Arthur

[SeloBarca]

Good first game.
Top 2 first half.

 

[Jakabor]

Thought he did well in his role.

 

[Barcaman]

Not bad but not impressive either.

We'll see what the future holds but it won't be easy if Valverde continues insisting with Coutinho as midfielder. It could hinder Arthur's minutes.

 

[te amo barca]

Too cautious. Don't think he gave a single dangerous pass.

 

[DonAndres]

Messi and Suarez not moving too much.
Busquets slowing down transition.
Arthur slowing down transition.

Result?
= we have to play against parked buses all the time

We are masters of backpasses and slow sterile possession game though.
We are trying to copy how Spain played at a world cup.

Well our supposedly prime-Schweinsteiger Rakitic was the king of backpass as usual today. It's not just the passing but his extreme lack of movement and how ponderous he is on the ball too.

If you ever actually pay attention to him, he walks around on offense enough to fully rival Messi's walking on defense. Arthur actually created a chance for Suarez via a through ball today, can that be said for Rakitic more than a couple of times per season?

This was Arthur's first game and he grew into it as the half went on, he'll get more and more comfortable especially if he plays alongside the likes of Coutinho/Dembele more often to get involved in attack. As usual you want to destroy a young player after 1 game of less than 10/10 play while being perfectly content with 3 years of mediocrity.

Arthur played well and was helping our offense move. Especially towards the end of the half we were creating very good chances out of buildup he was involved in.

 

[ASordidGod]

Showed good composure, calmness, but needs to be braver in possession. Hopefully that'll come as he settles in. Overall pretty encouraging.

 

[tacticvarium]

Gomes 3.0.
Will not last here long time.

 

[serghei]

To be fair to him and others midfielders, this Barcelona is soooo slow that when he gets the ball everyone is man-marked. Busquets was behind him, Rafinha was jogging, Messi and Suarez walking mode and Dembele was the only one moving.

The team that played the friendlies were much more faster, dynamic, and the players were moving without the ball.

Coutinho and Rakitic are doing the same thing that Arthur was doing, so maybe is Valverde's fault.

Valverde doesn't have what it takes to motivate the veteran players. The younger players are motivated by themselves and by their will to impress and get in the team. The older players are blazee and not motivated by a clueless manager who is as bland as a slice of unsalted bread.

But, yes, you are right. Guys like Arthur are limited if you don't move around him to allow him to pass.

Good thing Valverde didn't come at Barcelona in 2008 though. He would've killed that team for good.

 

[SeloBarca]

Arthur should play in Rakitic position, just infront of Busquetes.
Coutinho should play in Iniestas old position.

Arthur did MUCH more in first half than Rakitic did in second.

 

[Donatello]

Xavi, Modric comparisions are childish at this stage.

You seriously expect Arthur to go all guns blazing, right off the bat ?

 

[CatalinR10]

Xavi, Modric comparisions are childish at this stage.

You seriously expect Arthur to go all guns blazing, right off the bat ?

yes or death !

 

[gasgas]

We bought another serial backpasser because his style is like Xavi even though his level of play will never get even half close

 

[abiabi]

oh shut up

 

[KingLeo10]

We bought another serial backpasser because his style is like Xavi even though his level of play will never get even half close

kante hasn't made a forward pass in ages. next.

 

[ab739]

kante hasn't made a forward pass in ages. next.

Kante is a DM, forward passes won't be his style