[MENTION=16942]BBZ8800[/MENTION] Most of the posts didn't say Vidal was wrong to start, they (we) questioned why Arthur didn't start. So, are you saying Arthur can't play with Vidal?
Most of us praised Vidal in the last few months, so not sure what's your point!
Each of Vidal, Rakitic, Arthur has it's virtues and flaws.
So, based on what you need in a match, each player can be the best or the worst option.
If you want to pass a ball around the box and your opponent will never enter into your half, you don't need Rakitic and Vidal.
You can play with Coutinho-Alena-Puig midfield if you want.
If there is a lot of defending, Rakitic and Vidal are better than Arthur.
Of course, there is a factor of a press resistance, but then you get more possession with Arthur and lose Vidal's fight or Rakitic's experience and crazy high amount of interceptions of opponent's actions.
So, there is no really right or wrong.
We could have played Arthur-Raki or Raki-Vidal or Arthur-Vidal.
We could have won 3:0 or lost 0:3 with any of those. even though, I posted numbers in January and February, statistically, when we played Vidal-Busi-Raki, we always conceded the lowest amount of goals.
And the same repeated yesterday.
But, since Arthur is closest to our history and how our midfielders usually move the ball, for our fans (you, for example), a line up should always look like:
Busi, Arthur and someone else, depends on against whom we play.
While in reality, our lineup is closer to: Busi and Raki, and someone else as the 3rd guy. Today EV opted for Vidal.
And further, while reading some comments about the away leg, people are again doing everything they can to PUSH Arthur in a lineup, as if our win doesn't count if Arthur isn't playing.
So, people suggested: Busi, Arthur, Vidal. Raki out.
Or: Busi, Vidal, Raki, Arthur. Cou out.
Basically, Raki, Vidal, Cou or Roberto will need to go out so that people can squeeze Arthur into a lineup somehow.
Anyway, Arthur is not my favorite, but I like him as a part of a team and he is bringing a lot of things.
But imo, he is by far the most overrated player here, and as one user commented yesterday:
people acting here as if arthur is a combination of xavi iniesta zidane and modric LOL
So, you see, I again see your post
[MENTION=16942]BBZ8800[/MENTION] Most of the posts didn't say Vidal was wrong to start, they (we) questioned why Arthur didn't start. So, are you saying Arthur can't play with Vidal?
= as leaning towards to: you think that we should have played Busi-Raki-Arthur or Busi-Arthur-Vidal.
And you guys are making a big deal out of Arthur not playing.
I personally don't care who will play as long as we are winning. I am defending Rakitic, but I would be fine with us winning a CL next season and Rakitic playing 0 minutes in a whole season.
I am not a fan of FC Rakitic, but of FC Barca.
On the other hand, I have a feeling that some fans here are not happy with our titles UNLESS if their favorite players are playing.
So, a win from yesterday was a crap because we didn't play nice, PLUS Arthur and Dembele didn't play.
So, our wins COUNT only if we play nice and if forum's favorites are playing (who are usually young and/or players who resemble to Pep's era, as always).
Why I personally don't see it as a big deal for Arthur not starting currently:
Goals this season:
Rakitic 4
Vidal 2
Arthur 0
Assists this season:
Rakitic 6
Vidal 6
Arthur 1
Tackles per game:
Vidal 2,4
Rakitic 0,9
Arthur 0,6
Interceptions per game:
Rakitic 1,5
Vidal 0,9
Arthur 0,3
Key passes per match:
Vidal 0,6
Rakitic 0,5
Arthur 0,5
Experience:
Rakitic and Vidal are by far infront of Arthur.
Basically, in every single factor, Arthur is on the last place.
Except in unmeasurable things which Barca forum rate the most:
1. Arthur is the youngest our of them
2. Arthur looks the most similar to players from Pep's days
That's more or less it.
In all other, real world areas like goals, assists, key passes, tackles, interceptions, experience, he is the weakest in this moment.
Out of fun, to prove my point, if we would play with only 3 midfielders at Anfield, WHICH 3 out of Busi, Raki, Arthur, Vidal would you play?
There is no way in hell that you will pick a lineup without Arthur, isn't it?
