Martin Montoya

[JamDav1982]

Montoya is 21, Thiago 22. They have to compete with Alves and Xavi. Of course, Alves and Xavi are better but what do you understand under youth-work? It's about playing time to develop, improving, becoming better. Montoya and Thiago prooved that they are class but how can they proove more of their talent when the coach does not believe in them? Instead of thousands of useless crosses from Alves, Tito should have let Montoya play a bit more. The match against Malaga, Montoya did so well and even scored a nice goal. There is no way that playing almost all games with the same players will lead us to success in the future because we have the best youth academy in the world but what is it worth when there is no one who uses the diamonds correctly?

What about the game against Milan when Alves dominated the right hand side of the pitch offensively and defensively all on his own? Allowing the formnation that got the win.

What about Alves majestic pass for Messi to score against PSG etc.

To suggest Alves is nothing now but a shit defender that cant cross is beyond ridiculous.

By all means there is a case for replacing him more with Montoya for a better balanced defence but to try and justify it by making out he is shit is wrong.

 

[JamDav1982]

Yeah lets blame individual errors (ironically for which the manager is responsible) instead of lack of penetration, power, speed and ineffectual wing play

Agaisnt who was that the case?

Bayern i accept as they were too reliant on Messi let alone missing Puyol, Masch and and an unfit Busquets.

 

[Cule4life]

Bayern scored plenty of goals due to Alves getting targeted and often bullied in the air as well. He's constantly left the right flank wide open as well in the Bayern game as well. 1st goal, he got beat by Dante in the air. 2nd goal he got beat by Muller in the air. 3rd goal he left Ribery to run at the defense while he lazily jogged back and then disrupt them for Robben to eventually score because of Alba being fouled. 4th goal he was completely missing on the right flank with Pedro actually being much farther back than he was. In the 2nd leg he was lazy as hell once again in defense, constantly letting them outplay him on the right flank with ease. Alba himself had poor defensive performances, but don't go apeshit saying that Alba was the only one targeted and that Alves was superior in any way at all. As for the Confed cup both flanks on Spain had mediocre defenders but it was the double pivot that helped Alves and the lack of it that harmed Alba.

You would think that this would end this discussion but this is the internet we are talking about

 

[Meitux]

What about the game against Milan when Alves dominated the right hand side of the pitch offensively and defensively all on his own? Allowing the formnation that got the win.

What about Alves majestic pass for Messi to score against PSG etc.

To suggest Alves is nothing now but a shit defender that cant cross is beyond ridiculous.

By all means there is a case for replacing him more with Montoya for a better balanced defence but to try and justify it by making out he is shit is wrong.

Comparing Alba and Alves as attack minded let off for the moment their defensive abilities.Who Would you keep based on their perfomances at this role?

 

[Mr Hulot]

The so called Dream Team won 4 straight La Liga title between the season 90/91-93/94:

90/91- 57 points
91/92- 55 points
92-93- 58 points
93/94- 56 points

To put in perspective the 100 point record, that everyone so much downplays. The consistency this team had against every other team except Real Madrid was amazing. We didn't reach the heights of the Pep era against top teams, but I am just angered by some fans, that cannot appreciate how amazing this team still is and how beautiful football still plays.

 

[jiopi]

The so called Dream Team won 4 straight La Liga title between the season 90/91-93/94:

90/91- 57 points
91/92- 55 points
92-93- 58 points
93/94- 56 points

To put in perspective the 100 point record, that everyone so much downplays. The consistency this team had against every other team except Real Madrid was amazing. We didn't reach the heights of the Pep era against top teams, but I am just angered by some fans, that cannot appreciate how amazing this team still is and how beautiful football still plays.

The win was 2 points at the time.

 

[JamDav1982]

Comparing Alba and Alves as attack minded let off for the moment their defensive abilities.Would you keep based on their perfomances at this role?

I would keep Alba due to his age and the fact he can work with Neymar on that side of the park.

Still think he is 100% a defensive liabilty which could be helped a bit by having a leader back in the back four.

