Ivan Rakitić

[Sorin]

That he has been more important for this team for the last 2 seasons than Busquets. If we had someone like Rodri or De Jong here this season to play DM we would be MILES AND MILES better than with Busquets. Rakitic is a swiss army knife, who fits the midfield-role that no one else does, and that is more useful than a over the hill legend. He has been overplayed because our coaches are Rakitic-maniacs, but that shouldn't be held against him, imo, instead it should point to the fact that he has incredible stamina/physic, which will benefit him even more with rest (maybe the same can be said about Busquets, but he has already been rested more than Rakitic, so I'm not so sure about it).

It's like "should we keep Puyol or Mascherano", I'd go with Mascherano as we did, although Puyol was a Barca legend.

If we get a Manchester United-bid, that is too stupid, then we should sell of course (something like 50M+). We can sell now, because we have youth coming in (De Jong, Alena) and could then buy Rodrigo from Atletico and play De Jong as CM.

Again, for what we need Rakitic is not a better player than Busquets. We need control in midfield and Rakitic definiton of that is to pass to the first man he sees in front of him. Time and time again we haven't been able to escape the press because Rakitic self awereness of his position on the pitch is non existant. He is just not good enough at reading the game.

Depending on what you need at a certain point, a swiss army knife that does everything decent but nothing great is not better than a specialized tool that does one thing great and everyhting else meh.

What does Rakitic do better than Busquets anyway? Because from what I saw this season he is just as slow, he is actually worse in defense, backed up by the always popular stats, he is a worse passer, he can't resist the press to save his life. Is he better because he might score a banger once in a while and has slightly more stamina? That stamina is doesn't even mean much because his reaction and foot speed are bad.

Your example with Mascherano and Puyol is bad because Mascherano was actually world class and Puyol began to have problems with injuries and whatnot. Rakitic meanwhile is hardly better than Busi. Let's just agree to disagree. For me, Rakitic should be sold and Busquets phased out as soon as next season. Busquets for all his faults, and he has many, can be a a better mentor to the likes of De Jong and Arthur. Because they are specialized in exactly what Busquets has been king in his career, and that is pass and move, pass and move type of football. Rakitic meanwhile can bring more money. It's a no brainer who should leave imo.

[MENTION=20770]Raketa10[/MENTION] see the post above. I won't write another post with the same argument. Suffice to say I don't agree with what you said about Rakitic being more useful. Peace, I don't care to continue this disscusion any further because you won't change my mind and I won't change yours.

 

[Raketa10]

For me, Rakitic should be sold and Busquets phased out as soon as next season. Busquets for all his faults, and he has many, can be a a better mentor to the likes of De Jong and Arthur. Because they are specialized in exactly what Busquets has been king in his career, and that is pass and move, pass and move type of football. Rakitic meanwhile can bring more money. It's a no brainer who should leave imo.

That's 100% true. I agree with you on this.

 

[BarçaBarça]

Again, for what we need Rakitic is not a better player than Busquets. We need control in midfield and Rakitic definiton of that is to pass to the first man he sees in front of him. Time and time again we haven't been able to escape the press because Rakitic self awereness of his position on the pitch is non existant. He is just not food enough at reading the game.

Depending on what you need at a certain point, a swiss army knife that does everything decent but nothing great is not better than a specialized tool that does one thing great and everyhting else meh.

What does Rakitic do better than Busquets anyway? Because from what I saw this season he is just as slow, he is actually worse in defense, backed up by the always popular stats, he is a worse passer, he can't resist the press to save his life. Is he better because he might score a banger once in a while and has slightly more stamina? That stamina is doesn't mean much because his reaction and foot speed are bad.

Your example with Mascherano and Puyol is bad because Mascherano was actually world class and Puyol began to have problems with injuries and whatnot. Rakitic meanwhile is hardly better than Busi. Let's just agree to disagree. For me, Rakitic should be sold and Busquets phased out as soon as next season. Busquets for all his faults, and he has many, can be a a better mentor to the likes of De Jong and Arthur. Because they are specialized in exactly what Busquets has been king in his career, and that is pass and move, pass and move type of football. Rakitic meanwhile can bring more money. It's a no brainer who should leave imo.

[MENTION=20770]Raketa10[/MENTION] see the post above. I won't write another post with the same argument. Suffice to say I don't agree with what you said about Rakitic being more useful. Peace, I don't care to continue this disscusion any further because you won't change my mind and I won't change yours.

Busquets has no legs left, Rakitic has some at least. I'd prefer Rakitic>Roberto many times for example, while I wouldn't prefer Busquets>De Jong and/or Rodrigo at many times next season. Their pass percentage is quite similar and Busquets makes more grim mistakes now, than Rakitic does - that counts a lot to me.

Maybe Rakitic can bring in more money, yes, and then I say "sell", if the offer is big enough. But that should also tell you, that Rakitic can be usefull for other teams, while no-one who wants a ball-playing DM, like Chelsea instead of Jorginho or Manchester City instead of Fernandinho will pay enough for Busquets, as he is clearly over the hill. But yes, we can agree to disagree, that is fine.

The mentor thing could be fine, but he will be an extremely expensive mentor. All said and done, we should get the best out of him, of course, so a mentor role is fine, but if his presence is enough to hinder Rodrigo to come here, it is bad.

