Ivan Rakitić

[Barcilliant]

Why does idiot Valverde keep playing him?

He's lost. He should be playing for Crystal palace or Everton. Fuaarck!

 

[AndreC]

our best midfield is busi, iniesta and paulinho

 

[Barcaman]

...and back to his usual pathetic displays.

 

[bodi16]

His starting 11 spot is assured, thus he doesn't seem to care about playing good/bad.

 

[Windhook]

Johan Cruyff had this philosophy - never to sub a player who performed bad, just give him time and patience to produce. Rakitic is so far the worst peformer on the team this season, after the rookie Andre Gomes of course, but still he is integral part of the starting lineup. The question is for how long?

 

[Barcaman]

Would say he had an ok match. These kind of 0-0 matches suit him as he can get by without being exposed.

 

[JerseyAddict]

Totaly ok-ish in mediocre match.

 

[MessiCam]

I think he was actually pretty good tonight. Can’t really complain about his performance.

 

[raskolnikov]

Imagine if we play 4-2-3-1 and get Özil and Goretzka for 20 mil in total.
Then we play Sergi roberto as our rdm next to Busquets. We have Paulinho, Goretzka, Alena as subs. We also could get Samper back.
We have Özil and Iniesta to rotate and Dembele/Denis on the other side. We get rid of Rakitic, Vidal, Arda, Deulofeu and Gomes and are midfield is suddenly strong and capable rather than weak and non creative. We also end up with like a 60+ mil difference which we can invest.

 

[GoodKid]

Imagine if we play 4-2-3-1 and get Özil and Goretzka for 20 mil in total.
Then we play Sergi roberto as our rdm next to Busquets. We have Paulinho, Goretzka, Alena as subs. We also could get Samper back.
We have Özil and Iniesta to rotate and Dembele/Denis on the other side. We get rid of Rakitic, Vidal, Arda, Deulofeu and Gomes and are midfield is suddenly strong and capable rather than weak and non creative. We also end up with like a 60+ mil difference which we can invest.

That would be great indeed. I had some similar things in mind as well. However, I wouldn't buy Goretzka as I think the midfield would be too stacked and I would keep Deulo instead of Denis (or both). Also, we need two new CBs, let's say we buy De Ligt and Mina. The Formation would look like this:

http://lineupbuilder.com/?sk=fx9dx2

Without the ball it's a 442 and with the ball it's more like a diamond with Dembele higher and Özil deeper and high full-backs. We played almost the same system against Sevilla.http://outsideoftheboot.com/2017/11/15/tactical-analysis-barcelona-2-1-sevilla/

http://lineupbuilder.com/?sk=fx9dx1

 

[Leong157]

Did nothing in the game. Was responsible for that goal too. Gaya just went pass Semedo and this guy was jogging. Didn’t his job was also to support RB in a situation like this.

At least EV sub him off though

 

[xXKonan]

He actually had a pretty good first half but the second half he pretty much vanished.

 

[putogusiluz8]

He left semedo alone didn't track the overlap.

 

[Barcaman]

He looked too lazy and there can't be excuse for lack of effort. Unfortunately Valverde has no options.

 

[ronniecro]

even when he was being subbed off he ran like in slow motion,he's just a player here,not a midfielder,not a creator,not destructor,just on the pitch to fill the numbers