How do you think Barcelona could improve?

harhar11 wrote:

Yohan Modric wrote:Alves getting dragged into the middle is because of Barca's narrow defending I think.

Alves is a better attacker than Alba imo. He makes better runs and gets in behind the defense a bit better.

In terms of that 3-3-4, well it's pretty much similar to their usual formation.

Normally? yes!!!

But this year? no way in hell..

Don't get me wrong, Dani at his best>>>>>> Alba when it comes to attacking AND defending(still remember how he, almost all by himself, had C.Ronaldo in his pocket) but last year he was bad while this year he hasn't improved, if anything he has become worse..

Not true at all.

He doesnt go in behind the defence often no, but why would he when Pedro is playing directly in front of him, no longer making runs inside.

Alba on the left plays and literally noone is in front of him, he is also faster than Alves so of course he will go behind.

But that is an extreme small part of the game, Dani Alves does literally everything else better...and I dont exagerrate, literally every single thing else he does better.

How to improve?

Sell: Alexis, Valdes (he wants out anyways), retire Puyol,

Play Fabregas the role he plays in Spain (false 9)... Move messi to his classic right wing position where he used to be sickkk and get put tello on LW

Real Kandahar wrote:How to improve?

Sell: Alexis, Valdes (he wants out anyways), retire Puyol,

Play Fabregas the role he plays in Spain (false 9)... Move messi to his classic right wing position where he used to be sickkk and get put tello on LW

this is funny!

Real Kandahar wrote:How to improve?

Sell: Alexis, Valdes (he wants out anyways), retire Puyol,

Play Fabregas the role he plays in Spain (false 9)... Move messi to his classic right wing position where he used to be sickkk and get put tello on LW

Clueless. I so hard with that last paragraph.

lol used to be sick

not to defend real kandahar because the rest of his post is nonsense, but does it really matter where messi is positioned? hes going to drift all over the field regardless.

vanDEEZ wrote:not to defend real kandahar because the rest of his post is nonsense, but does it really matter where messi is positioned? hes going to drift all over the field regardless.

If you put him on the RW only for him to abandon the position, we now have no RW.

He's most effective in the center and should be positioned as such. He doesn't drift all over, anyhow. I rarely see him all the way on the RW anymore, that space is occupied by a Pedro who no longer makes runs and Alves. And he never really ever went over by the LW too much, for obvious reasons.

The whole of Kandahars post

CBarca wrote:

vanDEEZ wrote:not to defend real kandahar because the rest of his post is nonsense, but does it really matter where messi is positioned? hes going to drift all over the field regardless.

If you put him on the RW only for him to abandon the position, we now have no RW.

He's most effective in the center and should be positioned as such. He doesn't drift all over, anyhow. I rarely see him all the way on the RW anymore, that space is occupied by a Pedro who no longer makes runs and Alves. And he never really ever went over by the LW too much, for obvious reasons.

The whole of Kandahars post

I think he purposely posts crap like this just to get the

Messi's usually best in the central areas.

I think Barca did try a formation last season with Alves at RW and then Messi behind/alongside Fabregas. However again, they became too passive and the situation was just a 'don't fix what's not broken' one, since they got rid of the successful 4-3-3.

The Franchise wrote:
Problem with Alba is very simple, he is a very bad defender. Very bad in the 1 v 1, very bad positionally, doesnt get how the offside trap works and is the worst player in the air I seen in a pretty long time as a defender.

Oh, he also takes far too many touches on the ball.

Dani Alves is incomparable to that hack, the difference is like the Hilton and some hostel in Uganda.

Your waffle I cant be bothered with so ill just ignore.

Completely disagree with this (except that Alba's shit in the air, but if 6.3 ft. Pique sucks in the air, what do we expect from a guy smaller than Messi?). Honestly, this actually has to be a WUM. Alves has declined so much it's not even funny. I can give you COUNTLESS examples where he's directly at fault for goals this season. I mean just look at him against Sevilla for the first goal: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYr7SzojmQg Seriously? He's just ballwatching. Against Real Sociedad the usual "getting dragged inside and leaving the flank empty" Alves: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RN95mVKQIU Against Real Madrid the same for Ronaldo's first goal: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPQfjFo1A4w What's he even doing there with Milan's second goal? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6-NGZqG09U When you are dragged inside at least have the decency to stick tight to Shaarawy so he can't pass so comfortably to Muntari. Then there is the most recent example of getting dicked by a Madrid Castilla player allowing him to play the simplest of crosses. The majority of goals Barcelona concede come through Alves side. What did Callejon in the last Clasico even do offensively? Nothing. Nothing came through Alba's side. What did Di Maria do in the Camp Nou Clasico in the right side? Nothing. NOTHING. He CHANGED sides and then created Madrid's second goal through ALVES' side. I can go on for hours. Alba is a considerably better defender. He's primarily defending and only secondary attacking. Alves is the opposite. Laudrup recently talked about tactics to beat Barca. He said: "play balls behind Alves". LOL I can't even believe anyone would defend Alves. The club even considered selling him last season. It's an open secret. Alves was even pissed and publicly moaned why the club didn't deny the rumours. No idea which Barca you are watching this season. Surely not the same I am watching. Alves' decline is actually the main reason why Pique looks like a donkey these past 2 seasons. He has to cover for 2 positions.

