9 - Luis Suárez - v1

[BerkeleyBernie]

I have a lot of respect for Paul Scholes as well. I respectfully disagree with him. On one hand he says that Suarez would struggle here since Liverpool was based around him and Barcelona around Leo. Then he goes on to say that he should have joined Real Madrid, a team based around Cristiano.

But Ronaldo is a winger. Suarez would take his natural position in Benzema's place, and the whole team would be stronger; it would be a complementary addition. At Barça, Messi has always come first, and Suarez would be forced out of his natural position in the current 4-3-3 formation.

Scholes states basically four opinions, which can be debated:
- Suarez will want to play centrally and won't like being played out wide.
- Messi and Suarez won't link well.
- If Messi doesn't like what you are doing, you won't receive service.
- Suarez would be better suited to Madrid's system.

I agree with points 1 and 4. Points 2 & 3 are variations on the same opinion, and are more debatable. I think it is yet to be determined, by the system Lucho creates around the new roster.

 

[Alarcón]

So Scholes also believes the media bullshit about "Messi the little dictator" and "If Messi doesn't like you you will be sold". Nothing else to add there really.

Most of us assume (or hope) Messi is going to be played deeper as a classic #10 with Lucho, with Suarez #9 in front.

I don't, Messi doesn't move enough to be played as a 10, not even nearly.

If Lucho stays with the same old 4-3-3 false 9 system, then Scholes isn't off base.

Which same old false 9, the one we haven't seen at Barça for years? Wingers at Barça are essentially strikers so there is no doubt in my mind that Suárez will adapt very quickly. Don't make the mistake of equating our positions with those at other clubs, even if they look similar on paper.

 

[serghei]

Wingers at Barça are essentially strikers so there is no doubt in my mind that Suárez will adapt very quickly. Don't make the mistake of equating our positions with those at other clubs, even if they look similar on paper.

Pep is not our manager anymore. He played the wingers closer to the center, with the space on the wings to be exploited by attacking fullbacks (even Abidal had his offensive moments -- very underrated in that aspect of his game --, not to mention Alves). Tata did no such thing. His game was a conservative 4-3-3 with wingers who played closer to the lines to create width (he failed to understant that, when a team brings 10 men in defence, there is no such thing as width).

So, it's all down on Lucho. If he's Pep's true succesor, he'll play a 4-3-3 that most of the time will look like a 4-1-2-1-2 with Messi behind the two winger-strikers, Neymar and Suarez. Who absolutely must play close enough of each other to create combinations and triangles with Messi, Iniesta and Rakitic/Rafinha. Having two strikers with superb passing ability means they can't be reduced to target men, but can also create combinations on their own. That's the difference between a classic 9, a la Inzaghi or Vieri, and someone like Suarez. Suarez is more than just a striker.

 

[Flavia]

Pep is not our manager anymore. He played the wingers closer to the center, with the space on the wings to be exploited by attacking fullbacks (even Abidal had his offensive moments -- very underrated in that aspect of his game --, not to mention Alves). Tata did no such thing. His game was a conservative 4-3-3 with wingers who played closer to the lines to create width (he failed to understant that, when a team brings 10 men in defence, there is no such thing as width).

So, it's all down on Lucho. If he's Pep's true succesor, he'll play a 4-3-3 that most of the time will look like a 4-1-2-1-2 with Messi behind the two winger-strikers, Neymar and Suarez. Who absolutely must play close enough of each other to create combinations and triangles with Messi, Iniesta and Rakitic/Rafinha. Having two strikers with superb passing ability means they can't be reduced to target men, but can also create combinations on their own. That's the difference between a classic 9, a la Inzaghi or Vieri, and someone like Suarez. Suarez is more than just a striker.

4-3-3 with inside strikers more than wide-wingers was the formation of Pep. And in that formation Mathieu and Cuadrado actually make sense to have.

 

[serghei]

4-3-3 with inside strikers more than wide-wingers was the formation of Pep. And in that formation Mathieu and Cuadrado actually make sense to have.

It would. Especially Cuadrado. But I rate prime Alves much better defensively than Cuadrado, physically stronger too. And let's not forget that Pep had Puyol, a player who took care of our right defensive flank when Alves was caught up front. Cuadrado will surely bring you wing power, but, the question is -- at what expense?

 

[maulingvice]

I don't, Messi doesn't move enough to be played as a 10, not even nearly.

Presently, you're right, but in better days, I've seen him move enough to function as a 9 and a 10 simultaneously.

In my view Messi's best comes out when no one is playing directly in front of him. He seems to be the type of person who needs to feel the weight on his shoulders to work hard, which is why the 4-3-3 with winger-strikers under Pep worked like magic: no one got in his way too much in the middle.

In contrast, in the WC with Argentina Messi was deployed behind a CF and was nowhere near his best. I've observed the same pattern on a few occasions when Fabregas was played on the wing under Tito/Tata but drifted too centrally too often.

Villa in particular was very good at playing in front of Messi without obstructing him. I suspect that Suarez would be best-suited for us if he can play along the same lines as Villa used to. We miss a player like that: a no-frills, direct winger-striker who can score goals from unexpected opportunities. But he needs to adapt his play to stay just wide enough not to get into Messi's direct channel.

 

[linetty]

Vampires doesn´t age

 

[evilhita666]

He then says that only if Messi likes you then you'll play, otherwise not. Has Messi started picking the starting XI now?

That shows he knows nothing about the club, because everybody knows it's Xavi the one you have to please if you want to play...

 

[El Padrino]

But Ronaldo is a winger. Suarez would take his natural position in Benzema's place, and the whole team would be stronger; it would be a complementary addition. At Barça, Messi has always come first, and Suarez would be forced out of his natural position in the current 4-3-3 formation.

Scholes states basically four opinions, which can be debated:
- Suarez will want to play centrally and won't like being played out wide.
- Messi and Suarez won't link well.
- If Messi doesn't like what you are doing, you won't receive service.
- Suarez would be better suited to Madrid's system.

I agree with points 1 and 4. Points 2 & 3 are variations on the same opinion, and are more debatable. I think it is yet to be determined, by the system Lucho creates around the new roster.

Suarez played out wide for Liverpool, and kept changing with Sturridge during games, the same with most likely happen at Barca.

 

[Antimadridista1]

What is sure is that when Leo, Luis and Neymar will be on the pitch at the same time, we won't play in 4 3 3 because Leo doesn't want to play on the right wing.
Plus he won't provide defensive work.

 

[linetty]

Cavani (PSG): "Suarez made a mistake, but the punishment wasn't fair. No player deserves to be treated like that." [el observador]

 

[Richard.H]

Read the previous replies in this thread. Lucho would be an absolute moron to put Suarez on the wing.

 

[Neymessi]

Read the previous replies in this thread. Lucho would be an absolute moron to put Suarez on the wing.

He or messi will have to play on the wings.Messi will not so suarez will have to.Not that i don't want suarez in the middle but thats what will happen.

 

[Flavia]

He or messi will have to play on the wings.Messi will not so suarez will have to.Not that i don't want suarez in the middle but thats what will happen.

Did Lucho tell you that? It's impressive how many people know what will happen.

 

[KingMessi]

He or messi will have to play on the wings.Messi will not so suarez will have to.Not that i don't want suarez in the middle but thats what will happen.

That's not true.