Alexis Sanchez

[Jadentheman]

he's clearly an absolute bellend.

maybe you're 16 and you like that sort of thing, in that case fair enough, but he carries himself like an absolute fratboy dickhead.

great footballer tho.

No no he does not come across as that. Deulo is just a youngster but he's definitely matured.

 

[KingMessi]

he's clearly an absolute bellend.

maybe you're 16 and you like that sort of thing, in that case fair enough, but he carries himself like an absolute fratboy dickhead.

great footballer tho.

What was the saying? Don't judge a book by its cover was it? Just because he may look like douchebag doesn't mean he is one. His recent quotes make him seem very humble and mature, and he's turned down several better offers to stay at Barca, claiming that it's his dream to triumph here.

 

[Semi-Neutral]

bottom-line is this: he's not a consistent goal threat.

but he scored a lot of goals...

 

[Metaphysical]

What was the saying? Don't judge a book by its cover was it? Just because he may look like douchebag doesn't mean he is one. His recent quotes make him seem very humble and mature, and he's turned down several better offers to stay at Barca, claiming that it's his dream to triumph here.

never said he wasn't loyal.

one can be a loyal bellend, you know.

anyway I hope you kids are right and he's matured.

would be great to not haveta cheer on a bellend.

 

[Sumlit]

I don't think there really is that big of a problem with Alexis's goalscoring reliability. I'm not much for stats but I just loosely crunched some numbers in a comparison between Reus and Alexis for a ratio of (matches scored in)/(total minutes played).

Alexis: scored in 17 games over 3412 minutes yielding a ratio of .00498
Reus: scored in 18 games over 3480 minutes yielding a ratio of .00517

Not a lot of difference right? Before anyone starts crying about it, yes I fully understand that the number is relatively arbitrary and fails to look at a number of different factors at a detailed level. It doesn't prove that Alexis>Reus or anything else of the matter, just that Alexis isn't exactly a whimsical goalscorer who goes missing much more than 'elite' players.

This is also based off of a season in which Alexis plays in a team with far less space than Reus and in a tactical system that was massively inconsistent and troublesome for players under Tata. Alexis still managed to score in important matches (comeback vs. Sevilla, golazo in Clasico, golazo in final league match vs Atletico, etc.). Of course Reus is a much better footballer with a much larger skillset than Alexis, but Alexis' goalscoring consistency has been decently commendable this season and he's proven that we can rely on him.

Problem is, Alexis scored in bunches. He had spells of good scoring, followed by dried patches. He had a great period towards the middle of the season, coinciding with the absence of Messi which without a doubt boosted his scoring chances, in which he scored 70% of his goals. He had 3 games in which he scored 33% of his total scoring. Aside from that, he is very unreliable game to game. That last 20 games for Barcelona he scored only 5 goals.

On top of that, Alexis neither dribbles to put pressure on the defense, nor does he shoot. There are whole halfs of games where he doesn't take a single shot on goal. That's a problem for this team.

 

[Metaphysical]

but he scored a lot of goals...

he has.

but despite that no one's afraid of him scoring on them (so all markers still collapse on Messi & Neymar). and if you had to pick someone to for sure finish a chance, you wouldn't pick him would you? which makes using him as a #9 a tricky prospect.

I'm all for allowing him to stay & hope he gets more consistent at shooting, but I couldn't blame the club for wanting to sell him either.

 

[KingMessi]

anyway I hope you kids are right and he's matured. would be great to not haveta cheer on a bellend.

I agree, he did seem selfish and bratty the last few years, but I think his time at Everton has done a number on him. At least I hope.

 

[Sumlit]

Such a reliable goalscorer doesn't exist for Barca. Who would you buy (realistically) and replace him with? Villa, a dedicated striker, scored 18 goals in 10/11 and had a dry spell where he scored 1 in 10 in the second half of the season and he was in the peak of his life, 28 years old, coming from a World Cup victory where he was joint topscorer, playing for the best Barca ever. Alexis has already scored more and also in big games (Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid) this season with inconsistent minutes in a worse team and still with room to improve (he's only 25).

