Don Andrés

Dragonate · January 23rd, 2009, 19:47

I would like to know why he is not in the first 11 regularly, any ideas?

Moe · January 23rd, 2009, 20:57

primarily its his injury and he's being brought back into the team gradually. Pep doesnt wanna risk re-injuring the player by bringing him in too soon.

Something else is that in his absence the team did not really suffer to get the wins and a crappy Henry who was his only competition improved quite a bit. So now Iniesta competes with a good Henry..

Iniesta is definitely the more dangerous player but Henry is the better finisher , his header against Deportivo gives us something different... but iniesta penetrates defences so much better than henry

oh well...

Dragonate · January 23rd, 2009, 21:43

Iniesto over Henry for me any day, well, most days. Anyway is Iniesta incapable of playing in any other position other than left attacking midfielder, I doubt that is his primary position anyway.

Almogàver · January 23rd, 2009, 22:11

Moe sums it up with perfection. He just came back from an injury and Guardiola decided to give him minutes in the Copa instead of changing the team that is working well in La Liga.

As he says, Henry is scoring lots of goals and is a constant danger for the rivals' defenses. Guardiola doesn't want to touch this for now, but Iniesta will have lots of minutes and I'm sure that, whenever the CL is back, he'll play many games in the first XI, rotating with others.

Styg · January 23rd, 2009, 22:39

I have no doubt once Iniesta gets back in form he'll replace Henry easily.

mv.. · January 23rd, 2009, 22:55

In my opinion, 1st team has wider meaning than 11 players. I'd categorize the players in a more fair way, as indispensable and reserves. Giant clubs need 13-14 indispensables and 7-8 reserves.

When we need a physical presence, dirtiness, fight, then Henry is better, no doubt. Iniesta is silently lethal, he can brake the bus in a way no one else can. One of them is in 1st team depending of the situation and Pep's vision how to beat a certain opponent.

Kopriva · January 23rd, 2009, 23:04

There are no doubts over Iniesta's status in the team. He is an incredible player and he won't have any problems starting in many games, as you guys already said.

Besides, it would be unfair towards Henry to bench him for a recently recovered Iniesta. Titi has been great so far, he's starting to get his goals regularly and IMO right now an in-form Henry is more useful to this squad than an in-form Iniesta. Henry is just a different player that adds a dimension to our attack. Iniesta is in the Messi-Hleb mould, while Henry brings a different style to our game and we need him more for versatility.

Iniesta is overall a better player than Henry IMO, but at this moment his place is primarily on the bench while we have so many in-form players.

Styg · January 23rd, 2009, 23:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by .mv.

When we need a physical presence, dirtiness, fight, then Henry is better, no doubt.

Really? I don't really reate Henry as a player being able to do that sort of stuff. Iniesta neither of course, but they both don't really stand out with these issues imo.

.BLAUGRANA. · January 24th, 2009, 00:06

Iniesta should be starting over Henry. Only reason for him not to be right now is the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" mentality. He should be starting and even coming back from injury looks better than Henry.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kopriva

Titi has been great so far

Can we please refrain using Henry and "great" in the same sentence?

Kopriva · January 24th, 2009, 00:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by .BLAUGRANA.

Iniesta should be starting over Henry. Only reason for him not to be right now is the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" mentality. He should be starting and even coming back from injury looks better than Henry.

Can we please refrain using Henry and "great" in the same sentence?

It's not just the mentality. If you replace Henry with Iniesta NOW, you're killing Titi. He has definitely deserved his place in the line-up and Iniesta should now wait for one of the starters to drop their form. It's only fair towards everyone.

Umm, no, why would we? Henry has been great (sic!!

) from the Grand Slam onwards, and mind you that series of four games was the most important run in the season and Henry was among our best, if not THE best. He has maintained that level ever since and he's being the best Henry Barca has seen so far. You dislike him and we all know that, but you could limit your bias to at least not complaining when he gets the praise he really does deserve this season.

