Thiago Translantara

[Ursegor]

So you'd rather have an attacking midfielder not assist, but have better control?

Barca didn't do too badly with Iniesta in 08 / 09 and 10 / 11. Iniesta had 3 assists in 10 / 11. lol

 

[jamrock]

Barca didn't do too badly with Iniesta in 08 / 09 and 10 / 11. Iniesta had 3 assists in 10 / 11. lol

Was just about to point out that barca don't play with a traditional attacking midfielder, so yes having someone that can control the ball and by extention the game is more important to Barcelona football

 

[DonAndres]

Barca didn't do too badly with Iniesta in 08 / 09 and 10 / 11. Iniesta had 3 assists in 10 / 11. lol

To be fair you can't judge Cesc by his ability to play like Iniesta, it's apples and oranges.

The thing with Cesc is that he goes off form quite a bit along with the fact that in our current system, the management hasn't found a role or good partners for him. Xavi+Cesc lacks fluidity and transition while Cesc+Iniesta offers little to no control and our game goes haywire. Cesc worked well when Iniesta was pushed to the wing because they could link up well and Cesc could be better involved in play, but ultimately using Iniesta on the wing too much became a hazard as teams were able to figure it out and Dani's return caused the play to be re-established onto the right flank instead of the left.

 

[Jadentheman]

Firstly no body can really replace Xavi (as in take his place). Thiago is Thiago and how he plays is different from someone else. If it works and helps the team why stress with the rest of the stuff?

 

[spark]

Who cares if someone averages 0.3, 0.4 or 0.5 assists in a game anyway? A game lasts about 95 minutes (with added time in 2 halfs). It doesn't tell you anything about a player's performance if he gives 0.3 or 0.4 assists in that time frame. I'd rather have someone making 0 assists but not messing up a great amount of his other 100 touches and passes than someone who assists a goal but overall misses fluidity in his game (messes up his ball control, touches and passes and lacks awareness noticeably more than his teammates). Especially when we're talking about midfielders.



I don't give a damn about his assist stats as long as he produces such awkward moments where the ball bounces away from him 3 yards after a simple pass.

and

Thiago has done that several times over the last year or more but it isnt always punished . What does it mean? That players have bad moments in games. Busi himself used have his own bad or horror moments when he started. Back headers, flicks to the opposition and Rouletas right in front of the defense. If Abidal could learn to be superb in possession or keita without being technically naturally brilliant then so can Cesc.

 

[Ursegor]

To be fair you can't judge Cesc by his ability to play like Iniesta, it's apples and oranges.

The thing with Cesc is that he goes off form quite a bit along with the fact that in our current system, the management hasn't found a role or good partners for him. Xavi+Cesc lacks fluidity and transition while Cesc+Iniesta offers little to no control and our game goes haywire. Cesc worked well when Iniesta was pushed to the wing because they could link up well and Cesc could be better involved in play, but ultimately using Iniesta on the wing too much became a hazard as teams were able to figure it out and Dani's return caused the play to be re-established onto the right flank instead of the left.

That's just talking around the fact that Cesc is simply not good enough in certain areas of his game. If he had any noticeable burst of pace to take on defenders it wouldn't be a problem to pair him with Xavi and if he were technical, agile and intelligent enough to keep and distribute the ball in deeper zones it wouldn't be a problem to pair him with Iniesta. As it is he's just a very good passer. To make up for his flaws you would need to build the team around his strengths like at Arsenal. Which means: Put him close to goal behind a striker, don't ask him to dictate, just let him create, free him from defensive duties and give him off-the-ball runners all around who run into space. In short: He would thrive at Real Madrid in Özil's position. For Barca he remains a pointless Galactico signing who still divides fans after 2 seasons at the club.

 

[Ursegor]

and

Thiago has done that several times over the last year or more but it isnt always punished . What does it mean? That players have bad moments in games. Busi himself used have his own bad or horror moments when he started. Back headers, flicks to the opposition and Rouletas right in front of the defense. If Abidal could learn to be superb in possession or keita without being technically naturally brilliant then so can Cesc.

Those aren't fundamental technical flaws. Those are lapses in concentration which are perfectly understandable for a youngstar who is only playing his second season in the top flight (a great portion interrupted by a ligament injury as well). Same goes for Busquets' first season when he was having lapses in concentration and made stupid mistakes or tried to pull off overambitious tricks and flicks. Understandable for a 20 year old, really.

 

[KhaledBarca]

Thiago has offers from Chelsea, Man United, Bayern and Man City. Because he didn't play 60% of the games, his buyout clause is 18M. [md @barcastuff]

Thiago has played in 34 of Barcelona's 58 games this season (58.6%), if he does play in the last 2 games that's (36/60 = 60%)!!

 

[Ursegor]

Thiago has offers from Chelsea, Man United, Bayern and Man City. Because he didn't play 60% of the games, his buyout clause is 18M. [md @barcastuff]

Thiago has played in 34 of Barcelona's 58 games this season (58.6%), if he does play in the last 2 games that's (36/60 = 60%)!!

Busquets-Xavi-Iniesta in the next game then.

 

[DonAK]

Thiago has offers from Chelsea, Man United, Bayern and Man City. Because he didn't play 60% of the games, his buyout clause is 18M. [md @barcastuff]

Thiago has played in 34 of Barcelona's 58 games this season (58.6%), if he does play in the last 2 games that's (36/60 = 60%)!!

Someone send this to

 

[Semi-Neutral]

Wait, he's played that much? That's not as bad as a lot of members are making it sound...

 

[Stric]

I guess he only needs to take part in those 2 remaining games, not play the full 90, right?

 

[Semi-Neutral]

89th minute substitutions incoming.

 

[Kerrybai]

Wait, he's played that much? That's not as bad as a lot of members are making it sound...

Minutes over games played is a better indication.

 

[impeh]

might have been posted, but graham hunter talks about thiago (skip to 5mins in) and then neymar.

seems like the lack of playing time clause does exist.