Ivan Rakitić
- Thread starter Barcaman
- Start date
raedkuwait
Senior Member
He wont, EV has a crush on him
George_Costanza
Active member
We might have a shot at UCL if Raki is sold in winter.
BBZ8800
Senior Member
With Busi-Frenkie-Vidal midfield?
Since if Raki is gone and Arthur who knows where, this will be our lineup.
And then imagine Frenkie getting injured.
We would play CL semis with Busi-Alena-Vidal with Puig as the only sub.
Sounds good.
What could possible go wrong?
It can't be worse than a current era, right?
George_Costanza
Active member
FDJ+Arthur+ Anyone not named Raki is a good midfield.
What do you mean "who knows where is Arthur"? We all know he will be back within a week or two.
BBZ8800
Senior Member
Last season Arthur played only 42,9% minutes of our La Liga and a CL campaign.
This season he played 42,5% minutes in La Liga and a CL.
So, basically, when you play a match in March or April, statistically, chances are around 42-43% that Arthur will be on a match.
Ok, in last season he was benched in some matches.
But this season he wasn't benched.
He was missing in early rounds of a season due to resting after Copa America. Later he was missing because he was jet lagged, punished, STDs, random football and not football related injuries etc.
Arthur with 42,8% of minutes on a field is only SLIGHTLY more reliable than Dembele who played 37,8% of minutes in the last 2 seasons.
This is why I have said "who knows where is Arthur"?
It is very risky to rely on his health and off field problems.
I didn't even commented on his actual form which could drop (and which has dropped a lot since October).
CatalinR10
Senior Member
,, Rakitic has shocked the Barcelona dressing room in the training ground and it's fans making a statement about him deserving to be a starter or not " [md]
,, Rakitic was passing the ball with Todibo while out of nowhere he pulled a trick that would make prime non-alchoholic , at the club in time for training Ronaldinho jealous " [md]
,, After the video was released , 8 angry supporters of Rakitic demanded in front of mundo deportivo center to make a poll whether Rakitic deserved to be a starter or not saying they will 100% , all 8 of them vote for Rakitic to start " [md]
,, Todibo was so much in awe of the situation that he stoped the ball and had to shake Rakitic's hand " [md]
,, Later after training Todibo was expected to give an 1 hour long interview about what happened but sources tell us he's still in the showers staying in a corner repeating ,, I touched God " " [md]
,, Valverde said that Todibo had to suffer for something like this to happen and also that tomorrow will be a difficult game that will make the team suffer for the win " [md]
,, Barcelona board even more convinced that Rakitic is the 2nd coming of Jesus and apologized for the missed calls when Rakitic begged them in the press to improve his contract" [md]
,, Messi to transfer his 6 Ballon D'or trophies to Rakitic" [md]
The life changing moment :
4:20
,, Rakitic was passing the ball with Todibo while out of nowhere he pulled a trick that would make prime non-alchoholic , at the club in time for training Ronaldinho jealous " [md]
,, After the video was released , 8 angry supporters of Rakitic demanded in front of mundo deportivo center to make a poll whether Rakitic deserved to be a starter or not saying they will 100% , all 8 of them vote for Rakitic to start " [md]
,, Todibo was so much in awe of the situation that he stoped the ball and had to shake Rakitic's hand " [md]
,, Later after training Todibo was expected to give an 1 hour long interview about what happened but sources tell us he's still in the showers staying in a corner repeating ,, I touched God " " [md]
,, Valverde said that Todibo had to suffer for something like this to happen and also that tomorrow will be a difficult game that will make the team suffer for the win " [md]
,, Barcelona board even more convinced that Rakitic is the 2nd coming of Jesus and apologized for the missed calls when Rakitic begged them in the press to improve his contract" [md]
,, Messi to transfer his 6 Ballon D'or trophies to Rakitic" [md]
The life changing moment :
4:20
George_Costanza
Active member
The only one who thinks Arthur's form is dropped is you! Why is that?
Last season was the first season for Arthur in a European league, it's extremely difficult for footballers coming from South America to adapt to the physical demand of European league. I think this year he will do much better but the shortcoming of any Barcelona physical condition should be on the coach and his staff. The issue is not with Arthur only, I can present you stats that you can understand better how all Barca players' fitness level is less than other teams. So if the fitness level and overall physical wellbeing of our players is a concern for you, why don't you question the manager?
