11 - Raphinha

[serghei]

Overall points won with Raphinha starting vs missing must be wild difference this season. Everything gets easier when you have a player that gets it done when it matters.

A lot could have gone wrong without Raphinha vs Villareal, Atletico, Osasuna, Madrid. Probably some more.

 

[JamDav1982]

Probably but you also have to take into account he started v Oviedo/Espanyol etc and Barca were drawing before he went off. We counting those as wins with Raphinha?

Or games like Valencia at home when winning before came on at HT?

Also have to take into account he has missed a lot of the traditionally tougher games away to Betis, Celta, Real Socieadad, Real Madrid away etc.

Also take into account Barca go and get beat by Sevilla when I am sure also missed Joan Garcia, Eric didnt start, Yamal was out.. Fermin I think was out also.

 

[serghei]

Yeah, but he is the one you want for those tough away games. This goes way back. Even in 2023. Betis, Bilbao, Osasuna, he made the difference in those games with Xavi as well.

A clutch player makes accidents like this one far more unlikely to happen.

 

[JamDav1982]

In some of them.. he also didnt feel valued by Xavi and wanted to leave.

He is a different player under Flick and that is what is being discussed. Specifically this season when in team and not.

Its too easy to make out how missed he was when the very last game he played was poor away to Espanyol and the same players who failed tonight were better than him and got the 3 points.

Wasnt 'clutch' v Espanyol. Or Rayo. Or Real Oviedo and has scored from open play in 2 of last 8 games also from open play in league when others were clutch and got the wins.

 

[serghei]

In some of them.. he also didnt feel valued by Xavi and wanted to leave.

He is a different player under Flick and that is what is being discussed. Specifically this season when in team and not.

Its too easy to make out how missed he was when the very last game he played was poor away to Espanyol and the same players who failed tonight were better than him and got the 3 points.

But this is not about Espanyol match. Had Sociedad played a top game and beat us like last season 1-0 without us being able to do much, fair and square. The nature of the game is what makes me think Raphinha missing was decisive in losing the game. Not Raphinha per se that he can't be shut down. Sociedad played an average game and won only because we lacked the thing Raphinha usually brings for us, end product to make our life easier and see games out while in control. That's about it for me.

Our players missed an absurd amount of big chances. I just don't see Raphinha, the current one, missing that many in a single night. Can't remember any match like this where he was set 4-5 big chances and missed them all like Olmo did today.

 

[JamDav1982]

It is about Espanyol match if the claim is Barca cant win without him... other players who failed today as Raphinha has failed in many also stepped up.

Barca outplayed Sociedad and finishing from box to box of the smallest margin and offside decisions of smallest margin prevented being more goals.

Barca lacked what Olmo could bring v Espanyol then and he stepped up where Raphinha couldnt.

Cant ignore Raphinha poor games when having little impact either.

 

[serghei]

It is about Espanyol match if the claim is Barca cant win without him... other players who failed today as Raphinha has failed in many also stepped up.

Barca outplayed Sociedad and finishing from box to box of the smallest margin and offside decisions of smallest margin prevented being more goals.

Barca lacked what Olmo could bring v Espanyol then.

Cant ignore Raphinha poor games when having little impact either.

Poor games by Raphinha where he is not directly involved in goals somehow... these days... absolute rarity. Just vs Bilbao and Madrid a few days ago, 1 big chance (the missed one from Yamal's pass vs Madrid), some half chances, 4 goals. 2 from personal executions.

 

[JamDav1982]

Poor games by Raphinha where he is not directly involved in goals somehow... these days... absolute rarity.

A rareity for Yamal and Fermin also but it gets made out there is a bigger reliance on Raphinha when it suits.

Most Barca attackers under Flick been very productive.

 

[serghei]

A rareity for Yamal and Fermin also but it gets made out there is a bigger reliance on Raphinha when it suits.

Most Barca attackers under Flick been very productive.

Nah, Raphinha is by far the main man in the team at this. I didn't even insist on his pressing abilities, which vs a team so sketchy at the back and full of errors as Sociedad tonight, it would've been over at half time most likely.

Anyway, my main problem is not that he missed a game. It happens. But that he was played unnecessarily vs Santander, after it was rumored that he played with infiltrations vs Madrid 4 days before. That was the big error, and it cost us a lot.

Instead of putting pressure on Madrid vs Villareal, knowing that they can end up at -7 potentially, they will play for 1st spot on Saturday.

 

[JamDav1982]

Nah, Raphinha is by far the main man in the team at this. I didn't even insist on his pressing abilities, which vs a team so sketchy at the back and full of errors as Sociedad tonight, it would've been over at half time most likely.

'By far main man' at what?

Yet he couldnt do it v Espanyol and took others.

Barca as a team had their most creative game of season by far without him.

It was finishing and inches in decisions that were in it.

You count games Raphinha misses as points dropped due to him not being there but dont apply it to games he plays likes Espanyol and is part of a poor team performance that improves after he goes off.

 

[serghei]

'By far main man' at what?

Yet he couldnt do it v Espanyol and took others.

Barca as a team had their most creative game of season by far without him.

It was finishing and inches in decisions that were in it.

You count games Raphinha misses as points dropped due to him not being there but dont apply it to games he plays likes Espanyol and is part of a poor team performance that improves after he goes off.

Yes, because other players are valuable as well. They can contribute also, just not at the level of Raphinha.

Ease off with most creative game of the season without him. Many times with him, we sort out the games rather easily, so we don't need to insist much. He bags 1-2 goals and makes it 2-0, we end up without as many chances most likely but with 3 points in the bag. You always tend to create more and try more when you're losing.

So... since it's late.

Were we unlucky and could have won without Raphinha? Yes, no doubt.

Would we probably have won this match with Raphinha fit? Yes, no doubt.

At the end of the day, he is our most important, most effective player. The leader and actual captain of this team with or without the formal armband on.

 

[JamDav1982]

It was Barcas most creative game.. also seen games v Rayo, Oviedo and Espanyol where not winning and Raphinha plays poorly and team is doent play as well creatively as tonight.

Speculation to suggest 'he scores 1 or 2' when he has scored in 1 game from open play v a current top half team this season in league.

 

[serghei]

Sure. A creative loss. The 5th out of 5 without him being fit.

 

[JamDav1982]

Sure. A creative loss. The 5th out of 5 without him being fit.

Eh?

Barca have not lost 5 of 5 games without Raphinha and not him solely either.

Just happens to be those games are away to Chelsea with 10 men, away to Real, home to PSG.

Almost like they are some of the toughest games of season and more than him was missing in most of them.

Last 4 away league games WITH Raphinha...
1 goal from open play v Rayo
1 goal from open play v Oviedo
1 goal from open play v Villareal.
0 goals from open play v Espanyol.

But aye keep these myth alive Raphinha transforms every game he plays.

He has scored once from open play away from home in league this season v a poor Mallorca side.

 

[jaype]

Missed you mister.