CatalinR10
Senior Member
he's coming big bois <3
Marco Verratti
- Thread starter Ode to Django
- Start date
putogusiluz8
The Pale One
If Verratti comes, will our strongest midfield still be one that includes Iniesta? Obviously, he's older so I don't expect him to be a regular starter, but say a big match, El Clasico for example supposing Andrés is well rested, would you rather Rakitic-Verratti or Iniesta-Verratti?
God Serena
New member
Mate.
Nobody in our current midfield bar Busquets is "good enough" to start for us. Rafinha, Denis, Gomes, Arda, Rakitic, and Iniesta are all the type of players who would either be sold, or permanent backups, back when our midfield had actual quality.
For me Roberto is more creative, a better dribbler, and a harder worker at this point as well. I'd start him over Rakitic in a heartbeat, not because he's "Good enough", but because we have no options.
springfield
New member
Iniesta is still one of the best and should start every match. His performances are still great, only problems he had was injuries. But Barcelona is stronger with him. Roberto more creative and better dribbler than Rakitic, not sure if serious. He's just an average midfielder, put him in an average team and you will notice all his weaknesses.
putogusiluz8
The Pale One
[tw]874568065836560385[/tw]
behindbrowneyes
Well-known member
So you want a starting eleven out of Galacticos?
Sheesh, we've won two CLs with 1,74M Mascherano as central defender. Would a 2 or 6 years younger Mascherano start for the likes of Bayern, Real, Juve or an English club as central defender? lol, no. It is not always about the best players, it is about the right players. Roberto has the legs, the technical ability and the heart to make it besides a mastermind like Verratti. He's gained a lot of confidence this year to be a totally different Roberto that we've known so far in midfield. Will he make mistakes? Hell, yes. Will he add something great to our midfield. Yes.
If Verratti joins us (I'm not very optimistic about it) we have Iniesta, Rakitic, Roberto and Gomes to pair with him. When Valverde plays a 4-3-3. There might not be a clear Gala-XI, but we have different kinds of players to be tactically flexible which is not a bad thing.
putogusiluz8
The Pale One
So much intelligence behind those brown eyes.
Nucky
Senior Member
Messi983
Senior Member
To be fair, I really don't think Verratti meeting with Messi would be a good thing. If anything, it would upset Nasser even more and our minimal chances (I'd say around 1% at this time and that's pretty optimistic) to get Marco would become 0,000000000000000000000%. Of course they could say they met coincidental because they were at the same time at the same place but them hanging out publically at this time still don't think it would do us a favour. Anyway, if rumours are true we have to convince PSG, not Verratti.
It's one thing if Verratti's agent is talking with Barça's representatives (agents are doing this all the time to keep options open for their players) and we have to do that to see if Verratti has real interest to join us and if it even makes any sense to start negotiating with PSG but it's totally another thing talking directly with the player so I hope whichever Barça representatives are currently in Ibiza (If there really are anyone there) won't use that approach. I know these things happen all the time but it's just not right IMO. We also weren't happy when there were rumours that PSG has talked with Neymar and even Messi behind Barça's back.
It's one thing if Verratti's agent is talking with Barça's representatives (agents are doing this all the time to keep options open for their players) and we have to do that to see if Verratti has real interest to join us and if it even makes any sense to start negotiating with PSG but it's totally another thing talking directly with the player so I hope whichever Barça representatives are currently in Ibiza (If there really are anyone there) won't use that approach. I know these things happen all the time but it's just not right IMO. We also weren't happy when there were rumours that PSG has talked with Neymar and even Messi behind Barça's back.
Messi983
Senior Member
Good post.
Another thing I would add is that Verratti and hopefully better Valverde's tactics would make other midfielders look better as well. Yes, their abilities won't change over night and longterm we'll probably still have to look for better midfielders but we can't change our whole midfield in one summer. Iniesta and Rakitić will be a year older and slower but with right rotations/enough rest they can both still perform on high level. As for younger midfielders like Roberto, Gomes or Denis they could and probably would actually improve not only their performances but also their total (current and potential) abilities paired with a great young CM (as good as Iniesta still is his age and injuries are preventing him to do the same and also raise the level of his teammates as well as he could when younger) like Verratti AND playing with better tactics where they would actually work as CMs and not some hybrid LM and RM/RW or whatever they had to play in Lucho's no midfield system last season.
It's really a shame we won't get Marco but at least we can hope for the next week or two until he signs a new contract with PSG.
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