Well you asked me and thats my answer, nothing has changed since I wrote that so here we are.

Also for future reference, can you use paragraphs making it easier to read.

As for what you wrote, its mostly nonesense based on half truths so for the second time, ill just skip over it.

Loads has been written already about Alba's defensive frailties, no point going any deeper on that. We all know Barca are conceding far too many goals. It's not just his fault. Enough has been said on this topic though, let's look at attack instead, I see two major issues

1. Width - where has it gone?
On paper you can say Pep's Barca and this Barca play the same football. Tika-taka, triangles, dominate possession etc etc. One big difference however is width. Pep's teams used the flanks so much more effectively. This team is pre-occupied with working it through the centre. The arrival of Fabregas hasn't worked. He's a fantastic player, almost too good to leave out, but his inclusion messes up the balance of the team. Playing Iniesta out wide takes away from Barca's play down the flanks. It also limits his influence on the game, he's much more effective through the middle. Barca have become predictable, their attack needs variation. I think Pep saw this when he brought in Alexis Sanchez. Unfortunately that transfer just hasn't worked out at all.

2. It's too Messi.
Messi scores all the goals. There's no plan B. Whereas in the past he was flanked by the likes of David Villa and Thierry Henry, now he's supported by an out of position Iniesta, whose game is completely different. If Messi is shut down, Barcelona are wanked basically. I'm not talking about bringing in a big man here, Andy Carroll can stay where he is. I think Aguero would be a great addition, he'd add a clinical edge and would fit in perfectly with the style of the club. Right now the reliance on Messi is just far too great. David Villa is on his way out of the club, but I'd get him back into the team until then, even if he's not fully the player he was

The Franchise wrote:

harhar11 wrote:

Yohan Modric wrote:Alves getting dragged into the middle is because of Barca's narrow defending I think.

Alves is a better attacker than Alba imo. He makes better runs and gets in behind the defense a bit better.

In terms of that 3-3-4, well it's pretty much similar to their usual formation.

Normally? yes!!!

But this year? no way in hell..

Don't get me wrong, Dani at his best>>>>>> Alba when it comes to attacking AND defending(still remember how he, almost all by himself, had C.Ronaldo in his pocket) but last year he was bad while this year he hasn't improved, if anything he has become worse..

Not true at all.

He doesnt go in behind the defence often no, but why would he when Pedro is playing directly in front of him, no longer making runs inside.

Alba on the left plays and literally noone is in front of him, he is also faster than Alves so of course he will go behind.

But that is an extreme small part of the game, Dani Alves does literally everything else better...and I dont exagerrate, literally every single thing else he does better.

Mate, like I said, don't get me wrong, Alves at his best>>>>Alba at everything. But this season he has been very bad. Infact, Marca noted that as well and made an article about it, though the funny thing is that it backfired because right after that article he made 2 assist in a game(IIRC) . And Lobo Carrasco, an ex Barca player, said that he thought that Alves shouldn't play against Real Madrid because of how badly he has been defending.

Although, like I said, lately he has found his attacking form, his defending is still lacking..

Center Backs, probably give Montoya more games at RB

Honestly Barca's major issue is defence

also with Neymar joining, Barca should get a decent Right sided winger

the only positive of moving Messi back to the right would be that teams wouldn't be able to mark him like this anymore...and if they did then whoever is playing as the 9 would have it easier to get in to score

A while back in the Barca section I'd asked everyone the hypothetical question of who they would prefer Barca to buy as a RW from an outside club but no one ever answered. I'm not sure who we could buy though since an already established RW would cost an arm and a leg and for an overpriced youngster we might as well stick with a canterano. Clearly Alexis is done so who would be the best outside RW purchase?

