In your opinion, which is the best line-up with the players we have, assuming that everyone is in shape (leaving aside the turnover and some tactical change depending on the opponent) ? I mean the perfect 11 starters to WIN THE CL, the ideal (well balanced, defense, midfield, attack) line-up ?
Mine would be a false 9 possession based 433
Mats---------Bob/Semedo, Pique, Umtiti, Alba--------Arthur/Rafinha, Busi/Rakitic, Vidal---------Dembele, Messi, Coutinho
-I think Coutinho is better at LW than at LCM to have more chances for that curler of his and I think Dembele feels more comfortable on that right hand side.
-No idea how good Vidal will fit in this system, but I think Vidal can provide a physical goal threat presence to fill in the void like Paulinho did whenever Messi eventually drops deep.
-I think Arthur/Rafinha can do well on that right interior in a possession based game and I think have the skillset to be press resistant better than Rakitic. We'll need to test them more to find out (its assuming Rafinha stays)
-We have an extra men to defend other than Messi rather than having both Messi and Suarez not defend in a 4231.
The other choice would be a 4231 (Mats---Bob/Semedo, Pique, Umtiti, Alba---Busi, Rakitic---Dembele, Messi, Coutinho---Suarez) but Roma has shown how to play against that formation.
I don't think the recent 433 of (Defence---Rakitic, Busi, Coutinho---Messi, Suarez, Dembele) will do well as Lucho's has shown.