Ivan Rakitić

[Maxim4]

I found a video of Rakitic on Twitter that examines all his performances.
Worse and worse .
https://twitter.com/RakiticOUT01/status/1132447836103172096?s=19

 

[Potroh]

Along with having the proper players you also need to fix the movement on and off the ball.

Yes, sure.
Nowadays a tactically aware and good coach analyzes his games and along with some of the assistants tries to carve up different territories to be occupied at different tactical situations.
Just because you and others often mention the off-ball movements:

Thus (if we are talking about midfielders) X player should cover this rectangle or triangle, which obviously differs by the phase of play, namely defending, building up and creating chances.
So player-X has his different territories for all phases to be covered.
1. if the opponent is pressing high
2. if pressure is average
3. if the opponents don't "chase" the ball but defend their own territories.
4. against numerous defending players (parked bus) when the triangles and rectangles are still there but much smaller in size. These can also change place if frequent off-ball movements happen, so the players need to be aware of HOW their territory changed if another player took up a different position.

The "traditional" approach is usually to cover these places where again "traditionally" X player has 3 options.
- a backward pass (if no lateral or longitudinal is possible)
- a lateral pass sideways
- a longitudinal pass that can be either "slow pass" (the advantage of this is that it can be forwarded elsewhere with a SINGLE touch) or a "strong pass" that needs to be handled before choosing a new pass-direction.

The "modern" approach is very different nowadays.
1. The given territories are NOT covered by a single player but 2 or even 3 players keep on "rotating" to demesne the given rectangle or triangle. That needs more runs, better stamina and much more awareness.
2. The lateral passes are minimized and there is no single "creator" midfielder (usually in the middle), but all of them have to be able to do the final, dangerous pass towards an attacker.
3. Because the midfielders almost constantly keep on changing territories, all of them have to be able to make a final ball with either left or right foot. No "I put the ball first to my better foot" is allowed, because it takes valuable time.

Barca plays the former "traditional" passing with the advantage of keeping the ball, but with the disadvantage of rarely doing anything UNEXPECTED.
And the problem starts there, because the lack of constant and unexpected territorial changes make the flow very predictable.

Now comes the present (hopefully for not too long) coach of Barca, because this worse than mediocre coach can only imagine FIXED tactical positions (still talking about midfield but it is also valid for the forwards) and by WATCHING 2-3 typical Barca game, all opponent coaches KNOW where the territory is for X, Y or Z midfielder, because those clauses don't change AT ALL.
So it's easy to find something against Barca at the back, specially if counters are frequent, because the Barca midfield is slow while trying to return to defensive positions.

Sorry for the lengthy explanation, I could go on for quite some time, but the essence of the tactical problem is, that Valverde knows and employs ONE SINGLE tactical scenario for the midfield, regardless if the opponent is good or bad.
The ONLY difference is when he is scared and wants an even more defensive midfield, so he simply INCREASES the QUANTITY of the midfield by one, but otherwise everything remains the same, with slightly smaller territories to be covered.
He either plays Z or sometimes Y, at the other game Y starts and X will come on the pitch (usually the 62nd or 64th minute) but the essential tactics do NOT change whatsoever.
He has a single and FIXED tactical scenery and sometimes rotates players, but tactically everything remains the same.

The huge drawback of this is the following:
- the tactical repertoire is MINIMAL and very predictable
- doesn't work well against highly motivated and speedy opponents
- doesn't work against highly pressing teams
- can be easily circumvented by minimal tactical changes

So my conclusion is:
The elderly, tired and predictable players should go sooner or later BUT even more importantly:
A new coach with at least average tactical repertoire has to take over, because at present each and every opponent KNOWS how Barca will play.

Until now the individual excellence of most players were enough to circumvent this serious lack of tactical flexibility, but these players are old, tired, slow and unmotivated, so even if all of them stayed, a new coach is the KEY for any visible change, because seemingly Valverde simply has no tactical knowledge to circumvent the ageing and decline of the same (otherwise quite good) players...

 

[Messigician]

📰 [MD] | Rakitic got angry after his substitution.

🔶 He kicked a few bottles of water after learning that Valverde was changing him to put Aleñá in the field.

🔊 "Yes, I was angry but it is normal. It's because I want to help the team but I respect the coach's decision."

 

[Neymessi]

[MD] | Rakitic got angry after his substitution.

He kicked a few bottles of water after learning that Valverde was changing him to put Aleñá in the field.

