RavenbarberThe biggest absentee would be Alves; he is not having a particularly sparkling season, and does not suit the 3-4-3, the only system capable of integrating Fabregas in any meaningful way.
I believe Mourinho will try and implement the strategy that failed last time in the Champions League semi-final, which is a match played in two distinct phases. Soak up the pressure in the first half by employing two high energy central markers to track Iniesta and Xavi and frustrate them (Khedira and Coentrao) and perhaps hit Barca on the break with pace with the wide players Ronaldo and Di Maria.
The change comes in the second half where you bring on the creator Ozil for a new dimension to your play and to try and score after Xavi in particular has started to tire.
Should be fascinating. Pedro gets the nod ahead of Villa because of his work rate. He and Sanchez will have to cover their respective wings almost by themselves, with the help of Abidal and Mascherano when players drift into their zones. Messi, as ever, remains the danger man as he will not be man marker, but Pepe and Ramos will be vigilant and not against stepping out of their zones to pick him when he drifts towards the box.
08.11.2011
OnceABlueI'd bet my house on Pep not starting with only 3 in defense. Not against C Ronaldo.
08.11.2011
JimmyGuitarist3 in defence isn't exactly risky, simply because of the work-rates of every Barca player. Everyone chases back to protect. In saying that, Valencia exploited the wings constantly, but I think that was due to Barca's lack of pressing in the first half. That's when a 3-man defence is risky. Taking this sentence from an aritcle I read about Barca though, they simply redefine the general notion of defending compared to other teams.
But, Alves is a must-have in my opinion. You say he's not having a particulary sparkling season but I don't think it's just Alves, I don't think Barcelona have been on particulary sparkling form as a whole. Some games they've been incredible, and some they've been slow and static.
On Madrid's side, I think they'll go into the game with a much more positive approach compared to how they played last season. I havn't watched a whole match of them, but they're looking good. They look as though they've actually been watching Barca and trying to dominate possession a lot more. If you watched the Super Cup matches, Madrid actually dominated, but then for some Barca players, that match was there pre-season game.
Anyway, hope Barca give 'em another thrashin.
08.11.2011
09.11.2011
Ravenbarber
3 in defence isn't exactly risky, simply because of the work-rates of every Barca player. Everyone chases back to protect. In saying that, Valencia exploited the wings constantly, but I think that was due to Barca's lack of pressing in the first half. That's when a 3-man defence is risky. Taking this sentence from an aritcle I read about Barca though, they simply redefine the general notion of defending compared to other teams.
But, Alves is a must-have in my opinion. You say he's not having a particulary sparkling season but I don't think it's just Alves, I don't think Barcelona have been on particulary sparkling form as a whole. Some games they've been incredible, and some they've been slow and static.
On Madrid's side, I think they'll go into the game with a much more positive approach compared to how they played last season. I havn't watched a whole match of them, but they're looking good. They look as though they've actually been watching Barca and trying to dominate possession a lot more. If you watched the Super Cup matches, Madrid actually dominated, but then for some Barca players, that match was there pre-season game.
Anyway, hope Barca give 'em another thrashin.
Let’s say that Mourinho is confident enough with his Madrid side to actually put out his strongest team instead of trying to merely stifle Barca as he tried to do in the last encounter of the league last year (that was merely a dress rehearsal; he knew the league was lost and he wanted to test his strategies for the Champions League encounters). That should make for an interesting and probably breathtaking match because there is nothing Barcelona love more than teams playing openly.
Do Real Madrid actually have the personnel to beat Barca in an open match? That’s debatable, in my opinion. However good Madrid is at the moment, and there’s no question that they are more settled than Barca (who look a little rudderless having had to cope without Pique and especially Puyol so early in a season; and Villa’s form especially appears to be very erratic), but what will that mean come December?
I actually watched one of Madrid’s best games this season when they played Ajax in the Champs League, and to my mind, they looked uncomfortable for the first twenty minutes or so when Ajax sat back. There’s no denying that Khedira doesn’t seem to know what to do when he receives the ball. Perhaps that has now changed, but to my mind, that double pivot of Alonso and Khedira is way too flat. Alonso just doesn’t like being pressed; he doesn’t have the technique to wriggle out of tight spots like almost all of the Barca players are capable of doing (with the exception of Villa, who looks every bit the centre forward when he has to come into midfield to help maintain possession. He is a final third player only.) I don’t think Sahin will be integrated yet by the time El Clasico rolls by, so that might be problematic for Madrid. Alonso will not really be able to launch his cross field balls to the wings as effortlessly as the other teams Madrid have faced allowed him to and without this quarter back luxury, he usually doesn’t look so fantastic. He doesn’t do the basics of simple, short passing and circulating possession nearly as well as Iniesta and Xavi do, or Fabregas, or Busquets, for that matter.
