La Liga Round 5: Barca - Real Betis 5-0

[mc_lovin]

Raphina is the last guy that should start. Play him in CL.

 

[Porque]

Bob shouldn't be anywhere near the 11 even with these missing players. Not with his shocking form so far.

If he wants to be captain, I'll buy him a megaphone.

 

[TheStig]

MATS
Cancelo Kounde Inigo/Chris Balde
Gavi Oriol FDJ
Raphinha Ferran Felix

but Xavi...

 

[delancey]

raphinha is available?

MATS
Cancelo Kounde Inigo/Chris Balde
Gavi Oriol FDJ
Raphinha Ferran Felix

but Xavi...

 

[Andresito]

Raphinha returned late from the break with the rest of the squad already training yesterday.

 

[mc_lovin]

I am really in love with our squad. Plenty of options. I really don’t care who will play at the moment.

Felix, Cancelo, Romeu and Balde are arguably the most rested. You can pretty much pick the rest at random.

 

[JamDav1982]

There is just no chance Xavi rests Lewandowski.

Most will get is him coming off in some of these games 20/30 minutes from end if ahead.

My guess is he may look to rest Lamine and start with Ferran RW and Lewa CF.

Midfield of Romeu, FDJ, Gavi and Felix.. then defence picks itself.

 

[Andresito]

Rumours that Inigo might start in defence. Don't see any other FB pairing than Balde + Cancelo.

 

[serghei]

Raphinha is built differently than our other players. He's probably no1 athlete in the team atm.

 

[JamDav1982]

Raphinha is built differently than our other players. He's probably no1 athlete in the team atm.

Absolute nonsense.

He is built diffetently in that he is worse at football than most of them yes.

 

[ThwiX]

Finally a game on a Saturday again.

 

[te amo barca]

Raphinha is built differently than our other players. He's probably no1 athlete in the team atm.

Genuinely, what do you see in Raphinha other than workrate? Did you see him trying to run with the ball?

 

[serghei]

Genuinely, what do you see in Raphinha other than workrate? Did you see him trying to run with the ball?

His end product is good. 1 goal or assist per 112 mins last season or so I've calculated. Don't think there are players with better direct contributions per minutes played. Maybe Lewa and that's it. And many of those goals and assists led directly to important points and implicitly to a league title.

Please note that Barca had issues scoring goals, so him being involved in so many key goals in last year's campaign was very important.

He is not a flashy player, but he is effective. Or, at least, more effective than all of our other players in attack bar Lewa.

 

[JamDav1982]

His output in the league for goals/assists was worse than Fatis in terms of minutes.

Only goals/assist in CL v Plzn with a couple and a couple goals v no marks in Spanish Cup and nothing v Real etc.

Even games v likes of Man Utd at home stats look decent.. assist from a corner than a goal from a cross that went straight in but reality is he was poor in those two games also.

 

[serghei]

On the contrary, how can everyone hate on the guy that was our 2nd best contributor last season in offense based on cold data? Seems illogical to me. Upgrade him? Sure, I'd love to get a better player, but think it's not possible for now.

Maybe Lamal is gonna explode and provide more despite his very young age? Maybe. Let's see.