"Yes, I was angry but it is normal. It's because I want to help the team but I respect the coach's decision."

As if playing a mediocre player in the starting 11 wasn't enough he now throws tantrums on getting subbed as if he is Messi. Twat.

 

[BBZ8800]

Per game yeah? Rakitić almost always played 90. Arthur played 60 minutes, mostly.

So, on tackles, they are equal. But Rakitić is better in Aerials (for cca 0,25 p/g based on minutes, which is expected because of height) and in interceptions (for 0,7 p/g, which is expected, since Rakitić plays almost next to Busquets in Valverde's "system").

You can compare them when they play the same position, but that was mostly not the case.

I used to post tackles and other defensive actions per MINUTE.
Arthur was still the worst between Busi, Raki and Vidal.
People used to say: so what. Stats are stupid, you have to watch matches, lol.

So, basically: Konan, you, Yoda and others when you watch matches=what you see with your eyes is reality.
When me and others watch matches and don't like what we see from Arthur=we don't understand football.
If we try to use/add stats to show that he is far from a mighty player, people reply=you can't use stats, you have to watch matches.

So, basically, it again comes down to=your eye test is better than mine, lol.

I asked some of you, can you name more than 2 footballing areas out of 10 classical for a midfielder in which Arthur is actually good?
1. creating chances, a main duty for a midfielder=No
2. key passes=no
3. any type of a creation in attacking sense=no
4. finishing skills and a shooting technique=no
5. all types of defending=no
6. heading and aerial strength=no
7. pace, stamina=no
8. long balls=no
9. set pieces either in attack or defense=no
10. dribbles and solo action from midfield=no

Where he is good:
1. press resistance and getting the ball out of our half=yes
2. moving off the ball more than Busi and Raki=yes
3. being younger than them and having more motivation=yes

All true, but doesn't one expect a player who plays CDM in his every 3rd or 4th game to have more tackles on average than a player who strictly plays as the most advanced CM on the pitch?

I am analyzing this forum and people's reaction not only from a footballing point of view.
You can learn a lot of things from psychological and sociological point of view.

Anyway, it's amazing how many alibies people will say in order to defend their favorites, especially when they are young players like Dembele, Malcom and Arthur.

1. when Arthur lost his place even to Vidal=people said that he was injured
2. Arthur played all matches before Liverpool and after Liverpool, so he couldn't have been injured=people will reply: no he was injured
3. why has Arthur played like shit in the last 3 Months=he was either injured (he played all matches, lol) or EV killed his confidence
4. why is Arthur getting subbed after 60 minutes=he is giving his "all". A real answer: he had stamina problems since his first match and has lately gained 4 kgs

I don't want to actually analyze stats if you'll dismiss them as always with: stats don't tell the whole story.
If you want, I can analyze only matches where Rakitic and Vidal played as CMs, the same as Arthur.
And I will post interceptions/tackles per minute.
Arthur will still be the weakest among them.

I mean, I don't get why do you guys can't accept that even though Arthur is good in press resistance, he might be shit in other areas?

Obviously Arthur should improve his forward passes, but we should never forget that we have no idea what tactical instructions he receives from the coach.
The meaningful forward balls are to create chances, so those are usually practiced a lot.

Perhaps Valverde's person and mentality disgusts me so much that I can hardly be objective anymore regarding his "tactics", but I have a strong feeling that he has a significant hand in what is happening at the midfield...

I have literally posted a video of Arthur playing for Brazil only 12 hours ago:
1. with a different coach
2. with different teammates, who are moving more than our players.
Yet, he is playing exactly the same as at Barca.

I can post any video from Gremio, his 3rd club, and he is playing the same.

So, use occam's razor again and ask yourself:
1. is Arthur playing the same in all clubs=because, obviously, this is how he actually plays and this is his natural style and natural instincts (keep the ball no matter what, don't make risks)
2. or, less likely where you need to add 10 of ifs:
1) he plays safe at Barca because Raki, Busi and wingers are not moving and EV instructed him that way
2) he plays safe at Brasil because teammates and wingers are not moving
3) he plays safe at Gremio because teammates are not moving

You guys are closing your eyes for the most obvious answer.
And even then, you'll throw another: he is young, he will learn it.
Btw, he is 23 in 2 Months. Name me one player in a history of top football who was meh at forward passes and suddenly improved those to Barca's level at the age of 23 or older.
There is no such guy.
Or if there is, it happens once in 20 years.
So, accept the most obvious answer: it is what it is
Arthur is THIS kind of a player. And he can improve slightly in some areas, but don't expect wonders.
He will remain the same player as today.
He will gain more experience with each new season.
But also, he will also gain more weight in each new year, lose pace (as all players do) and he will be slower than Raki and Busi, and his stamina (and his defending due to this) will get worse and worse in each new season.

