Four Goals, Five Points
Perfect? Not yet!
Last time I write about Sevilla games this month, I promise. Don’t we all miss watching a game for Barcelona without having to see Palop face after each and every save he makes. Anyways, lets go to the topic trying to make it short and straight to the point.
It’s safe to say we’ve seen the best Barcelona this season. Why was this game different?
It s good to review what went wrong in the previous game , to recognize how far we improved in this one. But lets first start pointing out what made Sevilla a less impressive team in this game, putting our players quality aside as we will discuss it thoroughly later:
- They put a huge effort in the CDR game. Something we expected after the end of the CDR game at Seville. Duscher and Romaric had to cover along the whole width of the field. Without the two players they lost a lot on the organizational level.
- Their flanks were attacking our fullbacks while setting offense, then putting pressure on our midfielders when they lose the ball, beside helping their fullbacks behind. That also sucked their fats like hell in Seville. I wondered in the preview if Navas will even start this game as its unlikely he can deliver another peak performance after his crazy game in the midweek. Selecting him was a surprise. The absence of Adriano for the same reason made them more containable.
- Using Kone instead of Negredo. Fatigue is a possibility. But Negredo had an important tactical role in the first game keeping the two Center backs on their toes. Kone is a mess in a hurry. He is not as good holding on the ball waiting the flanks to open and contribute. He made things easier for our defense.
- Tactics were radically different between the two games, in this game the team had more defensive selection. Aside of Navas, Kone, and Carlos the rest of the selection consists more or less from defenders. The lack of Romaric and Renato made it almost impossible for Sevilla to build up offense properly. And with the quality we had in midfield and defense, we were able to break their back.
What about Barcelona?
I will be a bit boring here and say, it was 4-0 score, but it wasn’t the perfect performance. But if you look at it, it’s a good thing. With two perfect lines and an average offense we dominated this game and created a show that you can only expect from the Blaugrana knights.
The defenders played one of their best games so far this season. Alves succeeded to move the game on the flank to Sevilla area. That’s what we lacked in the last game. Sevilla tried to use Capel in the second half when Navas failed to use his magic, But invain.
Alves was more or less doing what we expect him to do, contributing in offense and playmaking. Yet, the guy who made the defense perform perfectly was Abidal. He didn’t only labeled his area as a dead end for Sevella offense. It’s not only that he contributed offense wise like he never did before, opening a highway on the left flank. But most importantly, the impact of his brilliant performance was huge on the quality of the overall performance. That’s where we must not hesitate giving him a credit when we praise him. Puyol was the cornerstone we know and Pique was his perfect compliment. But with Abidal eating all the little kids on the field, Puyol life became much easier and Pique became unemployed in the defense sometimes that he had to emigrate to the midfield to find a job as a holding midfielder. This fact pushed our lines even more into Sevilla half as Busquets had sufficient cover behind him to operate with peace beside Xavi and Iniesta. Abidal surprising performance on the flank forced Stankevicius to sleep in Konko bed on that flank as there were more than only Henry to deal with defense wise. He could have had even a more deciding impact if Henry used him properly.
I rarely give a player the perfect grade as there is always something to improve. For once, I failed to find anything Abidal could have done better in this game. Even the usual bug in his performance regarding anticipation was not there for a second. He left nothing for coincidence. The guy had something to prove after the CDR game and I like it when he is pissed. If he can keep playing on this level, I demand improving his contract to match that’s of Iniesta. It will be the absolute fairness.
But that wasn’t the whole kit of magic. The midfield even outclassed the defense performance-putting Abidal aside. The windmill was hovering like hell, creating a black hole that swallowed all the Sevillian build up dances throughout the game. Whoever had the ball was a playmaker. Busquets get the ball, pass and move forward, Xavi move back to cover him acting as a holding mid, but only till Iniesta does his playmaking segment and run out of marking back to the holding mid leaving a space for Xavi to move forward doing the playmaking, and the show kept going on and on and on… That was the Busquets impact that Pep needed since the beginning of the season. That’s what Busquets was developing with each and every game he plays. Beside some few mistakes, he always showed the will and the quality to serve this role. It’s not something we master yet, but I am rubbing my palms with excitement since the beginning of the season, and still I am.
Iniesta knew exactly what to do almost every time. He moved back on time, he operated as an attacking midfield on time, he opened on the left flank on time, just an amazing talent. And Xavi was Xavi. I can’t say more about him as I consider the word “Xavi” as a brand name now. Or may be a verb? The best compliment to give: “You are a Xavi in what you do!” That means exceeding perfection. Still I want us to give him a rest the first chance we can.
The performance of our defense and midfield won us this game and the output was the great show we saw. If they only had the offense that match half the quality of the mentioned lines, I just cant imagine how this show would have boosted.
The whole offense line was average at its best. This game demonstrates the reason why I tend to evaluate a department (Defense-midfield-offense) more than singling a player for critic or praise. The player’s performance is an output of his contribution in the team system. It’s not a matter of one shot here or one dribble there. It’s not if a forward scores or a defender tackles. Its how you get involved in the team play to upgrade the quality of the team to an extend that exceeds the qualities of the individuals. That’s what makes Barcelona Special. It’s how Xavi-Iniesta understanding makes the partnership offers more than any partnership between any two players in the world even if the two players’ individual qualities are better than that’s of Iniesta and Xavi.
