FC Barcelona, the best selection 2011
If you like brief, short, direct answers, here you get it: Best selection doesn’t exist. Thank you for offering all the time reading this post.
But as you already know, I am as talented in briefing as Emile Heskey as a striker. I do believe that selections are as misleading sometimes as tactical structures. The factors dictating a selection (or a tactical shape) varies from the role every player implement, to the specifications of the opponent, to the team condition, and the competition description. That’s just to name some variables.
A very recent example was the match Barcelona played against Villarreal. I remember ranting that Barcelona must NOT use Alves and Maxwell in the selection with a midfield of Busquets-Iniesta-Xavi.
Without Abidal as a left back, there is a need to have a holding midfielder assistant if Maxwell plays as a fullback (with Alves). Or else, both will be running forward and leaving the defense exposed. Pep used the selection I recommended not to pick. Yet, he tuned Maxwell to play more conservative than usual and cover the two center backs when Alves moves forward. voilà!
I have to say, Barca still had troublesome moments during the match, but the defense was not as exposed as the lineup might have inspired. Another detail that made a huge deference was the fact that the key players were rested in the midweek match and came against Villarreal as fresh as they can be. They were able to put an unbearable pressure on Villarreal while retaining possession, and they were able to run and reposition continuously during the match while setting offense. Flashback to previous matches where the defense got exposed even in the presence of Abidal as a left back with both Busquets and Keita in the midfield, simply because the players were too exhausted to perform needed pressure on their opponents.
Players’ form is another widely underrated factor while defining the best selection for a specific game (because there is no ultimate perfect selection). The coach need to trust his sensors while deciding a selection. Players like Pedro may inspire enough confidence to be at the top of the picking order in one week while few days later the training sessions turn him to a big No No. One can simply imagine how Perdro’s form can change the whole selection. Just an example.
The opponent is also a deciding factor, which goes without saying. The competition nature whether it is a long league, group of 4 clubs league (CL Group), a knockout competition of two legs, or a final. Lots of calculations are involved in such mix dictating the perfect selection for each and every specific match.
If we put all the mentioned factors aside, and if we have to pick the selection that fit most of the mentioned situations, my best selection is still:
Valdes, Alves, Puyol, Pique, Abidal, Busquets, Xavi, Keita, Iniesta, Villa, Messi.
This season, Pedro is a more reliable player than last season. He is not scoring as many goals but tactically he is more mature and doing more favors for the system. That, no doubt brings a very valid argument to the table that he deserve to start. Having Pedro in the selection means more Iniesta beside Xavi, this is the most popular option across the fan base orbit. But there are many reasons for the above selection to have an edge in my books:
1) While creating a selection, there is a need to assume that it may not work in a certain game. What if the basic selection didn’t work? I still feel having Pedro on the bench is a more refreshing card than having Keita. Pedro inclusion to the selection can change a lot the offense dynamics of the team, unlike Keita. And I always prefer the situation where the coach keeps a game changing card beside him on the bench, or else he may get completely hopeless if things go wrong. Beside praying for a Messitastic moment, he will have nothing else to do.
2) I still have the belief I voiced two years ago: Iniesta can develop his skills to become a goal scorer. I can see that smirk! Anyways…Iniesta’s presence in a less tactically disciplined role than being Xavi’s copilot makes the selection less containable and more versatile to the match conditions. His perfect role for the club is that Dual position mixing the left wing needs and the center midfield demands. Whenever things are under control he can simply move forward to do the work Pedro can. There is no reason to think Iniesta cant do that role (with an added value). When the midfield struggle, Iniesta can jump to the rescue and do what Pedro can’t.
3) This trick will keep Messi closer to the opponent goal because there are four players dealing with the buildup rather than feeling the need to dive to the midfield to help moving the ball forward. It is always a good thing to keep Messi near the opponent’s area most of the time.
4) Defensively, Keita’s presence can relatively terminate the threat of the opponent’s counterattacks. He can also keep the midfield well covered when the holding midfielder move back to serve as a third Center back (as we saw many times this season), or forward to contribute in the offense (which is not a bad thing to catch opponents by surprise).
5) Offense wise, Keita is probably the only player we have who can consistently cause threat running into the opponents’ box to get advantage of crosses. He adds a new dimension to the offense and it is crucially needed. Pique is another player who can create that threat, but for Pique to contribute more in offense, he needs to be well covered. That’s where having Keita can help as well.This will keep being a need till we find a proper striker to play between Villa and Messi.
Noting that, the most challenging factor facing this selection is the fact that Villa is more efficient as a second striker/left wing than a nine (where Messi is more successful this season). We need to wait and see how successful Iniesta can work on the right. I remember him playing an amazing match on the right (last season?), when Messi was not available. But only time can make this certain. Still I consider this selection –almost- a must in the champions’ league first leg in the knock out stages.
I tried to pick my best selection without being too creative and only based on what Pep already tried. But I can also see Busquets taking Keita’s role with Mascherano playing as a defensive midfielder. That will also give an opportunity for Adriano or Maxwell to play as left fullback and do what Alves does on the right. I remember in the match preview against Inter (first leg), I even suggested this selection (Puyol was injured) :
That was not the first time I recommend this tactical structure. I’ve always been a believer in this structure and suggested it many times for being another alternative that –with the original structure we employ- can make the team less predictable to opponents’ coaches. Pep is finally doing something similar to that this season with the holding midfielder moving back as a third center back and releasing the fullbacks to contribute in offense. Yet, it is not exactly the same. Now that’s another topic.
Posted by Ramzi
on 05:20.
Filed under
