FC Barcelona Tactics

[IrvDizzle]

vs Deportivo

the Mad Genius strikes again ... soo ... this is what I thought the formation was based on how the players looked during the first five minutes of the match (before they started switching/interplaying/causing havoc)

------------------------ VV
--- Alves ---- Marquez ------ Pique ---- Maxwell
---------------------- Toure
------------- Xavi
---------------------- Messi
--- Pedro ------------ Bojan --------- Jeffren

when Keita came on for Jeffren the formation reverted to some kind of 4-3-3 ... or maybe a 4-2-1-3 ... either way ... I'm at a loss to explain what Pep was doing. The first 30 minutes were a thing of beauty and we should have scored 3/4. Also, Dani Alves played more of an attacking mid role, than a defender role ... so it could have really been a 3-2-1-1-3 with Dani and Toure in front of the defenders? on Pedro's wonder goal, Dani was playing CF. it was so versatile. any clarification would be much appreciated. because I couldn't wrap my head around the formation.

 

[House of Flies]

Irv, this is the mindblowing tactical website. I cant post everything because its just too much reading but it is awesome.

http://www.zonalmarking.net/2010/04/11/real-madrid-0-2-barcelona-tactics-xavi-messi/

to quote something

"As much as formations and tactics are important, the clearest different between the two sides was their overall outlook on how to create chances. Whereas Barca had ten outfield players comfortable in possession, each capable of both retaining the ball sensibly and playing a more ambitious pass, Real looked almost anachronistic in how compartmentalized their team played. It seems a ludicrous thing to say, but Real’s problem was that their players simply filled their job description. The defenders defended, the defensive midfielders tackled, the winger ran up and down, the creative players tried their tricks and the striker looked to score. That’s pretty much the idea of football, but they were up against a side whose attackers could defend, and whose defenders could attack. Whereas Barcelona looked to create chances through integrated passing and movement throughout the team, Real looked to create chances by depending upon their flair players to make something happen, and it rarely did.

Another interesting point was how ineffectual Dani Alves was when playing as a right-winger. It’s natural to assume that an attacking full-back can slot in fine slightly further up the pitch, but they often encounter problems – they generally have less space and see less of the ball. Alves’ pace and stamina is utilized far better from a full-back position, and those suggesting he should replace Ramires in the Brazil side will have a tough task on their hands making the case after his first-half display.

Overall, a fascinating game to watch and analyse. Real paid the price for letting Xavi have so much space, although this was perhaps a knock-on effect of leaving one full-back free. This sums up why so few top sides are playing with two strikers who don’t track back – Real may have been better off playing a dedicated right-winger instead of one of the front three, to at least occupy Maxwell."

 

[Beast]

It baffles me how Manuel didn't even try to use Maxwell weak link . tactical naivety

 

[House of Flies]

haha, thats how he started the match.... and when cronaldo moved onto the right, maxwell was pushed up and puyol slotted back in his spot.

i love zonal marking.

i am reading an article on how vermalen has been costing arsenal's goals due to his poor positioning.

 

[Hamzah]

they should have played momo or lass and impose themselves on us infront of their own fans. instead they played gago. ronaldo and marcelo were on the wrong side of the attack.

their mistake our advantage.

 

[IrvDizzle]

WICKED FIND, J!! nicely done.

 

[IrvDizzle]

so a lot of people have been saying that Pep screwed up the tactics, I did not get to watch the match. According to UEFA.com we played a 4-3-3 and then Pep replaced Ibrah with Abidal and pushed Maxwell up to LW?

 

[House of Flies]

so a lot of people have been saying that Pep screwed up the tactics, I did not get to watch the match. According to UEFA.com we played a 4-3-3 and then Pep replaced Ibrah with Abidal and pushed Maxwell up to LW?

it was more like this...

i agree with the author of this article that playing ibra was plain stupid.

furthermore, you see more fuck ups by pep... because zanetti who doesnt tend to overlap was happy with pedro whilst maicon had acres of space on the right with no man in sight (except for slower keita)... as indicated by their second goal.

and playing messi in the middle was plain blah

 

[IrvDizzle]

I totally forgot about your site, J. my bad. That's a really well thought out formation by Jose.

with respect to what we did, a 4-2-3-1 would have been better. With Keita to the right and Pedro to the left of Xavi ... Toure and Busquets behind them and Leo up front as the CF ...

