Julian Draxler
- Thread starter AfricanBavarian
- Start date
He wouldn't be expected to run around tackling ( Xavi never ) . Messi would just need a couple of workhorses around him - Busqs for one maybe Roberto the other if we don't get a top class midfielder...
Seri looks the best bet for a few years ....he's no youngster after all
What about a FIVE man midfield ?
Three at the back , two up front with Messi joining in with attacks from deeper ?
Alik
Moderator
Xavi was one of the players that covered the most kms in Barça. Messi the least.
FC433
New member
You are right. That is actually the problem; however, we should still try to find a way for the new version of Messi. I do believe that the new Messi is going to be way more entertaining and enjoyable to watch if he is surrounded by the right players, once it clicks, we are going to witness something totally different for even more years.
Just going to Ronaldo to illustrate how his new position made him alive again. Zidane knew that he just cannot dribble anymore, he is still fast, but not so good one on one. Moving him deeper and letting him take care of the finale touch was brilliant. However, Madrid had to play in a different formation. They currently play 41212 narrow
------------------Ronaldo---Benzema
--------------------------Isco
----------Kroos-------------------------- Modric
-------------------------Casemiro
Marcelo ----------Ramos--------- Varane---------- Carvajal
When they are attacking, Marcelo and Carvajal play as LW & RW:
-------------------Ronaldo---Benzema
Marcelo-----------------------------------------------Carvajal
--------------------------Isco
----------Kroos-------------------------- Modric
-------------------------Casemiro
---------Ramos-------------------------Varane
However, I do not think we can play 41212 because we do not have good fullbacks and also because we do not have strikers who can finish the crosses. In addition, we play a little bit different and our midfielders are not great to play in such formations yet. We still should try it, but I just do not enjoy playing without actual wingers.
Messi's visions is absolutely amazing and his passes are lethal and that just never gets old. With the right players we could keep him for what , 5 more years? Saying Messi cannot play in a two player midfield would not solve the broken unbalanced right side. We are going to have the same issue, he is going to drop deep and our team is going to be a bit unorganized.
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Messi983
Senior Member
Still wouldn't work. Xavi ran 11-12 km per game without a problem, Messi is around 7-8 km. Big difference.
He should play as AMC and staying upfront with Suarez helping in defense more. Another solution in big games against team like RM with great fullbacks would be to use Roberto in somewhat Pedro role as RM/RW to help keeping the ball in offense and then also in defense by tracking back Marcelo and whoever would play as their LW. But then you have to also use a more mobile box to box midfielder alongside Busi. Here is where I think Paulinho could be useful. Seri could play there as well if he proves he can do his job in defense.
On paper formation would look like that.
Busi-Paulinho/Seri
Roberto-Messi-Dembele
Suarez
When attacking it would change to
---------Busi-------
Paulinho/Seri--Roberto
--------Messi-----
Suarez---Dembele
Valverde used Neymar as more inside forward in first preseason games so I think he could try something similar with Dembele in some games.
And in defense you have:
Roberto-Busi-Paulinho/Seri-Dembele
-------------------Suarez----
------------Messi----------
Don't know if Dembele is disciplined enough defensively for full 90 minutes which would be needed against the likes of Carvajal and I don't trust Alba much in defense either. That's why I have Suarez shifted more to his side to help them out a lot (I think Roberto, Semedo and Busi would do their job on the other side). Messi would stay more forward to keep his energy and when he'd get the ball he could either keep a possesion (getting a foul) or try to launch a counter attack with Dembele and Semedo/Alba overlaping. Suarez would join them too of course but he's not as fast. Also, teams wouldn't be stupid enough to let Messi on a potential 1 on 1 situation so they would keep back at least 2-3 defenders and that would mean we'd have a numerical advantage when defending if anyone else would track back discpilined.
No, don't think we'll change our formation that much. We would also need another top CB in that case as I don't have full confidence in Masche anymore and Marlon is still too inexperienced.
Thiago10
New member
Müller? No one suits Barcelona less than that guy tbh. Don't want Draxler either.
1993Kaan1993
New member
Muller, impossible to get. Draxler is staying at PSG. very unlikely.
2 days ago BM president said that they didn't sign Draxler because signing him would reduce Muller's playing time so much. l don't believe in unhappy news, German media creates something to fill papers.
I reckon he'd be fine as our attack minded midfielder / deep lying forward . As long as there were two covering players alongside and Busqs behind him .
Yannik
Senior Member
He played CM for once. Normally, for whatever reason, he played on the wings for most of the time which I always found weird. Draxler in midfield is worldclass, clear upgrade to Motta.
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