Gaudi
Senior Member
I hope I'm wrong but I'm not one of those who believe that Rakitić simply lost it over a year period or things like that. Yes, Iniesta is on a decline, but I see same Rakiric now and then. I believe it's the way we play, in second part of treble season we played faster, more direct football, even used counters. I trully believed LE changed that for good but Barca kind of a retreated back to safety. We simply play statical, slow, postional football and many of our current player are simply not build for that. Look the difference im RM way of playing and ours, but we seem to forget that Xavi is gone and Iniesta is close.
I find it interesting that we still outposses big teams even though many will argue that, for example, RM midfield is a lot better than ours. When you play statical football (You need only to move to get the ball, but ball always comes to your feet not in to the space) you can control possesion, but this is useless possesion with this setup. This is way we always depend on individual magic and we lost one of that magician now (Neymar, no matter he's flaws). This is way Deulo looked like lost cow couple of days ago. No, he is probably not starting material but he is not that bad that he can't pass a simple ball. It's just he can't and never will be able to play magical moves in slow, positional attack.
Rakitic was never fast, never good dribbler (because he lacked acceleration and speed), this is not something new, he was the same in 2015. But when he gets the ball in to the feet, and entire, for example, RM squad is behind the ball he can't create dribbling surplus, so he passes back or sideways. On the other hand noone plays like that. Again RM for example, but they have great midfield, but they don't hog the ball rather quick couple of passings and someone is rushing through or charging our defense. Good midfielder sees that moment and knows exactly when to pass. It's difficult technically of course but simple in tactical terms.
My point is neither Kroos became much better player in 2 years neither Rakitic much worse. If it was other way arround I'm betting we would criticise Kroos now. Same would be with Kovacic. Isco would be the only one that would really impact our midfield because he's is wizzard as well.
To conclude I'm, not saying we don't need reinforcements but I would like to see Valverde changing this slow statical football and realizing those days are gone. We don't have very top midfield anymore, true, but put Messi, Suarez and Busi in any mediocre team and that team with right coaching becomes contander.
I find it interesting that we still outposses big teams even though many will argue that, for example, RM midfield is a lot better than ours. When you play statical football (You need only to move to get the ball, but ball always comes to your feet not in to the space) you can control possesion, but this is useless possesion with this setup. This is way we always depend on individual magic and we lost one of that magician now (Neymar, no matter he's flaws). This is way Deulo looked like lost cow couple of days ago. No, he is probably not starting material but he is not that bad that he can't pass a simple ball. It's just he can't and never will be able to play magical moves in slow, positional attack.
Rakitic was never fast, never good dribbler (because he lacked acceleration and speed), this is not something new, he was the same in 2015. But when he gets the ball in to the feet, and entire, for example, RM squad is behind the ball he can't create dribbling surplus, so he passes back or sideways. On the other hand noone plays like that. Again RM for example, but they have great midfield, but they don't hog the ball rather quick couple of passings and someone is rushing through or charging our defense. Good midfielder sees that moment and knows exactly when to pass. It's difficult technically of course but simple in tactical terms.
My point is neither Kroos became much better player in 2 years neither Rakitic much worse. If it was other way arround I'm betting we would criticise Kroos now. Same would be with Kovacic. Isco would be the only one that would really impact our midfield because he's is wizzard as well.
To conclude I'm, not saying we don't need reinforcements but I would like to see Valverde changing this slow statical football and realizing those days are gone. We don't have very top midfield anymore, true, but put Messi, Suarez and Busi in any mediocre team and that team with right coaching becomes contander.
