Matchday 16: Real Madrid vs FC Barcelona (Sat 10/12 22 CET 16 ET)

Problem with Messi at right is that he doesn't play like a normal winger. He tends to drift central, which not only is worse defensively, but gives Marcelo and Ronaldo space to attack. Not only does it work worse defensively, but your width is worsened, which has been your issue this season.

So Messi at right does not make Marcelo stay deeper to defend. Instead, he will take use of the space given.

Barca to win 5-0, is there anyone here who disputes my right?

Valdes
Alves-Pique-Puyol-Abidal
Xavi-Busquets-Iniesta
Sex-Messi-Villa

Zealous wrote:

paxtonpale wrote:Been confirmed from Madrids assistant coach that they will play a 4-3-3 with Ronaldo, Benezma and Di Maria though they didn't confirm that Ozil might play or the 3 defensive midfielders

That doesn't mean much tbh. The only difference between our 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 is that one of the attacking four drops deep.

Who Madrid play will determine how Madrid play, formation matters little in this case.

Exactly.....it means little for either team,

People are going on and on about Barca and 3-4-3 but come on.......two natuaral Fullbacks are on the field in that formation.All you have to do to switch to 4-3-3 is for Abidal to walk a bit to the left and Alves to walk a few metres back.

Formation and tactics will play a bigger part at the end of the game than at the start

Cesc as a false nine.
Messi on the RW is utter fail.He will keep drifting inside and not track back at all.
Cesc Fabregas can take his rightful place on the bench.

I must say I like our chances if Messi starts wide. He'll eventually drift to the centre effectively releasing Marcelo to support Ronaldo. Ronald when supported by Marcelo is a much better player imo.

JD is pushing this topic down. Come on Jd, post here too. Give us your thoughts...

kiranr wrote:JD is pushing this topic down. Come on Jd, post here too. Give us your thoughts...

Cristina wont score and bring the team down.

There you go

BarrileteCosmico wrote:I'm worried that this projected 3-5-2 would have a lot of the things that frustrate us as Barca fans. For instance, Iniesta would play a wing role. Keita would start. A 3 man defense has not proven effective before, and would be overrun by Madrid's 4-2-3-1.

Ditto my thoughts alfred.

Khaledbarca wrote:IMO, we should play a typical 4-3-3

Valdes
Alves Pique Puyol Abidal
Xavi Sergio Iniesta
Alexis Messi Villa

!!!!!!!!!!!!

khaled, I also want just that. If Puyol is not fully fit then Mascherano in his place but that's it.

paxtonpale wrote:Fabregas, Pedro/Alexis and Kieta to come on.

I would make a slight change here. Pedro, Fabregas/Thiago and Mascherano/Keita to come on.

Sepi wrote:Go and destroy thee sc*m please.

GO BARCA !!!!

What a picture man!!! And what a time for me to see it!!!

The Franchise wrote: I am bold enough to say we have the 3 best players on the pitch, at least for big games anyway

Wonderful line dani - fills me with immense pride!!!

The Franchise wrote:
They can destroy as many teams as they want, but none of them are us.

Another excellent line dani !!!

alexjanosik wrote:Cant believe some would prefer Sanchez to start over Pedro.
I mean Sanchez has had a good last couple of games but he still has a lot to prove to earn a spot over Pedro,especially for a game like the Clasico.
Pedro starts every single time for me.
With the game on the line and either player one on one with Casillas,I know who I would put money on bury the ball in the back of the net and it most certainly aint the Chilean.
MVP for me.

I can't disagree alex. In my lineup I went for Alexis just to have a little more dribbling and width in the final third. I thought Pedro could score a winning goal off the bench. However no doubt Pedro could start. Considering all that has happened in the past and this being El Classico, he probably deserves it.

alexjanosik wrote:Cesc as a false nine.
Messi on the RW is utter fail.He will keep drifting inside and not track back at all.
Cesc Fabregas can take his rightful place on the bench.

Agreed alex. One of my big fears is that Pep will start Fabregas somehow and this will fiddle with the desired formation and lineup.

kiranr wrote:JD is pushing this topic down. Come on Jd, post here too. Give us your thoughts...

Thanks kiran for asking. Actually the reason I logged in today was of course it's pre-El Classico time after all. Then I started looking at most of the threads I have not been in touch with from the bottom. I knew it's all about this one after all and wanted to save the best for last. Anyway by now I have already made a lot of posts here. It's all about this right now. Other things can wait. Are we having some kind of a chat pre-match?

Half time thoughts, very simple.

Valdes is a ho, Cesc is so slow and pointless it hurts my head thinking about it and Messi is the boss of all bosses. No more tackles though or we might lose him.

With him dropping so deep, there is no point of Cesc.

Get him off, bring on Pedro and im happy.

Even game tbh, but I can feel we have the ability to win this.

Iniesta playing like garbage, if he can get going we could be in.

Would also like to add, Busi has been the definition of world class.

2nd half starting...COME ON BARCA!

GOOOOOOOAAAAALLLL! Xavi shot gets deflected into the Madrid goal!

we won guys !!!!! Great victory what a match, great performance!

:lol!: :dance:

So what have we learnt today?

Stop trying to play football against us, it doesnt matter how good you think you are and how much you own everyone else.

Park the bus and try again next time.

Congrats

NoOoOoOoOoOoOoOOOoooOOoooooOOo

Do you guys want ronaldo

Giggity5313 wrote:Congrats

NoOoOoOoOoOoOoOOOoooOOoooooOOo

Do you guys want ronaldo

Have anyone to offer that can hit the target?

Good game It was so even but we had the better luck at the end.

Madrid should have won the game in the beginning but a combination of poor finishing and bad decision making in the final third cost them the game.

THB I thought this was madrids game I dont really remember a time when they were so strong and on form but I could be wrong.

PS Whats with all the cesc bashing?? I can say that only a few things bother me about him are his poor team pressing in defense and occationally his positional awareness all of which can be easily taken care of....But as he learns barcas way I see him shining even more..

ANYWAY Good game BARCA!!!

I did predict a fluke goal.