Ivan Rakitić

[Co0ter]

Busquets has been garbage. Rakitic has been trying to cover for both him AND Alves in midfield. Iniesta and Xavi are absolutely USELESS at pressuring in the midfield. Neymar and Suarez press, just not like how Sanchez did and how Villa/Pedro both did in the golden days.

Mascherano as DM, Rakitic with some more freedom and Iniesta...somewhat balanced. Alves on right, then give Mathieu another chance at LB with Bartra/Pique/Verm (at this point it doesn't fucking matter) in the middle.

Mascherano will actually be able to help out the defense as a DM too, he's faster than Busquets and can actually contest the opposing mid.

Mathieu has been great for us in the middle, but if he can be solid at LB like he has been at CB for us...it would be huge for us vs tough opponents. Even Alba/Mathieu/Bartra(or Verm/Pique) Alves would be viable, but with Alba knowing he has to defend first and attack second.

 

[dakt]

Disaster, no press from him whatsoever. Fukin so pissed at him!

 

[CatalinR10]

meh

 

[barcanuck]

Total meh game I don't see him all over the place like at the start of the season.

 

[Alarcón]

Don't know if Lucho advised him to move to the right wing or his positioning was just terrible. There were so many moments when Busi or one of our defenders played the ball straight to our strikers because there was no one in midfield to receive the ball.

 

[dakt]

His creative skills are avarge. Just not enough for the ambitions of this club.

 

[evilhita666]

He seemed lost today... But anyone would look lost in that huge black hole that is our midfield...

 

[DirtySanchez]

Selling Fabregas continues to look like an awful decision. Say what you want about him but he's 3x the player Rakitic is.

 

[Darko]

Played too much forward and too much on the right, can't really blame him for that since it was obviously some horrible tactical instruction to stay forwards instead of actually playing in the midfield and picking up the ball from the defenders/Busi.

 

[Flavia]

Selling Fabregas continues to look like an awful decision. Say what you want about him but he's 3x the player Rakitic is.

Yes, Cesc would be doing better with the lack of system we're under

The problem isn't the players. You can change them all, as Lucho's been doing, and nothing changes.

 

[kilian]

Exactly. The same was with Rafinha. And I noticed that in almost every game this season. Even Iniesta looked too static. Only times you see different midfield setup is when Xavi plays, because he doesn`t give a fuck about some stupid rigid system and is all over the central part of the pitch.

 

[aondoe]

He looked strong in the first half and at the start of the 2nd, but I didn't see him after that. He was energetic, but couldn't really link up with Rafinha or the front 3. I'm starting to think Lucho's tactics have hindered him and the other players in the midfield.

 

[SeloBarca]

Put him under preassure, and he has no clue what to do.

 

[eye-switcher]

Selling Fabregas continues to look like an awful decision. Say what you want about him but he's 3x the player Rakitic is.

Thing is Fabreges where also not very good here even though he has been good in Chelsea but i agree, much better than Rakitic who really isnt good enough for Barca.

 

[Stric]

I won't blame any of our midfielders because the midfield tactics are clearly all wrong. Midfield is Barca's strong side, and currently, we use midfielders to cover fullbacks. That says enough.