BBZ8800
Senior Member
Fans who watched all matches know that he played awesome in the first few matches of a season.
And after that his level dropped to "a meh" level. He wasn't bad, but way lower the level of the first few matches.
And after that, he has barely played due to 100s of different reasons.
His good period lasted for 7 matches since Osasuna to Sevilla:
Osasuna 2:2, Valencia 5:2, Dortmund 0:0 (meh), Villareal 2:1, Getafe 2:0, Inter 2:1, Sevilla 2:0.
His meh period was: Eibar 3:0, Slavia 2:1, Levante 1:3, Celta 4:1, Atletico 1:0.
Now, look at several things, outside of subjective eye test, and even there people here said that his level has dropped:
In the first 7 matches he has:
2 goals, 3 assists, 9 key passes, 20 dribbles, 11 tackles, 3 interceptions, 3 clearances.
In the next 5 matches, when his form dropped:
0 goals, 1 assist, 2 key passes, 9 dribbles, 3 tackles, 2 interceptions, 1 clearances.
In the first 7 matches he had 51 positive contributions (as seen above).
In the next 5 matches he had 18 positive contributions.
Further, his match rating on Whoscored.
First 7 matches:
7,97
7,51
7,48
7,94
7,62
7,32
7,55
Next 5 matches:
6,87
6,95
6,22
6,79
6,89
So, his average rating on Whoscored dropped from 7,60 to 6,70.
Further, another thing:
As I have said a lot of times, it seems that Arthur's form is often influenced by his motivation and his mood.
In the last season, when he wanted to prove himself, he played well early in a season.
When he proved himself and turned into a starter, he lost motivation and dropped his form.
He was very average in the spring.
This season, he came angry and motivated because he dropped to a 5th place in a pecking order under EV.
He played like crazy in the first 5 matches, at 120% of his abilities, running up and down, assisting, shooting, scoring, making tackles left and right.
After 7 matches, he already lost a part of that anger and motivation and returned to his "normal" self.
His average rating dropped, his attacking play returned into mediocrity, his defensive game disappeared, his stamina disappeared.
About stamina, look at this:
First 7 matches:
Osasuna, subbed IN the last 37 minutes
Valencia, 73 minutes
Dortmund, 90 minutes
Villareal, 90 minutes
Getafe, 90 minutes
Inter, 90 minutes
Sevilla, 65 minutes
= played 4 matches in a row for 90 minutes (out of 70 minutes).
At Sevilla's match, he already started to be more tired.
And then look at this sample of matches:
Sevilla, 65 minutes
** Senegal, 68 minutes
** Nigeria, 80 minutes
Eibar, 71 minutes
Slavia, 84 minutes
Levante, 66 minutes
Celta, 90 minutes
Atletico, 73 minutes
= in the last 6 matches for Barca, he played only once for 90 minutes.
Another fact, with today's match against Alaves, out of the last 12 Barca's official matches, Arthur played in only 3:
Didn't play: Valladolid 5:1, Slavia 0:0, Leganes 2:1, Dortmund 3:1, Mallorca 5:2, Inter 2:1, Sociedad 2:2, Real 0:0, Alaves x:x
Played: Levante 1:3, Celta 4:1, Atletico 1:0
So, I have found another pattern on Barcaforum:
1. we knew before that every player is worth based on how he has played in the last game. If he was good=he is awesome. If he was bad=sell.
2. but here is another pattern: each player has his pros and cons. And the longer a player doesn't play, it seems that people slowly forget player's flaws and remember only his good sides.
One Month ago, there were more people posting how Arthur is bad in the attacking part and in defending.
But now, due to not playing for some time, those flaws are forgotten and people again think only about his good sides.
3. also, another pattern is: when a player doesn't play, fans start to love him again, example:
1) when Rakitic played last season=he was shit and a cancer
2) people wanted a trio Busi-Arthur-Frenkie.
This season started, Raki was dropped.
3) suddenly people started to say that Busi is bad and how the best lineup would be "something else".
That something else was suddenly: Vidal-Arthur-Frenkie.
Then we played that way for a few matches.
But it didn't work.
