Sergio Busquets

[eye-switcher]

We knew he can't do anything in attack but lately he does nothing in defense either. He has no competition and suffers from lack of motivation.
Mascherano had a superb World Cup at dm, holding the midfield practically on his own and has deserved a chance to start there for Barca as well. He distributes the ball faster, can shoot and is as much of an interceptor as Busquets.
Busquets in his prime is probably better but that Busquets is lost in 2011.

+1

 

[barcanuck]

We knew he can't do anything in attack but lately he does nothing in defense either. He has no competition and suffers from lack of motivation.
Mascherano had a superb World Cup at dm, holding the midfield practically on his own and has deserved a chance to start there for Barca as well. He distributes the ball faster, can shoot and is as much of an interceptor as Busquets.
Busquets in his prime is probably better but that Busquets is lost in 2011.

This this and this. I see similarities between Pique and Cesc type motivation with Busi. Very annoyed with his turn overs in our zone.

 

[Irish_Cules]

He still puts in amazing performances regularly enough but when he has poor games these days he has really shocking ones. Those two occasions where he tried to draw a foul and just gave the ball away on the edge of the box were incredibly stupid.

 

[Flavia]

Bad game. I'm just not sure how much his game is being influenced by the other mids being so wide.

 

[Sumlit]

Bad game. I'm just not sure how much his game is being influenced by the other mids being so wide.

Lucho's going to have to tweak his formation a bit. This mids wide to cover the fullbacks is already getting snuffed out. PSG is the second team to employ a 4-3-3 to counter it (Malaga the other) and it hasn't fared favorably. PSG did more today because they had more talent on the field.
There's just simple very little midfield flow with this formation and is far far too dependent on great fullback play to to be effective.

He's got to diversify the repertoire.

 

[Pepe Silvia]

He's been underwhelming for quite a while now.

 

[Kohe321]

He really needs to stop his mad attempts to shield the ball in front of his own goal with two-three opposing players swarming him. It lead to nothing but disaster today, and it makes him look like a silly goose when he has to chase after people after getting dispossessed.

Keep it simple please Busquets, at least until you're in form again. I really think Pique and Mathieu at CB with Mascherano as DM would work MUCH better in this game, especially considering the form of the biscuit. Also because we simply lacked pace in midfield, among many other things...

 

[Ghost]

Last time he was any good in a big game?

 

[SeloBarca]

He used to be great in big games, but now he rather argues with the referee

 

[barcanuck]

Further proof that he is unbenchable. Can have miserable games like today and no one starts at DM but him for the big game. That's going to change if Lucho wants to win anything.

Whoscored worst ratings today for outfield players :


Pedro 6.3
Busquets 6.3 - only 66 passes made, he has to be up around 80-100 be to effective because he can't defend.

 

[barca7788]

pique syndrome.

 

[Blaugrana Bull]

Busi needs some rest. His position in our team is the hardest to master and was even tougher when he was playing with Xavi in front of him all the years (or even Xavi and Cesc).
Lucho should finally consider to use Masche there so Busi can relax a bit and be ready for big opponents like in today's game. Especially because two really good CBs who need confidence are sitting on the bench right now while Masche is being played out of position.

 

[BerkeleyBernie]

Further proof that he is unbenchable. Can have miserable games like today and no one starts at DM but him for the big game. That's going to change if Lucho wants to win anything.

Whoscored worst ratings today for outfield players :


Pedro 6.3
Busquets 6.3 - only 66 passes made, he has to be up around 80-100 be to effective because he can't defend.

Actually (if you actually think ratings by algorithm mean anything), WhoScored rated Sandro the worst outfield player with a 5.99, and Xavi was given a 6.31, with Alba the 4th *best* rated Barça player soaring above them with a 6.91.

Just sayin'.

 

[Icarium]

Lucho should bench him for 2-3 matches and make him work hard for his place. These kind of performances are completely unacceptable from a player of this caliber. I hope he puts a good performance against RM other wise we are done.

 

[Ursegor]

What makes you think he's playing like this because of "lack of motivation"? Busquets always comes across as a low-profile football nerd and teacher's pet kind of guy.

Anyway, he's off form since that injury around the Confeds Cup. But the setup of the central midfielders don't help his cause.

I have no idea what Rakitic is doing there between Pedro and Alves. Do you? Let's take a look at the last CL final Barcelona has played:

Midfielders playing in the middle close to Busquets and not split apart to cover for average fullbacks on the sides. Surprise, surprise.