Alexis Sanchez

[DonAndres]

Players like Alba or even Montoya in the last few games, are sensational when it comes to complementing their winger and boosting the play on their flank. They overlap, link up, take defenders to free space up for them, and let them do their jobs. Alves on the other hand tries to dominate the play by himself, and in turn is a hindrance to the right winger any time he decides to be a focal point. There have been games where Alves does tame himself and do his job properly which favors Alexis to perform as an attacker. However, there's also an almost equal amount of games or more where he just gets in the way.

As for Alexis's performance in general yesterday, the entire right flank wasn't doing well. Xavi was anonymous, Alves went crazy, and as consequence Alexis barely saw the ball. I think he had a few moments where he did make something happen but overall it just wasn't his day.

 

[Alarcón]

It should also be noted that Pedro was just as bad as Alexis when he switched to the right wing, which further reinforces the point that the right flank was bad in general and barely received any support.

 

[Ghosting]

Players like Alba or even Montoya in the last few games, are sensational when it comes to complementing their winger and boosting the play on their flank. They overlap, link up, take defenders to free space up for them, and let them do their jobs. Alves on the other hand tries to dominate the play by himself, and in turn is a hindrance to the right winger any time he decides to be a focal point. There have been games where Alves does tame himself and do his job properly which favors Alexis to perform as an attacker. However, there's also an almost equal amount of games or more where he just gets in the way.

As for Alexis's performance in general yesterday, the entire right flank wasn't doing well. Xavi was anonymous, Alves went crazy, and as consequence Alexis barely saw the ball. I think he had a few moments where he did make something happen but overall it just wasn't his day.

Yep, Alba in the first half yesterday was the perfect example of an attacking fullback, he waited to join attacks late, this make our defence more secure because he waits for our midfield to be in total control of the ball it us allows our winger freedom and room and also causes Alba to be unmarked when he joins the attack. Alves does the opposite of all this.

 

[fcbdna]

Good idea we should sell Alves, because when Alexis is on form he does his job unlike Alves who contributes little to attacking or defending. As for a good player adapting, well Alves can't adapt with any RW who isn't Messi.

Alves was pushing Alexis out of the RW position and into the middle, giving him little space, and even when Alexis was wide on the right Alves didn't pass to him. He couldn't make diagonal runs inside the left back and he was barely given the ball. So not sure how that is his fault he did little. It also comes back to the fact that our wingers aren't allowed to actually take players on it seems, because they receive the ball then just pass it back to our midfield.

RFLMAO!. . . . try as I may, I can't seem to see the logic behind this reasoning. You are clearly biased towards Alexis. I reinforce my point a good player should be able to play with any team mate. Was Alves also responsible for Alexis two glaring misses, when Cesc gave him the ball and when Pedro played the ball across the pitch to him?

 

[André]

The amount of haters on barcaforum is too damn high.

 

[Ghosting]

RFLMAO!. . . . try as I may, I can't seem to see the logic behind this reasoning. You are clearly biased towards Alexis. I reinforce my point a good player should be able to play with any team mate. Was Alves also responsible for Alexis two glaring misses, when Cesc gave him the ball and when Pedro played the ball across the pitch to him?

If anything i'm just more biased towards allowing our RW whoever that maybe the freedom to play his game. And when were these glaring misses we barely had a clear sight at goal let alone Alexis having two. And what bit are you talking about when Pedro crossed it to Alexis, the only one I remember is when it came to Alexis who passed it to Cesc who got tackled.

You seem to have a bias towards Alves. Feel free to actually watch his contribution or lack of next time.

 

[DonAndres]

Look at those two action maps and you can see how Alba clearly allows Pedro open space to work in, whereas Alves does the opposite. Alves constantly pushed up into Alexis's space, forcing him to be right in Luis's pocket and hardly ever get the ball. Alves dominates the flank, not in the form of making runs but literally just suffocating Alexis and doesn't allow him space to move and link up. That's not how a fullback should operate and in the past 2 years, Alves has gotten way out of hand with his attacking freedom and often shackles his winger instead of helping him.

