I played a part in derailing the thread so I apologise, lets get back on topic.

Iniesta seems to be able to have the technique to shoot, as seen against Chelsea and the dutch, but it just doesn't seem to come off for him most times, though I'm sure last season was his best in terms of goals.

If Iniesta wins the Ballon D'Or his shooting skills will have nothing to do with it thats for sure.

The Franchise wrote:What happened to the Barca forum?

This is meaningless and purely playful question, there was never a need to take it too seriously and never a need to drift off into the world of stupidity we are now reading.

We are talking about who is better in tight spaces and why Ibra left......I mean...really..

Either get back on topic of stay out of this thread. Cant believe I have to actually say that, here, of all places.

The Franchise wrote:
We are talking about who is better in tight spaces and why Ibra left......I mean...really..

Question: What is common to the triumphs of Euro 2008, UCL 2009, WC 2010, UCL 2011 and Euro 2012?

Answer : Xavi + Iniesta

Has any player in football history won five trophies of such magnitude in just five years? I read somewhere that these two are the only players in history to have won a world cup, a Euro and three UCLs. Simply incredible!!!

These two are just beyond words. They are so mindbogglingly brilliant that I ask myself what have I done to be blessed to get to watch them week in week out.

I will use a very unusual source for reference. Vince McMahon of WWE is associated with the words 'No Chance'. That is what these two give their opponents - no chance.

Allow me this indulgence but Xaviesta is the best thing since sliced bread.

messixaviesta wrote:Question: What is common to the triumphs of Euro 2008, UCL 2009, WC 2010, UCL 2011 and Euro 2012?

Philosphy, and the team that plays best as a team, will win most of the time. And also that, when you can apply the same style of play with pretty much same kind of players, dominating in national level is much easier, than in top club level.

jiopsi wrote:Philosphy, and the team that plays best as a team, will win most of the time.

Yes that's true but it helps a lot if you have the best players to execute that.

jiopsi wrote:

messixaviesta wrote:Question: What is common to the triumphs of Euro 2008, UCL 2009, WC 2010, UCL 2011 and Euro 2012?

Philosphy, and the team that plays best as a team, will win most of the time. And also that, when you can apply the same style of play with pretty much same kind of players, dominating in national level is much easier, than in top club level.

Not just that, you need the right players to execute it perfectly as proven by the failure of Batista's Argentina even when they had the best player of the team that has perfected tiki taka and IIRC Van Basten said that tiki taka is useless without the right players for it..

Yes of course that is true too.

I hate the expression "tiki taka". Tiki taka is not a tactic. It's nothing. Tiki taka was an expression used by one TV commentator who didn't know much about football (he was a basketball man) and who was a showman.

free_cat wrote:I hate the expression "tiki taka". Tiki taka is not a tactic. It's nothing. Tiki taka was an expression used by one TV commentator who didn't know much about football (he was a basketball man) and who was a showman.

What are people supposed to call it

free_cat wrote:I hate the expression "tiki taka". Tiki taka is not a tactic. It's nothing. Tiki taka was an expression used by one TV commentator who didn't know much about football (he was a basketball man) and who was a showman.

Finally someone agrees with me. Don't think anyone in Barcelona even calls it that. Media obssessed with labeling things. Cruyffism would suffice. Same thing happened woith Total football as well. Media getting over excited.

free_cat wrote:I hate the expression "tiki taka". Tiki taka is not a tactic. It's nothing. Tiki taka was an expression used by one TV commentator who didn't know much about football (he was a basketball man) and who was a showman.

Tiki Taka has become the unofficial name now, though and as giggity said, what are we supposed to call it if not tiki taka?

jibers wrote:

free_cat wrote:I hate the expression "tiki taka". Tiki taka is not a tactic. It's nothing. Tiki taka was an expression used by one TV commentator who didn't know much about football (he was a basketball man) and who was a showman.

Finally someone agrees with me. Don't think anyone in Barcelona even calls it that. Media obssessed with labeling things. Cruyffism would suffice. Same thing happened woith Total football as well. Media getting over excited.

Iniesta has used it in a commercial.

If Iniesta could finish and shoot he would be better than Messi and i'm serious.

There's a difference between "being able to shoot" and having Messi's finishing and goalscoring instinct.

harhar11 wrote:

free_cat wrote:I hate the expression "tiki taka". Tiki taka is not a tactic. It's nothing. Tiki taka was an expression used by one TV commentator who didn't know much about football (he was a basketball man) and who was a showman.

Tiki Taka has become the unofficial name now, though and as giggity said, what are we supposed to call it if not tiki taka?

Andres Montes, used to shout in the middle of his comments: "TIKI TAKAAAA, TIKIII TAKAAAA SALINASSS (Salinas, the ex barça player commented with him)" whenever a team made more than 3-4 passes. Before that, Tiki taka was a non existent term. I don't think that has enough tactical depth to be called a tactic whatsoever to be honest .

Oh, and it's very easy, the meaning people is giving to tiki taka it's simply "posession football". So there you go.

And Barça style, can be called posession football, but I like more the term cruyfism as Jibers says, because our football, aside from wanting the posession is immenseley attacking, and not all posession football is attacking (Spain's..).

free_cat wrote:

harhar11 wrote:

free_cat wrote:I hate the expression "tiki taka". Tiki taka is not a tactic. It's nothing. Tiki taka was an expression used by one TV commentator who didn't know much about football (he was a basketball man) and who was a showman.

Tiki Taka has become the unofficial name now, though and as giggity said, what are we supposed to call it if not tiki taka?

Andres Montes, used to shout in the middle of his comments: "TIKI TAKAAAA, TIKIII TAKAAAA SALINASSS (Salinas, the ex barça player commented with him)" whenever a team made more than 3-4 passes. Before that, Tiki taka was a non existent term. I don't think that has enough tactical depth to be called a tactic whatsoever to be honest .

Oh, and it's very easy, the meaning people is giving to tiki taka it's simply "posession football". So there you go.

And Barça style, can be called posession football, but I like more the term cruyfism as Jibers says, because our football, aside from wanting the posession is immenseley attacking, and not all posession football is attacking (Spain's..).

No need to tell me who invented the frase as I have known that for ages already. The guy is of cuban descent and is dead now(RIP), right?

Here's a video for those who dont know him


The first frase that he uses is tiki taka describin a beautifull move...

Posession football works as well but imho its easier and faster writing tiki taka..

Well, no matter what most people say Spains football is attacking. Its just that the majority of teams park the bus against them and its hard to break a parked bus even for Barca with Messi, now imagine how hard that is without Messi, a Villa, a Torres out of form etc. Sure Del Bosque could didnt help by playing without a forward and 2 DM but you cant just blame it on him/Spain

BarrileteCosmico wrote:There's a difference between "being able to shoot" and having Messi's finishing and goalscoring instinct.

I meant as a player