Andrés Iniesta

[First0]

Don't count him out yet, he's not achieved all he has achieved to be so easily dismissed. He has a lot to bring to the team still.

 

[Zinedinho]

This was probably one of the better games he will have this season, and it was pretty mediocre.
Iniesta I will always love you, but please step aside man. If we don't get Coutinho, we might as well ask all our midfielders to lub up their anuses and open their legs.

Coutinho is not going to solve that. We lack control. Coutinho is not control. He's an excellent offensive midfielder, a high profile Denis Suárez, not a total midfielder like Iniesta was. We can scare opposing teams with Messi, Coutinho, Dembelé and Suárez, but we won't control games.

 

[DonAK]

Coutinho is not going to solve that. We lack control. Coutinho is not control. He's an excellent offensive midfielder, a high profile Denis Suárez, not a total midfielder like Iniesta was. We can scare opposing teams with Messi, Coutinho, Dembelé and Suárez, but we won't control games.

That's why you need Seri alongside him who can add control, but is also creative enough to move the ball forward.

What are we getting though? Paulinho. A guy whose best trait is running. He's also 29 so he might not be able to run a lot very soon

 

[Thiago10]

Coutinho is not going to solve that. We lack control. Coutinho is not control. He's an excellent offensive midfielder, a high profile Denis Suárez, not a total midfielder like Iniesta was. We can scare opposing teams with Messi, Coutinho, Dembelé and Suárez, but we won't control games.

As DonAK said, we need them both. It's a shame (but not a surprise) our board doesn't understand that.

 

[Zinedinho]

That's why you need Seri alongside him who can add control, but is also creative enough to move the ball forward.

What are we getting though? Paulinho. A guy whose best trait is running. He's also 29 so he might not be able to run a lot very soon

I would go further than that. Coutinho isn't even a CM. He'd probably adapt more easily to the LW position, a bit like what Isco does at Real Madrid, which gives their midfield more consistency. But of course, we also have Messi, who does exactly that but is also a very offensive player.

What I'm seeing, if we sign Dembelé and Coutinho, is a team divided into two halves, with little space to elaboration, which is the glue to have a tight team. I have no idea how it can work. Sure, Seri would add more control, but we used to be good when we had at least three pure midfielders. Look at Real Madrid now. Neither Kroos nor Modric are the type of player Coutinho is. Iniesta is/was. Xavi was.

 

[DonAK]

I would go further than that. Coutinho isn't even a CM. He'd probably adapt more easily to the LW position, a bit like what Isco does at Real Madrid, which gives their midfield more consistency. But of course, we also have Messi, who does exactly that but is also a very offensive player.

What I'm seeing, if we sign Dembelé and Coutinho, is a team divided into two halves, with little space to elaboration, which is the glue to have a tight team. I have no idea how it can work. Sure, Seri would add more control, but we used to be good when we had at least three pure midfielders. Look at Real Madrid now. Neither Kroos nor Modric are the type of player Coutinho is. Iniesta is/was. Xavi was.

Getting one such player is hard enough, and seemingly difficult for this board. Two would be impossible.

I get what you're saying though and that would indeed be more ideal, but at least with a Coutinho and Seri in the midfield, the midfield would instantly be a lot better. It won't add the amount of control or balance as we could have or used to have, but it'll certainly be much better than we have right now. Much, much better.

Coutinho played as a midfielder under Brendan Rodgers and was supposed to, or will depending on how things turn out, play as a LCM for Liverpool this season, and that is apparently a move he wanted.

So he sees himself more as a midfielder and want to create from a deeper position than as a LW/#10.

 

[Zinedinho]

Getting one such player is hard enough, and seemingly difficult for this board. Two would be impossible.

I get what you're saying though and that would indeed be more ideal, but at least with a Coutinho and Seri in the midfield, the midfield would instantly be a lot better. It won't add the amount of control or balance as we could have or used to have, but it'll certainly be much better than we have right now. Much, much better.

Coutinho played as a midfielder under Brendan Rodgers and was supposed to, or will depending on how things turn out, play as a LCM for Liverpool this season, and that is apparently a move he wanted.

So he sees himself more as a midfielder and want to create from a deeper position than as a LW/#10.

Yeah, I can see that. Unfortunately, not at Barça, because for some reason (shady again? I wouldn't rule that out) the priority was Paulinho.

 

[ManusXavi]

Iniesta needs to play up front supported by 3 midfielders 4-3-3.
Zidane had 4 midfielders supporting him when he played near the front in the World Cup 2006.

 

[Messi983]

Iniesta needs to play up front supported by 3 midfielders 4-3-3.
Zidane had 4 midfielders supporting him when he played near the front in the World Cup 2006.

Where?

Did you mean something like this? (similar to starting formation that RM used yesterday)

Busi
Roberto-Rakitic
Iniesta
Messi-Suarez

Problem with this lineup is that Messi wouldn't get enough balls and would again move back to the midfield to get them and Iniesta on the other hand is not mobile and quick enough and nowhere near goalscoring treat to move closer to the goal when Messi would drop deeper.

This could be one of possible solutions though if we get Coutinho (to play in Iniesta position) but no Dembele.

 

[DonAK]

I'm surprised no one else noticed this, but when Pep Segura and Bartomeu met the squad three days ago, Bartomeu tried to embrace and shake every squad member's hand and as you can see here and in the video, Iniesta didn't bother and just went into the room.

I think he's gone for sure after this year. His contract is running out and he hasn't accepted starting any negotiations yet. I won't be surprised if he leaves the way Valdes did, quietly and in protest.

[tw]895985455208030208[/tw]

 

[RevoTeller]

I'm surprised no one else noticed this, but when Pep Segura and Bartomeu met the squad three days ago, Bartomeu tried to embrace and shake every squad member's hand and as you can see here and in the video, Iniesta didn't bother and just went into the room.

I think he's gone for sure after this year. His contract is running out and he hasn't accepted starting any negotiations yet. I won't be surprised if he leaves the way Valdes did, quietly and in protest.

[tw]895985455208030208[/tw]

This shows once more that things are falling apart in a disgraceful way.

 

[Emmerson Bola]

we should let uncle go he has done a lot 4 d team he's a world class player but I just think he should take is place on the bench and let the young ones do the magic.

 

[ManusXavi]

Where?

Did you mean something like this? (similar to starting formation that RM used yesterday)

Busi
Roberto-Rakitic
Iniesta
Messi-Suarez

Yep. Thats correct. It is still 4-3-3

Problem with this lineup is that Messi wouldn't get enough balls and would again move back to the midfield to get them and Iniesta on the other hand is not mobile and quick enough and nowhere near goalscoring treat to move closer to the goal when Messi would drop deeper.

Messi can do what ever he wants.
Iniesta doesn't have to be the goal scoring threat at all.

 

[JamDav1982]

The most Iniesta should be this season is Messi back up at AM or a substitute later in game with Messi maybe moving wider or CF.

Any position he is relied upon defensively is just pointless now. Save his legs for attacking third.

 

[xXKonan]

[tw]897504105165225985[/tw]

No Bernabeu for Iniesta as he has muscle discomfort.