Lliga: Villareal - FC Barcelona 0-0

[jairzinho]

Jan 28th, 2012, 22:00h
Discuss and Stuff.

Must win game for Barca, especially when you consider Madrid already have 3 points in the bag before a ball is kicked this weekend. Which means we go into the game at el Madrigal 8 points behind madrid. (they play zaragoza at the bernabeu this weekend. lets not kid ourselves, they'll win). Apart from Zaragoza being the bottom team, the recent officiating for Madrid is more than enough to prove my point.

By the way, Iniesta and Alexis are both out and definitely won't be making the trip to Castellón. Honestly we should win. Villareal have only won twice in their last ten matches, although i'm sure they'll come out guns blazing to prove a point.

[PhilS]

Time for the bench to shine. I hope no more than 5 of last night's starters start this game, the other guys should be able to carry the load against this mess of a team.

[impeh]

im guessing Cuenca will probably start along side messi and pedro, as i doubt pep will play cesc, thiago and xavi.

-although thiago styled on them last season away from home -

I quite like Villareal but this season they have been awful, theyre down in 17th i think. Even though a few players are out and our away form isnt too convincing over the last month, should get three points here.

[barcelonista]

as i doubt pep will play cesc, thiago and xavi.

Why is that? I'd go:


Pedro------------------Messi--
----------Fabregas------------
-------------------------------
-----Thiago--------Xavi--------
----------Busquets-------------
-------------------------------
Abidal---Puyol---Pique-----Alves

It's our strongest possible lineup currently. Thiago didn't play too much recently. Get him match fit again, keep Fabregas out of our midfield, play 4-3-3, start Pedro = win.

[Birdy]

3-4-3 against villareal..
With VV-masch-Sergio-Xavi-Thiago-fabregas-messi-pedro definetely starting..
then the question is who to rest?
rest one of puyi/pique/abi and play alves?
rest one of puyi/pique/abi + alves and play cuenca upfront?
or rest two of puyi/pique/abi and play cuenca upfront and alves in a back of three?

[Maria]

Why is that? I'd go:


Pedro------------------Messi--
----------Fabregas------------
-------------------------------
-----Thiago--------Xavi--------
----------Busquets-------------
-------------------------------
Abidal---Puyol---Pique-----Alves

It's our strongest possible lineup currently. Thiago didn't play too much recently. Get him match fit again, keep Fabregas out of our midfield, play 4-3-3, start Pedro = win.

Pedro------------------Cuenca/Adriano--
----------Messi------------
-------------------------------
-----Thiago--------Xavi/Cesc--------
----------Busquets-------------
-------------------------------
Abidal---Masche---Pique-----Alves

-Masche needs and deserves to play
-Messi is at his best in the middle and if we are to play without Andres, Leo is the best midfielder after Xavi and Iniesta(certainly better than Cesc)
-Cesc needs to learn how to play in the midfield and if he can't do it against Villareal, than I don't know when..the only time when I want him to play as a false 9 is when Messi is benched..otherwise he is just getting in Leo's space
-Cuenca had a very good start, but lately he has been a bit underwelming..Adriano is a better option if he is fit

We need to take this game very seriously..I would preffer a loss against Valencia because anything but a win against Villareal means that we will have no chance at the title.

[Birdy]

this is the difficult month, most important part of our Liga campaign..
We need to survive with total of points untill the game with atletico away (26.2). there is villareal now, osasuna away, atletico away and valencia home.. (besides copa versus valencia and CL versus Bayer meanwhile).
And it is quite critical point because real will be playing with shitty opponents at the same time..

If we manage to make it untill then, we would be 100% in the title race..
From march on untill real on 22/04, it is only sevilla away (and maybe levante) to worry..

[jairzinho]

--------------------Valdez--------------------
--Alvez-------Masch--------Pique------Abidal--
--------Xavi-------Biscuits-------Cesc---------
------------Thiago/Cuenca---------Pedro-------------
---------------------Messi-----------------------


Not really sure about the midfield. But i'm guessing Pep will name the strongest lineup possible. The only doubt is the system and tactis he'll use. 3-4-3 or 4-3-3. And oh, we really miss Keita in games like these, and at this stage of the season. not that he's a dynamic player, but a solid defensive midfield spare man and reliable too.

[veryfatchocobo]

Cesc seems to be a good buy atm. 3 WC midfielders always ready to play (4 for Thiago)

[10Rivaldo]

Full strength team minus Xavi and Puyol would be nice.

[Pepe Silvia]

All doom and gloom as expected

[UberNjufer]

Why is that? I'd go:


Pedro------------------Messi--
----------Fabregas------------
-------------------------------
-----Thiago--------Xavi--------
----------Busquets-------------
-------------------------------
Abidal---Puyol---Pique-----Alves

It's our strongest possible lineup currently. Thiago didn't play too much recently. Get him match fit again, keep Fabregas out of our midfield, play 4-3-3, start Pedro = win.

i'm with you on squad selection,thank God villareal is poor this season,usually it's one of the toughest away games

[karthik]

I would like to see Pep take a gamble and ask Messi to come on as a substitute. I would like Cesc to bear the burden of leading Barcelona from the front in this game and im dead certain he will be able to.

Valdes,Alves,Pique,Mascherano,Abidal,Sergio,Xavi,T hiago,Fabregas,Pedro i Cuenca. Could be a gamble but these truly are moments when we have to trust on our squad's depth and play our game.

[ryuken]

Why does Pique need rest, his problem is not tiredness but inconsistency.

[abual3bed1]

Adriano to play upfront with Leo and Pedro .. this game should be killed early so the team can focus on the trip to Valencia .. Thiago and Xavi in midfield .. Cesc will be benched