Guys like Arthur thrive a lot when the team is moving around a lot same with De Jong. The problem won't get fixed until we finally do something about the movement of the team.

Lol.
Level of delusion and alibies: 20 000. You have just reached a world class level, congratulations mate.

So, let's try one more time. This is how Arthur plays without Barca's teammates and our slow wingers.
So, what is the explanation for him playing equally as slow and safe as with Raki and Busi around him?

 

[Kul_z]

It's unbelievably funny how some people think that when we get rid of Rakitic we will play tiki-taka again. I Rakitic is our biggest problem than we indeed have wonderful squad and we will dominate next season from start to finish!

Nobody is talking about domination, but actually enjoying watching our games again. Players who irritated me the most this season: Rakitic, busquets, suarez by a margin. All three are playing in their position, and for the worst part rakitic and busquets, in the most important area are underperforming, get ran over, overpowered, by a less quality opponent week in week out. And then we are in problems. As of bbz stats of interceptions and tackles, maybe if rakitic and busquets are more mobile and maybe, just maybe if rakitic has more sense of the space surrounding him he wouldnt even had to them. But, hell, what do we know, we are only watching games, while bbz is supercomputer

 

[Potroh]

I used to post tackles and other defensive actions per MINUTE.

Divided by the minutes?
That's not crazy, that is insane...
(i.e. the goalkeeper's number of saves divided by playing time = call the ambulance NOW...)

I am analyzing this forum and people's reaction not only from a footballing point of view.

A huge mistake.

You can learn a lot of things from psychological and sociological point of view.

Yes, if there were 2687 similar forums to be statistically compared...

I don't want to actually analyze stats if you'll dismiss them as always with: stats don't tell the whole story.

But as stats most definitely never ever "tell the whole story", you may also think about the positive intentions of those who dismiss most of them.
OR will you come to the conclusion soon that only numeric results and stats matter??? Football games played by computers?

I have literally posted a video of Arthur playing for Brazil only 12 hours ago:

Not at all relevant as he played only twice for Brazil, at friendly games...
Could you judge Messi by his first two games played for his NT???
(I was there when he played his first against Hungary and got a red card without touching the ball...)
Or Ronaldinho who couldn't play a single ball when first called by his NT???

 

[Arizona Scott]

Divided by the minutes?
That's not crazy, that is insane...
(i.e. the goalkeeper's number of saves divided by playing time = call the ambulance NOW...)

Of course per minute or per 90 minutes is the fairest you can get. Doesn't make it perfect, the guy playing half the game can expend more energy per minute than the guy playing 90, but as long as there is a decent sample of minutes over a season or competition it is the best we got.

But as stats most definitely never ever "tell the whole story", you may also think about the positive intentions of those who dismiss most of them.
OR will you come to the conclusion soon that only numeric results and stats matter??? Football games played by computers?

Statistics and advanced sports metrics are tools. Every top professional franchises uses them in helping to evaluate their own team/players and for scouting--though it reached certain sports sooner, they are very important supplements and checks and balances to the eye test. In truth Rakitic and Busquests are very very close in composite metrics the last couple years, for barca and national team. So when a poster is way more favorable to one and way less favorable to the other, it certainly smacks of seeing what you want to see and not what is.

BTW I am more favorable to Arthur than BBZ. I just get back to how solid he was most of the time, and at times exceptional, in his 1st year in European top football, and on probably the hardest team to play for. I look less at age (22) and more that it is 1st year at 3 levels up--playing with and against the best and no worse than holding his own. Lots of players are late bloomers--think Kante, VVD, Modric, Vardy, Aspas, Rakiti, Parejo, Fernandinho--Arthur as solid as he is at 22 isn't really a late bloomer but I still except more than minor improvement. I think we have a 8 year fixture and one of the buys of last summers window.

 

[Potroh]

Statistics and advanced sports metrics are tools. Every top professional franchises uses them in helping to evaluate their own team/players and for scouting--though it reached certain sports sooner, they are very important supplements and checks and balances to the eye test.

Obviously so.
But those are COMPLEMENTARY tools, just as you said, but far from being the unquestionable FACTS to mirror either a single player or an entire team.

