xXKonan
Senior Member
Should we have won? probably but a draw is a draw. When it comes to Valverde I like his emphasis on Control and he did improve some players as well but when it comes to his team/squad selections it's definitely holding him and the team back.
Today was one of those days where we should have but we got done in quite a bit by counter attacks, and having a right side of Pique-Roberto-Rakitic against a team who has quick players on the counter is just a disaster waiting to happen and sure enough it happened today.
Pique and Rakitic aren't anywhere near in good form right now and both are slow as a turd and Rakitic being creative as a Author who has writers block. Roberto has some decent pace, but nowhere near enough to bail him out if he gets caught up field.
Playing those two+Roberto at RB against teams who have really quick players is a disaster waiting to happen.
Today was one of those days where we should have but we got done in quite a bit by counter attacks, and having a right side of Pique-Roberto-Rakitic against a team who has quick players on the counter is just a disaster waiting to happen and sure enough it happened today.
Pique and Rakitic aren't anywhere near in good form right now and both are slow as a turd and Rakitic being creative as a Author who has writers block. Roberto has some decent pace, but nowhere near enough to bail him out if he gets caught up field.
Playing those two+Roberto at RB against teams who have really quick players is a disaster waiting to happen.
henias
New member
Sometimes attack is the best defence, I mean look at Real Madrid last season, they dont necessarily play tiki taka or have all the possession in the world but they force opponents' defence to stretch by utilising the wings alot in a 433 setup, Marcelo, Ronaldo, even Benzema is fast and is running down the flanks, creating space for Ronaldo to drift centre. They still won the ball back easily without having to play overly defensive, and could transition between possession and counter attack football. But look at Barcelona, they play a 442 flat, okay u might argue, this will more or less make ur team more defensive, more compact, but does it really? The lack of attack at the wings, lack of fast midfielders, congestion in the middle, Celta's defence was hardly stretched, they just sat back and won the ball back easily without having to drop too deep, and could easily break into a counter. This results in a heavy defensive workload on Pique and Umtiti, where the latter obviously overstretched himself, pulled his hamstring, Alba was not able to track back fast enough, Roberto also didnt had the pace or stamina to track back.
Does our team really flourish under a 442, possession style, or is there REALLY a need to do so? You also cant play 2 attacking fullbacks in a 442, the 2 CBs will be caught out easily especially if they play a highline. Which leads me to think why did he leave out Semedo if he plays 442? Also, the attacking fullbacks will be very isolated and they won't do much. Do we really have players suited for a 442 system? Messi, Iniesta, Busquets, I mean these players look really awkward in a 442 setup. We also dont have much defensive players or fast physical players who can support a 442 counter attack. I'm no coach, but some of these are really basic knowledge, some things cant be forced if they are not suited that way.
And what's worse is that we have Messi in the best form of his life, give him a few wingers and creative midfielders, he will have a field day guaranteed, scoring every match. It's so fortunate for u guys that Messi didnt leave for City, I can tell you without Messi this team wouldnt be near top 4. Yet Valverde still suffocates him with a 442 and a slow Suarez in his worst form.
At this point of time, you have to realise Valverde has just been grinding out results that really could have been better. Why would we just always settle for a draw when we could have easily gone for the win?
I just find no logic whatsoever or expect anything from this kind of setup and lineup with the squad we have. Really boggles me.
Does our team really flourish under a 442, possession style, or is there REALLY a need to do so? You also cant play 2 attacking fullbacks in a 442, the 2 CBs will be caught out easily especially if they play a highline. Which leads me to think why did he leave out Semedo if he plays 442? Also, the attacking fullbacks will be very isolated and they won't do much. Do we really have players suited for a 442 system? Messi, Iniesta, Busquets, I mean these players look really awkward in a 442 setup. We also dont have much defensive players or fast physical players who can support a 442 counter attack. I'm no coach, but some of these are really basic knowledge, some things cant be forced if they are not suited that way.
