OFFICIAL: Jordi Alba Joins Barcelona.

Not that I agree with Jonathan28's formation/line-up but lack of width? Did you know the Brazil team that won 4 World Cups and came runner up twice used 4-4-2 formation extensively. As long as you got quick, hard working full-backs like Alves and Alba, width is not going to be a problem but sure it is a very demanding task to ask your fullbacks to perform like that twice a week for a season. Also 4-4-2 is theoretically the best formation to cover the pitch (CBs, DMs and STs covering 60% while WBs and SMFs cover 40%).

No one wants to calk it 4-4-2 anymore, its called 4-2-3-1 now lol

I personally prefer Manchester City's 4-4-2, or 4-2-2-2 as some call it. Of course not suited to Barcelona.

-------------------Hart---------------------
Zaba------Kompany------Lescott------Clichy
----------Yaya------------- ???-------------
Silva----------------------------------Nasri
---------------Kun-----Mario--------------

Both tactics would be a failure.

The reason is very simple and it's the same reason that made 3-4-3 actually a less successful attacking tactic than 433 although it has more attackers: there is no overlapping possibility.

In our regular 433 forwards can cut in and full backs overlap, creating a two way attacking option.

With 3-4-3 and both those tactics there is only 1 guy at each side providing width. There is no possible overlapping and everything is more static. Can't confuse the opposition defence that keeps it simple.

Vs Chelsea at home it was so painfully obvious that with some movement and overlapping in the wings we could have damaged them... oh, frigging 343.

I agree that 3-4-3 provides less width than 4-3-3 however I don't believe Barcelona's problem that match was lack of width. It is lack of danger from wide positions due to them being very predictable on the flanks.

My two cents, and I know many will disagree.

It has nothing to do with width as I explained in the post above yours. It has to do with movement and attacking options.

My bad. I thought you were blaming width, or lack thereof.

free_cat wrote:Both tactics would be a failure.

The reason is very simple and it's the same reason that made 3-4-3 actually a less successful attacking tactic than 433 although it has more attackers: there is no overlapping possibility.

In our regular 433 forwards can cut in and full backs overlap, creating a two way attacking option.

With 3-4-3 and both those tactics there is only 1 guy at each side providing width. There is no possible overlapping and everything is more static. Can't confuse the opposition defence that keeps it simple.

Vs Chelsea at home it was so painfully obvious that with some movement and overlapping in the wings we could have damaged them... oh, frigging 343.

Perfect post. I was waiting for someone to explain why 4-3-3 is the best and Free's hit the nail on the head.

You can also do most of this in 4-2-3-1, which is why I also like that formation. Mainly because its a very similar formation, just with a flipped triangle in the midfield.

free_cat wrote:Both tactics would be a failure.

The reason is very simple and it's the same reason that made 3-4-3 actually a less successful attacking tactic than 433 although it has more attackers: there is no overlapping possibility.

In our regular 433 forwards can cut in and full backs overlap, creating a two way attacking option.

With 3-4-3 and both those tactics there is only 1 guy at each side providing width. There is no possible overlapping and everything is more static. Can't confuse the opposition defence that keeps it simple.

Vs Chelsea at home it was so painfully obvious that with some movement and overlapping in the wings we could have damaged them... oh, frigging 343.

This man speaks the truth.
Predictability killed us.

Jordi was fantastic in the final. Full of running, only a few miss-placed passes, great going forward and also helped defend quite well. He had a great tournament, better than Coentrão in my opinion. I think he was the full-back of the tournament. I want to re-emphasise however that he is best suited to the full-back role (in Spain) rather than winger role (where he often played in Valencia).

He was great today, really excited to see him play for Barcelona.

Nnnnnn giddy up.

Jordi! What a beaaaast!

Imagine a left flank of Tello and Alba... Dat pace.

Suggestions for nicknames for Jordi's thread?

Called it

What a game The amount of energy this bloke has is tremendous... That run in which Xavi got the pass hrough was . I really love this guy plays and I hope he has a good season with us. Jordi, you have my good side

jiopsi wrote:

F*ckin beautiful... Wonderful run and finish... but at the end of the day... dat pass as well. Xavi

The run is good, the finishing is ok, but the pass... oh the pass. The pass is a masterpiece.

Terrible defending, but yeah, great run, great pass, great touch and great finish.

He has had an excellent Euro.Really really impressed about his partnership with Iniesta.
Still sceptical as I dont think he is the ideal replacement for Abidal but he is young and has time to improve.

Alba hasn't had an excellent Euros. He was roasted by Maggio, had a troubling game vs Croatia and Portugal. His attack shouldnt deceive from his poor defense and intelligence.

Espana has 2-3 better LBs than him

danyjr wrote:Terrible defending, but yeah, great run, great pass, great touch and great finish.

I agree. What the *bleep* were the number 16, 19 and the RB doing? All of them watching Xavi, none of them closing down neither marking Alba or doing offside trap. It's idiotic.

Then Xavi takes advantadges of a very small gap to make a perfect pass, but it could have been easily prevented.

Arquitecto wrote:Alba hasn't had an excellent Euros. He was roasted by Maggio, had a troubling game vs Croatia and Portugal. His attack shouldnt deceive from his poor defense and intelligence.

Espana has 2-3 better LBs than him

Didnt have a good game against Italy I agree.
But what shouldnt be forgotten is that along with Iniesta,Alba was the only player providing any thrust in the final third.His bomabarding runs down the flank were vital for Spain and his combination with Iniesta was sublime.
For that reason I think he had an excellent Euros even though he was a bit suspect defensively at times.

Arquitecto wrote:Espana has 2-3 better LBs than him

Who?

And please don't say Aurtenetxe. Nacho Monreal was good in Osasuna but right now I say Jordi is the best Spanish LB out there.

Arquitecto wrote:Alba hasn't had an excellent Euros. He was roasted by Maggio, had a troubling game vs Croatia and Portugal. His attack shouldnt deceive from his poor defense and intelligence.

Espana has 2-3 better LBs than him

Oh please... You don't understand the logic. I can guess with Iniesta and Silva drifting towards the middle, the fullbacks (Alba particularly) create width through their runs, Busquests drops back and Alonso at times covering Alba and/or Arbeloa. Remember Alba is quick so he has the pace to come back and help defend. He is young and needs time to mature and develop as a player.

Arquitecto wrote:Alba hasn't had an excellent Euros. He was roasted by Maggio, had a troubling game vs Croatia and Portugal. His attack shouldnt deceive from his poor defense and intelligence.

Espana has 2-3 better LBs than him

Interesting... I rarely disagree with you Arq, but I have to here.