neuro11 wrote:

BarrileteCosmico wrote:Assuming we finish the league with a clean sheet, we would have only conceded 19 goals.

How long has it been since a team conceded so few? I looked up the record for least goals conceded, it's 15 but from the 30s when the league only had 10 teams.

A great feat....totalbarca published an article today saying defence wins the lal liga for barcelona. i cant disagree. we have put a fantastic defensive solidarity throughout the season.specially when i think the difference is only one new signing (Mathieu) in compare to the last few seasons, this looks like more remarkable

This is probably under appreciated. This is quite an achievement, and much overshadowed by MSN.

I think Mattieu has been great, hes been much better than many other defensives signings we have made in the past for sure. His physical height brings much of what was needed for years, and I think at times hes better than Mascherano although the latter still first choice. So very happy with him.

Secondly Rakatic has been doing a lot of good tackling, defending and pressing in his position, in thie department hes stronger and Xavi obviously. So with him there our defense and Busquets gets much more help and contribute to this impressive state.

Lastly the GKs have both been very good

Of cos credit goes to the manager and other players who have improved as well like Alves whos hit top form again.

This team is truly remarkable. Every piece seems to fit together, which is a testament to the players’ intelligence but also the coaching staff’s vision to put them in the right positions and give them the right roles.

There was an excellent piece on totalBarca on the three big leaders of the team, one in each line (Piqué, Busquets, Messi) – http://www.totalbarca.com/2015/opinion-pieces/how-luis-enrique-rebuilt-barcelona/
I would say that those three were the cornerstones of this title, although not the only protagonists. Bravo has been excellent, Masche has proved his critics wrong, Iniesta has adapted to his new role, Rakitic has made life so much easier on the right flank, Alves has been superb, Alba has found a new intelligence to his game, Neymar has taken a step forward and Suárez has been way too good given that it’s his first year. The quality of the team is ridiculous.

It was a beautiful season for the most part, with some brilliant football, and even when it wasn’t beautiful, Barca found a way to win. Matches against Valencia, away to Celta, away to Almeria, home and away to Villarreal… all key moments in the season. So happy, so proud of this team.

IMO, the most important player in the midfield has been Rakitic. Played way better than Busquets this season.

Busquets has been weirdly nonchalant throughout the season. Still remember his game against PSG in the group stages earlier in the season, getting caught several times when trying his dragbacks. And now against Atletico again with some fuuuuuu moments as the last man in defense where only the ref whistle saved him. Don't know what's going on with him at times.

I too think that Busquets was not a cornerstone in our success.
Rakitic on the other hand, without being the best midfielder on the planet he provided exactly what we missed especially with Crapregas in the team. Energy.
For me the best surprise in the season was Pique. I never thought he would reach this kind of performance again.
And before any of the cherry pickers come forth to point out specific mistakes, let it be said that no defender’s play is without errors

more or less , agree with the above. dont think Busquets had a great season. he has been playing below per his standard in way too many games. dont know whether calling Rakitic as the mf cornestone is correct, but certainly Busquet was definitely not the one.

a little bit of the emotion

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jm2ePdWJMUQ

Fußball wrote:Busquets has been weirdly nonchalant throughout the season. Still remember his game against PSG in the group stages earlier in the season, getting caught several times when trying his dragbacks. And now against Atletico again with some fuuuuuu moments as the last man in defense where only the ref whistle saved him. Don't know what's going on with him at times.

The amount of times he has gotten owned while trying to earn a foul makes me want to pull my hair out.When will he realize that opposition players have by now wised up to his dragbacks and wont foul him.And he does it in very dangerous areas. Its when the opponents are pressing and our 2 CB's have gone wide and he has dropped.He gets owned and gifts a chance to the opposition.Thing is he does nothing by doing so.He is not exactly advancing the play and it is a very risky action.
Why cant he do what Xavi does?Just pass the ball back if you cant execute a safe trick and keep hold of the ball.

^^^
this exactly.
I've been saying the same exact things when talking with my friends

I have a solution for us: sell the player with a guaranteed buy back clause - Zubi

No thread for the next game yet?

What are you guys expecting? I hope to see the subs getting some time.

I'm expecting

-----------------MaTS
Montoya---Bartra----Verm----Adriano
---------------S. Roberto
--------rafinha-----------xavi
----Munir-------Suarez----------Pedro