I'm going to read the article now.

 

[yusuf]

great ass article by that site and the heading of the article is absolutely perfect.

and also the part about ibra taking up space from messi is exactly what i see in most matches when he is playing

 

[House of Flies]

in hindsight... here is where pep screwed up according to the tactical board on top

1) overloading of inter's left which meant that our play got stifled by their defensive midfield pair + zanetti easily due to the lack of space

2) lack of space meant that the play needed to be switched on the other end which dani was attempting however the crosses were too floated which meant that keita had

tooo be continued...

 

[IrvDizzle]

also, Ibrah took away from Leo being able to run behind the Inter defense like he did v Madrid.

 

[diegomessi]

I think we are heading a little to far away from the 4-3-3 we have used in recent hisotry.. for the next match i think we should not over think just put messi out wide, a striker and pedro out the other side...

 

[yusuf]

also, Ibrah took away from Leo being able to run behind the Inter defense like he did v Madrid.

which brings us to the question why pep hates bojan soo much???

 

[IrvDizzle]

v Inter. I was going to put this in the FCB v Inter thread, but f**k me if the dummies don't rule that roost.

this is going to be a horribly tough game. I have no idea what Mourinho will do, but this match will show his genius. If all goes according his intelligent plans, he will earn victory and cement a multi-million, multi-year contract offer from Liverpool and Real Madrid. obviously he will think about parking a bus in the 18 yard box, but I feel that he will press us and use the tireless Eto'o to force the defense in to punting the ball upfield. I wouldn't be surprised if he tried to use Cheslea's tactics in the first leg of last year's semi where they shut us down and created two/three chances. Much like the tactics he employed to success vs us when he was manager. I'm sure Mourinho use a combination of players to mark Xavi and limit his passing options. I don't trust Keita to be able to fill that role to help Xavi. I would much prefer Toure and Busquets in the midfield with Xavi. I've been trying to figure out how Pep could use Pedro and Thierry (maybe put Pedro in the midfield) ... thought about something like:

----------------------- VV
-- Alves ---- Rafa --------- Pique ---- Abidal
--------------------- Toure
------- Xavi --------------------- UHHH*
--- Messi --------------------------- Pedro
--------------------- Ibrah

UHHHH = Maxwell ... or Toure and then replace Toure @ DM with Busquets? or ...

----------------------- VV
-- Alves ---- Rafa --------- Pique ---- Abidal
--------- Toure ----------------- Maxwell
---------------------- Xavi
----- Pedro -------------------------- Ibrah
--------------------- Messi

I feel as though Leo would be better leading the line because his pace will allow him to run at defenders, beat the offside trap and fill holes for Maxwell, Ibrah, Pedro or Xavi to infiltrate. It also allows two outlets for the defenders when Inter pressure. If need be, Pep can switch to a 4-3-3 with Maxwell off and Thierry on and Pedro switching to Maxwell's position. I'm actually horrified at our lack of attacking options from midfield. Aside from Iniesta we have Keita (who hasn't impressed as an attacking option since the first few weeks of the season), and the unproven youngsters who I'm sure that Pep will not trust (and please, no comments about buying Cesc. You can quote this post and put it in the Cesc thread and talk about how badly we could have used him, but not here). Anyway ... based on form and function, I think we should go with the 4-2-3-1 and Leo leading the front line. If the Ghostfaced Killah were healthy I'd advocate our tried and true 4-3-3. But since we have no one to support Xavi, I think Pep should adjust and go with the functional 4-2-3-1.

anyway ... I'm confident that we can overcome the tie, but I feel that the only way possible is 2-0. We need a goal before or right after HT. I would prefer one post-HT so that Mourinho will have to re-adjust his tactics on the fly and counter-act whatever memorable and insightful HT speech he would have given. Then we need to crack the Inter-safe. The longer this match goes 0-0 the more confident Inter will grow, the more resolute their defense, the more likely they will win. Our team needs to weather the early storm, stay composed at the back, and pass pass pass.