When rotations become ‘fun’

-Sagar Follow @Sagar_m10

Let’s get this out of the way. I’m not calling anyone a dummy. The game just had a lot of ‘dummies’ involved in the build up to majority of the goals scored today.

Now, Barca have been in the news recently for all the wrong reasons. Despite winning 4 – 1 against Espanyol (CdR), the scoreline was never in the spotlight. Everything not football was debated upon, lines were drawn, sides were chosen, and accusations were thrown around. Barca had drawn 3 of their last 4 league games. They needed to make a statement. Minnows or not, they had to get back to being a convincing superpower. They did.

Barca, now having the options of Turan and Vidal, opted to start both of them in this match. But, the main change was the midfield, which had Roberto, Rakitic, and Turan in it.

Granada probably saw the Depor, and Espanyol matches, and hoped they too could knick a point off Barca. They are desperately in need of points at this stage of the league, and they had to give it their all.

They started the first 5 minutes of the match trying to press the entire Barca backline and their midfield.

Sadly, they were never as disciplined (being generous with this word) as Espanyol, or as lucky as Deportivo. And, their defense actually regressed as the first half went on.

Within the first 10 minutes, a play started by Messi, which featured Turan (assist), and a special cameo by Suarez (pulled off a dummy, to let the ball go to Turan), ended with Messi scoring an easy goal.

5 minutes later, Neymar whipped in a curling pass to Suarez, who made a one-touch selfless pass to Messi to tap it in, and before you know it, Granada were 2 goals down in the first 15 minutes.

Game-set-and-match?



Well, although Granada pushed Barca’s midfield in the early stages of the second half, they could get no further than being a ‘hindrance’ to Bravo.

Soon thereafter, Neymar’s rebounded shot was dispatched by Messi to get his first hat-trick of the season. The build up to this goal involved a dummy by Turan, to let the ball roll to Neymar.

Although Barca, time and again, created numerous chances, they (Suarez) could not find a finish. But, eventually, a Suarez pass, which Messi allowed to roll past him (he was offside), found Neymar. He took his time and blasted the ball into the roof of the net. 4 – 0. FT.

It’s not that the dummies involved were amazing, but the ease with which the players pulled it off showed the confidence of this team. These ‘dummies’, collectively, looked amazing, and should probably be called ‘ghost assists’.

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Depth:





This was what was missing the past month. Fresh legs. Quality fresh legs. It’s almost as if the ban has helped Turan and Vidal in their quest to gel with Barca. They trained with the team for 6 months, and they still had that ‘intensity’ that players get when they start their campaign. These two players had the chemistry required to play with their team-mates, AND the urge to “start” their season on a high note.

Bar Rafinha, and Douglas (no one gets it), Lucho had every player available to him, and he made perfect use of them in this match.

This was what was missing the past month. Fresh legs. Quality fresh legs. It’s almost as if the ban has helped Turan and Vidal in their quest to gel with Barca. They trained with the team for 6 months, and they still had that ‘intensity’ that players get when they start their campaign. These two players had the chemistry required to play with their team-mates, AND the urge to “start” their season on a high note. Bar Rafinha, and Douglas (no one gets it), Lucho had every player available to him, and he made perfect use of them in this match. The Busqu….The Roberto:





Jack of all trades, and master of…quite a few of them. Having played 6 different positions for Barca so far, he has become Lucho’s go-to guy for any position that needs rotating. He might not have the quality to be a starter in any of these positions, but when he is played, you get what you want. A player who gives a solid performance, without too much of a quality drop. Then again, when the starters are Busquets, Iniesta, and Alves, and your performances are being described as “without too much of a quality drop”, that is aces in anyone’s book.

This game:

3 key passes

78 passes, with 92.3% accuracy, and

3 interceptions.

Jack of all trades, and master of…quite a few of them. Having played 6 different positions for Barca so far, he has become Lucho’s go-to guy for any position that needs rotating. He might not have the quality to be a starter in any of these positions, but when he is played, you get what you want. A player who gives a solid performance, without too much of a quality drop. Then again, when the starters are Busquets, Iniesta, and Alves, and your performances are being described as “without too much of a quality drop”, that is aces in anyone’s book. This game: 3 key passes 78 passes, with 92.3% accuracy, and 3 interceptions. MSN:





Slump, at this stage, might be an accurate word to describe Suarez’s goalscoring predicaments. The frustration has been building up, and that is forcing him to make small ‘basic’ mistakes that are causing his shots to go a few inches to the other side of the post. Yet, he got 2 wonderful assists today. His ‘off the ball’ movements are enough to confuse everyone, and looks chaotic, until the move ends, and you see the genius behind it.

Neymar’s deft touches and dribbling skills were a sight to behold. He was as fluid and smooth as a Brazilian footballer could be. Ronaldinho, and Messi would be proud of this young player who is constantly knocking at their doors. It’s time to let him in lads.

Messi. Messi. Messi. A hat-trick, which was just what it was. It wasn’t a ‘Messi special’, but a cumulative effort of the team. Apart from the finishes which were easy enough, Messi looked dangerous when going forward and always made sure his passes counted.

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Bravo was rarely tested. Pique was solid in air, and Vermaelen might have had one of his best matches in a Barca jersey. His positioning and reading of the game was spot on, and did not look troubled even once. Vidal made some dangerous and intelligent runs down the right, and did well to cut-back on numerous occasions. Roberto has once again shown what a gem he is, and how a ‘utility’ player should be defined. Rakitic was pretty solid, and offered a lot going forward. Turan fit in like glove. He was constantly pressing when he was not attacking. He was busy all the time.

MSN had a really good game, but were victims of poor finishing by their standards. Peaking at the right time is important too, and so, maybe, this is a good thing in that context.

Barca go to Espanyol to play the second leg of the CdR on Wednesday. One thing is for sure, it will NOT be a ‘good football match’.

Meanwhile, Messi will, almost definitely, go to Zurich to pick up his 5th Ballon D’or on Monday.

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Granada:

Questionable display: Lomban (C-): Was more concerned with linesman’s flag than the player he was supposed to mark, was dragged out of position multiple times, and could not regain his foot in the match. He was flat-footed on some occasions, and that’s never a good thing when facing MSN.

Best: Isaac (B-): Did well in attack. He picked his team-mates well when going forward. He was sharp in possession, and solid when pulling off a ‘hold up’ play. He could not get into good positions, and when he did, he did not have support.

Barca:

Questionable display: Alba (B-): His only flaw in the game would be his decision-making, and the ‘final ball’ in the opposition’s penalty box. Messi does well to find him, and on more than one occasion (the many, are not from this match) he has scuffed the shot, or the pass. Being a full-back, one might excuse him, but it seems that here, at Barca, it’s a requirement, seeing as how he’s time and again, asked to be decisive in the final-third.

Best: Sergi Roberto (A): Our MotM . There is complete bias here. Messi got a hat-trick. Played an amazing match, and was instrumental in attack. Neymar too. But, this guy, in Busquets’ position, did something extra-ordinary. He did not remind anyone that Busquets was absent. Not that he emulated Busquets, but the solidity he provided in defense and the composure he gave in attack was breath taking. Simply spectacular.

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What Say You?!