And what's worse is that we have Messi in the best form of his life, give him a few wingers and creative midfielders, he will have a field day guaranteed, scoring every match. It's so fortunate for u guys that Messi didnt leave for City, I can tell you without Messi this team wouldnt be near top 4. Yet Valverde still suffocates him with a 442 and a slow Suarez in his worst form.
At this point of time, you have to realise Valverde has just been grinding out results that really could have been better. Why would we just always settle for a draw when we could have easily gone for the win?
I just find no logic whatsoever or expect anything from this kind of setup and lineup with the squad we have. Really boggles me.
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xXKonan
Senior Member
I really want to know is what Valverde sees with Rakitic that makes him undroppable.
Rakitic isn't the same player he once was as you can see just how lifeless and the lack of hunger and drive you see these days. sure he never was the most technically gifted Midfielder but during his first season here even if the first half wasn't great you can see he worked hard and tried, but these days he doesn't have it in him.
I really don't get what he adds on the field now. He's not good at holding the ball under pressure, he can't really defend that well anymore and he's so slow he makes Iniesta look like Usain bolt. sure our other options are that great either but you get the feeling they would at least play with the some heart.
Rakitic isn't the same player he once was as you can see just how lifeless and the lack of hunger and drive you see these days. sure he never was the most technically gifted Midfielder but during his first season here even if the first half wasn't great you can see he worked hard and tried, but these days he doesn't have it in him.
I really don't get what he adds on the field now. He's not good at holding the ball under pressure, he can't really defend that well anymore and he's so slow he makes Iniesta look like Usain bolt. sure our other options are that great either but you get the feeling they would at least play with the some heart.
Ousmane Dembélé
Banned
It has nothing do with what Rakitic does on the field. There are a certain group of "untouchables" in the dressing room the cannot be dropped without sending the squad into disharmony and Rakitic happens to be one of those players. Valverde just doesn't have the balls to drop him right now with the fear that he might go out of favour with the rest of the team if he does.
Raketa10
Senior Member
Oh come on, Rakitic is definitely not “untouchable”. Suarez yes but Rakitic for sure not.
Ousmane Dembélé
Banned
Valverde is scared to bench anyone that's been a regular starter here for at least 3 seasons.
The likes of Pique, Alba, Suarez, Messi, Busquets, Iniesta and Rakitic won't ever be benched by Valverde for tactical reasons regardless of how bad they play to avoid rocking the boat. Umtiti is cementing himself into this bracket, but Valverde won't hesitate to bench him if he has a really bad run as he's relatively new and doesn't command much power in the dressing room.
Valverde is the type of manager that hates confrontation and would rather stick with the status quo and hope everything works out for the best.
The only changes you can expect from this spineless coach is interchanging Roberto/Semedo and Denis/Deulofeu/Paulinho.
Barcilliant
Senior Member
The wheels are coming off and this man is going to be exposed big time.
Umtiti has been overplayed. So much fo4 Valverdes rotation policy. Now we are going to have huge problems.
Valverdes only chance of staying is if we get some quality players in the January window. Otherwise he is not good enough to guide this current squad to success.
Umtiti has been overplayed. So much fo4 Valverdes rotation policy. Now we are going to have huge problems.
Valverdes only chance of staying is if we get some quality players in the January window. Otherwise he is not good enough to guide this current squad to success.
jairzinho
Senior Member
i don't like his approach with Roberto, Semedo and to a certain extent Aleñá. Both players can contribute but it doesn't seem he fully trusts them or has the patience to use them, particularly Roberto in midfield.
His constant use of and patience with Rakitic who isn't in good form is the most bizarre decision i've seen from him so far.
I would prefer to give Roberto the opportunity in midfield and allow Semedo to continue with his development at RB.
Both players would benefit from this as Roberto can contribute from that position.
What exactly is the rationale for persisting with Rakitic but omitting Semedo entirely from the match squad??.
It's like Raki's patchy performances are constantly rewarded.
His constant use of and patience with Rakitic who isn't in good form is the most bizarre decision i've seen from him so far.
I would prefer to give Roberto the opportunity in midfield and allow Semedo to continue with his development at RB.
Both players would benefit from this as Roberto can contribute from that position.
What exactly is the rationale for persisting with Rakitic but omitting Semedo entirely from the match squad??.
