20 - Sergi Roberto

xavi_the_Boss said:

Come on.We have seen worse defending from Alves in Classicos.It wasn´t that bad.

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I am personally not that mad about defending.
It is about his 0% contribution (Montoya's style) lately in attack.

If anyone will rewatch the match, whenever he received a ball in RM's half, he would make 1-2 steps, turn back and pass it to Busi/Raki etc.
Every single time during the whole match.

And then people say (Raketa10, for example) how Rakitic needs to babysit for Roberto.
Then I have to ask myself: for what exactly is Rakitic babysitting him?
Roberto offers nothing in attack, then why does he even run in attack when nothing will happen?

And then, after Roberto's runs, even Rakitic needs to cover at a RB for Roberto.
So, basically, because of his 0% threat in attack, we are losing both Roberto and Rakitic (Roberto doing nothing in attack, and Rakitic covering his runs).

And then, like a domino-effect, with zero attacking help on Messi's side (Roberto zero, and Rakitic meh plus covering for Roberto), our best player stays alone surrounded by 3-4 opponents (who don't man mark Roberto, since what is the purpose in marking Roberto in attack), and in the end, the whole right side suffers to some extent: Roberto killing => Rakitic, they both killing => Messi.

And then Messi is isolated and easy to neutralize on a right flank.

te amo barca said:

He needs to play in midfield with Busi and Iniesta. Buy a RB in January. Turan or Gomes need to go.

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I'd sell both too, in a heartbeat!

It is clear as a day we need a proper RB in winter. Roberto is disbalancing our entire team. He is not a RB and this has to stop he has to play in midfield.

It was clear Barca need a proper RB since two years ago but tell Fartomeu and this stupid board...

I think that main issue here, as BBZ mentioned, is attack, the thing is that he has trouble bringing the ball out the pressing(what was very obvious against City and Sociadad) and that is what Alves was very good at. If defenders didn't know how to deal with high pressing, they simply passed to Alves and he together with Rakitic delivered the ball to Messi and then it was smooth sailing from that point. Now, that right side is a mess, Rakitic needs to drop deep to receive the ball, Messi waits for the ball, but doesn't get it, so he drops deep as well.

Ghostmaster said:

If defenders didn't know how to deal with high pressing, they simply passed to Alves and he together with Rakitic delivered the ball to Messi and then it was smooth sailing from that point. Now, that right side is a mess, Rakitic needs to drop deep to receive the ball, Messi waits for the ball, but doesn't get it, so he drops deep as well.

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Absolutely agreed upon!

Joppe said:

one day hes the best right back in the world and the next day not even midtable level. funny how fast opinions change. amusing

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This forum is extremely repetitive in that regard.. Player A has a good game and a bunch of people post things like world class, wish we had him, among greatest players in his position ever, so underrated a lethal player. Then player A has a bad game a couple days later and all the comments are like lol he sucks , overrated, not even B team level, so lucky we didn't buy him, he has been playing like shit for weeks now it was just masked by goals/winning/luck... Rinse repeat. That pretty much describes the other player section of this forum and the barca player section to some extent.

http://www.totalbarca.com/2016/12/messis-lack-position-breaking-system-clasico-thoughts-gifs/

It was posted in another topic. This is the main problem of the right wing, not Sergi Roberto. Messi staying central almost all the time, with very little off the ball movement, causing all kinds of problems on that side. From offensive phase to defensive. Enrique will have to address that some other way than playing Rakitic as a wingback, if he is capable of seeing that.

But, not related to that it has to be said that Roberto is very underwhelming as a RB and the decision to make him our main RB is starting to look like a pretty bad one. Sadly, one of many from this board and coach.

At the moment he's probably the one who's best suited to play in Iniesta's position when The Don need rest/isn't available. One of his strengths is making himself available to other players to receive a pass. And that's crucial in the midfield. Especially to help out Busquets.

But he's stuck at RB and Lucho won't even try one of Nili or especially Palencia when Mourinho started a 19 year old Varane.........

Roberto is also the best DM backup that is closest to Busi in terms of playing style/skill set in the squad due to him coming through the system and knowing how a Barca DM/CM should operate.

But with no good RB backup and Lucho not trusting Nili/Palencia, playing Roberto as a DM in the smaller games leaves the RB spot even weaker than before and us having to play a 3-4-3/ or Operate Masche as a RB.

what a game from him, had 3-4 incredible solo runs, where you could totally sense his midfield background. keep going Sergi!

Brilliant today

7 dribbles today, he is a real engine.

He was great today

I love Roberto. Probably my third favorite player in Barca. Great game!!!