Ivan Rakitić

[Jamie Cal]

You're not wrong, Kuchi, regardless though, his goal tally is plenty good. People have got to bad mouthing him of late and it seems so silly to me. Other than Leo, our best player last month imo.

One thing I've learned over the past year or 2 is looking for a direct replacement for a player is setting yourself up for disappointment. It's a endless stream of comparison. Had we signed someone to replace him like Gundogan, or kept Fab to replace him, we wouldn't of won our treble. We were in dire need of a shake up, and Rak (+ Luisito) were/are perfect.

 

[Tazim]

[tw]<blockquote class="twitter-video" data-lang="nl"><p lang="nl" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/tbt?src=hash">#tbt</a> Rakitic drags van Rhijn to the middle. Neymar with the finish. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/stayinyourposition?src=hash">#stayinyourposition</a> van Rhijn dancing feet  <a href="https://t.co/OerCFxgh5d">pic.twitter.com/OerCFxgh5d</a></p>— Jos Witt (@jos_witt) <a href="https://twitter.com/jos_witt/status/695263075453255680">4 februari 2016</a></blockquote>
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[barcanuck]

Well, I gues I'm the only one unsattisfied here. I remember him in Sevilla, so creative and with so many assissts, shooting great... I thought he'll be our new Xavi just with more powerfull shot, but...

He misses a lot of passess, looses a lot of balls, often looks like he runs around like headless chicken...

But he fights, I give him that. And helps in defending. Very good player, but we can have somebody more agyle, creative and with better shot there... just my oppinion...

Cool opinion but your comparing two different players from the Sevilla Rakitic to our Raki. One had total freedom and less defensive duties the other does all the things we were missing when Cesc was here.

Raki himself said he wants to do anything he can for the team so I don't care if he doesn't score 15 goals a year or assist just as many as long as he does his baby sitting right.

Oh and I'll take one goal in the CL final over 10 at Sevilla thank you very much.

 

[El Flaco]

Poor first half from Raki,

 

[utility73]

Found him to be one of the better ones. As in less awful.

 

[xXKonan]

[tw]698671099693961216[/tw]

 

[BerkeleyBernie]

To take nothing away from him, Rakitic wasn't specifically trying to drag van Rhijn away from Neymar, but just executing an overlapping run. As soon as Messi cut left, Rakitic responded with a run to the middle to leave his space for Messi, and to take the empty space in the middle. The overlaps disrupted the defence, which is what they are intended to do.

Brilliant build-up (Rakitic's off ball run included) and a fine finish by Neymar.

[tw]<blockquote class="twitter-video" data-lang="nl"><p lang="nl" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/tbt?src=hash">#tbt</a> Rakitic drags van Rhijn to the middle. Neymar with the finish. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/stayinyourposition?src=hash">#stayinyourposition</a> van Rhijn dancing feet  <a href="https://t.co/OerCFxgh5d">pic.twitter.com/OerCFxgh5d</a></p>— Jos Witt (@jos_witt) <a href="https://twitter.com/jos_witt/status/695263075453255680">4 februari 2016</a></blockquote>
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[Icarium]

[tw]698671099693961216[/tw]

Deserves it. Both him and Suarez should get salary rise.

 

[Messi983]

Deserves it. Both him and Suarez should get salary rise.

I agree they both deserve it, but can we really afford that together with Neymar and Busquets new contracts as well (and Messi will probably get a raise too next year)? Bravo deserve it too, but I hope MATS will be a starter in La Liga next season (I like Bravo but youth is on MATS's side and he can be our GK for next 10 years; I also think Bravo would like to play in CL if we are reversing their roles). I'm all for keeeping the core of this team together as long as possible but at the same time we should be careful. Most of players except Neymar will be 30 in two or three years and probably start to decline. Will they still deserve that salary in 2019?

Hopefully we can get rid of all dead-weight this summer. Adriano, Douglas (if we can't sell him at least loan him to a team that will pay his full salary), Song, Tello (I think we still pay 50% of their salaries), Sandro, one or maybe both of Vermaelen and Mathieu if we get younger CB and also keep Bartra... and give their money to players that deserve it more.

 

[Jombi]

Welcome, Oleguer.

 

[Messi983]

Tnx.

 

[Icarium]

I agree they both deserve it, but can we really afford that together with Neymar and Busquets new contracts as well (and Messi will probably get a raise too next year)? Bravo deserve it too, but I hope MATS will be a starter in La Liga next season (I like Bravo but youth is on MATS's side and he can be our GK for next 10 years; I also think Bravo would like to play in CL if we are reversing their roles). I'm all for keeeping the core of this team together as long as possible but at the same time we should be careful. Most of players except Neymar will be 30 in two or three years and probably start to decline. Will they still deserve that salary in 2019?

Hopefully we can get rid of all dead-weight this summer. Adriano, Douglas (if we can't sell him at least loan him to a team that will pay his full salary), Song, Tello (I think we still pay 50% of their salaries), Sandro, one or maybe both of Vermaelen and Mathieu if we get younger CB and also keep Bartra... and give their money to players that deserve it more.

Like you said get rid of dead weight and don't sign anyone fancy and keep the current players happy and also close the new sponsorship deal with Qatar or whoever is willing to pay 60M per year.

 

[Butaan4barca]

To take nothing away from him, Rakitic wasn't specifically trying to drag van Rhijn away from Neymar, but just executing an overlapping run. As soon as Messi cut left, Rakitic responded with a run to the middle to leave his space for Messi, and to take the empty space in the middle. The overlaps disrupted the defence, which is what they are intended to do.

Brilliant build-up (Rakitic's off ball run included) and a fine finish by Neymar.

if he hadn't drag him, instead of neymar getting the ball, rakitic would've got it. Wouldn't have made a difference and his thought was correct and so was his movement.

 

[Flavia]

[tw]698671099693961216[/tw]

Hopefully with an extension too, not just a pay rise.

 

[El Flaco]

[tw]698834558511403008[/tw]