Would you take Dani Alves on low wages.

[Devils]

Excellent signing if true. Even at this stage in his career he is an upgrade over both RBs we have, most importantly he is an excellent professional who will bring a better work ethic to the squad - especially Dest who has to step it up

This never happens lol.

[Bobo32]

Maybe in 2022 we will finally get that Alves-Kanoute style duo we wanted for so long, with Alves-de Jong. de Jong looked clinical on Xavis crosses the other day.

[serghei]

Haven't followed him at all since Juve. Have no idea if he can still play decently at this age and cover for some injuries and whatnot. But if for some reason we play Alves - Pique - Lenglet - Alba, we're done . That thought scares me.

[Raketa10]

Unbelievably stupid move. Can't believe Xavi approved this stupidity.

[BarcaOG]

20th vote to break the tie in favour of: no, stupid, stupid idea

[FinBarcelonafan]

Actually changed my mind, I'd be surprised if he is worse than Dest right now.

[Mister Xavi]

Yes obviously. He is good for the teamspirit and can help Xavi train the younger guys.

[Bobo32]

I wonder if some here changed their opinion after this month.

[Porque]

Spectacular game up until the sending off.


Reality is that if this is how Xavi wants to setup, then you can't argue against having Alves. The only other player in the squad who could play his position of today the same way is... Sergi Roberto (well and Frenkie) as he would understand all the roles.

For a standard 433, then there are still question marks for Dest not having more opportunities though.

[khaled_a_d]

Spectacular game up until the sending off.


Reality is that if this is how Xavi wants to setup, then you can't argue against having Alves. The only other player in the squad who could play his position of today the same way is... Sergi Roberto (well and Frenkie) as he would understand all the roles.

For a standard 433, then there are still question marks for Dest not having more opportunities though.

A big part of what "Xavi wanted" succeeded today is Adama presence that prevented Atletico from attacking the right side of ours.
But usually the success of any strategy isn't judged by it's debut (or debut of new factor) but how it stands after other coaches respond to it.
When Alves made his debut folks here talked about him being best fullback we have, then RM and Bilbao has exposed his weakness and in reality he looked as finished as 2014 Puyol.
Adama being an average/above average winger (with some world class traits) I have to wonder what will happen after few games when coaches will start making game plans with him and Alves in mind.

[serghei]

A big part of what "Xavi wanted" succeeded today is Adama presence that prevented Atletico from attacking the right side of ours.
But usually the success of any strategy isn't judged by it's debut (or debut of new factor) but how it stands after other coaches respond to it.
When Alves made his debut folks here talked about him being best fullback we have, then RM and Bilbao has exposed his weakness and in reality he looked as finished as 2014 Puyol.
Adama being an average/above average winger (with some world class traits) I have to wonder what will happen after few games when coaches will start making game plans with him and Alves in mind.

The game plan vs Adama is to close him down quickly and double mark him. Then you neutralize him as he is basically an awesome 1st man dribbler, but like Dembele, he doesn't have the ball control to beat the 2nd marker in succession and limited space. But he is not a player you just block and temper by sticking out a single fullback to guard him. He will pass that guy on pure pace and acceleration in the first 10 meters and/or yellow him pretty fast.

You can block Adama without much initial hassle, but this means somewhere else there is more space being created, and with guys like Ferran, Aubameyang, Pedri roaming around that area, instead of Jutgla, Luuk, and Abde, this can be dangerous for the other teams and good for us. Only the best teams manage to guard multiple players at once and still be quick, intense, and compact enough to not leave multiple gaps. And here is where Xavi comes in, to make sure we, on our own, are quick enough in passing the ball around to make sure these extra spaces get exploited well.

