Andrés Iniesta

[Meatball]

As much as I love Iniesta I think it's time for him to take a step back n make room for new blood in midfield next season! The man can't run anymore! N he shouldn't be a starter anymore! He can still be on the bench n come in after half time when his service is needed though, just like what Scholes was doing at Man Utd in the later stage of his career!

Hate to say it but I gotta admit Perez's transfer policy rocks! Ruthless! Effective! Anyone who can no longer contribute much to their team ll be shown their way out to the exit door immediately, even legends like Raul or Cassilas r no exception! He can get a bad patch of players sometimes but when he realizes that, he often sells them immediately when the market is on, n he's great at selling stuff obviously! The old man just never stops trying to bring home the best players possible available on the market! Putting ethical issues aside, our board's business, transfer n sporting IQs r nowhere near Perez's!

 

[BarcaOG]

I don't care if he was the Devil. Nunes brought Cruyff to the club and was president during the Dream Team era.

What has Gaspart done? He lost Figo and bought with all that money Marc Overmars, Emmanuel Petit and Alfonso.

check, check mate, game set match

 

[slicknick]

Anyone who can no longer contribute much to their team ll be shown their way out to the exit door immediately

Oh yeah? He says hi

 

[Jombi]

Benzema scored 24 goals in 26 games last season and is younger than Suarez but will probably be sold after this season. He cant be sold in the middle of the season just because he is not doing well.

 

[Ripsta]

Needs replacing, should have got Isco a long time ago. A midfield of Isco, Verratti and Busquets would be wankworthy.

 

[gasgas]

As much as I love Iniesta I think it's time for him to take a step back n make room for new blood in midfield next season! The man can't run anymore! N he shouldn't be a starter anymore! He can still be on the bench n come in after half time when his service is needed though, just like what Scholes was doing at Man Utd in the later stage of his career!

Hate to say it but I gotta admit Perez's transfer policy rocks! Ruthless! Effective! Anyone who can no longer contribute much to their team ll be shown their way out to the exit door immediately, even legends like Raul or Cassilas r no exception! He can get a bad patch of players sometimes but when he realizes that, he often sells them immediately when the market is on, n he's great at selling stuff obviously! The old man just never stops trying to bring home the best players possible available on the market! Putting ethical issues aside, our board's business, transfer n sporting IQs r nowhere near Perez's!

By new blood do you mean homes?

 

[Meatball]

By new blood do you mean homes?

Ah! By new blood I mean either home grown players or already proven world class ones to play in midfield! Normally the latter d be preferred cuz less risks involved but more budget needed of course. For example Veratti (not likely happen) or Ozil or Kante!

 

[Total-Football]

Not playing well at all .. One can say he might have lost a meter of pace due to age, but he seems to have forgotten about the art of passing. He never tries those Genius passes as he once used to do. truly worrying stuff from the second most gifted player in the squad.

 

[BerkeleyBernie]

Not playing well at all .. One can say he might have lost a meter of pace due to age, but he seems to have forgotten about the art of passing. He never tries those Genius passes as he once used to do. truly worrying stuff from the second most gifted player in the squad.

Actually, he is creative as he can be given the current team. Neymar usually takes him out of the left-side attack by doing one of his long cut-in dribbles with Iniesta watching (and he can't advance himself because he is protecting the midfield behind, usually vacated by the overlapping left back). You can't be "genius" if there are no "genius" options;. His passing is still tops on the team with Messi's; just watch the last game, he does the best he can with what's available. Given how the team plays, he has resorted more to little chips over the back line.

 

[BarcaOG]

Actually, he is creative as he can be given the current team. Neymar usually takes him out of the left-side attack by doing one of his long cut-in dribbles with Iniesta watching (and he can't advance himself because he is protecting the midfield behind, usually vacated by the overlapping left back). You can't be "genius" if there are no "genius" options;. His passing is still tops on the team with Messi's; just watch the last game, he does the best he can with what's available. Given how the team plays, he has resorted more to little chips over the back line.

there is truth in what you say but I also think Total Football is right. One of the dead giveaways of decline in elite midfielders is a hesitancy/failure to execute dagger passes that cut defences. Xavi's last season for example was riddled with instances in which older Xavi failed/hesitated to make a pass that younger Xavi would have always at least attempted. At the same time it is also true that Neymar's playstyle and link-up with Alba undercuts Iniesta's frequency of intervention

 

[BerkeleyBernie]

there is truth in what you say but I also think Total Football is right. One of the dead giveaways of decline in elite midfielders is a hesitancy/failure to execute dagger passes that cut defences. Xavi's last season for example was riddled with instances in which older Xavi failed/hesitated to make a pass that younger Xavi would have always at least attempted. At the same time it is also true that Neymar's playstyle and link-up with Alba undercuts Iniesta's frequency of intervention

Xavi's decline in throughball passing was again because of lack of options in most games, as almost every non-elite opponent had learned their only tactical option was to bunker down at their box. With Barcelona camped out in a perpetual siege around the opponents 18 yard box, Xavi had rare throughball opportunities, so mostly switched play from side to side, or attempted lobs when possible.

 

[ManusXavi]

The only issue I have for Iniesta is his vulnerability against defending counter attacks.
There is no issue on attack. Barca Runners have to be there for Iniesta to be the through-ball genius.

It was exactly the same story with Xavi. . .

 

[ManusXavi]

Bad news.

I think this is the next big challenge for Barcelona. Finding the guy to replace Iniesta eventually next season (his contract runs out in 2018).

Sergi Roberto?

 

[BusiTheKing]

There's no defending his place in the starting 11 next season to me. Played the biggest part in our CL departure by setting the tone for the Juve with his nonchalant defending against Dybala in our box. Showed them how vulnerable we really were. His missed chance, anybody could have missed it, but it highlighted the absence of the potential redeeming quality of being clutch.

 

[Lomar1o]

There's no defending his place in the starting 11 next season to me. Played the biggest part in our CL departure by setting the tone for the Juve with his nonchalant defending against Dybala in our box. Showed them how vulnerable we really were. His missed chance, anybody could have missed it, but it highlighted the absence of the potential redeeming quality of being clutch.

He isn't gonna get benched. Unfortunately..