Ivan Rakitić
- Thread starter Barcaman
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Should be benched for Roberto.
BerkeleyBernie
Senior Member
Raki did pretty much what he always does- fairly solid, but uncreative performance. I like him, and he was important to have last year when Barça was playing direct almost exclusively, but he's out of his depth in a more creative team. He's essentially an AHM at Barça: attacking holding midfielder. 
Roberto offers more, and Turan will be a big improvement in the final third.
Roberto offers more, and Turan will be a big improvement in the final third.
BerkeleyBernie
Senior Member
I'd say it has less to do with form and more with how the team is playing of late. Iniesta's "invisibility" was a result of Neymar 1.0's ball-holding and Lucho's 14-15 direct tactics- he was simply taken out of the game offensively. Conversely, Rakitic served a more visible part of that system, being a bit of a midfield bully on the right. Now, with Neymar playing more triangles and more quickly, Iniesta is back in more of an advanced pivot role, and the whole team is trying to play more connective build-up pretty footy. Rakitic is probably the weakest player on the pitch in that regard other than Suarez, but doesn't have Suarez' redeeming qualities to offset.
Still has a role for more defensive games, but I expect Turan and Roberto to start more often.
Barcilliant
Senior Member
His confidence is suffering because of the Turan signing and Robertos form. He is afraid to make mistakes and it shows.
Dado
New member
All of his career Schalke/Sevilla he was never the "work horse" of the middle line.
He is doing the job he never did before that Lucho invisioned for him (watching the back of the front 3) just fine.
With his limited work rate (he was never the long distance runner) and the defensive job he is tasked with it is normal that his offensive side will suffer for it.
You guys are "spoiled" by watching a decade of an unreal Iniesta-Xavi duo. THAT talent/ball-control/workrate coctail cannot be repeated end of story ...(well Modric could mimic Xavi just fine but that ship has sailed....).
Sure Rakitic is not perfect , are they better midfeilders than him out there? Yes, but it does not mean they would fit and mold into this TEAM like him.
Have you forgotten Fabregas already? He was all offense mindset and there for left defensive holes behind him all the time.
My point being is, as long as the team as a whole is functioning, dont try to fix it by looking for "perfection" on all levels and positions on the pitch.
By doing so you are calling for the "Galacticos" mentallity that plagues Madrid.
Ivan´s ball control in tight spaces is not the greatest but he has an excellent long ball on the counter attack.
Turan in Atletico just like Rakitic in Sevilla was the main offensive midfeilder of the team with minimum defensive responsibilities so i dont see how can he add more offense on the right midfeild behind Messi and Alves for gods sake
without the defense of the midfeild suffering.
F
Flavia
Guest
I'm not spoiled by anything... I was one of the few to defend Rakitic here, during his bad spell last season. He has done better, and can do better. This game was bad not because of his workrate, but because his passing was off. Busquets also had a bad game. Players won't play well every single game.All of his career Schalke/Sevilla he was never the "work horse" of the middle line.
He is doing the job he never did before that Lucho invisioned for him (watching the back of the front 3) just fine.
With his limited work rate (he was never the long distance runner) and the defensive job he is tasked with it is normal that his offensive side will suffer for it.
You guys are "spoiled" by watching a decade of an unreal Iniesta-Xavi duo. THAT talent/ball-control/workrate coctail cannot be repeated end of story ...(well Modric could mimic Xavi just fine but that ship has sailed....).
Sure Rakitic is not perfect , are they better midfeilders than him out there? Yes, but it does not mean they would fit and mold into this TEAM like him.
Have you forgotten Fabregas already? He was all offense mindset and there for left defensive holes behind him all the time.
My point being is, as long as the team as a whole is functioning, dont try to fix it by looking for "perfection" on all levels and positions on the pitch.
By doing so you are calling for the "Galacticos" mentallity that plagues Madrid.
Ivan´s ball control in tight spaces is not the greatest but he has an excellent long ball on the counter attack.
Turan in Atletico just like Rakitic in Sevilla was the main offensive midfeilder of the team with minimum defensive responsibilities so i dont see how can he add more offense on the right midfeild behind Messi and Alves for gods sake
JamDav1982
Senior Member
Rakitic doesnt have to protect the whole front three, he is there to add legs to area of pitch Alves will bomb forward in and Messi wont defend as much.
Really Barca at moment have front three supported by Iniesta and Alves and Busi and Raki are there to cover behind that.
Rakitic is not that great on the ball or in tight spaces but he should be better than he was yesterday. He was just plain sloppy.
Really Barca at moment have front three supported by Iniesta and Alves and Busi and Raki are there to cover behind that.
Rakitic is not that great on the ball or in tight spaces but he should be better than he was yesterday. He was just plain sloppy.
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