how would you play against barcelona ?

[tariqo]

gather my players be4 the match & pray

[barcelonista]

With a gamepad. And set difficulty to "easy".

[Dervyx]

i'll let the grass grow for 1 month before the game.

[lessthanjake]

GK: Iker Casillas
LB: Ashley Cole
CB: Thiago Silva
CB: Vincent Kompany
RB: Philip Lahm

CM: Xabi Alonso
CM: Andrea Pirlo
CM: Yaya Toure

LF: Gareth Bale
CF: Cristiano Ronaldo
RF: Arjen Robben

BENCH:
Schweinsteiger
Hummels
Falcao
Aguero
David Silva
Chiellini
Neuer

The point of this team would be to defend well and counterattack effectively using pace, the best way to beat Barcelona. To that end, it is designed largely to allow for swift counterattacks. Kompany and Thiago Silva are particularly adept at starting counterattacks from the CB spot. Lahm has a fantastic long pass to start counterattacks, and Cole is a good passer. All three midfielders are very solid defensively and, combined with the defenders, would be quite hard to break down. What's more, they'd likely dispossess Barca's midfield more than most teams, allowing some easy counterattacks up the field. Xabi Alonso is probably the best in the world at making a long pass forward to start a counterattack. Pirlo is probably second best. Yaya Toure is quite good at this as well, but also will make a lot of conventional through balls further up the field. The forwards are all about pace. Barcelona plays high up the field and does not have the fastest CBs, so they are weakest against pace. Ronaldo, Bale, and Robben all have insane amounts of pace, can dribble past their man if given space (ie. in a counterattack) and can all score quite well when through on goal. Ronaldo would be adept at poaching goals Bale and Robben would create by beating their man off the dribble. In addition, they'd be hard to mark, as all of them can float around the front line to some degree.

Thus, the defenders and midfielders would create swift counterattacks as quickly as possible. The attackers would use their pace to jump on through balls or dribble past their defenders during these counters. Barcelona is also weak on set pieces. This team would exploit that as well. First, Ronaldo and Robben are quite good at direct free kicks. Pirlo and Xabi Alonso are fantastic at taking indirect free kicks and corners. Much of the team is capable of scoring from those, but Ronaldo is particularly good. Lahm, Yaya, Alonso, and even Ronaldo are very adept at the long shots that can come after set pieces.

The bench mostly continues the philosophy. Schweinsteiger would fulfill a similar role as the other three CMs if one were injured or tired. David Silva gives more of an AM option if a goal is really needed. Hummels is another great defender who is adept at starting counterattacks. Chiellini is similar but can also fill in at LB, while giving an even better set piece option. Aguero is another guy with great pace and goalscoring who could play anywhere in the front three. Falcao is more of a change. He doesn't have the pace, but could punish Barca on set pieces and poach goals from the pacy wingers. Neuer is just another great goalkeeping to complement Iker.

While I think this team would have a good chance of beating Barcelona, I think it's a real testament to Barca that I find it exceptionally hard to come up with a squad that could beat them from the entire world outside of Barca players.

[Ode to Django]

Gingerless Zombie XI. i miss him.

not a bad team lesthanjake, Pirlo & Alonso would get in each other way though, bit like Xavi/Alonso for Spain but in truth it hasn't done them all that harm in recent times i suppose

[XaviMessiGirl]

I would play catenaccio and hard fouls/rough play and wear a sharp suit with an arrogant smile like i'm some genius for stopping Barca

So you are Jose Mourinho.

[89Norcal]

I'd probably do a Tonya Harding on Busquets' knee. Problem is I wouldn't be able to tell if he was actually injured.

[xaviniesta]

----------------Buffon---------------
--Maicon--Nesta--Silva--Chilleini
-------------Van Bommel-----------
----------Wilshere-----Pirlo--------
----Robben-------------Jovetic-----
----------------Aguero---------------

my team will win.

this team would not even beat the current milan team.

[Tembbi]

Easy...

-------------Cech-----------
Ramos---Terry---Pepe---Lahm
---Toure--Schwein-De Rossi--
-----------------------------
--------------Drogba--------
-----Mandzukic---Ronaldo----

1. Cech has proven himself amazing always against Barca.
2. Defense that wins all high balls and has proven very tough against Barca.
3. DM that wins all high balls and have good ball controlling abilities (+ long passes forward).
4. 3 strong attacking players who win most air balls. Mandzukic is the scorer here. (+ Drogba proven too good for Barca)

5. Let the grass grow very long.
6. Schedule the match on a day it's pouring rain.
7. Full defense with 7.
8. Full attack with 3.
9. Play only long balls.
10. Always go for a cross, beg for fouls, play for corners.

I don't see Barca standing a chance.

[Ode to Django]

So you are Jose Mourinho.

Pretty much, i don't have the grey hairs though. but i'm a very bad loser.

this team would not even beat the current milan team.

Hey i'll have you know i'm still happy with that team! i'd perhaps replace Wilshere & of course i'd add in that man Falcao.

Also i'd be manager therefore we'd win.

[Ursegor]

Cech
Ivanovic
Cahill
Cole
Meireles
Mikel
Mata
Lampard
Ramires
Drogba

Yes, only 10 men.

[XaviMessiGirl]

Also i'd be manager therefore we'd win.

Because you'd pay the ref

[footyfan]

----------Cech----------
Lahm-Pepe-Thiago Silva-Cole
---Vidal-Pirlo-Yaya Toure---
---Ribery-Falcao-Ronaldo---

I am not saying this team would win but this is how I would choose to play against them.

Ribery and Ronaldo are both good crossers of the ball, can dribble, are pacy and good on the counter. Pirlo can start the long ball attacks. Vidal and Toure the hard-working but talented duo to complement Pirlo. Both can make driving runs on the counter and are good for the late runs too. All 3 midfielders can take shots from outside the area. The defence picks itself.

[JimmyGuitarist]

With possession:


Without possession:


I'd basically attempt this:

I'd rather hope to get lucky and play, rather than hope to get lucky and not play.

[xaviniesta]

in this case the messi tracker must be a lot better than amorebieta did in that game, he was simply horrible. javi martinez put messi in his pocket in the league game at camp nou, i still wonder why he changed it.


but i like your idea to come at barca and play. i mean you never play fifa by just sitting near your box and defend. you just have fun no matter who you are playing with, why should the real game be different. because of the money some would definately say? well maybe i'm too naive yeah whatever.