Alexis Sanchez

[CatalinR10]

Just for the Alexis vs. Pedro and whether they only contribute against pushovers discussion:

It should of course be taken lightly, as the sample material isn't that big, but it still shows a huge difference in performance.

lewl @ Cesc

Also overall

Dat jugadorazo season

Dem goals against Real and Atletico

Dem goals + assists stats

Dat sexiness

Believe in jugadorazo and he shall believe in you

 

[AnfieldEd]

Ian Ayre - the idiot that is LFC CEO - is in Spain speaking with Barca reps today about Sanchez after tying up the Moreno deal.

But as I said you've rejected offers from 3 english clubs and PSG.

 

[instinct]

Ian Ayre - the idiot that is LFC CEO - is in Spain speaking with Barca reps today about Sanchez after tying up the Moreno deal.

But as I said you've rejected offers from 3 english clubs and PSG.

Suarez or gtfo

 

[Pepe Silvia]

Bart: sorry Liverpool we fully intend on suffocating Alexis creativity here at barca thank you very much.

 

[Sumlit]

Cesc potential deal with City is good for Alexis' prospects at Barca.

If Cesc is straight sold to City for cash, the additional income might just be enough for the team to not need to sell Alexis to make extra capital for signings.

If Cesc is swapped for Aguero, selling Pedro would make more sense than selling Alexis. Alexis can complement a scoring forward better.

 

[BerkeleyBernie]

It should of course be taken lightly, as the sample material isn't that big, but it still shows a huge difference in **perception of** performance **by BarcaForum MOTM voters**.

Fixed.

 

[CatalinR10]

Fixed.

lewl gtfo

If Pedro was top 3 you wouldn't be saying shit

 

[BerkeleyBernie]

lewl gtfo

If Pedro was top 3 you wouldn't be saying shit

Actually, I think both players contribute to the team, and Alexis has greatly improved his fit with Barça this season. I still prefer Pedro, as he's still the smarter and technically better player for the Barça system, but I've voted for Alexis when he has been a top contributor to a game. And I'd put Alexis way ahead of Neymar, whose performances have been waaaaay overrated by BarcaForum.

 

[Vapor]

WOW! This man has proven to me beyond a shadow of a doubt that he has the raw talent and creativity needed to succeed at Barca.

We need to give Alexis and Neymar to freedom to express themselves like they do with their national teams. If we did that, our frontline would be SO much more unpredictable and deadly. Imagine a Brazil-Neymar and a Chile-Alexis combining with Messi. Neymar and Alexis definitely do seem restricted at Barca, hopefully Lucho encourages the forwards to attack aggressively and trust their instincts more. If he can give players like Alexis the freedom they need to blossom (not just a supporting cast to Messi), then we would REALLY be killing shit.

 

[Semi-Neutral]

Those assists

If Nemesis is allowed to move and do whatever they want then they will be unstoppable

 

[Ursegor]

One of the biggest mysterys of the Tata tenure. The refusal to use Alexis through the middle. He did it once in a Copa del Rey game in the second half and Alexis had the game of his life with throughballs and over the top passes, scoring a brace if I remember correctly. After that he said he prefers even Sergi Roberto there ahead of Alexis. Putting Alexis in wide areas is so pointless, even more so putting him on the right where he can't cut inside properly on his strong foot.

 

[footyfan]

I don't think it would've worked with a 4-3-3. Alexis switched a lot with Messi this season, but it didn't make a huge difference to the game. Both of them need to be in the centre.

Also, that Chile-Egypt game kind of highlights why he needs to leave Barca and go to Juve. He's never going to get that space or even that freedom here.

 

[Sumlit]

One of the biggest mysterys of the Tata tenure. The refusal to use Alexis through the middle. He did it once in a Copa del Rey game in the second half and Alexis had the game of his life with throughballs and over the top passes, scoring a brace if I remember correctly. After that he said he prefers even Sergi Roberto there ahead of Alexis. Putting Alexis in wide areas is so pointless, even more so putting him on the right where he can't cut inside properly on his strong foot.

If you mean the Levante game, that is a poor example to use here. That was a team tailor made for Alexis to shine with a less ball dominant midfield of Song and Roberto, and Fabregas and Tello up front.

Alexis is ball dominant for Chile because he is the creative dynamo of a team who seriously lacks creativity. They look for Alexis to be the creator of that team and he sees the ball a lot and in a lot of different places. For Barcelona it's just completely different. He has to play now with 2 ball dominant forwards in Messi and Neymar, and has to play with a ball dominant quick passing midfield. His role is far more defined and constrained as a pure forward because he just is not going to see the ball as much, and he won't get it all over the field.

This is why I have been saying for a long time that Alexis current role for Barca is not ideal for his overall skillset. There are ways to use him better of course. Like it would have been bringing a more direct less ball dominant forward for the left side instead of Neymar. That would have given Alexis the ball more to be creative.

Also moving Alexis from the sideline, into a more reserved and central position, like a right wing attacking midfielder. That would get him more on the ball and allow him to create more. But of course, that would also need for Neymar to get much better at scoring.

 

[Pepe Silvia]

I'm glad a lot of Alexis fans are being honest and recognizing that although his stats are good this past season, his lack of freedom hurts his play.

Question for you guys: If you were Lucho, what would you change tactically to bring out the best of Alexis?

 

[Sumlit]

Alexis top 2 qualities are his tireless work rate and creativity. To maximize this, IMO they should drop Alexis deeper and a little more centrally. Get him away from the right corner where he often gets trapped and does not have the dribbling skills in tight spaces to get out.

This would mean less scoring for Alexis, but hopefully more assists. For this to happen though, the team either needs Neymar to get much better at finishing, or to go and find a nice mobile 9. Then with the 9, Lucho would have to be clever with his rotations and formations to get them in the best of positions and get them all minutes.

They might, might, want to experiment with Alexis in a free role as the furthest man of the field, however when opponents park the bus IMO Alexis simply does not have the close control in tight spaces for that to be efficient.

IMO his very best position for this team is a deeper one where he can see more of the ball and where his creativity and workrate can create some problems for defenses and where his poor control under pressure and in tight spaces can be less of a problem.