How so you solve a problem like
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[quote author=Hardcastle link=topic=44499.msg1297608#msg1297608 date=1299661480]
Messi and co?
How would you have gone about neutralizing barca last night?
Is it just me or did wenger make his teams task 10x harder last night? To the extent that it flattered barca massively.
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Good question.
I'd say press high up the pitch to disrupt their midfield. Do not man mark because they don't hold the ball for too long and they will exploit any gaps you leave behind you. Instead play zonal at try to intercept their passes. They move in squares or triangles most of the time, they always have four or three players around the ball.
Use a 4-5-1 formation.
Play wide with the wingers. Forces them to stretch.
Play cross balls because they often leave the opposite side of where the ball is empty.
Watched Osasuna outplay Barca last season and this is how they played.
When we played Barca Rafa did something similar but they weren't as fluent as they are now so he decided to take Ronaldinho and Messi out of the game by letting Momo and Arbeloa mark them.
You can do all this OR....
You can kick the living shit out of them like Inter did.
Messi and co?
How would you have gone about neutralizing barca last night?
Is it just me or did wenger make his teams task 10x harder last night? To the extent that it flattered barca massively.
[/quote]
Good question.
I'd say press high up the pitch to disrupt their midfield. Do not man mark because they don't hold the ball for too long and they will exploit any gaps you leave behind you. Instead play zonal at try to intercept their passes. They move in squares or triangles most of the time, they always have four or three players around the ball.
Use a 4-5-1 formation.
Play wide with the wingers. Forces them to stretch.
Play cross balls because they often leave the opposite side of where the ball is empty.
Watched Osasuna outplay Barca last season and this is how they played.
When we played Barca Rafa did something similar but they weren't as fluent as they are now so he decided to take Ronaldinho and Messi out of the game by letting Momo and Arbeloa mark them.
You can do all this OR....
You can kick the living shit out of them like Inter did.
They got a bit buggered by the volcanic ash cloud thingy when went to play Inter in Milan last season right? Also had a 90th min goal disallowed in the Camp Nou that looked legit and would've knocked Inter out from what I remember.
Full concentration over two legs, defensive resolve, and capitalising on any chances you have is the only way to beat them. Getting them in the second leg at home and taking it to them at pace also increases your chances, playing the second leg in an arena where nobody can realistically expect to keep decent possession of the ball is usually ominous.
Full concentration over two legs, defensive resolve, and capitalising on any chances you have is the only way to beat them. Getting them in the second leg at home and taking it to them at pace also increases your chances, playing the second leg in an arena where nobody can realistically expect to keep decent possession of the ball is usually ominous.
The problem with Arsenal is that they're one of the best teams with the ball, but relatively poor without it. It's not surprising that Barca covered so much more ground than them, because Arsenal just don't like to get stuck in. They don't relish that part of the game. And until they learn to do that, they'll always come up a bit short.
We would have spoiled the fuck out of that game, call it 'anti-football' or whatever - it is just about the only way of beating, or at the very least, holding, Barca on their own patch. That's why Barca's dominance (and to some extent, Arsenal's) doesn't always translate to results. They don't like to participate in ugly football games.
We would have spoiled the fuck out of that game, call it 'anti-football' or whatever - it is just about the only way of beating, or at the very least, holding, Barca on their own patch. That's why Barca's dominance (and to some extent, Arsenal's) doesn't always translate to results. They don't like to participate in ugly football games.
Dutch style......not total football. Van Bommels way. Just kick the shit out of them, nearly worked for holland in the world cup final. And inter pretty much did it last year but they were more disciplined. Whoever is gonna do it is going to need an unbelievable dickhead in center mid like van bommel, de jong tiago motta etc.....ie: someone who isnt afraid to take ankles from under their owner!
Start with 11 fit players.
Valencia gave it a good go last week. They pressed high and denied them any kind of space in midfield. Xavi was smothered out of the game. Guardiola went with wing backs and spaced out the players at the back to try and negate the high pressing and give his team more passing options, but Valencia were fairly successful... especially in the first half. It's a testament to how good they are however that they still managed to settle in the game, dominate possession (although not as much as always) and win.
I think with Barca you have to press really hard, be excellent on the counter, not make mistakes and hope they're not at the top of their game.
I think with Barca you have to press really hard, be excellent on the counter, not make mistakes and hope they're not at the top of their game.
[quote author=keniget link=topic=44499.msg1297728#msg1297728 date=1299672913]
Valencia gave it a good go last week. They pressed high and denied them any kind of space in midfield. Xavi was smothered out of the game. Guardiola went with wing backs and spaced out the players at the back to try and negate the high pressing and give his team more passing options, but Valencia were fairly successful... especially in the first half. It's a testament to how good they are however that they still managed to settle in the game, dominate possession (although not as much as always) and win.
I think with Barca you have to press really hard, be excellent on the counter, not make mistakes and hope they're not at the top of their game.
[/quote]
The bolded part is so true. Also it's quite telling when one of the top teams in the league like Valencia lose to them at home and are considered to have done all right because it was a fairly tight match.
Valencia gave it a good go last week. They pressed high and denied them any kind of space in midfield. Xavi was smothered out of the game. Guardiola went with wing backs and spaced out the players at the back to try and negate the high pressing and give his team more passing options, but Valencia were fairly successful... especially in the first half. It's a testament to how good they are however that they still managed to settle in the game, dominate possession (although not as much as always) and win.
I think with Barca you have to press really hard, be excellent on the counter, not make mistakes and hope they're not at the top of their game.
[/quote]
The bolded part is so true. Also it's quite telling when one of the top teams in the league like Valencia lose to them at home and are considered to have done all right because it was a fairly tight match.
I think Barca are pretty good without the ball, actually. That's why they dominate possession so much cause when they lose it they're like a flaming swarm going after it. I imagine it's intimidating as hell trying to cope with that at the Nou Camp.
The real difference is that Barca don't like the same level of hassle but get jumpy if that "hassle" becomes quite physical. We've done it in the past because of players like Stevie and Mascher really unsettling them in the middle; I'd expect the mancs or Bayern to worry them for the same reason. That said I think Chelsea will beat them if they come up against each other. They really should have done so two(??) seasons ago and I think they've added that edge now through Torres.
No doubt Barca are an outstanding team but a team like the Chavs who have that English steel to go with the Torres / Luiz / Drogba et al will give them a lot of trouble. I really do think Chelsea have a big chance this season and their recent form suggests they're getting themselves on track at the right time.
The real difference is that Barca don't like the same level of hassle but get jumpy if that "hassle" becomes quite physical. We've done it in the past because of players like Stevie and Mascher really unsettling them in the middle; I'd expect the mancs or Bayern to worry them for the same reason. That said I think Chelsea will beat them if they come up against each other. They really should have done so two(??) seasons ago and I think they've added that edge now through Torres.
No doubt Barca are an outstanding team but a team like the Chavs who have that English steel to go with the Torres / Luiz / Drogba et al will give them a lot of trouble. I really do think Chelsea have a big chance this season and their recent form suggests they're getting themselves on track at the right time.
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