Football is a creative sport, filled with luck and other undefinable factors, where often even the end-results can tell little about the actual game-play.

If you take the example of Giroud for instance, who did almost nothing in the WC for the champion France, his statistics show as if he was the center in an Albanian mid-table team. But he had an important role in that team - while doing nothing - making room for the others.

In a strongly defensive team the stats of a forward will cheat your eyes, as well as stats of a defender in a highly offensive team. Not to mention the goalkeeper's role, where we all know how a defensive team can "make" a goalkeeper great - if one looks at the mere statistics.
The more a player is involved the related stats and metrics will also misguide you more... You can't even compare an attacking midfielder to a defending one by the mere numbers. Because the ROLES hence expectations are different.

 

[xXKonan]

[tw]1133058597452230656[/tw]

Of Course, this guy wants to stay and fulfill his contract he has that loser of a coach backing him through thick and thin.

 

[DonAndres]

[MENTION=23089]Arizona Scott[/MENTION] and [MENTION=16942]BBZ8800[/MENTION] are mind numbingly off the mark claiming that any stats have Rakitic as the #1 or #2 midfielder in the squad. Fuck your sofascore or Whoscored ratings lol. Do you believe that Adnan Januzaj is better than Modric? Or the likes of Rochina/Marc Roca/etc. are better than Arturo Vidal?

If that's the level of insight you bring to this forum, you should honestly gtfo. If I were moderator I'd make it a bannable offense to pollute the forum with such low level content.

Busquets is SIGNIFICANTLY ahead of Rakitic in tackles/interceptions/aerial duels/etc. it isn't even close. He's at the same level as a dribbler and key passer despite playing way farther behind with less offensive license.

Vidal, adjusted for minutes, blows Rakitic out of the water 10x more even in all of these categories and a couple more as well.

NO bullshit use of stats has Rakitic as a top 2 midfielder for us this season. Not unless you inflate him up based on minutes, or give credence to a couple of tippy tappy goals and assists here and there. The kind of assists where he's hitting misplaced passes that Messi happens to finish, or hitting a 2m layoff to Messi who had an 18m chip goal over the entire Betis defense/GK. What a fantastic assist amirite?

Arthur averaged the same amount of tackles/90 as Rakitic in Liga while having 2x as many in the CL. Clearances is a nonsense stat, basically rewarding Rakitic for hoofing the ball up and being too incompetent to play it out of the back. Rakitic has a block 1 time every 5 games, and wins 1 aerial duel per game. That is a garbage metric for acting like he has some huge defensive impact.

Arthur is also ahead of him in key passes, xG Buildup/90, far superior as a dribbler and ball carrier, etc. In terms of consistent impact in elevating our offense over 90 minutes, Rakitic isn't in the same fucking stratosphere as Arthur, tippy tappy goals/assists be damned.

The idea that Arthur only plays it safe is hilarious. He is actually willing to hold and carry the ball forward through pressure every time he's on it, whereas Rakitic is petrified in fear and plays hot potato with the football just dumping it off to the nearest guy the moment he gets it. If there's pressure in our own half, HE WON'T EVEN BE VISIBLE WITHIN THE SCREEN FRAME. He's that much of a coward. Won't get anywhere near the play when it's tough and congested. His defense is also insanely overrated as he mostly does not press hard but rather clean up after another player who did the pressing for him and get the interception after the offensive player was pressed into an error.

[MENTION=16942]BBZ8800[/MENTION] your favorite player is a total coward with no skills other than horizontal long balls (which he doesn't even do anymore) and the occasional long shot a few times a season. It is an insult to ever mention his name in the same breath as Arthur, even though the latter still has a long way to go. Rakitic is just that bad.

 

[gr98]

[tw]1133137268292685825[/tw]

 

[jairzinho]

Rakitic was one of the worse players against Liverpool and Valencia. His best days are behind him and it’s time to leave.

Pairing him and Busquets together should never happen again hopefully. Both are considerably slow, anyone could outmuscle or outrun them.

That’s why we got cut open like a chicken at Anfield. Milner, Fabinho and Henderson made these guys look like shit.

 

[tacticvarium]

Possibly one of the biggest black sheeps and worst signings in Barça history.

 

[MTL_Barca]

Thats what you get for paying all players these sky high salaries snd giving out longterm contracts to 30+ yo players. Same with renewing Valverde early.

Can hardly blame them for wanting to stay or not wanting to sign for like half the money somewhere else.