Ivan Rakitić

[linetty]

Not a done deal yet, I believe? Only personal agreement with the player, Seville hasn't been persuaded yet, I read?

di marzio & bild reporting it is a serious matter.

 

[Behrox]

If Fab's issues had been about defensive contribution then sure.

Fab's issue has been about both offensive and defensive contribution. He is too slow to defend and his lack of awareness unlike Xavi and Busi doesn't help him either when he has to be a floating pivot. Offensively Cesc is just throughballs galore and he is one of the best at it but sometimes you just have to hold onto the ball a while longer before relasing it. For Cesc it was a matter of being too direct for the role he was occupying and contrary to the possession stats we lost control in the matches where he played instead of Xavi because 1) Alexis and Neymar hugging the touchline didn't pose much threat to defenses and Messi was marked out of the world leaving Cesc with no one to play the throughballs 2) he tried to play the throughballs in between the lines but got pressured into playing it too early or when it was not the right decision to do so. Plus he has little to no dribbling skills and a lack of composure under pressure making him compeltely unfit for the Xavi role contrary to what many people here think

 

[linetty]

And I can't remember the last time we scored from a Messi cross.

I do. 1:20

 

[Behrox]

And I can't remember the last time we scored from a Messi cross.

So you forgot the Jugadorazo back header or backer

 

[Chainsaw]

One goal. Hellalujah!

 

[Frodo_FCB]

It's not Messi's fault guys, who is gonna score a header with all the midgets we have in our team...

 

[Frodo_FCB]

I think Raki is fast, at least from the videos i've seen...But he is for sure faster than Fabregas.

 

[Chainsaw]

It's not Messi's fault guys, who is gonna score a header with all the midgets we have in our team...

 

[Frodo_FCB]

 

[Barcaman]

Rakitić is not fast. He is faster than Cesc though and works harder for his team.
Similar players really. I guess rumors are true and we're selling Cesc because he wants to move. Otherwise this change doesn't make much sense.

 

[Haruko The Goon]

I don't like the Rakitic signing too much... Wouldn't play him deep in a 4231, very unsure of him taking Xavi's role in a 433 though.... Do you think you'll play him in the Xavi role?

 

[Butaan4barca]

It's not Messi's fault guys, who is gonna score a header with all the midgets we have in our team...

with rakitic, messi would probably score from the middle of his right foot, even when there are 18 players in the box.

 

[Butaan4barca]

I don't like the Rakitic signing too much... Wouldn't play him deep in a 4231, very unsure of him taking Xavi's role in a 433 though.... Do you think you'll play him in the Xavi role?

i think he will play in his own role, instead of having standard roles, and being an exceptionally predictable side, we will see few new systems within, like how will we play with rakitic on, how will we play with xavi, etc etc.

Sound good, will add more unpredictability factor.

 

[Affiae]

 

[Haruko The Goon]

Long legs