Spanish Football 2011-2012

drunkenmaster said:
Not really, one if not both goals were Alves's fault, he was woefully out of position, second half he barely went fowards and defensively the team were vastly improved. Ultra attacking, against a side who are also very attacking, it can work fine but Alves was required as a defender in that game, not a 3rd winger. Second half with Alves back, Cesc was still all over the place in a mostly free role. Had Alves defended at all in the first half it probably would have been a relatively simple win for Barca. That said barca had chances to finish off the game, but so did Valencia, who missed some awesome chances. Though that miss infront of goal was unlucky and really a great save by Valdes who changed the direction of the ball.

Villa didn't really improve things and Keita was just very "meh" all game long, they do need to rest players now and then but dropping Villa aswell as losing Ineista for that game was pretty stupid. A weakened team would have thrashed Osasuna still and left them fresher and more able to field a first team in this far far tougher game.
Click to expand...

If you control the midfield, Alves can push on.
Barca never controlled the middle until Cesc went back.
 
Alpherah said:
If you control the midfield, Alves can push on.
Barca never controlled the middle until Cesc went back.
Click to expand...

Yet they didn't put more people in midfield, just changed people around a bit, the biggest change was Alves going back.

Cesc also scored the equaliser from basically a strikers position/role aswell. Infact it was closer toa 3-4-3 formation in the first half, with Alves in midfield, along with Xavi, Busquets, Keita, its hardly a "weak" midfield. How did they get better, they dropped a player out of midfield into defence, to make less players in midfield........ but you think controlling midfield was the key?

Defensively they became more solid, with less chasing back and everyone in a familiar role, position and formation the team performed far more solidly all over.

Cesc is a better player than Keita, in any position theres no question there. But a midfield 3 who aren't scrambling back to cover a defense full of holes is a far more stable than 4 more than competant players, who are chasing a team running all over their defence.


Just read something else interesting, I thought it was odd that the ref called time early, 4 mins extra time, stopped at around 93.30, I didn't realise the red card situation took up nearly 2 minutes of extra time. With Barca WELL on top in the final 20 minutes and with Valencia down to 10, the game should have gone to well beyond the 95 minute mark.
 
No RM game on tv this weekend. Strange. They play newly promoted Rayo Vallecano while Barca are home to Athletico Madrid.

Interesting to see how Falcao does against Barca. He was excellent at tearing apart Celtics defense a few weeks ago. Barca have looked really shaky at the back this season.

Fun fact: Neither Barca or Real Madrid can go top this weekend.
 
Robbo said:
I totally read that as porn.

:(
Click to expand...

24fmxp0.png
 
Robert1986 said:
Seville 1 up against Valanica.

Kanouté 18

Real Betis play second bottom Getafe. If Betis win, thats 5 out of 5 for them. Amazing start.
Click to expand...

Betis impressed me a lot agaisnt barca in the cup last year. But a lot off these teams run out off steam, remember real sociedad a few years ago blowing the league after being on top for most of the season. Barca v atletico is going to be good. Falcao to bag a couple.
 
Yea, Di Maria just picked up a 2nd yellow for a deliberate handball.

edit: and somehow Varane's made it 4-2 with an incredible (lucky) flick.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom