What's new
By:
Advanced search…
The Front Row Forums

Register a free account today to become a member of the world's largest Rugby League discussion forum! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

La Liga

Helmet Man

Helmet Man

Juniors
Messages
1,424
Barca with possession looked dull and boring. It's funny how Ancelotti came out saying Madrid need to make sure that they work hard for possession however during the game it was evident that the clear tactic was to smash them on the counter. Barca are so slow to track back and RM had so much space on the counter. The formation was listed as 4-3-3 however in defence it was clearly a 4-4-2. Putting Isco at LM was a good move by Ancelotti because it forces him to defend and because the right winger Di Maria would already be tirelessly working hard in defence. So 4 defenders in the midfield really pressured Barca. And on the counter Di Maria would be sprinting down the field with Bale and it really did cause havoc for Barca's defence. Di Maria is a complete footballer and has been a true sensation this season. Bale's goal was amazing.
 
abpanther

abpanther

Moderator
Staff member
Messages
20,808
Completely agree

Barca dominate possesion but look slow and unimaginative, just short passes in the middle with little attacking impetus. They then run out of ideas and either try a hopeful 1-2 or go wide and cross it in to their midgets forwards.

Real look deadly on the counter, I hope Di Maria can carry this form into the WC
 
Helmet Man

Helmet Man

Juniors
Messages
1,424
Very much on the money abpanther. As a result Messi gets close to little or no ball at all and becomes completely ineffective if he is expected to score from crosses. If they keep playing like this then you can say Neymar has been a waste of a signing because he doesn't fit that dull system. The dynamics of Barca are too one sided whereas Madrid have so much flair throughout their whole team. They have a range of different style of players which always them to either play well with possession (which they did for most of the season) as they have players like Alonso, Modric, Di Maria that can hold onto the ball and create goals for players such as CR7 or Bale. But because they have so much pace in their team they can change their tactics (which they did today) and look to play on the counter as they have Bale, Di Maria, Isco. They can adjust tactics seamlessly according to the type of opposition that they play. Whereas Barca's pace only comes from Neymar who doesn't even utilise it under the system he is playing in. Xavi, Iniesta, Fabregas, Busquets are all similar style players so it is becoming predictable what Barca will try to serve up. As a result Barca really lack the dynamism that Real Madrid seem to have.
 
Last edited:
Helmet Man

Helmet Man

Juniors
Messages
1,424
Real Madrid's CB pairing Ramos and Pepe might cop a lot of shit from time to time but when they play well they are world class. Superb performance from both of them. Besides that Batra header which they couldn't do much about, Madrid haven't conceded a single goal in this season's Copa Del Rey. So credit goes to our CBs.
 
Last edited:
saint.nick

saint.nick

Coach
Messages
19,401
Helmet Man said:
Real Madrid's CB pairing Ramos and Pepe might cop a lot of shit from time to time but when they play well they are world class. Superb performance from both of them. Besides that Batra header which they couldn't do much about, Madrid haven't conceded a single goal in this season's Copa Del Rey. So credit goes to our CBs.
Click to expand...

Aren't you a Liverpool fan..
 
Tonearm Terrorwrist

Tonearm Terrorwrist

Immortal
Messages
33,280
It's really satisfying to see Barcelona crumbling apart after Cesc ran his mouth, even better is to see Cesc himself go missing when the big stage comes.
 
Big Sam

Big Sam

First Grade
Messages
8,976
Barca looking at its first trophyless season since 2007-08.

I wonder if they'll replace Martino with say a Koeman-type of coach who has playing experience at the Camp Nou.
 
Last edited:
Haffa

Haffa

Guest
Messages
16,621
Big Sam said:
Barca looking at its first trophyless season since 2007-08.

I wonder if they'll replace Martino with say a Koeman-type of coach who has playing experience at the Camp Nou.
Click to expand...

No mention of your poster boy vanishing in ANOTHER big game??
 
aqua_duck

aqua_duck

Coach
Messages
18,640
AusKnightRKO said:
Sell Messi for 125mill, buy yourself the replacements you need
Click to expand...

How we going to buy anyone with a transfer ban? Besides we don't need $125m worth of replacements, we probably need 30-40 mil worth, sell Pedro for $20-25mil, sell Song for whatever you can get for him, sell Affellay, Cuenca and Jonathan Dos Santos, maybe yield about $20mil between those 4 guys if you're lucky, Deulofeu is a direct replacement for Pedro, Sergi Roberto and Tello cover Affellay, Dos Santos and Cuenca, Sergi Sampar replaces Song, with Mascherano as another alternative if need be. Obviously a new keeper is a must, and then 2 good centre backs, I don't care if they're no good on the ball as long as they can defend and are over 6'2, that would be the priorities, after that it's about trying for some shrewd targets
 
A

AusKnightRKO

First Grade
Messages
7,412
The transfer ban will be thrown out like chelsea in the past.

from the small bits i watched this season of Barca, they looked better when Messi wasn't playing.

Sell him to Monaco or anyone who can stump up the cash, hell Falcao + 40-50mill mill would do the trick.

Marc Andre is the next Barca Goalie. GD can take over from Messi, if you can sell Xavi, i would do it as well.
 
aqua_duck

aqua_duck

Coach
Messages
18,640
AusKnightRKO said:
The transfer ban will be thrown out like chelsea in the past.

from the small bits i watched this season of Barca, they looked better when Messi wasn't playing.

Sell him to Monaco or anyone who can stump up the cash, hell Falcao + 40-50mill mill would do the trick.

Marc Andre is the next Barca Goalie. GD can take over from Messi, if you can sell Xavi, i would do it as well.
Click to expand...

It's not really a case of Messi playing or not playing, problem is squad depth, we're top heavy with attackers but have absolutely no defensive depth so the longer the season wore on the more we've struggled, was just idiotic not buying a centre back after what happened last season, they just expected Puyol to turn back the clock and Bartra to develop into a world class centreback, there was no real strategy in the transfer market, it was oh let's sign Neymar because he's a big name even though it doesn't address the real problems with the squad. I agree Xavi has had his day, Cesc should be first choice alongside Iniesta and Busquets.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Top