Vilarrubi
New member
+1
Us not making the CL final was nothing to do with those extra CDR games either, was down to poor tactics and lack of a good midfield.
+1
Us not making the CL final was nothing to do with those extra CDR games either, was down to poor tactics and lack of a good midfield.
M
MessiCam
Guest
Messi has had plenty rest in any event.
Messi983
Senior Member
I understand your concerns but don't really think it's that big of a problem.
Messi has been rested in both games against Celta buy you can't really expect him to not play in every second game for a whole month. Anyway, how much did he really run (well, walk
) yesterday? There was a stat he had 4,6 km at around 60th minute so I guess he maybe made it to 6 km until the end of the game. He can't get tired because of that even if he's "playing". Let's say this is our best XI that will play in CL (if everyone will be healthy).
MATS (0 minutes played in Copa)
Roberto (146)
Pique (283)
Umtiti (0)
Alba (180)
Busi (270)
Raki (159)
Iniesta (63)
Paulinho (125)
Messi (149)
Suarez (121)
Clearly, injuries have also played a part that Umtiti and Iniesta weren't used much in Copa (or not at all in Umtiti's case). But at the same time Umtiti and Masche's injury could also be a blessing in disguise as otherwise Vermaelen probably wouldn't get a chance to prove himself as another (at least) very important squad/rotational player which will be especially important now that Masche will leave and Mina will need some time to adapt.
Because of those injuries Pique has played much in CDR but I think he'll get more rest when Umtiti will be back (especially if Vermaelen will keep a good form and stay healthy) and Mina will get some minutes as well, probably from the bench in easier home games at first.
And Busi has played because we don't have a real replacement for him. But also keep in mind that he probably also wouldn't have started first game in Vigo if he wouldn't be suspended for the league match against Levante 3 days later.
I think Valverde has managed Raki, Messi and Suarez's minutes good so far in Copa. With Coutinho and Paco coming back from injuries soon and with our good lead in La Liga we can also afford to rest them (and possibly Busi as well) in easier home league games against Alaves, Getafe or Girona that are coming over the next month.
I'm not saying EV should go full Lucho mode and start 8 backups in those games (or even worse, in a tough away match, lol) and risk to drop points. But play 7-8 starters and 3-4 backups and you can give rest to anyone.
When Coutinho will be back and if he'll show a good integration with the team we can even play him as "10" and keep Messi on the bench. Or in another game, start a strong lineup, kill the game in 1st half (now that Suarez is back in form and will probably score more that should be easier) and then sub off Messi like we did against Celta.
M
MessiCam
Guest
I would play a full strength squad against Girona and Getafe. They're having great seasons and are only a few points off Europa qualification. It's going to be a tough month...
FC433
New member
Sorry what I meant is that our fans were not great in terms of support. The attendance is not great this season and the atmosphere yesterday was exceptional that is why I said that Valverde and Pique seemed a little disappointed/ wanted some support in the coming games.
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BBZ8800
Senior Member
Imo, that only shows that even if Barca/RM played with squad players or with a combined squad of 4-5 starters and 5-6 squad players, they are still better than the rest and they will usually win the trophy.
Cillessen, Semedo, Masch, Verma, Digne, Busi, Raki, Gomes, Messi, Luis/Paco, Denis could easily win against more or less all opponents.
This is a team with 3 or 4 starters.
If this team win a copa, does it prove that big teams play with passion or that even a mixed lineup is good enough to win a trophy?
I am not saying that we should playing with 11 squad players all the time, but wasting Messi against Celta and Espanyol in a CDR with 20 matches in January and February is beyond crazy, imo.
I understand your concerns but don't really think it's that big of a problem.
Messi has been rested in both games against Celta buy you can't really expect him to not play in every second game for a whole month. Anyway, how much did he really run (well, walk
Let's say this is our best XI that will play in CL (if everyone will be healthy).
MATS (0 minutes played in Copa)
Roberto (146)
Pique (283)
Umtiti (0)
Alba (180)
Busi (270)
Raki (159)
Iniesta (63)
Paulinho (125)
Messi (149)
Suarez (121)
Clearly, injuries have also played a part that Umtiti and Iniesta weren't used much in Copa (or not at all in Umtiti's case). But at the same time Umtiti and Masche's injury could also be a blessing in disguise as otherwise Vermaelen probably wouldn't get a chance to prove himself as another (at least) very important squad/rotational player which will be especially important now that Masche will leave and Mina will need some time to adapt.
Because of those injuries Pique has played much in CDR but I think he'll get more rest when Umtiti will be back (especially if Vermaelen will keep a good form and stay healthy) and Mina will get some minutes as well, probably from the bench in easier home games at first.
And Busi has played because we don't have a real replacement for him. But also keep in mind that he probably also wouldn't have started first game in Vigo if he wouldn't be suspended for the league match against Levante 3 days later.
I think Valverde has managed Raki, Messi and Suarez's minutes good so far in Copa. With Coutinho and Paco coming back from injuries soon and with our good lead in La Liga we can also afford to rest them (and possibly Busi as well) in easier home league games against Alaves, Getafe or Girona that are coming over the next month.
I'm not saying EV should go full Lucho mode and start 8 backups in those games (or even worse, in a tough away match, lol) and risk to drop points. But play 7-8 starters and 3-4 backups and you can give rest to anyone.
When Coutinho will be back and if he'll show a good integration with the team we can even play him as "10" and keep Messi on the bench. Or in another game, start a strong lineup, kill the game in 1st half (now that Suarez is back in form and will probably score more that should be easier) and then sub off Messi like we did against Celta.
Problem is not minutes, but the thing that we have 6 copa matches in the first 45 days of a New year.
From January 1st to the end of February, we are playing Wednesday-Saturday all the time (6 copa matches, some La liga matches on wednesday and then 2 CL matches. That is 8, 9 or 10 matches on Wednesday in the first 60 days of a New year).
Basically, this is the most crowded part of a season.
And then, since Busi, Raki, Messi, Luis, Iniesta are 30+, it is quite predictable that they will lose their breath sooner or later (most often in February, March and April when we need them the most).
If a player from a RM plays 50 matches per season and Messi plays 60, there is a reasonable fear that in April/May in CL semis, Messi will be 5-10% more tired and that he will lose a valuable 1-2 meters advantage in the 86th minute counterattack against RM.
And these are the moments which decide 1:1 or 2:1 matches.
During Lucho, MSN had to play all the time, and we were always dead tired in March/April (partly because of 6 CDR matches also and because of playing for 90 minutes in every 5:0 La liga trashing to pump up their individual stats).
I am in particular worried about: Iniesta, Messi, Luis, Busquets, Rakitic. That they will be dead tired in CL 1/8s and 1/4s.
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Joan
Well-known member
Do you have his whole press conference?
FCBfan22
Senior Member
Joan
Well-known member
MessiTHEgoat
New member
Need a second half masterclass?
call me maybe
call me maybe
Stoichkov1
New member
I wonder what Valverde says to the players at half time
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