U2start.com | Football / Soccer topic

Originally posted by clover68:i think Park could be a very good one in the center, mostly on Messi tracks but he can even help Carrick/Fletcher vs Xavi/Iniesta.
i liked Giggs in the centre but maybe with Barca he could be too much sacrificed and in the wings he'd make Dani Alves very worried and busy.
so i would go for the schema Bart said just exchanging the position of Park and Giggs

i think(hope) Man Utd is going to raise the cup .. i bet on Giggs , Chicharito scorers

Thing I like about Nani on the left is that Dani Alves plays a very advanced game so is often prone to leaving the right side of defence open and with Nani being quicker than Giggs he may be able to attack it more efficiently.

I do agree with Park's work rate against Xavi and Iniesta, could really place them under pressure and force them to play it a lot squarer than usual.

WojBhoy

14 years

Originally posted by iTim:Thing I like about Nani on the left is that Dani Alves plays a very advanced game so is often prone to leaving the right side of defence open and with Nani being quicker than Giggs he may be able to attack it more efficiently.

I do agree with Park's work rate against Xavi and Iniesta, could really place them under pressure and force them to play it a lot squarer than usual.

Slight understatement on Alves - I've rarely ever seen a 'full-back' (in name only) who defends as little as he does / needs to. Maybe Ramos...

clover68

14 years

and there that Manchester will have the best chances, less on the right side if Puyol will be there again.

iTim

14 years

Originally posted by WojBhoy:[..]
Slight understatement on Alves - I've rarely ever seen a 'full-back' (in name only) who defends as little as he does / needs to. Maybe Ramos...

This is where United need to exploit if they want to fully expose Barcelona and teach them a lesson. Invite Alves foward, allow Rooney to drift out wide in the space he's left and in turn it should stretch the remaining defenders out a bit in order to cover Rooney. Then as soon as United win the ball, look for Rooney out in Alves' space, allow the right midfielder (Park/Nani/Valencia) to drift inside to support Hernandez (or possibly force the right midfielder as wide as possible to keep the Barcelona left back to stay out with him. Get the ball over onto the left, hopefully to Rooney who should be free and let him go from there.

Barcelona play a very predictable game of football in reality, the problem is though, clubs see Barcelona nd immediately think about how they're going to defend against the attackers. Let's not forget that they have a goalkeeper, who isn't the best in the world and also a defence that can be penetrated. To win the game, the absolute minimum you have to do is score. By defending all game, you won't score. you may draw but you can't rely on taking it to penalties. Sir alex needs to sit down and think about how they're going to make Barcelona chase United. Barcelona's attackers are hardly renowned for their ability to track back and defend, not in the same way Rooney/Drogba etc can be seen defending anyway.

Originally posted by clover68:and there that Manchester will have the best chances, less on the right side if Puyol will be there again.

Problem I find with Puyol is he's a classic central defender, by which I mean his strengths lie in his ability to sit and allow defenders to come at him, then he puts in a strong tackle to win the ball. To play in the RB/LB positions you need a bit of agility thrown in there too. I think in a RW vs LB situation, the advantage is sually with the winger because he can maybe take a heavy touch past the LB and be past him before he's had chance to turn, then he only needs to cross it in. I think pace could potentially be Puyol's downfall, if Nani played against him and didn't let Puyol win any of the early battles, then I think Nani will have the upper hand throughout the game. That said, Puyol is pretty versatile in defence but I don't believe left back is his strongest position.

germcevoy

14 years

I feel Barca are beatable this time around. I didn't in 09. Looking forward to it though and also glad I didn't book to go to Slane for Kings Of Leon.

clover68

14 years

Originally posted by iTim:[..] That said, Puyol is pretty versatile in defence but I don't believe left back is his strongest position.

absolutely and with him in left back the center is weaker for sure; i would not trust much on Mascherano in that position .. he could easily end with a red card

u2spear

14 years