.BLAUGRANA. · January 24th, 2009, 00:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kopriva

It's not just the mentality. If you replace Henry with Iniesta NOW, you're killing Titi. He has definitely deserved his place in the line-up and Iniesta should now wait for one of the starters to drop their form. It's only fair towards everyone.

Umm, no, why would we? Henry has been great (sic!!

) from the Grand Slam onwards, and mind you that series of four games was the most important run in the season and Henry was among our best, if not THE best. He has maintained that level ever since and he's being the best Henry Barca has seen so far. You dislike him and we all know that, but you could limit your bias to at least not complaining when he gets the praise he really does deserve this season.

That is the mentality though.

Why? Because he hasn't been "great". That's why.

VBI · January 23rd, 2009, 23:01

If Iniesta became a goal scorer, he'd become one of the top 3 midfielders on Earth instantly.

Almogàver · January 23rd, 2009, 23:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by VBI

If Iniesta became a goal scorer, he'd become one of the top 3 midfielders on Earth instantly.

Iniesta already is a top midfielder. If he also could score 15 goals per year, he'd be the best player of the world with Messi.

Lo Puto Crack · January 24th, 2009, 09:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Koeman4

Iniesta already is a top midfielder. If he also could score 15 goals per year, he'd be the best player of the world with Messi.

Agreed. He's not too far from being the best player in the world, never mind the best midfielder in the world.

DEportivo · January 24th, 2009, 01:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by VBI

If Iniesta became a goal scorer, he'd become one of the top 3 midfielders on Earth instantly.

If i´d be sober, i´d be the architect of the new Lisbon treaty. Instantly.

Anyways, dont fix that aint broke and dont kill Henry´s form. Iniesta is good enough to break down the door of first XI. He is a vampire, nothing impossible for him.

VBI · January 23rd, 2009, 23:44

It's just odd that his finishing is so bad still, when his all-round play is SO good in so many different ways.

mv.. · January 24th, 2009, 01:25

I agree with Kopriva, too. Let's not cut Henry's flow. I like his latest performances a lot.

ekim · January 24th, 2009, 02:21

It wouldn't make sense for you to drop Henry now, even should Iniesta regain his form. Henry-Eto'o-Messi is too lethal to change. We wouldn't be having this discussion if Guardiola could work wonders and get Iniesta-Xavi partnership to work, tho...

_________Eto'o
Henry____________Messi
___
______Iniesta_Xavi

Kopriva · January 24th, 2009, 02:35

We need more muscle than that. The midfield wouldn't be as sound defensively if the two midgets both started. Busi and Yaya are doing wonderfully with Keita improving his game, as well. They're needed to maintain the balance and dominate the opposition's midfield.

IMO, the Vampire should be filling in for Titi and Xavi when they're rested/unavailable, and he'll find his way into the first eleven soon enough. Lets face it, injuries are imminent and Iniesta won't have any problems getting minutes, regardless of Thierry Henry. It's just that right now the machine is so oiled-up and working well that it would be a shame to touch anything. The team deserved to be left alone to do their magic. Everyone will get their chance, but leave them be for now since everything is almost perfect. Surely Iniesta sees that as well.

Moe · January 24th, 2009, 02:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by ekim

It wouldn't make sense for you to drop Henry now, even should Iniesta regain his form. Henry-Eto'o-Messi is too lethal to change. We wouldn't be having this discussion if Guardiola could work wonders and get Iniesta-Xavi partnership to work, tho...

_________Eto'o
Henry____________Messi
___
______Iniesta_Xavi

ahh that formation is musical... but Guardiola has a sound understanding of the modern game and he appreciates the need for muscle in football today. That is why we always see 2 "worker midfielders" + Xavi as our midfield.

In a nutshell you need more than 1 guy in the middle winning the balls back from the opponent to be competetive these days. So pick two from Yaya, Busquets, Keita, Guddy to partner Xavi. This is how Guardiola has been doing things.