Abidal in this game is the evidence. His performance as an individual closed the flank defensively, and he contributed offense wise. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Without Abidal, Alves flops. Without Abidal Pique playes as he did against Villarreal, shying to defense in his box and getting exposed. With Abidal Alves attacks, Pique moves forward, midfield gets the cover needed to securely run the offense and Messi scores. That’s a team contributor.
Feel free to pick one good thing for a player here and one bad thing for a player there. Messi scored twice. One for his 100th goal and another to strengthen his pichichi . Ibra wasn’t at his best even with his midfield contribution and some nice fancy stuff here and there. And Henry crossed one or two balls into the box which was an improvement compared to his contribution in the CDR game. They all did a respectful effort, running and challenging and everything. But we need to differentiate between effort and output, which is a bit confusing sometimes.
The same was I evaluated the defense and midfield departments I have to evaluate offense. What made the first two departments tick perfectly was the way the players completed and synchronized with each other. What made the offense line catastrophic was the lack of any kind of understanding and communication.
Ibra is supposed to be the offense reference. On the individual level, he is having a dip in form, just as it may happen to any forward. He is trying too much, and that is not helping his case. But that’s not an excuse. When you are in form then you can enjoy broadcasting your magic on the wings of each and every ball you play. When you are out of form, then focus on doing the basics. The little things that you can do with ease. Get a vacation out of your greatness kingdom and try to be just…normal?
Yet, what made him look worse than he actually was, is the fact that his offense teammates were in a systematic coma. Ibra was over-operating outside the box, true. But let’s not get carried away in this matter. We didn’t buy him only to play in the box, or else we could have paid 5 million for Crouch instead. We bought him for what he does outside the box as well. We always had a problem in the opponent third when the opponent plays a defensive game, nothing new about it. With Ibra, we have an option we didn’t have before. He still didn’t fulfill the promises inside the box, but outside the box he is a brilliant player holding on the ball protecting it, pulling defense out of position and create spaces behind him for his teammates. I said it before and I say it now, it’s only Pedro who is getting advantage of that. Yesterday was not an exception but the demonstration about the way Pedro attack spaces and abuse the defensive gaps Ibra cause for the opponent defense. In the previous game in CDR no one was opening to the left flank so that Henry contributes more making the diagonal runs into the box. This game both Iniesta and Abidal served this role. Add more diversity to your game, Henry. We can’t keep doing the same old things as your kit contains much more. In the previous game the midfield might have forced Messi to contribute more behind the ball, but what was the excuse this time. Run into space without the ball as you are the best player who can do so when you want to. It’s not right to only do the offense lethal decision when you get the ball, and you know it. Both Messi and Henry did well on the flanks in this game, but that’s the least needed as we don’t play pure wings but wing forwards.
With Ibra failing to perform one of the major roles he has to, with both Henry and Messi joining Ibra with the confused show. Our offense was the reason why this game drifted out of the orbit of perfection.
adal Said,
The only better thing Abidal could do is score a goal :)
Nice review. Didn't think Messi play so well neither. But he scored anyway, which Zlatan didn't.
I think Zlatan is hitting a plateau. It's like learning a new language. At first the learning curve is growing exponentially upwards, then you hit a plateau and you get stuck there for a while. Eventually the next growth will come and you repeat the pattern for sometime till you master the new language. In the first half of the season, he was playing with his instinct. Now its the second half and he's starting to think too much. But he'll get over it and get well.
Posted on January 17, 2010 at 10:54 AM
Waleed Said,
ok Ramzi " you are a Xavi in what you do!"
and thank you because you put everything in its noremal place as I was so frustrated after hearing people saying" well Iniesta disappeared in the second half" or or rating Henry as good as Xavi and better than Iniesta and messi, Henry was good compared to his last match, but I want to ask, isn't he supposed to be suffering being ignored by his team mates?so now did the suddenly decided to pass the ball to him!! last night he moved better so he got his chances thats it! I saw the match for the second time and I followed Iniesta playing as a DM, switched positions with Xavi and opened the left flank as you already mentioned. this midfield rotation "which you raised attention to since Sevilla CDR 2nd leg" was more aggressive in the second half and the trio started to do it more smoothly which gave Xavi a great freedom in play making, and I have a feeling that our very much missed Kieta will make it work brilliantly!
people now start moaning for Eto'o , and cursing Ibra but they have to wast no time as they have only one week before the monster wakes up ;))
Posted on January 17, 2010 at 11:22 AM
Waleed Said,
Bussi will miss the next match! bad news! I'm praying for Mali to get eliminated from the group stage, we need our Kieta so bad
Posted on January 17, 2010 at 11:35 AM
Ramzi Said,
Everyone see the game from his own perspectives. Its always nice to know how people see the game and players performance. Evaluations are usually a mix of many things, so it will never be a pure math.
Busquets absence will be a loss. Yet, I think it will be another chance for Chegrnskiy, Marquez to take responsibilities. Using Milito as a CB and Pique as a DM is another option. Maxwell also played as a holding mid for a while. I think we can manage.
Posted on January 17, 2010 at 11:52 AM
Waleed Said,
true, but some people see only what they want to see, and they ignore the rest, not to mention seeing things that didn't happen! judging a player without trying to understand his role on the pitch and is just unfair,
regarding our DM, It'd be interesting to see Pique playing there,Pep had tried Marquez over there against Tenerefe and it didn't work very well, I know he played some time as a holding MF but he's not in his best recently, Pep can also play Xavi as a DM with Tiago or Messi Playing beside Iniesta, why not?
Posted on January 17, 2010 at 4:38 PM