The data doesn't agree with you. This season, goals conceded with Raphinha, 0.9 pg. Goals without 1.8 pg. late March stats.
And still Barca concede a ton of goals with Raphinha to make out team is a lot tighter defensively isnt true.
Fermin with work rate and finishing probably is one of the closest to Raphinha and Rashford pace and versatility off the bench is a big bonus also.
Been through this...
Raph has also missed games away to Real and didnt start v Chelsea, missed PSG, missed most of the games away to top teams in league and was also missing at same time Joan Garcia was out.
You flip it now to not be about CL...
Data shows Barca have conceded more goals in CL KO ties Raph started than hasnt if want to cherry pick.
We will always concede more chances than other teams because of the risky way we play. But... even in those given parameters, when you replace Raphinha with Rashford, a drop in defensive performance is to be expected and will happen all the time. The drop was too big for Flick to accept, and this is why Fermin took Rashford's place. And since Fermin has been deploy LW, the defense got a lot better, albeit the attack is now suffering more.
Yeah, missed 3 games vs AM, played 2 games vs AM. 6-1 in the two he played. 2-7 when he didn't. Same opponent. So...
Yet Raphinha workrate hasnt been protecting the defence in big games. Domestically or CL for most part.
Also 4-0 Atelti with Fermin LW not Rashford.
Well, that's the manager's indications. You don't like that and you want more of a Xavi rigid system, you get better defense, and lower offensive power.
He hasnt been all that productive v Simeones Atletico under Flick either. Less than Ferran for example.
That's because he missed the games that mattered most. If he played vs AM in this key tie, and failed to deliver, sure. We can find reasons why and speculate. But he didn't. And the matches vs AM that got us sent home from both CL and Copa, he didn't play in either.
No.. in the games played his production is not all that high vs Simeone under Flick. Less than Ferran.
He played in CL when sent home by PSG and Inter in previous two seasons also and more than Raphinha missing from those Atleti ties also and red cards.
Yes, and vs PSG he scored 3 goals, and vs Inter he made 2 goals also. With that type of impact, we beat AM and advance.
I think I will go with Simeone on this, since he manages Atletico and says he doesn't know how Raphinha didn't win BD last season. That's probably best recognition you can have for how much of a difference you can make vs some other team. To have the manager of that team recognize you as a best in the world.
Well yeah, but Rashford is also not a starting player, he is a loan signing who we don't want to pay 30m for, and who United removed from their squad. So we aren't comparing Raphinha to him.Rashford been benched for one reason only. Poor, erratic workrate off the ball defensively compared to Raphinha. Hence why Fermin has been played there, a more intense player off the ball.