So, it's more like, we ask the questions with Adama, managers and other teams will try to counter them, which will instead open up some other doors. Both around Traore in quick combinations and overloads (harder to do since space is more congested), and in terms of quick switches of play for more space (more of a standard approach) - we did that well vs Atletico. A bit like how Neymar got all that space when Messi played RW in 2015, drawing up defenders and making teams overcommit to that side, since he was such a big dribbling threat. That's basically how efficient possession is built, by creating little fires in some area, opponents put more men there to put it out, and you instead gain access to the other areas that get freed up. But you have to pass quickly and set up your movement well, and work very hard in training to get precise and nonfloating long switches. Otherwise, all those new spaces and opportunities will mostly come and go unused, which is basically what happened in the last 5-6 years.

[Porque]

The game plan vs Adama is to close him down quickly and double mark him. Then you neutralize him as he is basically an awesome 1st man dribbler, but like Dembele, he doesn't have the ball control to beat the 2nd marker in succession and limited space. But he is not a player you just block and temper by sticking out a single fullback to guard him. He will pass that guy on pure pace and acceleration in the first 10 meters and/or yellow him pretty fast.

You can block Adama without much initial hassle, but this means somewhere else there is more space being created, and with guys like Ferran, Aubameyang, Pedri roaming around that area, instead of Jutgla, Luuk, and Abde, this can be dangerous for the other teams and good for us. Only the best teams manage to guard multiple players at once and still be quick, intense, and compact enough to not leave multiple gaps. And here is where Xavi comes in, to make sure we, on our own, are quick enough in passing the ball around to make sure these extra spaces get exploited well.

So, it's more like, we ask the questions with Adama, managers and other teams will try to counter them, which will instead open up some other doors. Both around Traore in quick combinations and overloads (harder to do since space is more congested), and in terms of quick switches of play for more space (more of a standard approach) - we did that well vs Atletico. A bit like how Neymar got all that space when Messi played RW in 2015, drawing up defenders and making teams overcommit to that side, since he was such a big dribbling threat. That's basically how efficient possession is built, by creating little fires in some area, opponents put more men there to put it out, and you instead gain access to the other areas that get freed up. But you have to pass quickly and set up your movement well, and work very hard in training to get precise and nonfloating long switches. Otherwise, all those new spaces and opportunities will mostly come and go unused, which is basically what happened in the last 5-6 years.

Good post. I don't want to drive into superlatives after 60 minutes but this setup wouldn't have worked with Dembele. I know Dembele is more spontaneous than Adama in offence wifh a higher proven end product but in this game Adama really held the tactical side of the game maturely. His first touch and second was often correct and we were confident it would not produce a turnover.

There is an age gap though and it is not a matter of intelligence but experience.

Huge role for 90 minutes so if we got a deep bench have Adama give 100% for 60-70 minutes and then bring on another similar profile to finish the game (Dembele this season).

As for Alves being so good because of Adama, partly. But mostly because everyone played in unisome with a clear confined team role. All the players understood their jobs and worked hard for each other. We haven't had that often.

And full credit for that must go to Xavi, with a dose for the enthusiasm and lift that the new signings brought to the club, and a dash for that excellent crowd.

[khaled_a_d]

You can block Adama without much initial hassle, but this means somewhere else there is more space being created, and with guys like Ferran, Aubameyang, Pedri roaming around that area, instead of Jutgla, Luuk, and Abde, this can be dangerous for the other teams and good for us. Only the best teams manage to guard multiple players at once and still be quick, intense, and compact enough to not leave multiple gaps. And here is where Xavi comes in, to make sure we, on our own, are quick enough in passing the ball around to make sure these extra spaces get exploited well.

True, OTOH good teams (and not necessary the best ones, can exploit a team that is having a problem with old defense that folds under intensity, which we have in Alves/Alba/Pique/Busquets combination.
That one defense is easier to exploit and force the wingers to draw back and help the fullback.

[serghei]

True, OTOH good teams (and not necessary the best ones, can exploit a team that is having a problem with old defense that folds under intensity, which we have in Alves/Alba/Pique/Busquets combination.
That one defense is easier to exploit and force the wingers to draw back and help the fullback.

Yea, I think it's unanimously agreed that the defense is our weakest part now. A top-class CB would make worlds of difference.