BigBarcaBoy
Active member
isn't adriano fit now ?
isn't adriano fit now ?
Ghostmaster
Danger Ahead
I don't know I haven't watched him, someone else then, Mathieu never has been a long term solution anyway, I am guessing he'll be replaced next summer.
ATLBarcaFan
Senior Member
Never been a fan of his, he is not a Barca level player
F
Flavia
Guest
His form is currently similar or worse than Mathieu's. Trying Verm there wouldn't hurt, I think. But not in the next 3 games, they're all too difficult.
Alba needs a proper backup.
God Serena
New member
This is why I support the promotion of Grimaldo more than anyone else. The B team had a rough season but the need for a LB who is competent is just too great.
Both Smalling and Varane have played there.
Seeing the other players playing on the back line this pre-season makes me much more appreciative of Alves, Pique, Masch and Alba. Vermaelen has looked the best of the lot, but that is not saying much. Unless some of these backups start playing better soon, disastrous play by the back-line depth could cost Barca big-time this season.
evilhita666
Barçapocalypse NOW!
I'm sorry, but Grimaldo is nowhere near the level of being Alba backup... Mathieu had a pretty bad game, and has been underwhelming when played as LB, but the truth is that he is still a better option than any other player we currently have, including Barca B.
Perhaps Vermaelen could be an option, but the guy hasn't played real football in more than a year, so it's best to take it easy with him...
God Serena
New member
The way I see it, what we saw from Mathieu was so bad it couldn't actually get much worse, so it wouldn't hurt to at least give Grimaldo a chance to see how he fares.
evilhita666
Barçapocalypse NOW!
So you think a 19 year old with no significant experience in top football should play a final against Athletic Bilbao? I'm all for giving him chances, but this aren't the right matches to do it...
I understand that you don't want Mathieu to play LB, but we can't just throw Grimaldo to the lions (no pun intended) in an important game... So in my opinion it's either Adriano or Mathieu or maybe Vermaelen as viable options... Or maybe Lucho can go crazy and use a 3 man defense or even re-discover Pedro as a LB, hahaha...
khaled_a_d
Senior Member
Didn't he play against Valencia in 2nd half last year? he was much better than Adriano and was actually quit solid
I think he can be used there but against smaller opponents tbh .but against tougher teams we are simply in trouble if Alba is injured
God Serena
New member
Never said anything about Athletic mate. Obviously now wouldn't be a good time for a youngster to make his debut. I'm just saying that over the course of the season it makes more sense to have a 19 year old with no significant experience be be the sub instead of an old man without the slightest clue of how to play the position. As far as the LB position goes for tomorrow, we're pretty screwed but I'd rather go with Vermaelen simply because he hasn't screwed up yet, and we know Mathieu will.
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