Ivan Rakitić

[JamDav1982]

well calling the statistically best attacking midfield creator in La Liga before he joined Barca an always mediocre player doesn't really give much weight to the rest of the post you wrote.

Assists etc dont tell the whole story.

He played AM for Sevilla and was given freedom to try a lot of attenpts to open up the opposition. Was almost all set pieces as well. That is why he had good assist stats. None of that was going to translate to Barca.

Reminds me a bit of Liverpool thinking Charlie Adam was great based on stats. Similar type situation although Raki clearly a better player.

 

[Neymessi]

well calling the statistically best attacking midfield creator in La Liga before he joined Barca an always mediocre player doesn't really give much weight to the rest of the post you wrote.

Stats never tell the whole story. The fact that stats showed him the better midfielder in comparison to all midfielders of even barca,real and koke back then just prove my point.

 

[Raketa10]

Stats never tell the whole story. The fact that stats showed him the better midfielder in comparison to all midfielders of even barca,real and koke back then just prove my point.

Firs of all Koke is one of the most overrated midfielders in the world.
Rakitic had phenomenal 2 seasons in Sevilla and fantastic season and a half for us, he also played some great games for Croatian national team, so calling him mediocre is just silly.

 

[El Flaco]

Firs of all Koke is one of the most overrated midfielders in the world.

Out of curiosity, why do you think so?

IMO, Koke is a key player for a great Atleti side and is rated as one of the best CMs in world.

 

[gasgas]

Firs of all Koke is one of the most overrated midfielders in the world.
Rakitic had phenomenal 2 seasons in Sevilla and fantastic season and a half for us, he also played some great games for Croatian national team, so calling him mediocre is just silly.

Rakitic is the most overrated midfielder at Barca.

well calling the statistically best attacking midfield creator in La Liga before he joined Barca an always mediocre player doesn't really give much weight to the rest of the post you wrote.

Cesc was statistically our best midfielder and he is mediocre

 

[JamDav1982]

Firs of all Koke is one of the most overrated midfielders in the world.
Rakitic had phenomenal 2 seasons in Sevilla and fantastic season and a half for us, he also played some great games for Croatian national team, so calling him mediocre is just silly.

Wasnt phenomenal for Sevilla he played well for then as main attacking threat but never looked technically all that amazing.

Nor was he fantastič for a year and half at barca. He was poor at first half season then was solid as Barca gave up midfield for MSN. Last season and this he has been up and down.

 

[Raketa10]

Out of curiosity, why do you think so?

IMO, Koke is a key player for a great Atleti side and is rated as one of the best CMs in world.

Rated by who? He is slow as hell, he is not a true playmaker nor a control oriented midfielder. I really see nothing special in him. The entire idea of ATM is get the ball pass it to Griezmann and than defend defend and defend.

 

[JamDav1982]

Rated by who? He is slow as hell, he is not a true playmaker nor a control oriented midfielder. I really see nothing special in him. The entire idea of ATM is get the ball pass it to Griezmann and than defend defend and defend.

Koke is a much better player than Rakitic. Simple as that.

 

[xavi_the_Boss]

I think if we had Koke he would be our best midfielder right now......

 

[JamDav1982]

I think if we had Koke he would be our best midfielder right now......

He would. By far.

 

[KingMessi]

Quite a few midfielders would walk into our midfield right now. Koke is one of them.

 

[xXKonan]

When you watch Koke when he plays for Spain, you can see his true qualities that he would not be able to show when he plays for Atletico. I would love to have him here.

 

[Neymessi]

Firs of all Koke is one of the most overrated midfielders in the world.
Rakitic had phenomenal 2 seasons in Sevilla and fantastic season and a half for us, he also played some great games for Croatian national team, so calling him mediocre is just silly.

Surely he wasn't 'fantastic' for a season and a half for us. By mediocre I mean mediocre for barca, not barca-level. He did not let that affect us though. He made up by defending a lot for us so I am not really sad that we signed him. But as an attacking player, for which he was bought, he wasn't and isn't that good. Better than a lot of our current midfielders but not starting barca material.

Also koke is much better than rakitic.

 

[JerseyAddict]

Sell sell sell sellllll
Selllll them alllllllll

No... Keep Neymar and maybe Messi.
Selll selllll selllll them allllll

 

[FinBarcelonafan]

Surely he wasn't 'fantastic' for a season and a half for us. By mediocre I mean mediocre for barca, not barca-level. He did not let that affect us though. He made up by defending a lot for us so I am not really sad that we signed him. But as an attacking player, for which he was bought, he wasn't and isn't that good. Better than a lot of our current midfielders but not starting barca material.

Also koke is much better than rakitic.

Have you seen him play? He is covering space for MSN.. Like he said in one article: He would run his legs for MSN. His job is not to create goals for Barca. It's mostly defensive. He can make great plays offensively, but thats not his role with Barcleona. He has taken this unselfish job and done pretty damn good job, while not getting too much credit for it.

Every game he is running like crazy for 60-70 min, offense and defense. The guy is work horse.