Sergi Roberto: The Right Back That Was Promised

Casciavit wrote:WAT

What games have you been watching? Sergi Roberto is an awful crosser.

even if your right (which your not)
alves is the worst crosser i know in the right back position lol

He hasn't really been tested defensively all that much since he's played right back. Besides with Iniesta in great form we are holding the ball up and keeping possession allot which is making it easier for Sergi to run up the right flank and pretty much just play as an out wide mid for us. I mean remember how great Ramos looking playing right back for prime Spain? He looked like a damn god, but in reality it was Spain's tactics and ball possession that left Ramos run around on the right, leaving him to do little actual defensive work vs the amount he did for Real Madrid. Also the reason why Alves looks better for us than he does for Brazil.

That don't make him a true right back, and Alves is still better than him (when on form) defensively. As mentioned we haven't really seen Sergi have to do that much on that end, but Brady Bunch has been impressive. Looks allot better as a right back than a mid for us that's for sure

Sergi has done some great service, hope he keeps it up. Already looks better at right back than what Montoya ever did for us

linetty wrote:https://twitter.com/Vida_Blaugrana/status/642968216260747264

Wow, Roberto isn't even as slow as he looked as CM. It looks we are set at the RB with Vidal and him. He does very well as DM too. A pity we didn't keep Bellerin.

linetty wrote:Sergi is definitely better at crossing, that I can say after three games. Still too early to judge his defensive skills but so far he's been impressive.

The only thing Roberto doesn't have (that Alves has) is link up play with Messi.

That said, I'd keep starting Roberto even after Alves comes back.

This "only thing" you speak of is about 80% of the game

Alves passing, composure, use of 1 or 2 touches only and offensive positioning covers almost everything a Barca fullback is meant to be doing in the attack.

To be fair Alves' 1-2s with Messi aren't as effective (and needed) anymore. With Pedro and Villa they were crucial but now MSN are self-sufficient or whatever you want to call it.

What's important now is to get the ball back and transmit it quickly to the tridente. That's why Alves' absence goes unnoticed nowadays (unless a total scrub like Montoya is the replacement obviously)

I was more saying Alves ability in possession is important, rather than his link up specifically with Messi (or his deeper balls to Neymar which he likes).

I am thinking that Alves touches say 60 balls a game, more or less. To put it simply, with those 60 touches you have to have the ability to move it to someone else effectively and in a progressive way. And the higher level you play against, the less and less time you have with each of those touches and the more pressure you will be under to make a good decision.

What Roberto is doing now, no big problem..but those 60 touches he gets down the line will be the big difference.

The occassional cross here or there isnt going to cut it, its about all 60 or so of those touches. Because at the very highest level, you get too many of those touches wrong then its just about how long before it ends up in the back of your own net, directly or indirectly.

With the ball Alves is obviously still a level above although it remains to be seen how well he'll do this season after he got his new contract. Early season injured Alves isn't a good sign though, he usually takes a while to find some rythm again and often gets re-injured in the process. Roberto is looking good though. Unlike Montoya he can retain the ball and doesn't just mindlessly run to the byline and put in a random cross. He also comes inside and wants to combine like Alves. Above all he doesn't lose his marker which impressed me the most. Both against Malaga and Atleti he was the last man and cleared the ball where Alves often just trails behind. He's also quite quick.

Problem with alves is split personality. Plays good game for majority of time suddenly alter ego takes control (neymar) tries to do ronaldinhoisque skills loses the ball in own half gives dat embarrassed smile. Repeats.

The level of disrespect shown towards Alves by Barca fans never ceases to amaze me.
We have a player who is the greatest RB of all time. A player who is comfortably one of our top 10 players of all time. A club which has had legends like Kubala,Cruyff,Koeman,Laudrup, Stoichkov,Rivaldo,Ronnie, Xavi,Iniesta,Messi etc. Alves contributions to the cause match up against any of the above mentioned.
Above all, he is a player who has always given his all whenever he steps onto the pitch. And yet apparently, he plays only for his contract.
Apparently, link up is the only thing Alves has on Scruberto.
Scruberto isnt fit enough to lace Alves boots. Thankfully, once Alves gets back, Scruberto will be back on the bench where he belongs.

Always find it amusing when people use this argument. Whether Alves is the best ever or not, he's clearly past it. He has aged and declined. Everyone's time comes to an end at some point.

Criticising =/= undermining or taking something away from a player's legacy.

We didn't miss Alves in the last three games AT ALL. And those were three damn difficult games.

As I said, Roberto is doing fine now, no problem. But let see what happens down the line.

If you guys had your own and he became the rightback instead of Alves, teams will start to target him and test him in other areas which they havent done so yet.

And yes, some recent difficult games...but not the highest level yet, none of them. Pressure will rachet up more in time.

Like I said, lets just see what happens.

Dani is always class act my problem with him is he gets casual more often loses ball where he shouldn't and puts pressure on others. His pairing with messi is legit though

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Watched the Atletico game over.

He made 2 crosses, one was way overhit and didnt go near anyone. The 2nd was blocked before it reached anyone.

Didnt do one defensive action on the ground (not up against any winger for 80% of the game) but won 1 or 2 aerial balls.

In short, he did nothing wrong because he didnt do anything except receive passes from Mascherano and release it some where else as quickly as possible.

This is against Atletico... so he did something:

https://twitter.com/Vida_Blaugrana/status/642968216260747264

Saw that tackle, didnt know it was him. That was a great tackle.

Not great positioning though if we are honest, but thats forgiveable considering this isnt his normal role.

Yea same thing I few posts back

He really hasn't had to do much because of our style of play, he is pretty much just a point to pass the ball to. If he were in a system where he actually had to deal with wingers all game and defend consonantly he would likely get heavily exposed (it's not his natural position).
Kinda how that bone head Ramos looked like a god at RB for prime Spain, that ball possession made his job 10x easier, which applies to Sergi here.

Not knocking Sergi tho, just saying I don't believe he's been truly tested

He is jst filling its not as if he is going to play as rb permanently or is he

Hard to tell. Not sure what Lucho plans to do with him, but it's evident he loves versatile players over players that specialize in one set.

He can become a natural at RB. "It's not his position" doesn't mean it can be in some months.

Maybe your right. But I dont see how anyone could figure it out at this point.

He just isnt involved positively or negatively enough to know.

He'll be 3rd choice when Alves and Aleix are cleared and good to go.

The Roma game once more exposed his limitations.When the opposition parks the bus,Roberto is pretty much useless. Games like these,we need Alves's guile,invention and intensity.

alexjanosik wrote:The Roma game once more exposed his limitations.When the opposition parks the bus,Roberto is pretty much useless. Games like these,we need Alves's guile,invention and intensity.

so is rakitic tbf