4) then people moved to a new idea: Busi is so bad and Vidal is chaotic, maybe we should try: Rakitic-Arthur-Frenkie.
It was well for 2-3 matches, but after Anoeta and Classico, people want Rakitic out and now the idea is: I think that we should try ALENA-Arthur-Frenkie.
Then, when Alena will also disappoint, people will make a full 360* circle and go back: we should try Arthur-Frenkie-Busi again
So, basically:
1. when a player doesn't play, his good skills are GROWING on a forum and bad sides are disappearing
2. and also, a player who hasn't played the longest is also getting love from fans and people will, say that we need to try that combination again.
For example, we all agree that Dumbele is sloppy, weird, not too brightest etc.
But in a few weeks, people will start to miss him and say: I think that our best lineup in attack is Dembele-Suarez-Messi.
Then Dembele will suck and people will say: no, bring back Griezz-Suarez-Messi.
Then Griezz will play meh.
Then people will say: no, give a chance to Fati-Suarez-Messi.
Then Fati will be meh.
Then people will make another 360* full circle and say: no, Griezz-Suarez-Messi is the best.
So, I personally don't like these irrational patterns, so, I'll repeat:
1. in 2019, Arthur played well in January and February. Then his form dropped a lot.
2. in this season, he played good for 7 matches only in a row.
Then his form dropped a lot again.
3. even worse, he disappeared and played 3 of the last 12 matches due to various football and non-football related reasons.
So, imo, it is not fair to look only at 7 matches where a player was good and angry and where he gave 120%, because that is not a real Arthur.
If a player had 5 good matches and 5 bad matches, you can't say=he is always as good as in those 5 good matches.
The real answer is: he is good in 50% of matches and average in 50% of matches.
Now, go back and take a look at Arthur's 2019 year and count how many good weeks he had at all in Barca's shirt.
So, imo, out of desperation and since other midfield options are also bad, you guys are insanely overrating Arthur and are remembering only his good games and totally erasing other Months (or are offering insane alibies for why he was bad).
During summer we had to read how his stamina isn't bad at all and how EV is stupid. What about his stamina this season? It is gone already and a guy is only 23 years old.
Or that he was injured in a spring and this is why he played bad.
I don't think that it was an injury in the last season.
But even if it was an injury, then he missed the whole spring to one injury and now is missing for majority of time due to other random injuries.
Should I even dare to ask: is he injury prone then?
You can't have it both ways:
That he both has a good stamina and is not injury prone, yet he is missing a majority of each season and is always dead tired after 50-60 minutes of a match.
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So, I have found another pattern on Barcaforum:
1. we knew before that every player is worth based on how he has played in the last game. If he was good=he is awesome. If he was bad=sell.
2. but here is another pattern: each player has his pros and cons. And the longer a player doesn't play, it seems that people slowly forget player's flaws and remember only his good sides.
One Month ago, there were more people posting how Arthur is bad in the attacking part and in defending.
But now, due to not playing for some time, those flaws are forgotten and people again think only about his good sides.
3. also, another pattern is: when a player doesn't play, fans start to love him again, example:
1) when Rakitic played last season=he was shit and a cancer
2) people wanted a trio Busi-Arthur-Frenkie.
This season started, Raki was dropped.
3) suddenly people started to say that Busi is bad and how the best lineup would be "something else".
That something else was suddenly: Vidal-Arthur-Frenkie.
Then we played that way for a few matches.
But it didn't work.
4) then people moved to a new idea: Busi is so bad and Vidal is chaotic, maybe we should try: Rakitic-Arthur-Frenkie.
It was well for 2-3 matches, but after Anoeta and Classico, people want Rakitic out and now the idea is: I think that we should try ALENA-Arthur-Frenkie.
Then, when Alena will also disappoint, people will make a full 360* circle and go back: we should try Arthur-Frenkie-Busi again
Thats because people, and especially Valverde, have no patience. I still think Busquets/Rakitic-Frenkie-Arthur is the way to go, but obviously Arthurs injuries have ruined that. And I would take his off field antics with a bit of salt. If he had an STD he would have still trained with the team.
BBZ8800
Senior Member
I will call it for dumbing down again.
You need to look at a bigger picture.
Midfielders need to be compatible.