Alba ALWAYS links up with his winger and helps them perform. Alba-Iniesta was godlike last season, and Alba-Neymar or Alba-Pedro has also weilded significant success. That's why our left flank is so successful.

 

[serghei]

Look at those two action maps and you can see how Alba clearly allows Pedro open space to work in, whereas Alves does the opposite. Alves constantly pushed up into Alexis's space, forcing him to be right in Luis's pocket and hardly ever get the ball. Alves dominates the flank, not in the form of making runs but literally just suffocating Alexis and doesn't allow him space to move and link up. That's not how a fullback should operate and in the past 2 years, Alves has gotten way out of hand with his attacking freedom and often shackles his winger instead of helping him.

Alba ALWAYS links up with his winger and helps them perform. Alba-Iniesta was godlike last season, and Alba-Neymar or Alba-Pedro has also weilded significant success. That's why our left flank is so successful.

But maybe he was told to play in an advanced position. Maybe Alexis was supposed to drift in the center to help Fabregas, who was also almost invisible against Atletico, and create room for Dani. We don't actually know what were the tactics used for this match. They got the better of our attack on the night and that's all there is to it IMO. Alexis didn't do well, regardless of Alves's actions in his area.

 

[DennyCrane]

Look at those two action maps and you can see how Alba clearly allows Pedro open space to work in, whereas Alves does the opposite. Alves constantly pushed up into Alexis's space, forcing him to be right in Luis's pocket and hardly ever get the ball. Alves dominates the flank, not in the form of making runs but literally just suffocating Alexis and doesn't allow him space to move and link up. That's not how a fullback should operate and in the past 2 years, Alves has gotten way out of hand with his attacking freedom and often shackles his winger instead of helping him.

Alba ALWAYS links up with his winger and helps them perform. Alba-Iniesta was godlike last season, and Alba-Neymar or Alba-Pedro has also weilded significant success. That's why our left flank is so successful.

Exactly.

It's also something that is kinda reminiscient of the days we had Abidal on the left; he always used to move up diagonally towards the center (as in not fully along the line) and while Alba isn't nearly as consequent as King Eric was in that regard, it creates a working space for the respective winger. Dani only does that on rare occasions. The Barca offense was full blown asymmetric again yesterday. Question remains whether that was intended or not.

 

[DinhoR10]

One game and people are calling for the guy's head, i personally rather pedro but it wasn't Alexis' fault he was double marked and the whole alves thing didn't help either.

 

[CatalinR10]

Alexis is awesome

 

[Jadentheman]

Alves is a left over from Pep's system. The way he operates used to work, but now it's a hindrance. His play also affects the Brasil national Team and his useless crosses don't help either. Montoya is looking ready now so it's about time to replace him though it might have an effect on Neymar

 

[fcbdna]

Pardon me if I am wrong here. . . But when Messi came on there was one rare occasion when he popped up on the right wing, did a give and go with Alves that led to he shot on goal / collision with D.Costa. . . Was Alves a hindrance in that situation? Its true Alves like playing high up the line, but sometimes a winger has to create space for himself with intelligence, trickery and / or pace. . . Alexis didn't/ isn't showing any of the 3 mentioned qualities. Messi played on the right for about 40 seconds and did what he couldn't in 67 minutes.

 

[BerkeleyBernie]

It should also be noted that Pedro was just as bad as Alexis when he switched to the right wing, which further reinforces the point that the right flank was bad in general and barely received any support.

OR that Juanfran was identified as AM's weakest link, and the attack *intentionally* went down the left. Seemed that way to me.

 

[Fibonacci]

I think for the way Alves is playing to work best is to have a LW who drifts into the middle (like Messi used to). And it's easier to do so if you're naturally left-footed (unlike Alexis).