Xavi Hernández

[DonAK]

No it's not stupid, because that's the only position Dembele and Raphinia can play in 3atb formations.
Especially dembele
Not a CF, not an SS, not a midfielder

The team has to make sure they dominate possession so he is creating on the wing, rather than defending

It is stupid when you have to use your wingers as wing-backs instead of having proper wing-backs in a 3ATB system yes.

 

[JamDav1982]

Completely wrong. It is not only position they can play.

They could both play narrower in the 'AM' type role that Fati did when came on also. Dependent on how Xavi wants from that position and if like a second striker as Fati more or less was.

Barca will get torn to shreds if go those two as wide in a four in this 343 formation regularly unless at point rolling dice.

 

[El Gato]

Does 3-4-3 not exist anymore or what

 

[JamDav1982]

Anyone noticing how people are starting to criticize Xavi protecting his players in the media while half a year ago that was brought up as one of the things that made him so great compared to Koeman? Funny how these things tend to go sometimes.

Xavi hangs his players out to dry all the time.

As much as Koeman did.

He is just overly positive at times in a Pep kind of way.

 

[Birdy]

It is stupid when you have to use your wingers as wing-backs instead of having proper wing-backs in a 3ATB system yes.

So you would play Dest and Alba for instance tonight instead of Dembele and Raphinia, and let the latter ones on the bench??

 

[JamDav1982]

Roberto would get a game before Dest.

Best believe that.

 

[DonAK]

So you would play Dest and Alba for instance tonight instead of Dembele and Raphinia, and let the latter ones on the bench??

No, I would simply not play a system with three central defenders when I don't have proper wing-backs for it, given it's arguably the most important positions to have for a such system to be effective.

You play this versus any good team in Europe and we're getting murdered.

 

[JamDav1982]

No, I would simply not play a system with three central defenders when I don't have proper wing-backs for it, given it's arguably the most important positions to have for a such system to be effective.

You play this versus any good team in Europe and we're getting murdered.

To be fair it was much better than last weeks 433 and that set up.

 

[DonAK]

To be fair it was much better than last weeks 433 and that set up.

It's just not sustainable though.

 

[JamDav1982]

It's just not sustainable though.

Dependent on if they bring in RB probably not.

Alba/Balde on left suit it ok as covers them defensively but two wingers is gung ho but did also win the game when did it.

 

[Barcilliant]

Win. Still no midfield structure though. Will get eaten in UCL with this midfield. Or better hope Pedri can endure as much as possible.

This is it. The midfield has no structure and therefore there's no connection with the attack and defence.

 

[Birdy]

No, I would simply not play a system with three central defenders when I don't have proper wing-backs for it, given it's arguably the most important positions to have for a such system to be effective.

You play this versus any good team in Europe and we're getting murdered.

That's not how a system is decided
You analyze Sociedad first, you judge how to hurt them, you devise a game-plan and a formation.
Then you select players from your squad to fill in the role of each position in the system

Xavi and his staff did all that, concluded 3-5-2 is the system to go with rather than the 4-3-3, and then started selecting personnel for each position.
Some great mistakes there like Ferran starting, but not in the winger/wingback position...

You might say it's something that the players are not used to, and I hear that.
But that's a different discussion. Some games are always the point 0 where everything starts.

Even according to your logic, and given our personnel and their characteristics (lack of fullbacks) I predict 3atb to be used a lot this season

 

[JamDav1982]

This is it. The midfield has no structure and therefore there's no connection with the attack and defence.

Pedri was best player on park and was linking them. Particularly in second half.

Much more fluid than last week.

 

[JamDav1982]

That's not how a system is decided
You analyze Sociedad first, you judge how to hurt them, you devise a game-plan and a formation.
Then you select players from your squad to fill in the role of each position in the system

Xavi and his staff did all that, concluded 3-5-2 is the system to go with rather than the 4-3-3, and then started selecting personnel for each position.
Some great mistakes there like Ferran starting, but not in the winger/wingback position...

You might say it's something that the players are not used to, and I hear that.
But that's a different discussion. Some games are always the point 0 where everything starts.

Even according to your logic, and given our personnel and their characteristics (lack of fullbacks) I predict 3atb to be used a lot this season

Barca never played 352 you numpty.

 

[PhilS]

OK, so this year's team is not exactly balanced. There are significant holes. Got to go with what you've got, for better of worse. Switch to a predominantly 3-3-4 formation, see what happens. Probably won't win trophies, but it will be entertaining. Break the Liga team scoring record.