Sadly for you, we usually play 2-4 CL knockout matches per season.
And the rest of our season is: 38 league matches and CDR.
Where we usually play against weaker teams who park the bus and don't press too much and the only question is that matches is: whether we will score or not.
In those 50 matches, forum's beloved Busi-Frenkie-Arthur trio consisted of three pivots who had less goals and assists combined than the worst midfielder in the universe.
As I have posted yesterday:
Busquets: 47 matches last season, 0 goals, 2 assists
Arthur: 36 matches, 0 goals, 1 assist
Frenkie: 42 matches, 3 goals, 3 assists
= total: 3 goals, 6 assists
The worst midfielder in the history of universe:
= 46 matches, 4 goals, 7 assists
So, no, Busi-Frenkie-Arthur doesn't look too promising at all in terms of assists and goals.
And that is what we usually need against crappy La Liga teams.
If you are referring to Liverpool and Roma, fine, Arthur can play.
But as said, that will be 2-4 matches per season.
Don't forget that Arthur was subbed of a few times in a row in a spring at a half time when we were chasing the score, iirc against Espanyol home, Sociedad home and CDR Valencia.
NOT because EV is an idiot, but because Arthur for now offered absolutely nothing in attack and in the attacking third.
So, let's wait and see whether EV will play a 3 pivot midfield at home against Leganes when we will chase a win.
And that is not because he is an idiot.
Quite contrary...
You posted it twice and twice you've got it wrong.
Arthur got 2 assists, not 1.
If you're getting your basic stats wrong, how can we trust the rest of your numbers?
As for the rest of your post, I like how you have now conceded defeat on your claim of Rakitic being a must-start 'workhorse' in the team who is tactically reliable, disciplined, etc, etc as you continuously said in the past. On the evidence of Rakitic's performance over the entirety of the past season, that doesn't even come close to holding water. So your next claim is the fact that Rakitic gets 'more goals and assists than the other 3' (Busquets, Frenkie & Arthur).
But there's a simple logic to it that you seem to be deliberately overlooking. And it doesn't have anything to do with Rakitic's brilliance, but for the fact he plays further forward than the other 3.
Rakitic plays on the right side of a midfield 3, the same side that Messi deserts during games (since he supposedly starts at RW), Rakitic fills that hole, while the other 2 midfielders hold, especially since Alba is always bombing forward on the left side.
Player plays further forward in a high scoring team, said player ends up more involved in stats like goals & assists. It's the same with Vidal, who even spent a lot of time in the box next to Suarez. Coutinho played in midfield a bit, then even further forward, hence, despite being rubbish, he was involved in 11 goals and however many assists....
As for Arthur's level dropping, it did indeed, he had 4 injuries, especially in the latter part of last season he was playing whilst managing a groin injury - on top of the other 3 hamstrings injuries he had. For a young player, it is worrying sign, but he now seemed fine and recovered in the Copa America. He should be back to his level again.
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Here are two Diario Sport journalists discussing Arthur's groin injury:
[youtube]DhH476O6eg4[/youtube]
7:30
(...) Arthur, un jugador que termina la temporada con problemas en el pubis...
"A player that ends the season with a problem in his pubis/groin"
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As for your other claim that it's just people here in this message board that prefer a midfield trio of Frenkie-Busi-Arthur, well; look at Mister Seitan's latest video and see for yourself we're not alone.
He's Barca's #1 Youtube personality, journalist and Catalan as well:
[youtube]O3_p-CM8dDA[/youtube]
Talking about Antoine, but using his preferred formation - with Busquets, Frenkie & Arthur as starters
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For me, Rakitic should spend his last season here as a squad player - and that should help him get back to his level.
With Valverde here he's become lazy, arrogant and putridly unlikeable.
What he said about De Jong left me speechless. You'd think he was the Ronaldo of midfielders with the stuff that's been coming out of his mouth, and not the unequivocal disappointment he was last season, and even the season before.
But for whatever reason, people like you are fine with not only more of the same, but also the continuity of stale, failed mediocrity. However, I am not.
