ThreeTeamSupporter said:Don't think I agree with everyone putting De Jong ahead of Busquets. I think De Jong is phenomenal for us, obviously, but the question is which city players would get into the barca team, not the other way round. Busquets, I think, is the absolutely perfect fit in the DM role at barca - fantastic touch, passing ability, reads the game well, is very aware of the space around him. I think his importance to the way they play is often understated.
De Jong at Barca would look a lot like Mascherano has done this season when he's played in the middle - clearly a good DM, but made to look slightly slow and clumsy by the speed at which they move the ball around.
I'll agree with all of this. One thing Barca isn't though is deep, I think all of those players would probably make Barca's bench if their whole team was fitCastiel said:Blue tinted glasses on here. Not a chance at all.
Hart - Good keeper, Valdes has been solid for them for YEARS against incredible teams you've yet to face.
Kompany - doesn't fit their style at all. Strength and power aren't what Barcelona are about.
Silva - good enough, wouldn't displace Xavi or Iniesta though.
Tevez - he's a front man therefore his place is where Messi is. Better than Messi? I think not. Good enough for their squad though.
Busquets is overlooked a lot in reviews of them. All their plays go through him in some way, his passing and distribution allows Xavi and Iniesta to engineer their attacks quickly and effectively. They wouldn't replace him with anyone.
Yes they'd make the bench, but talking about the first 11 nobody from any of the Prem's top 4 would have a shot. Even Fabregas who's likely to be going there soon. That said, I don't think many of the players you'd put on their bench would be happy about it when they could start in almost any other team in the world.Andouble said:I'll agree with all of this. One thing Barca isn't though is deep, I think all of those players would probably make Barca's bench if their whole team was fit
Valdes, Alves, Puyol, Pique, Abidal, Busquets, Xavi, Iniesta, Pedro, Messi, Villa
bench: Hart, Kompany, Mascherano, Silva, Tevez, Affellay, Keita
brian the blue said:Hart
Kompany
Kolarov
Silva
Yaya
Balotelli
I really do think you're wrong. I don't know if you saw the 5-0 thrashing Barca gave Real this season, but it happened because Mourinho let his players go all out attack just to see if they could go toe to toe with them. Pique and Puyol stifled the likes of Ronaldo, Di Maria, Ozil et al quite effortlessly and with just as much ball skill as the rest of their team. They're underrated players in that team because they never have to do much defending. And when they do have to defend they're really high up the pitch trying to stop a counter attack.Citizenhill said:Kompany is better than Pique and Puyol. I watch them when I can, he's just as comfortable on the ball as them and can head it just as well as Pique can. Other than that, none suit the style.
Castiel said:I really do think you're wrong. I don't know if you saw the 5-0 thrashing Barca gave Real this season, but it happened because Mourinho let his players go all out attack just to see if they could go toe to toe with them. Pique and Puyol stifled the likes of Ronaldo, Di Maria, Ozil et al quite effortlessly and with just as much ball skill as the rest of their team. They're underrated players in that team because they never have to do much defending. And when they do have to defend they're really high up the pitch trying to stop a counter attack.Citizenhill said:Kompany is better than Pique and Puyol. I watch them when I can, he's just as comfortable on the ball as them and can head it just as well as Pique can. Other than that, none suit the style.
I don't contest Kompany is a great defender, I just don't think he's the sort of defender Barcelona like to use, and that was the question. I'd have him in Chelsea any day because his imposing physical play suites our system. Though there probably wouldn't be room with Luiz, Terry, Alex and Ivanovich there.Citizenhill said:I did watch it, forgotten it now truthfully as it was only on tv for me and so long ago. I think Pique's great, brilliant footballer and Puyol symbolises Barcelona as a club, captain and everything. But, Vinny has hardly put a foot wrong this season, stifled many an attacker and this is really his first full season as centre back for City, although he did start there for his earlier years. Pique made a few mistakes on Saturday, they'll be brushed off as Barcelona won, but I don't think Vinny would do that.
I get what your saying but the coaches at barca would make vinny a much more cultured defender and could turn him into the worlds best CB.Castiel said:I don't contest Kompany is a great defender, I just don't think he's the sort of defender Barcelona like to use, and that was the question. I'd have him in Chelsea any day because his imposing physical play suites our system. Though there probably wouldn't be room with Luiz, Terry, Alex and Ivanovich there.Citizenhill said:I did watch it, forgotten it now truthfully as it was only on tv for me and so long ago. I think Pique's great, brilliant footballer and Puyol symbolises Barcelona as a club, captain and everything. But, Vinny has hardly put a foot wrong this season, stifled many an attacker and this is really his first full season as centre back for City, although he did start there for his earlier years. Pique made a few mistakes on Saturday, they'll be brushed off as Barcelona won, but I don't think Vinny would do that.
Castiel said:I don't contest Kompany is a great defender, I just don't think he's the sort of defender Barcelona like to use, and that was the question. I'd have him in Chelsea any day because his imposing physical play suites our system. Though there probably wouldn't be room with Luiz, Terry, Alex and Ivanovich there.Citizenhill said:I did watch it, forgotten it now truthfully as it was only on tv for me and so long ago. I think Pique's great, brilliant footballer and Puyol symbolises Barcelona as a club, captain and everything. But, Vinny has hardly put a foot wrong this season, stifled many an attacker and this is really his first full season as centre back for City, although he did start there for his earlier years. Pique made a few mistakes on Saturday, they'll be brushed off as Barcelona won, but I don't think Vinny would do that.
Well who we'd have replace our players from other squads isn't going to be a logical argument because we're obviously emotionally attached to our own players. As citymad said, maybe in training Barca could turn Kompany towards their defence style but I think it'd be a waste of his talent which is being a wall like Terry in his prime. Barca defending is about pressing to get the ball back not necessarily doing everything in your power to stop your opponent scoring. Luiz is the closest defender to the sort they like I've seen in the prem in recent years. He just needs to sort his discipline out.Citizenhill said:The only thing with Barcelona is, their players know the system outside bar Villa who has only been there this season, other than that, the complete strongest starting XI pretty much know the system inside out. I'd have him above all those, bias you may say, but I'd 'definitely' have him above Terry, Alex and Ivanovic. In fact probably Luiz too, but him and Luiz in a partnership would be beastly.
Castiel said:Well who we'd have replace our players from other squads isn't going to be a logical argument because we're obviously emotionally attached to our own players. As citymad said, maybe in training Barca could turn Kompany towards their defence style but I think it'd be a waste of his talent which is being a wall like Terry in his prime. Barca defending is about pressing to get the ball back not necessarily doing everything in your power to stop your opponent scoring. Luiz is the closest defender to the sort they like I've seen in the prem in recent years. He just needs to sort his discipline out.Citizenhill said:The only thing with Barcelona is, their players know the system outside bar Villa who has only been there this season, other than that, the complete strongest starting XI pretty much know the system inside out. I'd have him above all those, bias you may say, but I'd 'definitely' have him above Terry, Alex and Ivanovic. In fact probably Luiz too, but him and Luiz in a partnership would be beastly.