Donuts wrote:to be fair though the first goal was a good one.
the corner we should of done better though.

Why does Tata put Iniesta in zonal marking in the near post? That's a big mistake. And after the goal, he continued to put Iniesta there.

Winter is Coming wrote:With this yellow does it mean Neymar is suspended the next game?

Why? No. No suspension until 5 yellow cards.

Happy with the win and it was a very entertaining match thanks to the tactical suicide from Valencia.

On other note, we let Valencia take 16 shots, when they had only taken 3 in the other 2 games. They scored 2, hit the post and had a couple or three very good chances that Valdes heroically saved.

We defend better.... they said.

Anyway, I like this kind of games much more. Valencia should probably have scored at least one other goal, but we should have scored 2-3 more. Neymar's goal was legal, Messi missed 3 one on ones, and Pedro had two very clear chances. Very good game again from Fabregas who should be a starter over Xavi right now.

Oh I was thinking about the way the yellows work in CL.

Winter is Coming wrote:Oh I was thinking about the way the yellows work in CL.

Imo it should be. They are too lenient the way they currently are.

Btw, Tata has balls not calling up Xavi and subbing in JDS with 11 minutes to go. Respect to the man.

Defence is still ***!

Messi carrying us once again.

Nothing has changed for me.

Xavi is still needed to help us keep possession, which is still our best form of defence.

Going nowhere with this defense in the CL. La Liga possible with Messi scoring 603840592 goals.

futbol wrote:Going nowhere with this defense in the CL. La Liga possible with Messi scoring 603840592 goals.

Could have asked me a month ago and I would have told you that.

Having watched preseason and all of your games so far, benching Iniesta for Cesc would not be a ridiculous idea

Cesc Tata is using him to his potential.

Uhm, yes, it would be. One is a proven big game player and Ballon d'Or contender of recent years who is just not in 100 % form, the other one is playing out of his skin for like 3 games because he still has to prove his worth. Having said that. I'm not against a Fabriesta midfield. Xavi is 33. At some point he has to slow down.

Collblanc wrote:Cesc :bow:Tata is using him to his potential.

He was playing like this at the beginning of the season ever since he came to Barca. It's after the winter break when he turns into a Poopregas every year.

Poopregas

He's got a point.

Am I the only one that thought he had just a "good" game today? Or is it because I don't like Cesc that I don't think it was an all star performance?

Because every time Cesc plays well everyone loses their minds.

http://makeameme.org/media/templates/250/everyone_loses_their_minds.jpg

Cesc always was great. Nothing changed for me. Difference is that Tata sees that greatness. Others had no balls to bench xavi or iniesta. But seems Tata got big testicles

Nope, didnt see a great overall performance at all from Cesc. I was a good performance, a functional one..and I will settle for that no problem if he does so consistently.

That has been his biggest problem of all, nor his quality or his flaws...but his consistency. He hasnt put together a run of games in midfield where you know exactly what your getting.

But yeah, I dont know why Cesc is getting so much talk. Busquets was fantastic today, Valdes yet again, while Neymar and Messi did great jobs also.

Valdés has been amazing recently, I know Del Bosque won't but I would play him over Casillas in current circumstances.

Busquets was the best for me.

Was great defensively for the most part as usual and offensively was as good as the likes of Cesc and Iniesta.

Actually, I didn't even notice Iniesta do much

I'm slightly annoyed at the subbing policy Martino has had so far. I don't really believe in subs made after the 80th minute, and some players like Iniesta looked pretty exhausted all game. JDS could have easily come on for Iniesta at the 60th minute or so and done a good job.

Felt like both Diego Alves and Valdes had pretty good games. I wouldn't mind him replacing Valdes at all.

Noticed that in some situations Messi chose to shoot rather than pass to Neymar when Neymar was in a better shooting position and free. Wonder whether this will create some future rift. The two didn't show as much chemistry as the press reports.

Also Cbarca Busi better than Messi? I feel like he has us spoilt with hattricks we no longer notice when he has a great game, we're used to it.

I am not gonna talk about our 2 year old problem -the defense. That aside, we had a good game. Everyone was pressing, even Messi (not at the level we would want, but clearly we are going there). It was a fast paced game, especially in the first half, and i think we did good in what is otherwise a rather difficult match. I always fear the visits to Valencia.

Probably harsh on Messi tbh but just stating the fact that Busquets was fantastic.

I'd put the two up there, no particular order. Probably said Busquets initially simply because a couple times I thought Messi made questionable decisions and he could have scored 5. But yeah he did score a hat trick and obviously was great, you're certainly right in calling me out there.

I also noticed Messi didn't pass to Neymar. It was forgiven cause Messi scored, but I'm sure had he missed then everyone would of made a big deal out of it since Neymar could of got it done

That said Messi set up Neymar on the disallowed goal and Neymar set up Messi on one of his. So they are playing well together.

Neymar still seems lost at times and trying hard to fit in but overall hasn't been bad

I thought Neymar was pretty good actually. Good without being outstanding or anything, but a solid performance and contributed offensively. I know he has more to give but even with that standard of performance he's comfortably our best winger.

Neymar still needs time to adjust and is doing above average in general
Someone who has disappointed was Pedro

odd to take him out and put Sergi on the wing imo. I thought the subs came in too late but on the other hand I do applaud Tata for taking a chance on bringing in Sergi and JDS in such a spot of the match. Risky move and it took balls to do that

Neymar went out too late I thought. He looked gassed as hell. He just continues to do random things that look like he is trying to impress the team or what not. Kid is still learning the ropes and by no means am I saying he is sucking it up. But the fact he set up Messi and Messi set him up is good enough for me

Valdes and Diego Alves were on fire - both were MOTM. Busi was beast as well. Messi also had a great match

not only Neymar but Tello also.
There was a counter attack in the second half where Messi could pass the ball to Tello who had vast space in fornt of him to make his run and instead he kept the ball. I hope his ego isn't growing. we need teamwork if this is going to work out