Gerard Piqué

[JonM]

He's both overrated and underrated at the same time. Overrated because he's remebered as this godly defender who never puts a foot wrong. But I'm sure that if we looked at tapes from two years ago, we would see plenty of defensive mistakes. But we forgot these because they didn't matter in the end. Trophies were won and everyone was happy.

He's also underrated by the same persons because he's now seen as a dogshit defender and gets blamed for all the goals, even when Abidal and Puyol make silly mistakes. Not to mention he has to cover for Alves most of the time.

He's been exposed this season because teams are no longer affraid to attack with numbers as they know they won't be punished because our counterattack is slow and all-around awful.

 

[Metaphysical]

Nothing to do with Shakira obviously. Most footballers have girlfriends. He's just a mediocre defender. Which becomes especially obvious this season since there is no Villa and Pedro pressing upfront and working their asses off and since our midfield isn't as dominant as it used to be either this season (due to injuries, fatigue and Fabregas). Make no mistakes, the few times he was tested last season he didn't look a world beater either (the same excuses with Shakira were used when it was still RUMOURS). He just did not get tested much because we were so dominant upfront not even Arsenal could manage a single shot on target. Real Madrid used to park the bus, playing with 9 defenders. Manchester United had 1 (offside) shot on target. This has changed a bit this season. Now Osasuna is taking the game to us. And Pique gets shown up. Not that hard to comprehend, is it? Coupled with his natural laid-back "enjoy the life" attitude it becomes even worse. If he was at least serious and hard-working, he wouldn't receive all the "hate" (I call it "facts", by the way). He's supposed to be one of our senior players. A youth product as well. An example for new, young players like Alexis. How embarrassing that Pep needs to ban him to the stands in an important CL away fixture (it wasn't the first warning by Pep this season by the way, in our last dead rubber game against BATE Pep gave him a sign already). It's one of the most dangerous things in football. If you buy your own hype and stop working hard.

Messi's not a playmaker... Piqué is a mediocre defender... jesus man where do you come up with this shit?

 

[estranged]

Pique is mediocre? one of the best CBs in the world IMO, and one of the best to suit our style. how many center backs have technique or vision like him?

 

[dalitis8]

Nothing to do with Shakira obviously. Most footballers have girlfriends. He's just a mediocre defender. Which becomes especially obvious this season since there is no Villa and Pedro pressing upfront and working their asses off and since our midfield isn't as dominant as it used to be either this season (due to injuries, fatigue and Fabregas). Make no mistakes, the few times he was tested last season he didn't look a world beater either (the same excuses with Shakira were used when it was still RUMOURS). He just did not get tested much because we were so dominant upfront not even Arsenal could manage a single shot on target. Real Madrid used to park the bus, playing with 9 defenders. Manchester United had 1 (offside) shot on target. This has changed a bit this season. Now Osasuna is taking the game to us. And Pique gets shown up. Not that hard to comprehend, is it? Coupled with his natural laid-back "enjoy the life" attitude it becomes even worse. If he was at least serious and hard-working, he wouldn't receive all the "hate" (I call it "facts", by the way). He's supposed to be one of our senior players. A youth product as well. An example for new, young players like Alexis. How embarrassing that Pep needs to ban him to the stands in an important CL away fixture (it wasn't the first warning by Pep this season by the way, in our last dead rubber game against BATE Pep gave him a sign already). It's one of the most dangerous things in football. If you buy your own hype and stop working hard.

The only thing that is correct in the above post, is that the absence of Villa and Pedro this season (or their lack of form) meant that their pressing of opposing wide players has been largely taken out of the equation which allows rivals much more breathing space and easier counters.

 

[barcelonista]

Pique is mediocre? one of the best CBs in the world IMO, and one of the best to suit our style. how many center backs have technique or vision like him?

David Luiz has technique and vision like him. I'd say he's even superior to Pique in that regard. They should really consider naming him Luizbauer.

 

[estranged]

David Luiz has technique and vision like him. I'd say he's even superior to Pique in that regard. They should really consider naming him Luizbauer.

luiz is nowhere near a capable defender as pique. and naw, luiz has technique but he can't do this

 

[mixer]

luiz is nowhere near a capable defender as pique. and naw, luiz has technique but he can't do this

Agree

 

[mitkoa7x]

Pique > David Luis even in the hair category

 

[Yugi]

Pique > David Luis even in the hair category

 

[barcelonista]

Yeah, nice little turn. I've seen Luiz doing some fancy overheadkick, too. Point is: CBs comfortable with the ball at their feet is really not a novelty anymore. Pique doesn't hold a monopoly over other CBs in that regard:

No need to be so defensive. We've played 3-4-3 at the start of the season with Abidal-Mascherano-Alves at the back, without any natural centre back, and trashed Villarreal 5-0. Once Xavi-Messi-Iniesta-Alves click, we can afford to play without any centre backs. FACT. Even Mascherano looks superb for us and dude is not even a CB (let him play CB for Argentina and let's see how he does there). We have an average La Liga possession stat of 75 %. That's the amount of time we spend in the other team's half. We are rarely tested at the back (especially not in La Liga). There is a "6 second rule" you've surely heard of. Once we lose the ball, everyone is swarming out to win the ball back. Our pressing game is second to none. Pique is so so so so so rarely tested that his technique and distribution overweigh his defensive woes for the majority of the time. I might have exaggerated. He's not mediocre. He's good. But he's not the best. Especially when it comes the actual defending. Not even close. And he has attitude issues. He is a clown.

 

[mitkoa7x]

 

[Yugi]

brilliant performance with Spain
actually resembled Piquenbauer he is, hope he starts from there

 

[La Furia]

Well, Venezuela sucks balls. I don't think you can read much of anything out of that game.

But nice to see Pique show some composure, hopefully he can build on it.

 

[Metaphysical]

he wasn't playing brilliantly, but he got absolutely buttfucked by the referee today.

De Las Cuevas initiated the contact and was falling over before that even came.

utter cuntery.

 

[mitkoa7x]

That is the most bullshit decision all season... Pique gets sent off for that and Pepe and Ramos get to play with 10 time worse offences...... VILLARATO!