Sergi Roberto

Bobo32

Bobo32

Senior Member
Porque said:
I don't think it would have made a big difference regarding Roberto. He may have been a bit nearer to his man to possibly influence the play. But I think we are all splitting hairs by overanalysing Roberto in that action (along with Umtiti).

Umtiti for example made the right decision to close his man (that is the point of having the back 3, so the CBL and CBR can push to anticipate and close the attacker down). I just inferred the minor error was with the judgement and getting passed by the attack. Could he have tactically fouled at that point for example?

BTW, Barca B is starting now so another chance to have a look at Comas, DM me if you need a link.
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I agree, and I see no fault from Umtiti or Roberto in this situation.
Umtiti could probably foul, and in hindsight there was pretty much always an option to foul before a goal... I do not think it is good to take a foul in this situation though.
 
serghei

serghei

Senior Member
Umtiti is too slow to foul players. He has to be near them to do it. Sometimes he tries to but doesn't get near enough. :lol: Seriously, have you guys watched him running? The man made 35 year old Soldado look like Mbappe in a 1 vs 1 sprint in the Cup.
 
Neeraj

Neeraj

Senior Member
Haha I'm probably beating a dead horse but seriously, just mind boggling to see what the management sees in Roberto and what he offers. Quick - nope. Dribbling - nope. Shooting - nope. Great defense - nope. Incisive passing - nope (unless you count his through balls backwards). Good crossing - nope.

I mean yeah okay play him in a dead rubber against relegation fodder to give some rest...sure. But to have him as the mainstay of your backline and one of your captains is just lolworthy.
 
Bobo32

Bobo32

Senior Member
serghei said:
He should be more concerned with attack? :lol: Seriously? It's the DEFENSIVE PHASE here. He focuses on attack when we have the ball. Jesus... The RB in a back 4 has to focus on attack instead of keeping his man in check... that's new.

About Umtiti, no, it's common to press a striker a bit outside your zone, the problem is Umtiti is a finished player and once he does that, he usually is schooled. You can't intercept or press well when you are slow and you have no knees... So, what he did was fine, how he did it is... expected for a player like that who last played proper football 3-4 years ago.
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A sign of a great team is them being ready in advance for the transition, both in off/def.

Roberto should not be needed as a defender in this situation, there are three pure defenders there and only two opponents in the whole half. Roberto and Alba are coming to help, as is the midfield, but to me it is insane that Roberto should follow a player in behind the defence there.

Ok, glad you agree that Umtiti should press. He is limiting play to the right side of the pitch, where Barcelona are 3v1. Was he dribbled, or if the ball went to the other side, he could be blamed.
 
serghei

serghei

Senior Member
Bobo32 said:
Roberto should not be needed as a defender in this situation, there are three pure defenders there and only two opponents in the whole half. Roberto and Alba are coming to help, as is the midfield, but to me it is insane that Roberto should follow a player in behind the defence there.
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Alba is out of it completely, he only gets involved is the action is played on our left flank, so leave him out.

Umtiti lost the duel with the Granada player. So this can turn very easily into a Pique vs 1 Granada attacker (the one that makes the pass, if he decides to continue the action himself and engage Pique), this is why Mingueza has to stay close to Pique, to make a 2 vs 1 centrally. If he stays far out and Pique is alone centrally, bad things can happen, including a red card for a foul there. When there are two, the risk is lower.

There is no way Mingueza should allow 25m between him and Pique so he can stay close to that wide player. This is why the wide player has to be handed to Roberto. And Roberto knows this very well. As soon as Mingueza narrows down, he knows that player is his and he starts the sprint, but he's caught too far out and his speed is not good.
 
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Bobo32

Bobo32

Senior Member
serghei said:
Alba is out of it completely, he only gets involved is the action is played on our left flank, so leave him out.

Umtiti lost the duel with the Granada player. So this can turn very easily into a Pique vs 1 Granada attacker (the one that makes the pass), this is why Mingueza has to stay close to Pique, to make a 2 vs 1 centrally.

Centrality is key in these situations. You want numerical superiority there at all costs.
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Who said Mingueza should not be close to Pique?

Yes, they are 3v1 centrally, with one other player running and able to recieve the ball free on goal in behind these 3 players.
You claimed Roberto should follow that player and be first on the ball behind the defence, I say that it's on the three central defenders to defend the space behind them.

edit: as to what you edited in, I already gave an easy solution to the problem.
 
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serghei

serghei

Senior Member
Bobo32 said:
Who said Mingueza should not be close to Pique?

Yes, they are 3v1 centrally, with one other player running and able to recieve the ball free on goal in behind these 3 players.
You claimed Roberto should follow that player and be first on the ball behind the defence, I say that it's on the three central defenders to defend the space behind them.

edit: as to what you edited in, I already gave an easy solution to the problem.
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What 3 central defenders? You keep going at this and clinging with the 3-5-2. It's not a 3-5-2 there because Umtiti is off position, it's an in-game transition to a 4 backline like there are dozens. When one of the 3 CBs vacates his spot, the wingback becomes defensively activated. There's no fixed position active at all times, there are dozens of positional exchanges that modify the defensive setup, and any Barca player is expected to make these adjustments in due time. Here it's a mini-setup where the 3 CB backline is transformed into a 2 CB backline, and when this happens, the wide threat is nearly always handed to the corresponding fullback, here Roberto. It's clearly distinguishable even in the picture you posted.

What you say makes sense if Umtiti doesn't wander off, then indeed, there's no point why Roberto would have a defensive role, the wide player is being handled by the lateral CB in the 3 shape. But he did. He goes out to dispossess and block someone and that someone turns him and takes him out.
 
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