We know that Madrid’s Centre Forward player will be isolated for much of the match, that is why I believe Mourinho will want Higuan up front, who at this stage of the season appears to be the more predatory front man bwteen him and Benzema. He needs someone who is likely to bury the one or two chances he is likely to get in the match.
What might hurt Barca is the use of Messi on the wing. I feel Pep Guardiola knows that Villa and Pedro are off colour (perhaps the new additions have unsettled what were rightly their positions) and that Sanchez hasn’t settled yet and that Barca’s most natural attacking partnership is Fabregas and Messi. If he is to accommodate the former in a back four, he will have to do so in a false nine position, which means Messi shifts to the right. This is problematic because Messi, who will want to cut inside, will run into traffic all the time. Also, in my opinion, Fabregas is yet to prove that he is a big match player.
Villa, on the other hand, is and that is why he could start. However much he might be struggling in front of goal at any time, he is one of those players that can produce the improbable at any moment and that might be what you will need for a tense match like this. Ultimately, it might be a case of temperament that decides this match and perhaps even the season. Mourinho might be a big game coach, but there is no denying that it doesn’t take much for the likes of Ramos, Pepe, Marcelo and even CR7 to come unstuck and completely lose their shit, especially with the way Mourinho will wind them up. Just one pivotal decision going against them could make Madrid completely fall apart. Surely Pep is aware of this, especially considering the two sides’ recent history.
Taking the issue of temperament further, Barca have more game winners in my opinion. If you need that something special to decide a tough encounter, Barca have more than one player who can be decisive. I’m thinking of Iniesta, Villa and of course Messi. Does Madrid have even one? The likes of Ozil too frequently become ineffectual when the going gets tough. Barca are used to fighting for their lives, especially this season when they have had to deal with really cagey situations. They would be more comfortable in a really tense match, in my opinion, because they are all used to winning by now and knows what it takes to achieve a win, no matter the circumstances.
Have Madrid really been tested this season yet? I know they look like champions right now, but the truth is they are not winners, because they have won nothing of value yet. That might be decisive come December. You cannot conjure that kind of belief. Just remember: Barcelona do not need to be at their best to win. Madrid will probably have to be.
09.11.2011
OnceABlueI am not saying 3 in defense won't work. I am saying 3 in defense won't work when your opponent has C Ronaldo. The work rate will not be able to stop him, you'd need someone who can match his pace.
09.11.2011
JimmyGuitaristWell no one can beat Barcelona if they're at there best. But if they've played like they have in the matches they havn't been that good in, then Madrid stand a chance I think.
I think Fabregas has got to be on the bench for this one, unless Pep does opt for the 3-4-3.
http://this11.com/topics/add/abByiooamK
Just the standard line-up.
09.11.2011
JimmyGuitaristWell no one can beat Barcelona if they're at there best. But if they've played like they have in the matches they havn't been that good in, then Madrid stand a chance I think.
I think Fabregas has got to be on the bench for this one, unless Pep does opt for the 3-4-3.
Just the standard line-up, with either Alexis or Pedro. They're both similar in terms of defensive work-rate.
09.11.2011
OnceABlue@JimmyGuitarist
I like your starting 11s. Injuries and suspensions permitting, these are what we'll be seing.
09.11.2011
baekI don't think Kaka will start that game due to his form and injury problems. I think mourinho will go with something more like this
considering they will be playing at home, provided carvalho is fit. mourinho did say that ramos would return to his right back role once carvalho is fit again, and he had a great performance in their last meeting.
I haven't had the chance to see Sahin play as much apart from the one appearance so far. but if he plays anything like he did for dortmund i think he would relieve alot of the work load off Alonso.
10.11.2011
baekAway from home i can see madrid playing a more defensive formation with pepe going into a defensive midfielder position which i found very effective vs barca
10.11.2011
