not our manager.

 

[Messi983]

I edited my post...

It wasn't only directed at you, I've seen a lot of people mentioning us signing both. As you said it's a pipe dream but not only because they'd be too costly. I also don't see how we could put all 5 of Messi, Suarez, Dembele, Griezmann and Coutinho on the pitch at the same time without losing defensive stability. Sure, they could be rotated but all of them would want to be starters, especially in big games. I would be happy with either Cou or Griezmann but even if we financially could buy both (which I don't believe) I think that would cause us more problems than good. That's unless we can convince Suarez (and Messi as well to support that idea) that it's the best for him to move which obviously won't happen.

Or if Messi will go to Man City to make some "fans" wishes come true. But then "only" Coutinho and Griezmann wouldn't be enough.

 

[MessiCam]

So you would play him as a CF so he can play as a CAM? A CF who is everywhere except in the box? So your idea is basically to play without CF, or should I say your idea is to put him in CF position just on paper and have no one there so we can again have that RW problem from last year when there was actually no one playing on the right side? Thank God you are not our manager.

Can somebody please open a thread about football tactics so we don't stink up threads with this nonsense...

To answer you... There are other players on the field too you know, that take up positions in the box when he is not there. He is not a CF on paper only playing as a CAM... Who gave you that idea? Many, many great teams have played dedicated strikerless formations. Manchester United as an example with Tevez, Ronaldo and Rooney not having any set positions. Barcelona have done it on many occasions over the years too. It's a nightmare for centre backs because they don't know who to mark or who to cover. Barcelona's 2nd and 3rd goals against Juventus came because of said tactic. Dembele and Messi switched positions and it left Messi with an ungodly amount of space to run into.

People see "CF" and automatically assume he MUST play there. In modern football that is not the case.

 

[MessiCam]

It wasn't only directed at you, I've seen a lot of people mentioning us signing both. As you said it's a pipe dream but not only because they'd be too costly. I also don't see how we could put all 5 of Messi, Suarez, Dembele, Griezmann and Coutinho on the pitch at the same time without losing defensive stability. Sure, they could be rotated but all of them would want to be starters, especially in big games. I would be happy with either Cou or Griezmann but even if we financially could buy both (which I don't believe) I think that would cause us more problems than good. That's unless we can convince Suarez (and Messi as well to support that idea) that it's the best for him to move which obviously won't happen.

Or if Messi will go to Man City to make some "fans" wishes come true. But then "only" Coutinho and Griezmann wouldn't be enough.

4-2-3-1 is a very expansive formation but I've noticed that teams that swear by it play relatively deep against good opposition to counteract the defensive issues such a formation presents. Against weaker teams it can be an all attack thing of beauty though.

 

[khaled_a_d]

Lol, there is no way we'll get Coutinho AND Griezmann.

There is, we need a Suarez replacement most and it seems the board understand it if the rumors if interest in Griezman is true. I don't want it but the chances are surely there, and the money too

 

[Nothanks]

if we have a budget of 230-250m we could spend it all

100m griezman (release clause)
110m coutinho
free Goretzka
the sale money from gomes/paco/rafinha/turan/vidal/verm on a new defender
remaining money (if we have any) on a substitute rightback

bam perfect football manager transfer window but again this is reality so i'd settle for 2 of those 5 options

 

[MessiCam]

if we have a budget of 230-250m we could spend it all

100m griezman (release clause)
110m coutinho
free Goretzka
the sale money from gomes/paco/rafinha/turan/vidal/verm on a new defender
remaining money (if we have any) on a substitute rightback

bam perfect football manager transfer window but again this is reality so i'd settle for 2 of those 5 options

I’d probably shit myself if something like this were to happen. But I don’t think Goretzka would be a fit for Barça.