 

[JamDav1982]

Bayern scored plenty of goals due to Alves getting targeted and often bullied in the air as well. He's constantly left the right flank wide open as well in the Bayern game as well. 1st goal, he got beat by Dante in the air. 2nd goal he got beat by Muller in the air. 3rd goal he left Ribery to run at the defense while he lazily jogged back and then disrupt them for Robben to eventually score because of Alba being fouled. 4th goal he was completely missing on the right flank with Pedro actually being much farther back than he was. In the 2nd leg he was lazy as hell once again in defense, constantly letting them outplay him on the right flank with ease. Alba himself had poor defensive performances, but don't go apeshit saying that Alba was the only one targeted and that Alves was superior in any way at all. As for the Confed cup both flanks on Spain had mediocre defenders but it was the double pivot that helped Alves and the lack of it that harmed Alba.

Watch the game again they constantly played the ball into the areas to attack Alba - clearly they targeted him.

Alves was much the better player and understood his positioing better.

 

[Cruijffista]

The so called Dream Team won 4 straight La Liga title between the season 90/91-93/94:

90/91- 57 points
91/92- 55 points
92-93- 58 points
93/94- 56 points

To put in perspective the 100 point record, that everyone so much downplays. The consistency this team had against every other team except Real Madrid was amazing. We didn't reach the heights of the Pep era against top teams, but I am just angered by some fans, that cannot appreciate how amazing this team still is and how beautiful football still plays.

Maybe I'm an old man by these forum standards at 30 years old but I remember when a win used to be 2 points.

La Liga didn't adapt to 3-points-for-a-win until 1995.

 

[jamrock]

which was better the 99 points are the 100,

 

[DonAndres]

Watch the game again they constantly played the ball into the areas to attack Alba - clearly they targeted him.

Alves was much the better player and understood his positioing better.

If anything that could be attributed to the fact that Muller+Robben are the focal points of the attack for Bayern and were playing better, making it a harder job for Alba. Alves was constantly run down, beaten in the air, lazy in his defensive job, and utterly useless whereas Alba was running the entire match trying to contain Robben and Muller but not being able to do so due to his lack of defensive solidity and their amazing form/trickery.

 

[Mr Hulot]

The win was 2 points at the time.

I didn't know that! So it was 82, 78, 83 and 81 points. Still 17 points or more is a big difference and my point still stands. We are still a very good team with great player, that play beautiful football. There is no reason to act like our 100 points was a gift.

 

[Cule4life]

Watch the game again they constantly played the ball into the areas to attack Alba - clearly they targeted him.

Alves was much the better player and understood his positioing better.

Theres no reasoning with you is there?

 

[Cule4life]

If anything that could be attributed to the fact that Muller+Robben are the focal points of the attack for Bayern and were playing better, making it a harder job for Alba. Alves was constantly run down, beaten in the air, lazy in his defensive job, and utterly useless whereas Alba was running the entire match trying to contain Robben and Muller but not being able to do so due to his lack of defensive solidity and their amazing form/trickery.

You read my mind mate
OT: Hope we meet in this lifetime someday. It would be like looking into a mirror

 

[JamDav1982]

If anything that could be attributed to the fact that Muller+Robben are the focal points of the attack for Bayern and were playing better, making it a harder job for Alba. Alves was constantly run down, beaten in the air, lazy in his defensive job, and utterly useless whereas Alba was running the entire match trying to contain Robben and Muller but not being able to do so due to his lack of defensive solidity and their amazing form/trickery.

Alves was beaten in the air but thats not him being poor defensively a fullback of that height should never be being asked to mark players of that height and in that areas for set pieces. You cant expect him to win those duals in that areas.

Anyway those were headers knocked back across goal to players unmarked, breaking down goals like that you could start blaming 3/4 players.

If Alba was asked to mark a center forward from a corner and they knocked it back across goal he couldnt be blamed for that.

Alba was marking two of the players that actually scored goals and his was the area of the park they targeted.

He is a complete liabilty defensively far more so than Alves.