Man of the Match thread

[darthvader7888]

Most entertaining game I recall watching this season, due to good performances all around. Don't let the fact it was a "meaningless" game fool you- the goals were brilliant and not due to defensive lapses on Malaga's part, and Malaga's offense got them many solid opportunities to keep the score close. It was far from the drubbing the score suggests. Moments of individual brilliance, including all the goals, and great tiki-taka. Montoya's wonder strike, Cesc's dribble-goal, Iniesta's curler, Busquets showboat 1-touch. But none of them alone was decisive in the overall performance or outcome of the game.

Two performances stand out above the rest:

1. MOTM Pedro
2. Pinto
3. Alba

Pedro was involved in creating nearly EVERY Barça opportunity in the game, including his brilliant run to set up the first goal. All anyone focuses on is his miss of Cesc's scoop pass in the second half, but he was a constant threat, pulled the Malaga defenders around, and laid out multiple opportunities for his teammates to score. Completely underrated by everyone in this thread.

Pinto singlehandedly kept the Malaga score to one goal with several excellent saves.

Defensively, both Alba and Mascherano worked the hardest to shut down the Malaga offense, with Joaquin/Isco being the main threat down Barça's left flank. A slight nod to Alba, but both did well.

Other important performances: Xavi for a solid Xavi-esque outing orchestrating the midfield; Iniesta for his key pass to Pedro to set up the first goal, in addition to his own strike.

Can't give Busquets the nod this game. His showboat tiki-taka was entertaining in the first half, but led to multiple dispossessions in the second. He's always somewhat cavalier (with good reason to have that confidence), but just too sloppy in the second half to warrant a rating.

Villa had many great 1-2 pass ideas (including his great little through ball that Cesc blasted into a defenders head instead of cutting back to the unmarked Villa), but just not sharp enough this day to pull most of them off.

Second leg against Milan says hi.

 

[BerkeleyBernie]

Second leg against Milan says hi.

Most *important* well-played game, yes. But this was more entertaining- far more delightful passing and overlapping runs.

 

[Trickykid]

The Official Barcaforum.com MoM-thread award
Malaga, La Liga, home (4-1)

1. Iniesta (38,3%) Amazing performance from the Don, ripped Malaga's defense to shreds in the first half and took his goal sublimely in the second ~ Semi-Neutral
2. Busquets (12,2%) Terrific performance from the Octopus as he controlled the game very well and demonstrated his usual array of one-touch passes, clever plays and skills. ~ Semi-Neutral
3. Mascherano (11,7%) Showcased all of his good qualities today as he demonstrated his world-class tackling once again. ~ Semi-Neutral

Well, that's that; end of the season.
Iniesta takes yet another first place. Busi takes yet another second spot, and manages to be the only player in the top 10 that finishes the season with no top spots. Mascherano concludes a dismal season on a high note, as he takes his 4th bronze medal.

I'll do a follow-up post with the complete list of top spots this season including a few stats.

 

[Semi-Neutral]

I was the only one who made quotes.

Good job with the thread tricky, you did a terrific job with it and it was a lot of fun to post here right after watching the game.

 

[Trickykid]

The Official Barcaforum.com MoM-thread award - Season ending edition

So, we've made it all the way to the end.
Fairly early in the season all but the last grain of excitement for the end result of the rankings had been erased, as Messi and Iniesta blew away all competition, and settled neatly as an extremely superior number 1 and 2. Xavi was in the running for a better position early in the season, but after a dreadful second half to the season he had to settle for a third spot. Another one suffering from good start and bad end was Fabregas, who started strongly, but when all came to all ended way out of medal reach.

The full list is as follows:

1. Messi (22 gold, 6 silver, 7 bronze)
2. Iniesta (9 gold, 6, silver, 6 bronze)
3. Xavi (2 gold, 4 silver, 9 bronze)
4. Valdés (2 gold, 5 silver, 2 bronze)
5. Thiago (3 gold, 4 silver, 0 bronze)
6. Fabregas (3 gold, 2 silver, 3 bronze)
7. Alves (3 gold, 2 silver, 0 bronze)
8. Busquets (0 gold, 7 silver, 1 bronze)
9. Villa (2 gold, 3 silver, 2 bronze)
10. Puyol (3 gold, 2 silver, 0 bronze)
11. Tello (0 gold, 6 silver, 1 bronze)
12. Alba (2 gold, 2 silver, 3 bronze)
13. Piqué (1 gold, 3 silver, 3 bronze)
14. Pedro (1 gold, 2 silver, 5 bronze)
15. Alexis (2 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze)
16. Song (1 gold, 2 silver, 3 bronze)
17. Adriano (2 gold, 0 silver, 2 bronze)
18. Pinto (1 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze)
19. Abidal (1 gold, 0 silver, 1 bronze)
20. Mascherano (0 gold, 0 silver, 4 bronze)
21. Bartra (0 gold, 0 silver, 1 bronze)
22. Montoya (0 gold, 0 silver, 0 bronze)



The season in points/minutes played:

In this chart number 1 and 2 are equally superior to the rest, but number 3 is different. Thiago suffered in the overall rankings because of the sorry amount of minutes he managed to get under his belt, but in this one, his true worth shows.



As a footnote, I'd like to say thanks a bunch to all who contributed over the season. Both the voters and of course the great quote suppliers. So yeah, thanks, folks!
I'm not yet sure if I'll do a second edition of the rankings next season, as I've gradually become less and less active on the forum during the last 3-4 months. Hopefully my energy and mojo will recharge during silly season. Regardless, it's been a fun experience, and I hope you guys have had fun with it also.

Cheers!

 

[Trickykid]

I was the only one who made quotes.

Good job with the thread tricky, you did a terrific job with it and it was a lot of fun to post here right after watching the game.

Yeah, you and Berkeley. He didn't pick the right players, though.
And thank you too, buddy, those quotes over the season made it all so much better. :beer2:

 

[Flavia]

Great job, Trickykid!
Both charts show a good picture of the season.

 

[Catorce]

As said many times; great job and thanks for making this part of the forums more fun with this thread!

 

[CatalinR10]

Great job Trickykid !

 

[Hellsangel]

Superbly done Trickykid!

 

[Trickykid]

Thanks all of you! Much appreciated.

 

[footyfan]

Congratulations Trickykid for seeing the project through. Thank you!

 

[barcanuck]

Thanks so much TrickyKid, now I can use your charts to argue why Montoya shouldn't ever start at RB over Alves

 

[Trickykid]

Just a heads up: I'll do the 13/14 edition of the Barcaforum MoM-thread awards too, starting tonight of course. So, yeah, if you guys feel like contributing, by all means, do so. And as usual, any input with critique or just ideas and advice for new features and gimmicks is very welcome.

 

[Semi-Neutral]

Will you be starting a new thread or continuing this one?