One last thing: With our legends we should give them a proper farewell like with Xavi and Iniesta. That is how legends should walk proud out of the door, it contributes to the tale of Barcelona as a club with class and style. We should never be like Madrid who trashed Casillas departure for example. Therefore Busquets need a departure where he speaks to supporters before the season is over, and that would fit better next year, as the replacement for him isn't clear right now. I have no problem with doing a Sanchez-sale every now and then with selling a player a little unexpected, but our legends should be treated with more care, because it helps us stand apart from trash-clubs like PSG, who will imprison players if necessary.

 

[Zidane82]

Again, for what we need Rakitic is not a better player than Busquets. We need control in midfield and Rakitic definiton of that is to pass to the first man he sees in front of him. Time and time again we haven't been able to escape the press because Rakitic self awereness of his position on the pitch is non existant. He is just not good enough at reading the game.

Depending on what you need at a certain point, a swiss army knife that does everything decent but nothing great is not better than a specialized tool that does one thing great and everyhting else meh.

What does Rakitic do better than Busquets anyway? Because from what I saw this season he is just as slow, he is actually worse in defense, backed up by the always popular stats, he is a worse passer, he can't resist the press to save his life. Is he better because he might score a banger once in a while and has slightly more stamina? That stamina is doesn't even mean much because his reaction and foot speed are bad.

Your example with Mascherano and Puyol is bad because Mascherano was actually world class and Puyol began to have problems with injuries and whatnot. Rakitic meanwhile is hardly better than Busi. Let's just agree to disagree. For me, Rakitic should be sold and Busquets phased out as soon as next season. Busquets for all his faults, and he has many, can be a a better mentor to the likes of De Jong and Arthur. Because they are specialized in exactly what Busquets has been king in his career, and that is pass and move, pass and move type of football. Rakitic meanwhile can bring more money. It's a no brainer who should leave imo.

[MENTION=20770]Raketa10[/MENTION] see the post above. I won't write another post with the same argument. Suffice to say I don't agree with what you said about Rakitic being more useful. Peace, I don't care to continue this disscusion any further because you won't change my mind and I won't change yours.

Absolutely perfection

 

[Tekkers]

"rakitic is the engine that drives barca"

 

[ryuken]

Drives barca into oblivion?

 

[Zidane82]

"rakitic is the engine that drives barca"

..... downhill ... if it starts in the first place ..

 

[kattanib]

EV Suarez Messi and Raki have been caught in a jacuzzi together chilling. True story.

 

[Andrew M]

That he has been more important for this team for the last 2 seasons than Busquets. If we had someone like Rodri or De Jong here this season to play DM we would be MILES AND MILES better than with Busquets. Rakitic is a swiss army knife, who fits the midfield-role that no one else does, and that is more useful than a over the hill legend. He has been overplayed because our coaches are Rakitic-maniacs, but that shouldn't be held against him, imo, instead it should point to the fact that he has incredible stamina/physic, which will benefit him even more with rest (maybe the same can be said about Busquets, but he has already been rested more than Rakitic, so I'm not so sure about it).

It's like "should we keep Puyol or Mascherano", I'd go with Mascherano as we did, although Puyol was a Barca legend.

If we get a Manchester United-bid, that is too stupid, then we should sell of course (something like 50M+). We can sell now, because we have youth coming in (De Jong, Alena) and could then buy Rodrigo from Atletico and play De Jong as CM.

Mascherano is 6 years younger than Puyol! Of course we keep Masch over him

What an absurd comparison. Busi and Raki are both born in 88.

 

[Messigician]

Ivan Rakitić on Frenkie de Jong: "I'm glad Barca signed de Jong. First of all, he's a young kid who plays great football. Every good player can come to Barca, I'll be happy. But, I'm convinced de Jong is not coming for my position, because it's occupied."


Meanwhile, reports from Spanish publication Dario GOL, claims Rakitic's departure from the club could be because of Messi.

The 31-year-old was believed to have told his countryman Luka Modric that Barca would be in a much better state if Messi stopped his endless nose poking.

Messi is believed to have a big say in what players the club sign as well as the ones to be sold at a particular period. He also gives advice on team selection.

 

[serghei]

Don't you know by now that Diario GOL package shit into news for the stupid and gullible?

 

[FCBfan22]

Meanwhile, this guy has lost the contact with reality. That Instagram story adresses all Cules like we are all 5 years old kids who are idolizing him and want to be him. Watch him now play like shite again tonight and then come out with another everything is all right interview.

And we are on the page that demands this:

[youtube]XRHhDP8PY_g[/youtube]

 

[evilhita666]

Hopefully his last game game for the club... Win or lose, please go away!

 

[clemente]

Most players are aware of their age, how decline works, and when the time comes, they start looking for a new challenge elsewhere because the responsibility of being a part of the squad becomes too much, and then there are players like this who have never been good enough for this level in the first place, and then has the nerve to talk about deserving a new contract. Busquets, Rakitic, Suarez are the ones most guilty of taking advantage of Messi's greatness by masking their incompetence. Someone like Pep or Tuschel would have told him to fuck off long time ago

 

[xXKonan]

To be fair I wouldn't put Suarez and Busi in the same category as the likes of Rakitic.

Those two at their best were the best in their retrospective positions, Rakitic was never considered to be in the running of top 5 CMs in the world nor the best in his generation. Rakitic was good during the second half of the treble season but he had the likes of Alves and Messi on the RW doing a lot of the creative work and he was there to plug in the holes.