Alexis Sanchez

[Jadentheman]

If Lucho does

4-2-3-1 Messi won't be a winger. He will be CAM moving Iniesta to right mid

 

[linetty]

That means, what?, Messi as a winger? . I made a poll with Messi's position and only 2-3 guys out of 100 thought Messi on the right would be good. Now everyone is fine with that?

More like Neymar & Suarez as 2 mobile strikers and Messi behind them, not on the wing.

Or something like Jaden came up with above.

 

[Alarcón]

Any centre forward that joins will nominally play on the wing and move into the space that Messi leaves behind when he drops back. We won't see Messi on the wing and we won't see a different formation.

 

[Flavia]

That means, what?, Messi as a winger? . I made a poll with Messi's position and only 2-3 guys out of 100 thought Messi on the right would be good. Now everyone is fine with that?

I thought the plan was to buy a "9" so we can have a plan B if needed. Not to sell one of your star players from last season to bring in a guy who probably belongs in a straitjacket.

Messi won't play in the wings. He'll play behind the #9. Maybe a 4-2-3-1 as Jaden suggested. The #9 will need to be mobile, hence why Lucho wants Suarez.

 

[serghei]

If Lucho does

4-2-3-1 Messi won't be a winger. He will be CAM moving Iniesta to right mid

So, we put a player who scores like 2-3 goals per season, in a position (2nd most advanced in that formation) from where scoring is a must? OK. Iniesta on the right in a 4-2-3-1 is atrocious.

 

[Flavia]

So, we put a player who scores like 2-3 goals per season, in a position (2nd most advanced in that formation) from where scoring is a must? OK. Iniesta on the right in a 4-2-3-1 is atrocious.

Iniesta plays well anywhere. In the game against australia he played as the right mid and was great there. He won't have to score, Messi, Neymar and Suarez will.

 

[serghei]

Iniesta plays well anywhere. In the game against australia he played as the right mid and was great there. He won't have to score, Messi, Neymar and Suarez will.

This is one of those barcaforum myths that's just so untrue. Iniesta has many qualities, but also some defects, and playing him in that position is gonna show his defects more than his qualities. That formation would be an upgrade in the center of our attack, and a downgrade on the right. Simple as that. It's like you strenghten one position, at the expense of another one.

 

[linetty]

Iniesta plays well anywhere. In the game against australia he played as the right mid and was great there. He won't have to score, Messi, Neymar and Suarez will.

Australia might be the key word, not really a worthy opponent. But I agree he'd do well anywhere in midfield and don't know where the idea comes from that a player from that position has to score.

 

[JamDav1982]

So, we put a player who scores like 2-3 goals per season, in a position (2nd most advanced in that formation) from where scoring is a must? OK. Iniesta on the right in a 4-2-3-1 is atrocious.

Its not 'atrocious' and his ability to play there is not based on stats other wise it could be argued Cesc could have stayed and played there.

From the way it looks from the transfer targets they want Messi to play behind a striker - which would mean two more disciplined CMs behind him. Personally I dont think Iniesta defends enough to play there are his strengths are in the final third.

In a 4-2-3-1 with Iniesta on the RW I would imagine be more fluid than it is at moment and Iniesta, Messi and Neymar would interchange etc.

I am sure I can remember Iniesta playing RW when Messi was out a few years ago and scoring twice!

 

[Flavia]

This is one of those barcaforum myths that's just so untrue. Iniesta has many qualities, but also some defects, and playing him in that position is gonna show his defects more than his qualities. That formation would be an upgrade in the center of our attack, and a downgrade on the right. Simple as that. It's like you strenghten one position, at the expense of another one.

It's not a myth. And I meant he plays well at any side, left or right. I know he doesn't play well as a cf or cb. I know he's way better than Neymar on the right, and he'll never have to score.

 

[KingMessi]

I do think that Iniesta on the right wing means that we absolutely cannot have 13/14 Alves at rightback. We'd need a solid defensive fullback for it to work well.

 

[Kerrybai]

If Lucho does

4-2-3-1 Messi won't be a winger. He will be CAM moving Iniesta to right mid

Nah I think the number 9 would drift between the right wing and the central position between the 2 CB's with Alves coming up to occupy the free space.

Flavia posted this over in the Messi thread https://medium.com/@AllThePurist/the-messi-machination-e5e293b4e7c9

It has some pictures showing how we played before.

Can Alexis play as the hybrid winger/9 and more importantly does Lucho believe he can fulfill this role, Tata certainly didn't.

 

[JamDav1982]

Iniesta at RW would not need to repeat the stats of Sanchez.

There would be for the first time a CF and the best AM of all time as well as Neymar on the left. If these three can increase the threat going forward - which they undoubtedly would - then Iniestas role is not about accumulating goals assists.

 

[serghei]

Its not 'atrocious' and his ability to play there is not based on stats other wise it could be argued Cesc could have stayed and played there.

From the way it looks from the transfer targets they want Messi to play behind a striker - which would mean two more disciplined CMs behind him. Personally I dont think Iniesta defends enough to play there are his strengths are in the final third.

From the way it looks from the transfer targets, they want Messi on the right and Suarez as a 9.

 

[Flavia]

From the way it looks from the transfer targets, they want Messi on the right and Suarez as a 9.

It doesn't look like that, at all. Messi has been asking for a #9 for some time.