Who is the 5th best player in the team?

If we all agree that Messi, Iniesta, Xavi and Dani are the best four, who's fifth?

Piqué. Would be Puyol if he were fit, though.

Busquets

Villa imo,he always looks so dangerous in that LW,made me sh*t every time he touched the ball against us,even more than messi.

Fabregas anyday

Pique/Busquets cant seperate..

Pique then Cesc close behind

Currently Fabregas.

Busi or Villa, hard to split them.

Busi missing at DM hurts more then Villa missing in the forward line, but if the team didnt have Messi, Iniesta, Xavi then Villa would be more important then he is now and would be seen as better because of that increased importance. I dont want to seperate them tbh.

If however we werent a great possession side and defended more like everyone else (as in no pressing, get behind the ball and not really try and win it back untill the half way line) then I think Pique would be far more valuable and important then he is now.

The problem with this question is talent and ability vs importance.

The degree of importance impacts everything and its not always the importance is increased equal to the talent.

For me, to be honest.. Pedro!!!

He's the Barca player i hatee to see the ball with anywhere near the 18 yard box... andd he's superb at finishing, 2nd only to Messi at Barca!

Pedro is better than Villa, and im gonna stand by it, and hes only what? 22-23? Amazing Talent

Pique/Busi/Villa

I dont know how you take it, but i'll take it as if all first team players are injured, you are going to play a league game with your B team, you wish that only 1 player from first team would not be injured and play with your B team. Who it would be? personally i think after messi iniesta xavi alves, it would be fabregas for me

In terms of pure quality as a player it's Cesc. In terms of importance to the team is Puyol or Busquets, we look much solid in defence with Tarzan and we are unbeaten with him in side in all competitions since 2009-10 defeat in UCL semi. Busquets is crucial to our game and without him our passing is much less fluid.

I don't quite agree that Dani Alves is the 4th best player. I think that is very tight between Villa, Pique, Valdeds, Busquets, Cesc and Alves himself.

Villa and Fabregas are both better than Alves........

Not sure. I wouldn't be able to decide between Valdes, Pique, Puyol Busquets, Cesc and Villa.

The Franchise wrote:Busi or Villa, hard to split them.

Busi missing at DM hurts more then Villa missing in the forward line, but if the team didnt have Messi, Iniesta, Xavi then Villa would be more important then he is now and would be seen as better because of that increased importance. I dont want to seperate them tbh.

If however we werent a great possession side and defended more like everyone else (as in no pressing, get behind the ball and not really try and win it back untill the half way line) then I think Pique would be far more valuable and important then he is now.

The problem with this question is talent and ability vs importance.

The degree of importance impacts everything and its not always the importance is increased equal to the talent.

I think I will go for Busquets too. We have missed him in the last couple of games. Villa is not in such great form but if he was then I can agree with his selection. Pique can be added because with Puyol's injury, we need him all the more and he is top class especially in big matches. If we are talking only from the perspective of the player's quality and not the need of the team then Fabregas of course. If we are talking only from the perspective of the need of the team I would say Mascherano has been immense for us this season. Then there is Valdes of course - often not given the recognition he deserves. Abidal has not been in the best of form. Pedro is in an even worse phase.

Pique when on form

Great points about importance to the team. I will make my selection based on that, and I think it's between Pique and Busquets, with Puyol just behind.

When Pique and Busquets are playing, we dominate the center of the pitch. When we dominate the center of the pitch, we're able to get the ball to Leo as often as we like. That's the key.

Cant believe that some actually consider Cesc a better player than Alves.
On what basis exactly is Cesc better?
I think Barca fans(forget other fans) seriously underestimate Alves.
He has been a vital part of our success over the past 3 seasons.
He is one of the top 10 players in the world and for my money top 5 in the world.
Does the work of 2 men down the right and has improved tremendously as a defender over the past 2 years(him on the right in a 3 man backline this season is proof).
By far the best RB I have ever seen.

Fabregas scores a couple of tap ins and all of a sudden he is better than Dani Alves!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LOL.
Alves is clearly better than Fabregas.

On the question its Busquets for me.

Dont get it either, if Cesc was at Arsenal still most of you would be laughing at an Arsenal fan who said the same.

Now he is at Barca he is somehow better?

As far as importance to the team is concerned, I don't think you can get more important than Puyol.

BarrileteCosmico wrote:As far as importance to the team is concerned, I don't think you can get more important than Puyol.

Agreed alfred. However due to constant injuries it's become very questionable if we will ever see the best of Puyol again. I think LMG has made very apt comments which I largely agree with. Considering everything it's between Pique and Busquets. Villa and Fabregas would be up there on ability but not in terms of importance to team.