Rayo Vallecano - Barça. Saturday at 22:00

Date: Saturday, 10/27/2012 22:00
Competition: League
Television: GolT / Canal Plus Liga
Referee: Pérez Lasa

Possible lineup:

VV
Montoya Bartra Song/Ariano Alba
Xavi Busquets Cesc
Pedro Messi Villa

Isn't Mascherano banned?

I don't think I've seen anything bad from this referee, so might be a good and fair contest from that POV.

If Alves or Pique aren't fit, and Mascherano is banned, this lineup for me:

Valdes
Montoya Adriano Bartra Alba
Xavi Busquets Fabregas
Tello Messi Villa

I want to see Bartra again. Also MVP up front is always good news.
Let's hope that's how it goes

jiopsi wrote:If Alves or Pique aren't fit, and Mascherano is banned, this lineup for me:

Valdes
Montoya Adriano Bartra Alba
Xavi Busquets Fabregas
Tello Messi Villa

Oh yes, you are right. Mascherano is banned.
So I guess Adriano or Song will be playing with Bartra.

Pique is not ready and I don't think Alves will start yet, although I think he has the green light.
Why you prefer Tello to Pedro for tomorrow?

I think Pedro has been looking rather uninspired, and was awful last game, so in my mind he could need a one game rest.

It's an away game. I prefer Pedro's workrate and defensive helping hand.
We're gonna need more than just attackinh edge

jiopsi wrote:I think Pedro has been looking rather uninspired, and was awful last game, so in my mind he could need a one game rest.

He already was rested vs. Deportivo and was subbed vs. Celtic so he is rested. He wasn't great vs. Celtic but better than Messi or Alexis and he has been very good all season long although he hasn't scored for some matches. I also like Tello more coming from the bench, but whoever plays from the two can do a good job.

Time for MVP...Alves travels with the team, wonder if he gets the start

Bartra likely to get more of a test against Rayo at home than he did with Celtic's paltry possession stats

Amat is back, Batistao & Dominguez will be the danger men up front

Time for rotation, goals & a cleansheet

free_cat wrote:

jiopsi wrote:I think Pedro has been looking rather uninspired, and was awful last game, so in my mind he could need a one game rest.

He already was rested vs. Deportivo and was subbed vs. Celtic so he is rested. He wasn't great vs. Celtic but better than Messi or Alexis and he has been very good all season long although he hasn't scored for some matches. I also like Tello more coming from the bench, but whoever plays from the two can do a good job.

For me Pedro was easily the worst player in the pitch against Celtic. A lot of pointless running, not a single creative move and back passing it every time. For me he needs rest to improve his mental state, and I would start Sanchez also before him, but I think Tello would be the best option for this match.

Nah, he wasn't the worst player by any means and if Messi haven't made the miss of the year he would have assisted a goal.

Forgot about that, yeah that was the only creative move he pulled, and even that move was started and finished by Messi, and only great goalkeeping kept it out. But other than that Pedro was easily the worst player on the pitch, both teams included.

I predict an easy 4-0 win for us. I dont think the final result will be the same as last time.

------------VV
Montoya-Barta-Song-Adriano
-----------Busi
----Xavi-------Cesc
-Alexis------------Tello
---------Messi

--villa-----messi-------tello--

----cesc--------xavi-----

--------busquets---------

adri---batra-song---alves

even though pedro was worst vs celtic i don think he will be rested becz as billy mentioned we need his work rate in the away game....

Mascherano's suspension could be a blessing in disguise.

The dude needed a rest and has been having bad luck way too often recently; scoring on goals, red cards.

Maschete is a good defender, he just isnt experienced enough yet to be the defense general like Puyol,.

He has been partnered with puyol, pique, song, adriano, batra (including 3 diff RBs) already this season. That is a lot of players to develop chemistry with in such a short period of time.

Valdes
Alves Bartra Song Alba
Cesc Busquets Iniesta
Pedro Messi Alexis


In 2 games against Rayo, Alexis has 3 goals
Messi 2 games, 3 goals, 2 assists
Pedro 1 game1, 2 goals, 2 assists

Would love a MVP up front. Cesc will play either for Xavi or Iniesta. Hopefully Barta gets the nod for the second consecutive game in a row with either Song or Adriano beside him. Alves won't start IMO so Montoya at right back whilst Busquests back in the pivote role.
We should win though the last few performances have shown otherwise.

I have an awkward feeling about this game. This: "Vilanova: Rayo is Barcelona's toughest trip so far" did not make it better. Let's hope it is just a feeling.

Official lineup:

Valdes - Montoya Song Adriano Alba - Xavi Busquets Cesc - Pedro Messi Villa


Oh, I wanted Bartra...

Rayo have done very well to pressure Barcelona and keep the ball away from them. Obviously they can't compete man to man with Barcelona's brilliance but as a team they have performed very well and perhaps unlucky to concede.

Barcelona have had 56% possession only. That says something.

Alejandro Domínguez

That 2nd goal was very 08-09esque. What a difference having 3 competent forwards makes.

Good attempt by Rayo.

Pressed well and gave it a go, didn't deserve to lose 5-0.

Barca defended well.

I said 3 months ago that with this style Fàbregas will show who he was back in Arsenal and these past few matches he has performed excellently. It is like watching a completely different player than 4 months ago. So confident and seems like he is enjoying it once again.

I have to say, this Barcelona is not like Guardiola's Barcelona at all. Look at the possession today, and the number of goals. There is nowhere near emphasis on possession as before. Some of the football played by Barça these days was forbidden when Guardiola was the coach. There is much more risk taken in attack nowadays (players pushing forward) and less risk taken in defence (players clearing the ball when in little doubt).

Song was poor, didn't feel like he was on the pitch at all. Song's best position would be CM. Oh and Alexis was hopeless. Either offside and missed a few good chances. Jonathan was good, did more in 10 minutes than Song did all match.