Sunny's Barca

[Poor_Sunyol]

25 man squad:

Goalkeepers: Riena, Pinto, Olazabal
Defenders: Pique, Hummels, Muniesa, Puyol, Mathieu, Bartra, Alba, Montoya
Midfielders: Busquets, Mascherano, Xavi, Iniesta, Cesc, Thiago, Rafinha, R.Sanchez, Fellaini
Forwards: Messi, Tello, Deulofeu, Neymar, Pedro


Transfer budget: 50 million Euros

Players bought: Reina 10m, Hummels 24m, Neymar 40m, Mathieu 9m, Fellaini 28m = 111m
Players out: Valdes 12m, Villa 12m, Cuenca 5m, Bojan 13m, Afellay 5m, JDS 5m, Abidal 1m, Song 22m, Adriano 15m, Alexis 25m = 115m

Balance remaining: 4 million Euros



Short description:

I am sticking to what we know best and that is a fluid 4-3-3. Riena is a done deal to start with. Abidal and Adriano are most likely out of the squad for next season so I am bringing in Mathieu as cover for Alba and Montoya can cover for Alves and Alba if need be.
Hummels and Pique would be my first choice CB pairing, with Puyi, Bartra and Munesia as cover. Mascherano is to be moved back to DM as Song is out. Busquets to remain as the first choice though.
Fellaini to be added to give us that much needed box-to-box type that we have missed and to give us some aerial prescence.
With Alexis and Villa out, Neymar to come in. Giving us a front 3 of Neymar-Messi-Pedro/Deulofeu/Tello.
Solid team with plenty of options and keeping La Masia involved.

 

[Barcaman]

I think Pique+Hummels would be a disaster but then again anything could prove better than what we have now.

 

[BibB]

Who is R.Sanchez in midfield?

 

[Poor_Sunyol]

Sorry it was meant to be Sergi Roberto. Typo.

 

[Poor_Sunyol]

I think Pique+Hummels would be a disaster but then again anything could prove better than what we have now.

Why?

 

[Barca8]

Why?

Because they are the same defender practically. Hummels is in form while Pique is not. But style wise Hummels is playing like Pique did from 08-11

We need a Puyol, Subotic, Vidic, Kompany type of defender to partner Pique. 2 preferably since Bartra is a shorter/faster Pique type of defender; technically sound, good on the ball, likes to bring the ball from the back even sometimes roaming into the opponents half.

 

[Poor_Sunyol]

I disagree with your assessment of Pique. How is he different from Vidic, Kompany and Subotic apart from being better on the ball?

 

[Ursegor]

How is he different from Vidic, Kompany and Subotic apart from being better on the ball?

He can't defend?

 

[Raed]

I just think that this team is a weaker version than what it was before. I mean Neymar is a big gamble and this formation depends on him a lot. Then there is the ever aging Xavi who cannot press anymore, and Alba's weakness in the back combined with Pique's loss of form. I always thought your team would perfect the diamond. Drop Pedro for a hard technical player and have Alba and Alves run the flanks down.

 

[El Gato]

Mathieu? Sunny, really? This can be dodgy.

 

[Deco 20]

I don't understand why we'd go for Fellaini

 

[Raed]

I don't understand why we'd go for Fellaini

He is a strong player with clutch goals and wins all aerial balls. He is good technically. I like him.

 

[SoMa]

Who is this Riena guy? I sure hope you don't mean Reina. Ter stegen all the way.

 

[DonAndres]

I disagree with your assessment of Pique. How is he different from Vidic, Kompany and Subotic apart from being better on the ball?

He runs back when positioning to cut off passing options, intercept, etc. as opposed to running up to put pressure, tackling, etc. Sweeper vs Stopper

 

[Poor_Sunyol]

I just think that this team is a weaker version than what it was before. I mean Neymar is a big gamble and this formation depends on him a lot. Then there is the ever aging Xavi who cannot press anymore, and Alba's weakness in the back combined with Pique's loss of form. I always thought your team would perfect the diamond. Drop Pedro for a hard technical player and have Alba and Alves run the flanks down.

I wouldn't say that Xavi is past it by any means. He was a little jaded by the end of this year but that was because of the lack of rotation due to the managerial changes that were forced upon us. Pique wasn't at his best, but he rallied at the end of the season and the experience this year will hold him in good stead going forward. He was used to having Puyi next to him that helped his concentration and he didn't have that this year. On his day Pique is one of the best defenders in the world and he was probably our best player in the last few games. Alba is a problem as I said when we wanted to buy him because we can't play both Alves and Alba together, but we also have to be realistic and understand that Tito is going to continue with that system for the foreseeable future. I have tried to put together a squad that is likely to be a reality, not an FM style big who you want rubbish. (MY ENTER KEY STILL DOES NOT WORK ON THIS FORUM....GRRRR I GIVE UP.