It's like Raki's patchy performances are constantly rewarded.
Devils
Senior Member
EV seems unable to deter himself from the players and positions that Lucho used. Seems like either he is too afraid to move away from what worked for Lucho as he feels it will work for him or he hasn't got any new ideas to bring forth to the team.
Literally no other excuse to constantly play Raki or Roberto at RB.
xXKonan
Senior Member
I think Valverde considers Roberto a safe option at RB. But to me I wouldn't consider Roberto that much of a safe option at all, I feel like it's more of a risk playing him there vs big teams over Semedo who's an actual Real RB.
Roberto might provide more on the ball at the moment but that's really the only thing he has on Semedo at least for me. Roberto has decent pace but he really lacks that explosive pace that can bail him out if he gets caught up field, and not only that he's really not good in 1v1 situations and he's physically lacking as well.
I mean to be fair it's not really his fault that he was shoved out at RB. He was useful during the 2015/16 season when he was covering for Alves, but the coaches and the board thought it would be a brilliant idea to rely on him to be our number 1 RB for the 2016/17 season, despite some good moments he had a lot of terrible ones as well.
We are back to square one again this season despite bringing in Semedo. I think it's going to get to a point like last season where despite the strong start Roberto started to struggle and he lost his confidence big time and it took him awhile to regain it again.
Roberto might provide more on the ball at the moment but that's really the only thing he has on Semedo at least for me. Roberto has decent pace but he really lacks that explosive pace that can bail him out if he gets caught up field, and not only that he's really not good in 1v1 situations and he's physically lacking as well.
I mean to be fair it's not really his fault that he was shoved out at RB. He was useful during the 2015/16 season when he was covering for Alves, but the coaches and the board thought it would be a brilliant idea to rely on him to be our number 1 RB for the 2016/17 season, despite some good moments he had a lot of terrible ones as well.
We are back to square one again this season despite bringing in Semedo. I think it's going to get to a point like last season where despite the strong start Roberto started to struggle and he lost his confidence big time and it took him awhile to regain it again.
Aryagorn
Improvin' Perfection!!
IMO, his insistence on a 4-4-2 diamond is the reason why Semedo is being dealt a hard hand..... Valverde needs the full backs to provide the width in this formation.
I guess that's why he got to play more often initially when Leo was playing false 9 in our 4-3-3 formation. Deulofeu was playing up front and the RB's primary responsibility still remained just defense!
Guess Valverde is really looking forward to the return of Dembele because unlike Suarez Dembele can move into wings if need be and the team won't have to rely on the fullback to provide the width. Maybe Semedo can catch a break then and finally start playing regularly.
-------Suarez------Dembele
----------------Leo
------Iniesta--------MF (not named Rakitic)
-------------- Busi
Alba----Umtiti----Pique----Semedo
Maybe he would bench Rakitic for Roberto if he didn't need the latter in the RB position so desperately! (This is the optimistic person in me speaking
)
Also, this formation need not be too bad considering it would put Leo in his best/preferred position
I guess that's why he got to play more often initially when Leo was playing false 9 in our 4-3-3 formation. Deulofeu was playing up front and the RB's primary responsibility still remained just defense!
Guess Valverde is really looking forward to the return of Dembele because unlike Suarez Dembele can move into wings if need be and the team won't have to rely on the fullback to provide the width. Maybe Semedo can catch a break then and finally start playing regularly.
-------Suarez------Dembele
----------------Leo
------Iniesta--------MF (not named Rakitic)
-------------- Busi
Alba----Umtiti----Pique----Semedo
Maybe he would bench Rakitic for Roberto if he didn't need the latter in the RB position so desperately! (This is the optimistic person in me speaking
)Also, this formation need not be too bad considering it would put Leo in his best/preferred position
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Birdy
Senior Member
I have come to some preliminary assumptions as to why Rakitic is preferred over Roberto by EV, and i think this reflects the squad problem he probably sees:
I think that the question here is the 'type' of the player he wants, and secondarily the question of how good, and in what form the individual currently is.
