Jordi Alba

[AURELIUS]

I'd go with that. Normally the kid has plenty of pace to cope with anyone and loves to attack the byeline something which is a valuable attacking weapon.

 

[Tazim]

nice new video from dervyx

 

[barcanuck]

He's struggled to keep the form we were all amazed by at the beggining of the year. The Euros, Olympics, lack of rest in pre season and lack of preseason is taking a toll.

 

[ThwiX]

This was the first match for us where he wasn't that good.

 

[Indignado]

We should go with Montoya (maybe Abidal, if he's available)/Adriano against Sevilla and Deportivo. We should definitely rest Alba, we have plenty of fullback depth.

No Adriano, please. He's a bad defender and we need those substitutions.

 

[Indignado]

I think the main reason we concede that many goals is that one of the full-backs (usually Abidal) had been backing up until Alba joined. Now, we have two very offensive full-backs and our defense is far more easily exposed. Plus, Alves has been really bad this season and I don't think he will reach the level he once had again. Basically, you could say that Alba is the successor of Alves while Montoya is the successor of Abidal, just on opposite sides.

 

[DonAndres]

I think the main reason we concede that many goals is that one of the full-backs (usually Abidal) had been backing up until Alba joined. Now, we have two very offensive full-backs and our defense is far more easily exposed. Plus, Alves has been really bad this season and I don't think he will reach the level he once had again. Basically, you could say that Alba is the successor of Alves while Montoya is the successor of Abidal, just on opposite sides.

+1



Also, i think that Iniesta can and should be used as a left winger when we shift the emphasis of attack from the right side to the left. Think about it, for a majority of the season we had used the left flank more often to channel our attack and Iniesta was absolutely amazing on the left wing and was involved in almost all plays. That was when Alves was injured/out of form. Now that Alves is supposedly "back in form" the attack has shifted to go down the right side again and therefore Iniesta is less involved and isolated on the left side. Montoya on the right not only allows Alba+Iniesta to really fuel the attack but it also frees up Pedro to attack much more often and make deadly runs instead of making up for Alves' inability to defend. It's a win win situation but it won't be used until the management finally gets tired of Alves and starts Montoya instead.

 

[darthvader7888]

+1



Also, i think that Iniesta can and should be used as a left winger when we shift the emphasis of attack from the right side to the left. Think about it, for a majority of the season we had used the left flank more often to channel our attack and Iniesta was absolutely amazing on the left wing and was involved in almost all plays. That was when Alves was injured/out of form. Now that Alves is supposedly "back in form" the attack has shifted to go down the right side again and therefore Iniesta is less involved and isolated on the left side. Montoya on the right not only allows Alba+Iniesta to really fuel the attack but it also frees up Pedro to attack much more often and make deadly runs instead of making up for Alves' inability to defend. It's a win win situation but it won't be used until the management finally gets tired of Alves and starts Montoya instead.

IMO, we should alternate between Alba/Montoya and Alves/Abidal (people want variation in the lineup, and this is a pretty good way to add some), with the former being used more often in big games.

We should also use Iniesta in midfield for big games (especially against park the bus teams) with Villa on LW, to add someone who can score besides Messi. Then again, Pedro might with Montoya playing instead of Alves.

 

[DonAndres]

IMO, we should alternate between Alba/Montoya and Alves/Abidal (people want some variation, and this is a pretty good way to add some), with the former being used more often in big games.

That's exactly what we should be doing (it's been suggested by many) but I don't think the coaches even consider it. Although I'd rather have it be Alves/Adriano instead of Abidal. Abi should be used as a CB because he probably doesn't have the pace or stamina to fulfill his old role as a full back.

 

[darthvader7888]

That's exactly what we should be doing (it's been suggested by many) but I don't think the coaches even consider it. Although I'd rather have it be Alves/Adriano instead of Abidal. Abi should be used as a CB because he probably doesn't have the pace or stamina to fulfill his old role as a full back.

Hmm... Montoya can play on the left, right? Adriano's too offensive to pair with Alves IMO. I suppose we should go with Alba/Montoya and Alves/Montoya.

 

[BerkeleyBernie]

Also, i think that Iniesta can and should be used as a left winger when we shift the emphasis of attack from the right side to the left. Think about it, for a majority of the season we had used the left flank more often to channel our attack and Iniesta was absolutely amazing on the left wing and was involved in almost all plays. That was when Alves was injured/out of form. Now that Alves is supposedly "back in form" the attack has shifted to go down the right side again and therefore Iniesta is less involved and isolated on the left side. Montoya on the right not only allows Alba+Iniesta to really fuel the attack but it also frees up Pedro to attack much more often and make deadly runs instead of making up for Alves' inability to defend. It's a win win situation but it won't be used until the management finally gets tired of Alves and starts Montoya instead.

There is a hesitance to put the ball out to the wingers when isolated (except to Alves, I suppose), because of the lack of triangle passing options there, but when the center is being shut down, as Milan did, it's worth giving it to Iniesta who has proven he can dribble brilliantly along the goal-line. I was kinda shocked that Xavi didn't give Iniesta the ball in the moment shown below and back-passed instead. Xavi dribbled directly towards Iniesta for several seconds, and the gap remained open, yet Xavi never passed. Milan's right back certainly had his eye on Iniesta, but Iniesta could have still received the ball with plenty of time and space. He did get the ball a few seconds later from another Barça player, but by that time Milan had moved over and shut down the left side.

Maybe Xavi was waiting for Iniesta to make a move. Picture this: Iniesta accelerates laterally across towards Messi, Xavi passes to Iniesta, Iniesta quick touch to Messi, Iniesta breaks towards goal, Messi puts ball through to Iniesta between the RB and CB.

 

[footyfan]

Players like Xavi, Busquets and Pique are not playing the incisive forward passes that made Barca so successful. I'm not even talking about through passes, they are so much more conservative now that it's to the detriment of the team. They always ALWAYS gave the Milan defence enough time to regroup.

I remember exactly 1 pass (Xavi to Pedro which I think Constant intercepted) that looked like something Barca would do 2-3 years ago.

 

[footyfan]

Just look at this video - how long has it been since you've seen Xavi play like this? I know the circumstances are slightly different...it's Messi in the centre who doesnt make runs, but the wide players don't make runs either.

 

[evilhita666]

Bad defending, even worse diving/play acting, well-taken goal...

 

[United4Life]

Disgusting diving but nice goal