Plus a midfield needs to be compatible with a rest of a team.
At Pep's Barca, Pep's City and Klopp's Liverpool, the whole team made sense and was compatible.
At Liverpool, everyone is running, fighting, pressing.
And the whole team (especially fullbacks and attackers) are built for fast counters.
At City, the WHOLE team moves well. All players are fast, agile, mobile, technical. Majority of midfielders and attackers can score.
Now, let's move to Barca:
Frenkie-Arthur share very similar virtues (getting the ball from our half into the opponent's half, press resistance, recycling possession, nice technique).
But they also share similar flaws:
1. both suck in the attacking 3rd and BOTH of them need one CAM type of a player alongside them to compensate for it (Donny at Ajax, Coutinho at Brasil).
2. both are questionable in defense. Frenkie needed a double pivot or a babysitter in De Roon at Dutch NT and Schone at Ajax.
Arthur needs Casemiro at a Brasilian NT.
Now, both of them work the best when they have one ATTACKING guy in a midfield trio and one DEFENSIVE guy in a midfield trio.
And here is a problem: if you pair Frenkie and Arthur together, there is room left for only ONE guy.
And now: do you want a CAM or a pivot?
No matter what you choose, we will suck in one area.
In this case, you picked a physical pivot, which is nice.
Frenkie+pivot should be good enough for defense.
But a question remains: what with an attacking 3rd now?
Arthur is very sterile. Frenkie isn't too comfortable there either and he shoots like Busi/Iniesta.
Now, move forward to a bigger picture.
Are our midfielders compatible with attackers?
If you field Frenkie-Arthur-Partey, then you need to compensate with attacking trio and fullbacks.
Regarding fullbacks, we have Alba, who is braindead and useless in the box.
And Semedo as an attacking RB, lol.
Do you see a problem?
= a midfield who is useless around the box, paired with Alba and Semedo.
That means that we have to play with Roberto again.
And then you guys will whine how a coach is stupid for playing Roberto (since he is meh in defense against big teams).
But the answer again is: do you want to suck in defense or in attack? We will always suck in at least one area.
Now move to attackers.
If you have sterile midfielders, then you need 3 attackers who will be able to solve the match (especially against parked buses) with their individual magic and they will need to be good dribblers, creators and finishers.
Messi and Suarez will retire soon.
The only guy left will be Griezz. Slow, horrible dribbler, meh finisher.
So, now we already have a midfield trio who is sterile in attack, and 2 questionable fullbacks in attack.
And now we have even Griezz who is also more of a passer than a finisher.
Griezz also needs a true finisher infront of him.
Let's move forward, who is a biggest wish of our board? =Neymar.
Another guy who is more of a creator than a finisher.
He can create, but he also needs a true No9 to finish his actions.
And then, our last pick is Lautaro.
A mobile FC who works a lot, but who's shooting skills aren't too lethal for now.
Now, imagine a year 2022 and this lineup:
Neymar-Lautaro-Griezz
Arthur - Frenkie
-- Partey --
Alba -- xx -- xx -- Semedo/Roberto
Lol. Seriously, I am not trolling.
In 2022, we will look back to a December of 2019 and say: I wish we could return to those better days.
These names which you guys throwing around make zero sense.
Your planning isn't any better than a planning from Barto, Robert and Abidal.
You want to buy a fancy name and don't care too much about a bigger picture, how a whole team will attack, create, defend etc.
And then you will just whine: a coach is stupid.
We have the best team, we just need someone who is not clueless.
And I haven't even touched topics like: should we attack with counters or possession, or always through the ground or add some crosses/headers and then buy suitable players for those (who will again need to be compatible with midfield, attack and fullbacks).
Not to mention some pace, adding some leaders into all of this etc...
One more time:
1. Pep and Klopp are buying their players with a purpose.
They have a clear plan and a system in their heads and then for 2-3 years, they are building that team with the EXACT type of players who will fit perfectly into that bigger picture.
At Barca, we have some sort of a best of album (like in music) or United colors of Benetton.
Randomly mixed players/songs thrown into one place, where those items have nothing in common with eachother.
But keep dreaming, no problem.
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Throw your names too.
Throw your ideal/almost ideal lineup for 2022.
Let's see what you can build
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