tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11175154.post2000306471892261259..comments2024-03-22T05:48:26.129-05:00Comments on Braves & Birds: Pep Will Make His Players Sweat Milkshakes and Poop BrisketMichaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08365733949431139562noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11175154.post-42607010857814868312011-10-26T06:03:05.028-05:002011-10-26T06:03:05.028-05:00Little doubt, the dude is completely fair.Little doubt, the dude is completely fair.restaurante arkupehttp://www.alava-3d.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11175154.post-87811065674845123732011-08-25T10:25:02.376-05:002011-08-25T10:25:02.376-05:00One last thought: It is Cesc's anticipation th...One last thought: It is Cesc's anticipation that has made him a mandatory starting XI player. In roughly one half of play with Barcelona, he has made at least 3 incisive runs into the box in which he anticipated the way the play was unfolding long before the defense did, leaving him unmarked in front of goal and onside. (On the pass from Iniesta, when the collision with Pique broke up the play; on the Adriano attempted cross where Carvalho saved a goal by almost breaking his ankle, it was Cesc who was five yards behind Ramos (Pepe's recovery speed might have broken the play up but Cesc had them both beaten); and on his goal against Napoli where he started his run at the moment Adriano made his step over feint toward the middle which froze the defense momentarily, leaving Cesc with a tap in goal which he, in good Barcelona spirit, credited to Adriano for the great move out wide, but the key to the goal was really the timing of Cesc's run. You could argue that in all three cases, the defense was awful, but I think Cesc is going to make a lot of defenses look awful because he can see the play before they do.) It's an odd thought, but Cesc has been criticized for wanting to be a role player on an historically great team instead of the captain of a very good team, but we've already seen glimpses of how much better Cesc might be on Barcelona than he was on Arsenal, simply because of how good the players around him are, analogous to how much better Messi looks on Barcelona than he does with Argentina. Ironically, far from relegate him to the bench, the transfer has the potential to catapult Cesc into legendary status.Jeffrey Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07669621191786948923noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11175154.post-73771403762453012942011-08-25T09:33:28.832-05:002011-08-25T09:33:28.832-05:00I understood and agree with your assessment about ...I understood and agree with your assessment about neither Xavi nor Cesc being able to drop into central defense, which makes them unsuitable for DM in the Barcelona system. I may have taken your comments about Cesc's inability to play central defense a little out of the context in which you meant to put them as I thought you interpreted Staunton to mean that Cesc would literally replace Puyol at central defense. In my opinion, unless injury forces otherwise, it is Busquets who must play the DM role, with Mascherano as his back up. <br /><br />When Cesc was brought on, many people were saying that he was surplus to requirements. He may very well be the third best attacking midfielder in the world, but when the two best attacking midfielders happen to be on the same team and the system demands the third midfielder be able to drop into central defense, then the only place for Cesc would be as a versatile sub or replacement for Xavi or Iniesta. You were one of the voices of reason that understood with the brutal schedule that Cesc was necessary in that role, not surplus. From that perspective, neither Cesc nor Thiago need worry about playing time. There are going to be more than enough minutes for everybody over the course of the season and both will be vital to any trophy chances unless the team stays preternaturally healthy (which already seems unlikely).<br /><br />However, based on early returns, it looks like Cesc is going to seamlessly fit into Pep's system (whereas Sanchez looks very promising but has a learning curve in front of him) and I believe Pep needs to find a way to get him into the starting XI. <br /><br />I am a fan of Villa and I know you cannot place too high a premium on players that put the ball in the back of the net. I also love that, unlike Eto'o or Ibra, Villa has embraced the challenge of adapting his style of play to Pep's system and wants to be a part of what is happening at Barcelona, but if you are trying to get Cesc onto the field as one of your five best attacking players (who also deeply understand the Barca possession game)then Villa seems the weak link. <br /><br />As you pointed out, you can't play Xavi, Iniesta, and Cesc together unless Iniesta moves to forward. The other option is to play a 4-5-1, with Iniesta and Sanchez playing wing roles. I am going to go out on a limb and say that this is the way Pep is going to go in big games this year. 4-5-1 is criticized at times for being too defensive, but with this particular set of players, I believe we will see endless creativity and goal scoring opportunities.<br /><br />Long time fan of your work. I read all the Barca stuff and appreciate your thoughts on the team. <br /><br />Keep up the good work,<br /><br />Jeffrey KingAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11175154.post-84098173781628752022011-08-25T08:39:33.869-05:002011-08-25T08:39:33.869-05:00My overall point is that Pep isn't going to pl...My overall point is that Pep isn't going to play a Xavi-Iniesta-Cesc midfield against any competent opponent because none of those three can play the holding role. Is Xavi good enough defensively to play the central defender role at times, as the Barca DM is required to do? I certainly haven't seen that.<br /><br />Interesting thought on Villa. I assumed when Barca bought Sanchez that Pedro would be the one who would see his playing time slip the most.Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08365733949431139562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11175154.post-90568766653301536062011-08-24T00:35:39.599-05:002011-08-24T00:35:39.599-05:00If you look at the lineup Staunton suggests, it wi...If you look at the lineup Staunton suggests, it will be evident that he never intended to imply that Cesc would be playing central defense, but rather that he would replace Puyol in the starting XI, with Xavi moving to deepest midfielder role (don't think he means to suggest that Xavi would be a holding defender however) and Busquets moving to central defense. I don't think he is far off the mark, but as long as Puyol can stay on the field, I believe Pep will use him. I think we saw a hint of what Staunton rather enthusiastically envisions last Wednesday when Cesc was due to come on for Pedro, with Masch at the back, Busquets in holding MF (immediately replaced for offensive purposes following the goal by Benzema) and Iniesta playing wider to the left as Cesc was brought into the midfield along side Xavi. Instead of Adriano on the right wing, I suspect Pep envisions Sanchez there. For what it's worth, I think Staunton is wrong also: I don't think it is Puyol that will pushed out of the starting XI but rather Villa (whose first touch lets him down too much in tight quarters to allow Barcelona to retain possession as much as they'd like; also he doesn't seem to have the positional sense to be where he needs to be to keep the ball circulating at times) with Pedro and Sanchez splitting time at right wing until Sanchez really understands Pep's system. Then his creativity and higher versatility will push him ahead of Pedro in the first XI. Pedro could then be a super sub brought on to challenge tired legs late in games if he could emotionally handle losing the starting role, as he was used in the first leg and looked the most dangerous forward player had while he was on the pitch due to Messi's illness/exhaustion. Adriano is a gem of a player but I feel safer with Abidal at left back, though Adriano was more than capable there in the first leg and offers the versatility that Staunton suggests. He may be the future there.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com