I thought the same as you do about goalscoring but then I slowly realized what it means for the team dynamics to play alongside star players like Messi or Ronaldo who are the primary scoring outlets who take 5+ shots per game. Take a look at Benzema at Madrid, he has the same problems, despite playing centrally. It's almost impossible to have Messi scoring 50+ goals in a season with another winger adding 25+ and staying consistent with all the additional workload of tracking back, pressing etc. There can only be 1 main scoring outlet. At Liverpool Suarez' scoring has decreased after Sturridger came back from injury and played centrally. Happens everywhere. Alexis did almost optimal in La Liga this season.

And yes, I agree his overall play can improve. But again. He just turned 25.

Also Messi and Ronaldo have scewed goalscoring statistics. Take a look at Suarez. 31 goals and he is the joint top scorer in Premier League history. You expect a secondary role WINGER to score 25 and stay consistent (Suarez hasn't scored against any top 4 team). It's not realistic.

The 10-11 season Barca had 2 reliable players in both Villa and Pedro. Pedro scored in a lot of different match and in a lot of different competitions, and Villa was a constant goal threat. On top of that, you had a totally dominant team. In that season, Villa almost averaged the same amount of shots per game as Messi. The team had a balanced attack.

I'm not asking to have a second player competing with scoring with Messi, that's not realistic. However I want a 2nd go-to player, a 2nd constant offensive threat that puts pressure on defenses, and makes them pay if they key in on Messi alone. I don't see Alexis doing this. This is not what his game is tailored for.

BTW when I say 25 goals, I mean in all competitions, not in La Liga alone.

 

[Learo]

No one has been great when playing in a forward line with Messi in the last few years. I hope Lucho corrects that.

 

[Pepe Silvia]

bottom-line is this: he's not a consistent goal threat.

he's scored 3 of the best goals this season, but he's a scorer of great goals, not a great goalscorer. teams are not afraid of him scoring on them.

and that just means more markers for Messi & Neymar.

also for a guy that isn't the focus on the attack he's too often slow & ponderous with the ball at his feet.

magical footballer, and he's had a great season too, but this is as good as it's gonna get unless Pep comes back and reintroduces that hybrid 9/RW role he played in 11/12. and Pep's not coming back. so yeah. may as well sell now and sign a #9 and give that cockend Deulo the RW minutes.

tho I'd be delighted if he stays, coz he's great and I love him.

I agree with your post except for the last sentence. The time for sentimental feelings for players has come and gone. I don't care if the guy gives a billion dollars to charity, if he isn't consistent in front of goal he's gotta go. Same for Pedro, and in different terms Cesc and Dani. Any stale players must be removed now while we still have a core group to build around and compete at the highest level. If we dick around like we have been for much longer, we will lose even more senior players and we will fade with the wind.

 

[Ursegor]

Still haven't read any name suggestions. Only theory ("a #9", "a consistent goalscorer" ...).

 

[footyfan]

Still haven't read any name suggestions. Only theory ("a #9", "a consistent goalscorer" ...).

Cristiano Ronaldo

 

[KingMessi]

Still haven't read any name suggestions. Only theory ("a #9", "a consistent goalscorer" ...).

Edinson Cavani.

Sergio Aguero.

Luis Suarez.

Marco Reus.

Cristiano Ronaldo.

Alessio Cerci.

In form Pedro Rodriguez.

Prime David Villa.

Gerard Deulofeu at peak potential.

Disregard ones with .

Oh and how about that Alexis Sanchez? I heard he's pretty good.

 

[Ursegor]

Cristiano Ronaldo

Can't dribble, doesn't creat goalscoring chances for himself, only scores tap-ins that others create on a platter for him, doesn't defend. Poor man's Alexis Sanchez. Next?

 

[footyfan]

Can't dribble, doesn't creat goalscoring chances for himself, only scores tap-ins that others create on a platter for him, doesn't defend. Poor man's Alexis Sanchez. Next?

Nobody cares about this besides Sumlit

Perfect player for Messi, Xavi and Iniesta's through passes and for Alves' crosses