I also watched Thiago closely in the U-19, and yeah, he looks like something special. I always thought he was the AM and Jonathan the deeper CM, but in reality it seems to be the other way around.
The thing you immediately notice about Thiago is his one touch passing. He takes a quick look as the ball is coming to him, and plays a very quick, simple pass, just to keep things moving.
I can see this style causing many misplaced passes at the top level though, like Busquets struggles with. Thiago also has a casual, Joe Cole-esque air about his play, and that may cause some physical challenges from opposition defenders.
You know, for me, with the youth team now in Segunda A, I think it's better to let them actually play there for most of the season, and only call them up in case of emergencies. ie. they should not be counted as part of the "22" (Pep anyway wants only 20 or 21 players).
Think about it - at that level, it's effectively like we're getting to loan out all our promising youngsters. They'll get some real experience of competitive football. It's a fantastic opportunity for these guys, and a reward as well for them after getting promoted last year. Of course, they may just end up getting relegated, but it could be the season where some of them prove they are ready to step up.
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Jaime wrote: Super Raul and Guti wrote: Jaime wrote: Super Raul and Guti wrote:I would love for this to happen as long as they play all 3 in midfield. It is bound to fail. Just like it failed with Deco-Xavi-Iniesta.
Stinger
When you consider how often Cesc and Xavi has failed together I don't think you can say based on one match that it will work. Especially when you consider that the reason it worked so well was that Holland put VDV in central midfield along with Bommel. Hardly a typical situation they will encounter but hopefully Barcelona will go the dream move.
I can't remember if one of the cules on here posted it or if I saw it somewhere else but someone proposed:
-------------------Valdes
D. Alves-----Puyol-----Pique-----Adriano
------------------Busquets
--------Xavi-----------------Iniesta
-------------------Cesc
---------Messi-------------Villa
Narrow through midfield obviously but with Alves and Adriano (or even Maxwell I suppose) pushing up to give width.
This leaves them with Maxwell and Abidal on the leftback position. And it means Ibrahimovic and Pedro will be on the bench.
Also I still think playing Messi on the right is the best position for. I think he becomes too preditable playing off a striker. Like Calidad said it would be a big waste of their money and especially they aren't in a good financial situation.
I think they would probably be happy enough to flog Abidal off. Probably not a lot of protest with Pedro on the bench either.
Zlatan would be an issue though.
I don't disagree that it's a waste. Especially if JDS and Thiago are as good as the cules always claim.
But hey - who am I to criticise????
@Super:
How often did the Deco-Xavi-Iniesta midfield actually play together for you to say it "failed"? IIRC it most definitely wasn't a first choice, Rijkaard only played it when required by injuries, or against small teams.
And how often have Cesc and Xavi played together for you to say it "failed"? Last I checked, Spain had only lost 2 out of 55 games or something.
The formation Jaime posted isn't a problem at all. Abidal's 31, he'll probably leave next summer anyway.
If Pep does choose that kind of narrow formation, Maxwell is more likely to play than Adriano, until form or injury dictates otherwise.
Messi can do with a rest sometimes...he played every game last year when fit, all 90 mins, even the stupid Cup games. Zlatan can fill in for those
Pedro will have 2nd season syndrome, he can rotate.
Half our squad went to the World Cup, more than half the starting lineup played till the final and won...there'll be physical and mental fatigue there, and a slight drop in hunger.
Mourinho's Madrid will be relentless in grinding out wins in the league race. We'll play something like 55-60 games during the season. The squad can most definitely do with some fresh faces, with at least a core of 15-16 "reliable starters".
I don't see the problem in signing a starter at all from a sporting perspective. Whether that should be an AM like Cesc, or a more versatile CM, or a top CB/DM (not easy to find), is another issue. That's why I often refer to Cesc as a "luxury" signing. And of course with Cesc there's the economic aspect.
I remember having a similar discussion with Jaime when we signed Henry and had him, Ronaldinho, Etoo, and Messi altogether.
The press stupidly thought Rijkaard would play some kind of "Fantastic Four" formation. Jaime said it would all end in tears because of the egos. I said it would work since it would give Rijkaard more options and he would rotate.
In the end injuries and lack of form took care of it...there were hardly any games where Rijkaard had all 4 available and fully fit.
The same would probably happen if we sign Cesc. And there's additional differences - it's easier to accommodate an extra midfielder than an extra attacker. And Cesc knows he's a bit longer term of a signing than Henry was...so if he's mostly on the bench for this season it doesn't mean he's a flop.
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