Frankly I dont get the bench Xavi arguments.I thought he had a good game against Chelsea.He completed over 100 passes.If that was Pirlo or Scholes people would be creating 100 threads on the Gen Sec.
Regarding him taking more risks I dont know what game free was watching but there was nothing he could have done differently.There was no one in space in the final third for him to pass into.He tried a couple of long balls but they just didnt come off.
Chelsea didnt allow any space in behind so there was no question of him taking any risks.
Also every time Chelsea launched the ball forward Masch and Puyol struggled to deal with Drogba.The last thing that was needed was Xavi trying a dangerous pass to someone in between the lines(where there not even an inch of space) and Chelsea launching another ball.
His job is complete control of the midfield and he did that again.
The fault does not lie with him.Fault lies with our forward line bar Messi and especially Mr Passback who should be the one to be benched.
Xavi starts against Chelsea.Mr Passback benched in favor of Tello who can score goals and Pedro on the other side.Hopefully Pedro can find his goal scoring boots.

alexjanosik wrote:Frankly I dont get the bench Xavi arguments.I thought he had a good game against Chelsea.He completed over 100 passes.If that was Pirlo or Scholes people would be creating 100 threads on the Gen Sec.
Regarding him taking more risks I dont know what game free was watching but there was nothing he could have done differently.There was no one in space in the final third for him to pass into.He tried a couple of long balls but they just didnt come off.
Chelsea didnt allow any space in behind so there was no question of him taking any risks.
Also every time Chelsea launched the ball forward Masch and Puyol struggled to deal with Drogba.The last thing that was needed was Xavi trying a dangerous pass to someone in between the lines(where there not even an inch of space) and Chelsea launching another ball.
His job is complete control of the midfield and he did that again.
The fault does not lie with him.Fault lies with our forward line bar Messi and especially Mr Passback who should be the one to be benched.
Xavi starts against Chelsea.Mr Passback benched in favor of Tello who can score goals and Pedro on the other side.Hopefully Pedro can find his goal scoring boots.

exactly what I said, add iniesta too (even though it's not his favorite position)

How confident are you guys here?

I know it should be easy but I honestly can't remember thelast time you last 2 in a row.

You've hit a little mini-slump.

Not confident at all. I went on record as saying, if we lose to Madrid, we lose this too.

I think have dug a big hole and if we had beaten you, perhaps we would have the spirit to get out of it.

Its a game of mentality now.

We know this is the last chance they have to win something, that will drive them.

However, they are probably starting to doubt themselves and if the cycle is coming to an end.

If they score first, it is without doubt over.

What do we need in this game?

Runs and movement. Pedro and Alexis please..people running in behind, creating lanes, taking spaces.

I have a feeling pep will use the same lineup as the one of the 1st leg.but honestly,I wouldn't blame him considering that match could have been a Chelsea rape with decent finishing

How the f*ck are we gonna get passed the Chelsea bus?we couldn't even get passed madrids mini van.

What do you mean how you're going to pass their bus?you unlocked their defense seveal times lol i think there were at least 4 clear goalscoring opportunities at the bridge

Ganso wrote:What do you mean how you're going to pass their bus?you unlocked their defense seveal times lol i think there were at least 4 clear goalscoring opportunities at the bridge

Trust me I know what's coming iv seen games like this before.

Inestia IN THE MIDDLE! 3-4-3 but proper striker with decent midfielder. Please Pep!

Le Samourai wrote:How confident are you guys here?

I know it should be easy but I honestly can't remember thelast time you last 2 in a row.

You've hit a little mini-slump.

This was only the 2nd time Barca lost 2 consecutive games under Guardiola. 1st: In 2008-09 (1-2 Espanyol & 4-3 Atletico) #fcblive

Valdes
Pique Masche Puyol
Alves Xavi Busquets Iniesta
Alexis Messi Pedro

i would like to see this line-up...

Cuenca and Cesc in 2nd half..

Khaled wrote:Valdes
Pique Masche Puyol
Alves Xavi Busquets Iniesta
Alexis Messi Pedro

i would like to see this line-up...

Cuenca and Cesc in 2nd half..

Decent lineup though Cuenca swap with Sanchez.

Khaled wrote:Valdes
Pique Masche Puyol
Alves Xavi Busquets Iniesta
Alexis Messi Pedro

i would like to see this line-up...

Cuenca and Cesc in 2nd half..

This is alright, though I expect Pique to be on Drogba, not Masch. If they're going to simply defend then we could even drop Alves into the back three and he could attack from deep anyway with Busquets dropping to cover.

Fab will probably start too...

Hope he doesn't. Even though Im a big fan of Cesc, he hasn't been performing to the strandards for a long time (infact since first game he played) and well we all need the brilliant of Xavinestia.

If we d not win this game, i will be ultimately pissed of in Pep for not replacing Tello in el classio. If his tactics was to rest some players, and focus on this match and win it, i give a shit about what hapened in Classico, but if we lose this game i seriously have ti doubt Pep decisions over these two games.

The Franchise wrote:Not confident at all. I went on record as saying, if we lose to Madrid, we lose this too.

I think have dug a big hole and if we had beaten you, perhaps we would have the spirit to get out of it.

Its a game of mentality now.

We know this is the last chance they have to win something, that will drive them.

However, they are probably starting to doubt themselves and if the cycle is coming to an end.

If they score first, it is without doubt over.

What do we need in this game?

Runs and movement. Pedro and Alexis please..people running in behind, creating lanes, taking spaces.

Right on the money - agree with every word.

BarcaKizz wrote:

Khaled wrote:Valdes
Pique Masche Puyol
Alves Xavi Busquets Iniesta
Alexis Messi Pedro

i would like to see this line-up...

Cuenca and Cesc in 2nd half..

This is alright, though I expect Pique to be on Drogba, not Masch. If they're going to simply defend then we could even drop Alves into the back three and he could attack from deep anyway with Busquets dropping to cover.

Fab will probably start too...

You're right, Pique should mark Drogba..
Playing Alves in a 3 men defence is too much for a start.. its important that we don't concede a goal too.. In 2nd half, if we need goals, we can play with Alves Pique Puyol in the defence, with Cesc or Thiago of the bench.. Or Cuenca with Alexis and Pedro upfront with Messi has a 10.

I don't wanna sound pessimistic and all, but if Messi is heavily-marked in this game, Barca will definitely lose. We all know now that Barca has developed an unhealthy habit of relying on Messi for goals, which has become somewhat of a kryptonite to Barca. I mean, if you look at the Inter semifinal match last season, Messi was taken out of the game thus rending Xavi, Iniesta, Ibra and Pedro completely useless. If the same thing happens on Tues, you can kiss goodbye to the CL.

As if that wasn't enough, Barca's defense is heavily susceptible to quick counter attacks, Puyol is not that quick anymore, Busquets is about as useful defending as a scarecrow and Valdes can't even parry a shot that's inches beside him. Milan and Chelsea only needed a single chance to score, imagine what teams like Bayern/Madrid will do if Barca advances?

Oh, and you better hope Barca does not try not to pass the ball into the net, or it will be a long night.

I don't feel confident at all for this leg either. The pressure on the team must be huge. Plus, I bet they must be pretty tired by now and they will not get that much rest by Tuesday. All I can say is that I hope for the best, but I expect the worst.

Put Messi, Alexis and Pedro upfront and we will win by 3+ goals #markmywords

Wish we had Villa. I would feel allot more confident.

Anways, I hope we go with a 4-3-3 to start the game

Valdes
Alves-Puyol-Pique-Adriano
Busquits
Xavi-Iniesta
Sanchez-Messi-Pedro

And if after half we are still in trouble and need goals, then switch to 3-4-3

Valdes
Mascherano-Pique-Puyol
Alves-Thiago-Busquts-Iniesta
Cesc-Messi-Pedro

Mascherano - Adriano
Thiago - Xavi (Peps been doing this allot recently)
Cesc - Alexis

I would like to see this line-up..

-------Valdes-------
Alves--- Pique-- Puyol
-----Busquets-------
Xavi----Messi----Iniesta
Alexis--DONGOU---Pedro

--> Goals Goals Goals !!

Pep please

Khaled Dongou is 16 lol.

I'd like to see Pedro Messi and Alexis start up front although I think we will see Cesc and Cuenca.

Chelsea will go through. 2-1, Valdes to cost us a goal again. We will play 3-4-3 with a lot of fakes 9, 10, 4, no. 1 etc. etc

If we want to go through:

VV
Alves Pique Puyol Adriano
Xavi Busquets Iniesta
Messi Alexis Cuenca

Messi on the right wing with Alves, Alexis as No. 9 (as he can't dribble but is a good finisher), Cuenca on the left as I don't see Pedro producing anything good with a garbage form he has. It will be 3-4-3 though with Cesc in the middle and Iniesta on the LW.

Pep this is NO TIME FOR EXPERIMENTS! Either play the 4-3-3 with INESTIA IN THE MIDDLE or give up now and play the B team as I reckon they have more of chance of winning than we do on an odd day...

Unbelievable.A couple of losses and most of you have adopted a defeatist attitude.
Playing the B team
We are still the best team on the planet and I am confident we will win comfortably and progress.
Just need to finish our chances.