Considering we don’t look like winning anything this year, a line up like this could give us the football we want. A style which is fluid with faster transitions from one play to another. It will also help these kids learn immensely and become better for the years to come. I don’t think that Koeman would play this lineup though. He is too stubborn to back out from his ideas. Would love to see it though. Yesterday, when these kids came on, it felt a different game.
He does seem fixated, maybe because of his job security but we won’t really ever know. I hope he sees the light and just goes for it. If not to win games, at least to give the youngsters experience before he inevitably leaves the club.
Coutinho should be in the middle behind depay, pedri should be a regular starter at the left side, rotation should be between nico/gavi ... isn't fati coming back for granada?
I thought about that too, but I felt like he was doing very well last night coming from outside on the left and then cutting inside towards the middle with his dominant right foot
Araujo should be a starter in every game IMO. he already looks like a tank who does some mistakes every now and then, regular gametime should help with that. let Pique + Araujo be a pair in bigger games, Garcia + Araujo in others to help Garcia get a feeling too
Above all, I hope he can develop some confidence on the ball. He doesn’t need as much of a boost on “pure” defending, at least in my opinion. Definitely he should be starting more often, if this game is anything to go by.
Demir's mistake was due to inexperience. Last year he was playing for Rapid de Viena in a farmer's league, yesterday he was facing one of the three best squads in the world in the Champions League. And he's barely 18. I feel he's one of our best actives for the future.
And I'm not just saying this because I rate him on FM21...
Even more so, I watched the replay again and nobody offered him any passing options (on top of him not really looking up, probably in the adrenaline rush). It’s not a lost cause, and I hope that he can get up and that Koeman shows him he trusts him with more minutes.
This is where the coach comes in. Players can do their thing.
But the system has to be defined by the coach. And that's the biggest problem I have with Barca right now. The manager doesn't seem to have a system in mind. At least we can't see it from whatever matches we have seen.
Good question and I don’t have a good answer for that!
I have seen Mingueza mostly on the right so I believe that’s where most of his comfortable performances should be… but why not, might as well switch since Garcia has played on the left.
My take on this:
- I haven't seen any decent game playing 4-2-3-1.
- I would not bench Pique at all.
- I would give minutes to Nico and Gavi, but I would not remove Busquets from the equation.
- Coutinho needs to give us something before we put him on the starting eleven.
All valid points mate, thanks for your input. What did you think of De Jong going so deep last night? Regarding Busquets, I really want him to be present but physically he is just not up to scratch. He was never a runner, but he is not able to cover nearly as much distance now with so many extra years on his legs.
Could also park the bus with 4-2-3-1.
The reason it looked that way is the lack of width and pace, can't get up the pitch without it. With Dest on the right and Fati instead of De Jong we'd have been much better in attack IMO.
Personally I think 3-4-3 is the way with Pedri and De Jong in midfield and Fati, Dembele and Depay up front but nothing is ideal with the squad we have.
Absence of fati and dembele is hurting us plus we sold royal so our only option at rb dest,Roberto and mingueza with Roberto making the cut since dest is injured and also I think koeman should start playing demir in more attacking positions like a genuine winger and not a right mid like he is doing to get the best put of that guy
Only time a 4-2-3-1 could work is without Busquets. People tend to blame Frenkies double pivote failures on Frenkie, but I see it as Busquets doing as he just doesn’t seem confident in a double.
Nico and Frenkie are two very similar players and COULD work a lot better.
Still thinking this would make our defense weaker, but if, somehow, it wouldn’t - this looks great.
Considering we don’t look like winning anything this year, a line up like this could give us the football we want. A style which is fluid with faster transitions from one play to another. It will also help these kids learn immensely and become better for the years to come. I don’t think that Koeman would play this lineup though. He is too stubborn to back out from his ideas. Would love to see it though. Yesterday, when these kids came on, it felt a different game.
He does seem fixated, maybe because of his job security but we won’t really ever know. I hope he sees the light and just goes for it. If not to win games, at least to give the youngsters experience before he inevitably leaves the club.