Reus is my top choice. The kid is fantastic and currently is playing in a team that is already playing a style similar to ours so he should adopt quickly

If we are to promote I'd go for the guy in my AV

-----------gk----------
rb-----cb-----cb-----lb
cm-------dm-------cm
Reus----Messi---Neymar

Reus is usually on the left is he not? still, if he'd be willing to play on the right, or even at false 9 at times that would be quite the splendid frontline. After Alexis and Villa leave those would be two monstrous replacements, along with Deulofeu Tello and Cuenca battling for the starting spot.

----------New GK-----------
M.M---Pique---Bartra---Alba-
-----------Sergio-----------
-Xavi----------------Iniesta-
-----------Messi-------------
--Reus--------------Neymar-

Alves could be benched but idk if he should be sold just yet. Those XI with a bench including the likes of Alves, Tello, Cuenca, Thiago, a new foreign CB (Dede, perhaps), and maybe a foreign LB like Filipe (or Carles Planas)

Potential foreign signings that I'd be interested in seeing, whether as starters or back-up (some more than others of course):

New GK
Piszczek
Dede
Filipe Luis
Reus
Neymar

Of course there's other more desirable CBs but to keep it realistic Dede wouldn't cost an arm and a leg, at least I dont think. And our midfield is too damn good to switch up, so there's no need to touch it. But Fabregas really has to find his form by beginning to be deployed properly.

Agreed. Reus will probably solve one of your wide positions.

Great dribbler, Has a decent pass and of course has a great shot in him. Also very good in cutting in.

Don't Dortmund play counter-attacking?

windkick wrote:the only positive of moving Messi back to the right would be that teams wouldn't be able to mark him like this anymore...and if they did then whoever is playing as the 9 would have it easier to get in to score

Thats not a plus.

Instead, it would take just 2 players and everyone else will be marked.

You know why Messi is always surrounded? Because he takes too long on the ball.

If your surrounded like that, you know how much space is elsewhere?

Messi dropping deep isn't a threat to the oppositions goal, especially if the correct runs aren't being made by other players.

Maybe he shouldn't drop deep too often, so the midfielders have someone up front to pass the ball to.

harhar11 wrote:

The Franchise wrote:

harhar11 wrote:

Yohan Modric wrote:Alves getting dragged into the middle is because of Barca's narrow defending I think.

Alves is a better attacker than Alba imo. He makes better runs and gets in behind the defense a bit better.

In terms of that 3-3-4, well it's pretty much similar to their usual formation.

Normally? yes!!!

But this year? no way in hell..

Don't get me wrong, Dani at his best>>>>>> Alba when it comes to attacking AND defending(still remember how he, almost all by himself, had C.Ronaldo in his pocket) but last year he was bad while this year he hasn't improved, if anything he has become worse..

Not true at all.

He doesnt go in behind the defence often no, but why would he when Pedro is playing directly in front of him, no longer making runs inside.

Alba on the left plays and literally noone is in front of him, he is also faster than Alves so of course he will go behind.

But that is an extreme small part of the game, Dani Alves does literally everything else better...and I dont exagerrate, literally every single thing else he does better.

Mate, like I said, don't get me wrong, Alves at his best>>>>Alba at everything. But this season he has been very bad. Infact, Marca noted that as well and made an article about it, though the funny thing is that it backfired because right after that article he made 2 assist in a game(IIRC) . And Lobo Carrasco, an ex Barca player, said that he thought that Alves shouldn't play against Real Madrid because of how badly he has been defending.

Although, like I said, lately he has found his attacking form, his defending is still lacking..

So because Marca and some guy said so, it must be right?

I will go with what see, his defending is fantastic. In this bad spell in fact, he has been the only defender not to make some awful error...that despite being 1 v 1 with Cristiano with no help most of the time.

When Pique was 1 v 1 with Cristiano with no help, he gave away a pen.

When Puyol with 1 v 1 with DI Maria with no help, he got broke so bad he ended up doing the splits.

Reus would stunt Delofeu's development

I dont see Reus going to Barca. He seems happy at Dortmund, and i just dont see it happening. Barcas problem is simple. As good as he is, Messi cant do everything. Xavi, Puyol, Alves, and Villa are past it. Busquets and Pique are overrated. Valdes and Mascherano are just garbage. So who does that leave? Basically Messi and Iniesta to do everything. They need to play with more width so Sanchez can get in the game more, and buy a WC CB to play next to Pique and hide his flaws like Puyol used to. Also, Xavi should no longer start. Use Fabregas in his role. I homestly domt think theyll ever get back to their 2008/09 or 2010/11 levels again, or at least not any time soon, but they having gaping holes in their team that need to be fixed.