La Liga 2011-2012 (Week #14): FCBarcelona vs Rayo Vallecano

Sanchezzzzzzzzzzzz my goat :dance:

Dont know if Villa scoring will change much for him, he got a tap in not long ago.

A problem I see with Villa is, he doesnt seem to want to go on the outside as much as just last season. Comes inside nearly everytime.

He went on a great dribble before though, cut back and left a defender on his backside, then went on and weaved in between another. More of that is needed.

Iniesta has been great, but him coming back from injury doesnt make him more likely to be injured now. He is getting some rough ackles, but they can happen at any time.

He has been great though, some great moments. Turned it over a bit, but nearly every one of those was trying to make something happen. Can live with those because they generally arent in dangerous areas.

Its some of the other ones the team was doing as a whole the first 25mins or so which ruin build up.

LM the thing is that Iniesta was the only player who shined all 45 minutes, even in the awful first 30, which is why I'm rating him higher than Alexis so far. We still have 45 minutes to go.

BarrileteCosmico wrote:LM the thing is that Iniesta was the only player who shined all 45 minutes, even in the awful first 30, which is why I'm rating him higher than Alexis so far. We still have 45 minutes to go.

True, we were lucky not to have conceded at the beginning as well.

#LaLiga (Week 16): #FCBarcelona 4 - 0 Rayo FT | Goals: Alexis (2), Villa (1), Messi (1) | Assists: Xavi (2), Alves (2) #fcblive

Not a great performance.. lots of miss passes.. but what's important that Alexis & Villa had very gd game especially Alexis, not just for the goals he scored, his workrate is great, he was all over the pitch Respect!
Alves (aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa@@@ ) this man is crazy, he made 2 assists, not bad,but he made alot of bad decisions, pass when he should shot, and shot when he shouldhave made a pass
anyway, 3 pts 4 goals cleanshet is not bad

Visca el Barca!

Messi on the RW this is the first time I've been entertained while watching barca in months,Sanchez was great too

Some Interesting Stats on this match vs Rayo:

- Possession: Just 61%.
- Passing Accuracy: 81 % Worst this season (average in previous matches 90%)
- Xavi made 30 passes in 54 minutes (83% accuracy) his worst performance Passing wise by farrr. ( His average was 110 passes in Laliga, 94% accuracy before this match)
On the Other Hand, thiago made 35passes (91%) in 36 minutes.
[Thiago's average before this match, 74passes (94%) ]

- Mascherano Great match, he made 8 Tackles, 9 Interceptions, 1 Clearance, 1 ShotBlocked won 2 offsides, Zero Fouls | 6/7 Longballs.

@ Pique delaying the game to pick up a yellow so he has a clean slate for the Madrid game.

...I hope Sergi controls himself against Levante.

Missed the game guys. Looks like we played well, but interesting stats from Khaled... Was this because we were playing more adventurous or what? Thoughts?

BarcaKizz wrote:Missed the game guys. Looks like we played well, but interesting stats from Khaled... Was this because we were playing more adventurous or what? Thoughts?

We were very open and Rayo had chances to score and we were very scrappy at the start, until the goal, and when Xavi and Iniesta came off we were less static.

BarcaKizz wrote:Missed the game guys. Looks like we played well, but interesting stats from Khaled... Was this because we were playing more adventurous or what? Thoughts?

Mix of two things.

Long balls, alot from Abidal and Valdes. Especially the starts of each half. Didnt look confident playing their way out of trouble for some reason.

Second, just misplaced passes.

Both because it seems every team presses us, especially from goalkicks. They press high and make difficult, especially early before we establish a pattern.

Messi on the right was good for Alexis and it got Villa more involved in dangerous situations, it also gave Alves a bigger licence I felt.

However, our midfield had to really do alot I felt with Messi not always directly in front. Messi wasnt as involved either.

Zealous wrote:Rayo don't have any really skilled players to look out for. But they do have heart. However heart=/=skill and they just aren't that skilled to attack or defend well enough to trouble you at home.

You should win this one.

However here is a Japanese mud slinging good luck ritual for Rayo

Didn't work

Sir_Psycho_Sexy91 wrote: @ Pique delaying the game to pick up a yellow so he has a clean slate for the Madrid game.

...I hope Sergi controls himself against Levante.

LOL? You should be pissed off at how stupidly obvious what he did was.

There is word that he will be suspended for two games, not just one. I personally don't think it's a big deal but he should have thought it out more.

Glad we won started out kinda of shacky but eventually got into the grove of things...

Have to be honest and say I didnt expect sanchez or villa to score today more so villa.

Surprised that Adriano or pedro didn't start. I thought with the bad games that both Abidal and Villa/Sanchez played that they would have started. Pedro will probably start next game as he didn't if play a single second against Rayo. Puyol and Fabregas will probably also start. If Busquests does start then he really can't afford to do anything stupid as he will miss the next game.
Overall good results though there were times when Rayo had chances that other teams might have scored.

Pep will start Busi, knows he will get a yellow and be fine with it.

Why?

Because that means Keita can play.

Didnt watch the match.Saw the goals on youtube.
Great goal from Sanchez.That should do a world of good for his confidence.
Also why is Xavi playing every single game?
Whats the point of buying Fab if we cant even rest the maestro for a game against Rayo?

BarrileteCosmico wrote:Classic 4-3-3 starting line-up please, we need it. So long as Busi - Iniesta - Xavi start we can win any game. Variations can be made in defense and forward lines, but the midfield needs to be that. That being said, if Iniesta is a risk then I'd rather not play him - he needs to make it for the clasico, otherwise our chances of success significantly decrease.

Very well said alfred. Agree with every word. Wondering why you have put Pele in your avataar!!!

alexjanosik wrote:
Whats the point of buying Fab if we cant even rest the maestro for a game against Rayo?

alex, I have been wondering the same thing for some time now.
Pep wants to play Cesc and play four midfielders. Thus most of the times it's one defender less and during other times it's a forward less. Either way does that help us. I don't think so. The time for experimentation is over. We now need a settled first 11 formation and lineup.