RavenbarberIt has been suggested by Goal.com in particular that Guardiola envisages Fabregas not just as a luxury midfield addition, but as the replacement for Carles Puyol. That means that Sergio Busquets will compete his transformation into a centre back, and which means Barcelona will field as close to an all-ball-playing XI as has ever existed in the game.
The chemistry between Messi and Fabregas so far this season cannot be ignored. With Fabregas used to playing with Van Persie at Arsenal, who operates in much the same manner as Messi, his reintroduction to Barcelona has been virtually seamless. Barcelona now has a true goal scoring threat from midfield, something they never quite had with Iniesta and Xavi, who prefer to operate nominally as creators. Fabregas has been the leading assister in Europe for almost half a decade, so he can provide as well and importantly, closer to goal than the holy Xavi-Iniesta duo. The latter will be tasked with keeping possession so that a true holding player will be almost unnecessary.
Pique and Busquets, natural ball players both, will function almost as holding players, so high will the line be that Barcelona will be able to maintain through technique and pressing.
It might be too early to say, but I don’t think there is a team on this planet, or perhaps ever, that will be able to cope with “strike partners” Messi and Fabregas when they truly start to gel. It is a frightening, but at the same time exciting thought. Guardiola might just have pushed Barcelona to the next level. Fantasy football is about to be realised, y’all. Buckle up.
05.09.2011
RavenbarberAlmost a 4-2-4, supposedly the shape that Brazil played at the World Cup in 1970. Makes you think.
05.09.2011
ThiagoFSR83Brazil played ina 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 shape, Zagallo himself draws brazilian shape in a 4-2-3-1.
4-2-4: Brazil 1958
4-3-3: Brazil 1962
4-2-3-1: Brazil 1970
4-2-2-2: Brazil 1994
3-4-2-1: Brazil 2002
08.09.2011
ThiagoFSR834-2-4: Brasil 1958
4-3-3: Brasil 1962
4-2-3-1: Brasil 1970
4-2-2-2: Brasil 1994
3-4-2-1: Brasil 2002
09.09.2011
RavenbarberThanks very much for the awesome masterclass in Brazilian tactical evolution/refinement, ThiagoFSR83. I don't really support Brazil at international level, but it's a pity they can't get their act together these days. With the way things going at the moment, it will be Spain, Germany and to a lesser extent, Netherlands again at the World Cup in 2014. Check out this fantastic article (http://soccernet.espn.go.com/feature/_/id/954170/miguel-delaney:-international-standard?cc=3888) that adresses the decline in the international game.
Thanks again for your comments.
09.09.2011
RavenbarberOh, by the way ThiagoFSR83, if you don't mind and if you're still arounf, could you add tactical arrows and such to the 1970 side to showcase what their movement was like? Always wondered about that. It was quite lopsided, as I understand it, with Rivelino tucked deeper on that left hand side, almost as a third playmaker to support the central players, whereas on the other side, Jairzinho was essentially a wide forward.
09.09.2011