EV seems to want a passer-controller to be playing alongside Busquets, and this player in the squad currently is only Rakitic. I suppose this position was to be filled by Veratti in the original planning, and subsequently by Seri. When the board failed to deliver any player there, EV decided (?) to go with Rakitic there as his only option.
On the contrary, when he wants to either play an energetic box-to-box md as a third man there, he always goes with Paulinho. He seems to be rating Paulinho higher than Roberto for that position. Thus, the only position left for Roberto is to sub or alternate with Semedo at RB.
The idea that he is afraid of benching Rakitic does not hold much water IMO. After all, Rakitic is not such a big name!
I don't blame him for the lack of options. Same story is probably going on on the LM position, where Coutinho was the original idea, but since he never arrived Iniesta has become a starter, despite his age. If in EV's mind Iniesta was supposed to be a sub for Coutinho for special moments/games, the story would have been different.
Something similar happens with Pique. EV wanted one more CB, and asked for Inigo Martinez, which apparently the board ruled out as 'anti-commercial name'. When most of us thought that he didn't like Umtiti, it now looks that he had in mind Pique. Seeing Vermaelen playing at this point of his career in Barca's starting XI really makes me sad..
I don't think Suarez case is similar, because Suarez is a big name and a cornerstone of the MSN recent past, so probably EV has other thoughts as to why he is insisting on Suarez. I don't know if he does not rate Paco as CF but only for the right wing or not, but if that was the case he could revert to the 4-3-3 false 9 system we saw earlier this season (Unless he doesn't trust the wingers available. That might be the case as well...)
How good this formation will be at some indefinite time in the future, if the proper (new) players play the proper positions:
-------Griezman------Dembele
----------------Leo
------Coutinho--------MF (Verati-type)
-------------- Busi
Alba----Umtiti----Pique/New CB----Semedo
I think that the question here is the 'type' of the player he wants, and secondarily the question of how good, and in what form the individual currently is.
EV seems to want a passer-controller to be playing alongside Busquets, and this player in the squad currently is only Rakitic. I suppose this position was to be filled by Veratti in the original planning, and subsequently by Seri. When the board failed to deliver any player there, EV decided (?) to go with Rakitic there as his only option.
On the contrary, when he wants to either play an energetic box-to-box md as a third man there, he always goes with Paulinho. He seems to be rating Paulinho higher than Roberto for that position. Thus, the only position left for Roberto is to sub or alternate with Semedo at RB.
The idea that he is afraid of benching Rakitic does not hold much water IMO. After all, Rakitic is not such a big name!
I don't blame him for the lack of options. Same story is probably going on on the LM position, where Coutinho was the original idea, but since he never arrived Iniesta has become a starter, despite his age. If in EV's mind Iniesta was supposed to be a sub for Coutinho for special moments/games, the story would have been different.
Something similar happens with Pique. EV wanted one more CB, and asked for Inigo Martinez, which apparently the board ruled out as 'anti-commercial name'. When most of us thought that he didn't like Umtiti, it now looks that he had in mind Pique. Seeing Vermaelen playing at this point of his career in Barca's starting XI really makes me sad..
I don't think Suarez case is similar, because Suarez is a big name and a cornerstone of the MSN recent past, so probably EV has other thoughts as to why he is insisting on Suarez. I don't know if he does not rate Paco as CF but only for the right wing or not, but if that was the case he could revert to the 4-3-3 false 9 system we saw earlier this season (Unless he doesn't trust the wingers available. That might be the case as well...)
How good this formation will be at some indefinite time in the future, if the proper (new) players play the proper positions:
-------Griezman------Dembele
----------------Leo
------Coutinho--------MF (Verati-type)
-------------- Busi
Alba----Umtiti----Pique/New CB----Semedo
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Aryagorn
Improvin' Perfection!!
That should be immense if I am not wrong. Cause it would be very much the 4-3-3 with Leo playing a false 9, except that in the 4-4-2 diamond, the CBs should have to deal with both the forwards upfront - Dembele and Griezman who would drift the defenders sideways when they move that way, hence providing an opening in the center for Leo to surge forward into scoring positions
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