JamDav1982
Senior Member
He was fit.. just wasnt playing very well.
22 - Marc Bernal
- Thread starter Barcaman
- Start date
te amo barca
Blaugrana al vent
He is nothing like Paulinho other than the box crashing ability. He is closer to Yaya or Rodri. Bernal is actually good at long shots, dribbling/conducting/progressing the ball with his feet and passing, he just hasn't shown it yet due to age and lack of experience, keeping it simple after the ACL.
At 1.93m (might be even taller at this point) he will be a massive weapon in the box, true. When he develops his physical and aerial sides of the game he could always be our Fellaini backup plan.
He actually shows more offensive quality than defensive quality. In the double pivot system, Pedri is more like the pivot while Bernal pushes high and attack the box.
JamDav1982
Senior Member
That was only really the last game when Atletico were camped in own defensive third really.
More or less gave up on pressing the DM and made sense to switch them as Pedri better on ball.. bit less running and Bernal better in box.
Atelti set out not to concede 4 rather than do much with ball..got away with it... just.
More or less gave up on pressing the DM and made sense to switch them as Pedri better on ball.. bit less running and Bernal better in box.
Atelti set out not to concede 4 rather than do much with ball..got away with it... just.
serghei
Senior Member
I can see the talent for sure. I disagree about him not being a very good passer. Most of his errors are due to overconfidence imo, they are proper wtf moments. He's very gifted imo, but DM might not end up being his position at all. Seems to me he has the tools to be a box to box player.
4 goals already in the little he played is quite something, and 3 of those were not exactly sitters.
4 goals already in the little he played is quite something, and 3 of those were not exactly sitters.
Not sure if Bernal is a direct Frenkie's replacement (different profile of player). But yeah, a true pivot is still missing.
Lots talk about Bernal being Busi's successor but tbf i haven't seen yet his defensive quality.
For now Pedri is actually the pivot.
JamDav1982
Senior Member
There is no team that plays with a fixed pivot now really.
Caicedo is about closest but even he gets forward and does a lot more than a DM of past would.
Pedri is clearly not the more defensive of the two when plays bar midweek when it made sense as Atleti sat off and Bernal in amongst the masses in final third would be more efffective. While Pedri is far better on ball and able to sit more with tired legs.
Caicedo is about closest but even he gets forward and does a lot more than a DM of past would.
Pedri is clearly not the more defensive of the two when plays bar midweek when it made sense as Atleti sat off and Bernal in amongst the masses in final third would be more efffective. While Pedri is far better on ball and able to sit more with tired legs.
serghei
Senior Member
No team plays with a fixed pivot and Barca didn't either. Busi had loads of help from Xavi before 2014 and Rakitic during later years. The concept of single pivot is a bit overused. It matters most to have 2 out of 3 players in midfield who are defensively good, one of which has to be better than good. We lack this balance without a DM.
JamDav1982
Senior Member
The likes of Busi was far far more fixed than teams play now.
Who are folk expecting to come in and improve that?
Pedri and Frenkie are both strong defensively despite what folk like to claim. The issue is more how expsed they are.
Would doubt there is a midfield pair in Europes top sides that do as much as they do defensively..Chelsea maybe due to Caicedo.
Can guarantee it likes of Rodri came into this Barca side he would be called slow and poor defensively very quickly.
There is a reason Rodri massively improved when midfield changed at City and went to more of a double pivot. Prior to that he was not even a set starter for Pep or Spain in midfield.
Who are folk expecting to come in and improve that?
Pedri and Frenkie are both strong defensively despite what folk like to claim. The issue is more how expsed they are.
Would doubt there is a midfield pair in Europes top sides that do as much as they do defensively..Chelsea maybe due to Caicedo.
Can guarantee it likes of Rodri came into this Barca side he would be called slow and poor defensively very quickly.
There is a reason Rodri massively improved when midfield changed at City and went to more of a double pivot. Prior to that he was not even a set starter for Pep or Spain in midfield.
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