Re: COPA DEL REY EL CLASICO FIRST LEG: Real Madrid vs FC BARCELONA

by free_cat Mon Feb 04, 2013 9:04 am

BarrileteCosmico wrote:
messixaviesta wrote:
BarrileteCosmico wrote:If it means Iniesta must be benched then so be it.

Why should Iniesta be benched instead of Fabregas? Not only is Iniesta an other worldly player and one of the best attacking midfielders of all time but he also seems to be in the form of his life. I for one think that Iniesta would have won us this game and quite comfortably at that if he was playing in the center because when he had the ball he was sublime and the pity is that he didn't get the ball that much. At times I almost feel Iniesta should leave Barcelona because not only would it help to solve the Barca midfield and forward conundrum but Iniesta could make so many of the teams ( and big teams at that ) about twice as good as they are currently.

I don't think Iniesta should be benched, ideally he would play CM and Cesc LW. But at the moment if I take it as a given that Cesc will start as CM, then I'd rather Villa play LW than Iniesta.

Ideally Cesc as LW???

by BarrileteCosmico Mon Feb 04, 2013 2:09 pm

Sorry, I meant Villa. It's been fixed now.

by messixaviesta Mon Feb 04, 2013 6:14 pm

The Franchise wrote:

True but JD, outside of Keita's first season I would argue than Keita never provided that defensive cover he was supposed to. He failed to do thaton many many occassions, both as a starter and off the bench.

I agree this is different though.

Very true dani. I remember you saying its only Pep's perception that Keita provides defensive cover. Maybe it was not defensive cover but he wanted a muscle man out there and someone who had that drive from midfield - something like Yaya Toure for ManCity or Abou Diaby for Arsenal. Keita wasn't as good but he was perhaps the only one we had of this kind to any extent.

by messixaviesta Mon Feb 04, 2013 6:16 pm

BarrileteCosmico wrote:
I don't think Iniesta should be benched, ideally he would play CM and Villa LW. But at the moment if I take it as a given that Cesc will start as CM, then I'd rather Villa play LW than Iniesta.

Oh I see.

by messixaviesta Mon Feb 04, 2013 6:18 pm

BarrileteCosmico wrote:Iniesta publicly complained about playing time

Where did you read this? Any link?

by The Franchise Mon Feb 04, 2013 7:39 pm

messixaviesta wrote:
The Franchise wrote:

True but JD, outside of Keita's first season I would argue than Keita never provided that defensive cover he was supposed to. He failed to do thaton many many occassions, both as a starter and off the bench.

I agree this is different though.

Very true dani. I remember you saying its only Pep's perception that Keita provides defensive cover. Maybe it was not defensive cover but he wanted a muscle man out there and someone who had that drive from midfield - something like Yaya Toure for ManCity or Abou Diaby for Arsenal. Keita wasn't as good but he was perhaps the only one we had of this kind to any extent.

Yes thats probably right, and also unlike our other midfielders, Keita made tons of runs into the opposing box.

by messixaviesta Wed Feb 06, 2013 2:58 pm

The Franchise wrote:Yes thats probably right, and also unlike our other midfielders, Keita made tons of runs into the opposing box.

Very true

by BarrileteCosmico Wed Feb 06, 2013 3:28 pm

messixaviesta wrote:
BarrileteCosmico wrote:Iniesta publicly complained about playing time

Where did you read this? Any link?

Iniesta had stated in November that "It is not normal for me to be on the bench" (I couldn't find any english links, sorry, but here's one on spanish http://www.elperiodico.com/es/noticias/barca/iniesta-normal-suplencia-2248026) to which Tito replied "I don't see it as normal either". (http://www.marca.com/2012/11/16/futbol/equipos/barcelona/1353083667.html). Whether due to coincidence or not Iniesta started a lot more after that.

by messixaviesta Wed Feb 06, 2013 5:52 pm

alfred, thanks for the details. I have to say all this has me a little worried. On the surface we have piled up an excellent tally of points and are still called the best team in the world but behind the scenes things don't seem to be of the same standard as before. There doesn't seem to be a strong hand exercising control over things. Tito may not be that kind of person and then he has his health problems. Jordi seems even more out of sorts. Player power may be setting it to some extent. These things were unthinkable when Pep ruled.

by BarrileteCosmico Wed Feb 06, 2013 5:58 pm

I wouldn't worry so much, the concerns are more due to the run of bad results which came after hard games, not games we were sure to win. I'm more worried about when we'll get Tito back and how much influence he can realistically have from NY than player power setting in.

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