Adriano Correia Claro

[Cal-FCB]

First half he was excellent, looked confident on the ball, got forward well, and was also really good defensively as well. Second half though he seemed to go back to previous performances, wasting possession. He looked knackered, Pep made a mistake leaving him on so long. He looked like an accident waiting to happen, and he very nearly cost us the game.

 

[Barcaman]

Poor poor match for Adriano. He had troubles with Navas and then fouled Negredo? in the box. Luckily ref didn't see it.
His crossing let him down as well.

 

[Daemul]

Poor match from the lad

 

[Cal-FCB]

He was absolutely dreadful. Pep's given him a run and for me it's done Maxwell the world of good, I've not been impressed overall, bar the first half against Arsenal.

 

[Jesse1509]

I'm not impressed by this guy. He's quicker than Maxwell, and ambidextrous, but as many said before his crosses aren't good. And I can't forget that moment against Arsenal which nearly costed us the CL.

 

[Metaphysical]

he'll improve, give him time.

I still prefer him to Maxwell because he's more defensively solid. he has more "AAAAH!" moments, perhaps, but Maxwell is a constant stream of lesser "aaaah!" moments.

judging him vs. Sevilla is tricky because it's his first visit back to his old club, who knows how he reacts mentally to that. and of course the Sevilla players know his game very well

 

[gingerless]

yep. given the time that maxwell has had he would have been twice the player imo

 

[BerkeleyBernie]

And I can't forget that moment against Arsenal which nearly costed us the CL.

That was more Abidal's fault (and the rest of the back line) than Adriano's. Abidal passed to Adriano in a tight situation with no outlet, then let himself get cut off for a return pass. The entire back line literally "flatlined", an uncharacteristic mistake- in possession, Barça always has a player who drops backward to receive and distribute to the other side or the keeper. Likely due to the fact that both Pujol and Pique were missing and credit Arsenal's pressing for forcing the mistake.

 

[Jesse1509]

^ I've seen it again now....fair point.

 

[Galning]

Back in training.

 

[xsever]

Nice performance by Adriano yesterday. His passes were much better than his previous game. Pep praised him at the end and it seems the more he plays, the better and familiar he is getting.

 

[BerkeleyBernie]

Nice performance by Adriano yesterday. His passes were much better than his previous game. Pep praised him at the end and it seems the more he plays, the better and familiar he is getting.

Adriano faults are somewhat offset by his virtues. Next to Messi, he probably has a higher percentage of loss of possession than other Barça players, and for the same reason- gambling on beating defenders on the dribble. Because of his pace, and because he tends to take these gambles from fairly deep, when he does make it by his marker on the wing, he is an immediate threat, and helps open space in the middle. When he does lose possession, that same pace helps him get back to prevent the opponent from capitalizing on his missed gamble.

Alves, by contrast, is more sneaky, dependent on receiving long crosses, and usually already is advanced and attacking a withdrawn defense. When Adriano beats a marker from deep, he is attacking the bus before it can get fully parked, which helps the entire team. If he gets better control of his crosses and cutbacks (which he well may with more match experience), he will definitely add another dangerous weapon to the Barça attack.

 

[Daemul]

Adriano is a very good player, good replacement for Abidal.

 

[Ocurrente]

pep likes him too

 

[dalitis8]

Adriano is a very good player, good replacement for Abidal.

A bit too optimistic there I think.

Let's hope so.