Spanish Football thread

[KBC]

Is puyol fit? heard he's injured. That's another way Busquests can fit in, he's to drop deep into the defense/defensive playmaker and puyol might not hang around for 3-4 years, well, he can, at best. Fabregas can be given a secondary role to switch the balance.

Is it true Thiago might go on a season long loan to Roma? If that's true then basically they have their two budding stars on loan there, Thiago and Bojan.

if you know what I mean. :P

 

[iridescentt]

Barca' and their buy-back clauses eh', hahaa, learning from their Fab' mistake. I'd never sign off on a transfer as a receiving club with a buy-back clause IMO, stupid - if you see the potential in the player you'd want him for good.

Anyway, I would expect Thiago's playing time to remain the same as last season given their stance in midfield already. So logically a loan deal anywhere at a top club would be beneficial if he was to be playing minutes aplenty.

 

[KBC]

Funny Madrid were Interested in him this summer and when they enquired about him, his father didn't disclose a move to the capital!

if/until that happens it can make a great football manager story. Barceloana.

 

[War]

Really? Busquets is an incredible player. Easily the best defensive midfielder in the world, and could walk into any side as a playmaker as well.

Pedro is needed out wide to maintain width and stretch play. His movement is so, so good as well. Watch how Alves will always drive down the right hand side and move in towards goal, and then set up Messi. The space for him to go through is made by Pedro.

Of course Barca will rotate. Xavi is into his 30's now and both him and Iniesta have had injuries in the past. But they won't just cram them all in together.

Agree with that. Both Pep and VdB rate Busquets as vital to the Barca and Spanish sides. There is a reason for that, which is as Dr. Pepper said, his ability to dual as a DM as well as a playmaker. He is not the cleanest players you will find, but I do believe that he is one step above the traditional DMs because of his ability to make through balls, short passes and general distribution of the ball. He is certainly better than Mascherano.

Interesting points rasied about Busquets passing range, that is indeed an advantage he has ahead of most defensive mid-fielders in the world game.

However it is a bit over the top to say he is best defensive-midfiedler in the world, since defensively the likes of Mascherano, Yaya Toure, Essein (when fully fit) are clearly better than in that respect.

If i'm picking a world XI in which my mid-field would certainly have Xavi and Sneijder in it, in a 4-3-3 barca inspired formation. I would want my third mid-fielder to be a destroyer and Mascherano or Yaya Toure fits that area.

 

[Auwais]

A double-pivot of Xavi + Toure/Mash/Biscuits/Essien with Sneijder in the hole behind the striker would probably be more suitable.

Essien's always looked better slightly further forward in a box-to-box role, Mascherano is a pure "destroyer", Busquets is very similar aesthetically to Guardiola's playing days while Toure's the most versatile.

I'd probably go with either Toure or Busquets. Toure's more powerful and fearsome but Busquets is more disciplined and reliable in possession.

 

[Dr. Pepper]

Toure? The player that Busquets moved out of the Barca side? He hasn't even played as a defensive midfielder at Man City anyway.

 

[War]

Toure? The player that Busquets moved out of the Barca side? He hasn't even played as a defensive midfielder at Man City anyway.

He moved him out probably because Guardiola's Barca formula prefers Busquets better distribution ability as a DM in that mid-field trio, compared to the tough tackling style of Yaya Toure.

But that just a specific coaches choices, that dont make him better than Yaya Toure and certainly not world XI material at all IMO.

Plus Toure started off at DM in his early Man City days, it only in the second half of last season Mancini made him discover his versatility and he started playing more advanced.

 

[Dr. Pepper]

How can someone be an integral part of Barcelona and Spain, sides that are going to go down in history as two of the best ever, and not be world XI material? I really can't understand how you think Toure and Mascherano are better than Busquets. They're great players, no doubt, but definitely not better than Busquets.

 

[War]

How can someone be an integral part of Barcelona and Spain, sides that are going to go down in history as two of the best ever, and not be world XI material? I really can't understand how you think Toure and Mascherano are better than Busquets. They're great players, no doubt, but definitely not better than Busquets.

Well i think Barca and Spain overates his role which guys alluded to in earlier. Spain's mid-field play isn't at all different to when Senna was the destroyer behind Xavi/Xabi nor is Barca when Yaya/Keita was behind Xavi/Iniesta.

So for me in a world XI i prefer the tough tackling DM, im not too fussed about Busquets better distribution skills in a world XI mid-field with Xavi and Sneijder already in.

 

[Auwais]

It's six of one, half a dozen of the other.

 

[m_vaughan]

Well i think Barca and Spain overates his role which guys alluded to in earlier. Spain's mid-field play isn't at all different to when Senna was the destroyer behind Xavi/Xabi nor is Barca when Yaya/Keita was behind Xavi/Iniesta.

So for me in a world XI i prefer the tough tackling DM, im not too fussed about Busquets better distribution skills in a world XI mid-field with Xavi and Sneijder already in.

Basically the role of a tough tackling DM has now started to expire. Even Mourinho at RM is using Khedira and Alonso as dual ball distributors but has taken Lass out. The tough tackling ability can be provided by Pepe should the need arise. Even Coentrao our super utility player does not play as a destroyer when used as a DM.

And Busquets is the first name that would get into his spot in a World XI as far as I am concerned. Coming from a RM fan, that carries a lot of weight.

 

[ZexyZahid]

Next matches of Barcelona are against Napoli (after about 14 hours) and Porto on Friday (Super Cup). I am especially looking forward to the Porto match.

 

[Auwais]

Basically the role of a tough tackling DM has now started to expire. Even Mourinho at RM is using Khedira and Alonso as dual ball distributors but has taken Lass out. The tough tackling ability can be provided by Pepe should the need arise. Even Coentrao our super utility player does not play as a destroyer when used as a DM.

And Busquets is the first name that would get into his spot in a World XI as far as I am concerned. Coming from a RM fan, that carries a lot of weight.

Aye, with many sides utilising a 4-2-3-1 or a "double-pivot" in central midfield, the necessity for more technically rounded central midfielders who can share defensive and distribution duties has increased.

 

[JBlues08]

Stunning.

 

[Haarithan]

Tell me 'bout it. He's one of the reasons I like Napoli.