Spain don't deserve to be called an "attacking" team ever again until VDB leaves

A lot has been said about France's lack of anything resembling a desire to score, let alone win, but I ended up thinking far less of Spain than of France. Spain has players that believe in attacking football, yet they are the most boring national team champion. Ever. Judging by the approach VDB is taking against France, watching Greece in 2004 was far more exciting. It offends me when people compare their style of play to that of Barcelona's. Yes, the parallels are there, but at Barca they at least try to do something with the ball. VDB's decision to play with a double pivot and no forwards has effectively killed any sort of entertainment value. There's simply no reason for it.

I am not damning possession football, which is by far the most efficient philosophy, but VDB's incarnation of it. Cesc is no Messi, and had Pedro and Villa being fit and in top form Barca would have never attempted playing with only midfielders. When Barca's done it, it was out of necessity. When Spain does it, I'm not quite sure what the cause is. This is precisely what makes it so frustrating: they could be so much better. In any case, if this is the way they plan to win the Euros, then I am actively stopping my support towards them.


//rant

Spain are still an attacking team as they attack most of the time, but they are not entertaining just effective. Who are we to damn VDB, he's winning.

Apparently VDB said Busquets and Alonso aren't 'cavemen' DM's, they're playmakers who can also cover when the fullbacks go forward. Also Alonso scores goals.

honestly, true honesty

Spain are boring

this is why we need Ronaldo

#saveusCR

the century we live in is well more improved in terms of everything related to style of defending or attack which gives the oppotunity to choose what fits you either its "ugly" or "entertaining"
but the main point is always to win

what fits spain is possession, apparently they do not have messi cause thats all is missing to dare name this team barcelona

as long as it brings success no spanish fan will bother complaining

The thing is imo they aren't an attacking team, attacking to me is defined as threatening the opposition goal

I read a stat regarding yesterdays game that the penalty was their first shot on target in the whole second half

that is not much different to defending heavily with ten men because the focus is not mainly on putting the ball in the back of the net which is whole purpose of football

mtfootball wrote:Apparently VDB said Busquets and Alonso aren't 'cavemen' DM's, they're playmakers who can also cover when the fullbacks go forward. Also Alonso scores goals.

This is a lie by VDB. Neither of Alonso or Biscuits have the speed or outstanding tackling ability required to cover up for the Full-Backs.

They are not Caveman DM's but they are WAY too static & play Way too DEEP to do something great forward.

And when does Alonso score a lot of goals?? BAR PK's or FK's how many goals has he scored for Madrid??

2 Goals in 52 matches this season,last year it was 1 Goal in 51 Matches.

For the National Team he has 15 Goals in 100 matches which is a bit of improvement over his Club Career but I am not sure how many of these are PK's or FK's.

None of this stats says he scores a lot of goals.

And I fully agree with the OP.

BC

#SaveusCR

who cares about a worthless 'title''. even if they get labelled the most boring team ever, it doesn't matter as long as tey keep getting the result.

Teams set up negatively vs spain, you cant expect them to bomb foward everytime into a flooded half. So they keep the ball and try and frustrate or ''bore'' the opposition into coming out

Its their own answer to PTB

Reading spanish newspaper and spanish forums, I get the idea that they have the same opinion. But I still belive that the majority of the blame should go to the opposite teams who tries to stifle Spain and then some towards spain, for helping games become more boring for the reason that you said..

Honestly I have always thought that Spain won the WC despite Del Bosque and NOT because of him.

And if he wont play llorente than why didnt he bring Adrian, who is the player that resemble Villa the most?

Not VDB's fault I blame Xavi.

#SaveusCR

Yeah blame Xavi for VDB playing Xabi Alonso and forcing Xavi to play out of his position.

Makes perfect sense

Without Alonso Spain don't score.

Spain didnt seem to have much trouble creating nor scoring at the EURO 08 when Alonso was where he belongs, at the bench

Because at EURO 08 teams didn't expect spain to be as good as they are, probably took everyone by surprise.

Now teams set up barricades against them because they are the best. Nothing to do with alonso sitting on the bench

I was only joking about that bench, seeing as I think that Zealous was joking as well(?) but imo it actually has. Spain only played with 1 DM back then which left room for another more attacking player and Xavi still played in his real position. Where as today, Spain plays with 2 DM because Alonso cant play as a lone DM and also for Alonso to play, VDB was forced to moved their most creative player and the best player of the EURO 08 away from his real position making him AND Spain be more predictable..

That's because they had Senna imo he really covered for a lot of the dirty work which allowed others to flourish.

Anyway Alonso is one of the best CM's in the world. Only a moron wouldn't start him.

Spain at Euro 2008 had Villa and Torres and Senna

They replaced all three of them with passing midfielders

Great Post..Agree wholeheartedly

#saveusPirlo

Zealous wrote:That's because they had Senna imo he really covered for a lot of the dirty work which allowed others to flourish.

Anyway Alonso is one of the best CM's in the world. Only a moron wouldn't start him.

If you have Xavi why would you need to start another player who is similiar to him and that only gets in his way?

The opposition does set up barricades around them, but it's not the opposition that sets up a game without forwards to make runs behind the defenders. Sometimes all 6 midfielders do is get the ball, pass it, become available for a pass, with no intent whatsoever of trying to push the line or stretch it at all.

What would the ideal lineup be?

harhar11 wrote:

Zealous wrote:That's because they had Senna imo he really covered for a lot of the dirty work which allowed others to flourish.

Anyway Alonso is one of the best CM's in the world. Only a moron wouldn't start him.

If you have Xavi why would you need to start another player who is similiar to him and that only gets in his way?

I agree Xavi should be benched :lucas :

BarrileteCosmico wrote:The opposition does set up barricades around them, but it's not the opposition that sets up a game without forwards to make runs behind the defenders. Sometimes all 6 midfielders do is get the ball, pass it, become available for a pass, with no intent whatsoever of trying to push the line or stretch it at all.

I already admitted that Spain should also take some of the blame, especially at this EURO, but honestly I still belive that the majority of the blame should go to the opposite teams...

mtfootball wrote:What would the ideal lineup be?

Casillas
Arbeloa Ramos Pique Alba
Xavi Busquets Iniesta
Cazorla Llorente Pedro

Instantly better football guaranteed.