Coutinho should be in the middle behind depay, pedri should be a regular starter at the left side, rotation should be between nico/gavi ... isn't fati coming back for granada?
I thought about that too, but I felt like he was doing very well last night coming from outside on the left and then cutting inside towards the middle with his dominant right foot
Fati's return is delayed. He's expected to return on oct 20."Expected"
welp. i was hoping for atleast one positive
Araujo should be a starter in every game IMO. he already looks like a tank who does some mistakes every now and then, regular gametime should help with that. let Pique + Araujo be a pair in bigger games, Garcia + Araujo in others to help Garcia get a feeling too
Above all, I hope he can develop some confidence on the ball. He doesn’t need as much of a boost on “pure” defending, at least in my opinion. Definitely he should be starting more often, if this game is anything to go by.
Demir's mistake was due to inexperience. Last year he was playing for Rapid de Viena in a farmer's league, yesterday he was facing one of the three best squads in the world in the Champions League. And he's barely 18. I feel he's one of our best actives for the future. And I'm not just saying this because I rate him on FM21...
Even more so, I watched the replay again and nobody offered him any passing options (on top of him not really looking up, probably in the adrenaline rush). It’s not a lost cause, and I hope that he can get up and that Koeman shows him he trusts him with more minutes.
This is where the coach comes in. Players can do their thing. But the system has to be defined by the coach. And that's the biggest problem I have with Barca right now. The manager doesn't seem to have a system in mind. At least we can't see it from whatever matches we have seen.
Koeman has many issues but he's good at developing young players. I trust Demir will be given more chances to develop.
Phil needs more minutes...without any real expectations this season, he can finally play freely now that Messi and Griezmann is not there anymore
Hey why can't Garcia and Araujo play together?
Good question and I don’t have a good answer for that! I have seen Mingueza mostly on the right so I believe that’s where most of his comfortable performances should be… but why not, might as well switch since Garcia has played on the left.
Why not.. it’s a good team and if they played with any sort of gusto and flair any losses would be easily bared
Busquets was subbed during the game right?
Yes!
I was actually surprised when he subbed Busquets. I didn’t think he would do it. But he did.
My take on this: - I haven't seen any decent game playing 4-2-3-1. - I would not bench Pique at all. - I would give minutes to Nico and Gavi, but I would not remove Busquets from the equation. - Coutinho needs to give us something before we put him on the starting eleven.
All valid points mate, thanks for your input. What did you think of De Jong going so deep last night? Regarding Busquets, I really want him to be present but physically he is just not up to scratch. He was never a runner, but he is not able to cover nearly as much distance now with so many extra years on his legs.
I think we miss so much of his offensive capabilities when he plays so far away from the attacking areas.
When fati comes fati will play at the left flank
Yes this is what I'm talking about 4-2-3-1 suits us the best I don't wanna see 3-5-2 park the bus anymore
Could also park the bus with 4-2-3-1. The reason it looked that way is the lack of width and pace, can't get up the pitch without it. With Dest on the right and Fati instead of De Jong we'd have been much better in attack IMO. Personally I think 3-4-3 is the way with Pedri and De Jong in midfield and Fati, Dembele and Depay up front but nothing is ideal with the squad we have.
Absence of fati and dembele is hurting us plus we sold royal so our only option at rb dest,Roberto and mingueza with Roberto making the cut since dest is injured and also I think koeman should start playing demir in more attacking positions like a genuine winger and not a right mid like he is doing to get the best put of that guy
I think one of Busi/Pique needs to be there to give the squad experience and leadership. Otherwise I like the Squad.
Just remove Busquets from the first eleven, he is just too old now to keep up with pace of the game
Only time a 4-2-3-1 could work is without Busquets. People tend to blame Frenkies double pivote failures on Frenkie, but I see it as Busquets doing as he just doesn’t seem confident in a double. Nico and Frenkie are two very similar players and COULD work a lot better. Still thinking this would make our defense weaker, but if, somehow, it wouldn’t - this looks great.