[Catalan05]

vs

Sporting Gijon vs FC Barcelona​

21:00 CET - Sunday, September 21, 2008

Venue: El Molinón, Gijón

Tough game, Barca have been suffering for a long time away from the camp nou, this would be a good time to bounce back or so we hope.


The below is the team i would like to see starting the game:

--------------------Valdes---------------------
-------------Puyol-----Pique------Abidal-------
-Dani-------Toure-------Keita-----------------
-------------------Xavi----------------------
-----------------------------------Messi(FR)---
----------------Eto'o------Henry---------------

- Puyol, Pique -> our 2 CBs
- Abidal -> provide cover for the left of the defence
- Dani -> attacking full back, would go forward to cover up for Messi

- Toure + Keita -> provide muscle in the midfield, will cover up for Dani going forward and help the defence.
- Xavi -> Behind the strikers

- Messi -> Free role, roaming behind the strikers
- Eto'o & Henry -> 2 Pure strikers, Henry should stay in the center, he is a total waste on the wing, PLEASE GET IT PEP


Subs in the 2nd half: Iniesta, Bojan, Pedro

PS. this is almost the same formation Madrid were using when they had Roberto Carlos, Zidane and Figo..

 

[Gade21]

I agree with that lineup. Hostile stadium, organized side that will surely look to utilize counters better than Sporting for instance. We need that extra muscle and I hope Pep doesn't believe he can get away with the lineup during the week here. We can get something from this game but Pep has to get it right before a ball is kicked.

EDIT: Not quite, I'd switch Puyol for Marquez.

 

[PetritH]

Or better option put Puyol in Abidal's place and Marquez as a CB.

 

[Catalan05]

Marquez is doubtful for the game, he have a flu

 

[Saibomb]

I want to eat that grass

 

[Kopriva]

As long as we don't go back to the 4-3-3, I'm fine.

Also, I'd rather give Caceres his chance than play Abidal. Otherwise agreed with Catalan's formation.

 

[totow]

It'll be tough as both clubs are desperately seeking for their first win in the league campaign. Pep looks like a bold guy who doesn't afraid to take his chances, so maybe we'll see the 3-4-3 once again. Totally agree with the Toure-Keita partnership in the middle.

 

[Josué]

1-1 written all over it.

 

[Subramanian]

2-0.

 

[rhanafi]

Messi to shine.............

 

[Almogàver]

This game is extremely important. The team must start to improve the level of the game, especially when it comes to create real sensation of danger in attack, the biggest failure so far.

Sporting keep the same team they had in Segunda División and they're a weak team. So far, 2 games and 2 defeats. Said all this, Sporting are going to live this game like a party, without pressure on them despite their 2 defeats. Sporting's game will be based on enthusiasm and I'm sure that they already know they can do something against us, after the image we showed in the first games.

Our team really need to look more vertical in attack, we must keep the high ball possession, but the ball must move faster.

Aside this, I hope our forwards start to score goals, because our midfield do not score easily and we need goals.

 

[Txiki]

I would like to play either 4-3-3
VV
Alves-Puyol-Pique-Sylvinho
Xavi-Toure-Keita
Messi-Bojan-Pedrito

or 3-4-3
VV
Puyol-Pique-Marquez/Caceres
Alves-Xavi-Keita-Iniesta
Messi-Bojan-Pedrito

 

[milito12]

I'm not too optimistic about this match either but Sporting already conceded 6 goals in two matches. I hope we can take advantage of it.

I fear we'll start with Xavi-Iniesta after their good performances on Tuesday.

 

[Almogàver]

If we don't win this, we can start to close the Camp Nou and wait for anothe year. Seriously, we had a good schedule to get 9 points in 3 games and we're not playing to avoid relegation places, live to see.

 

[Culéd]

Right now I'm mostly concerned about our inability to score.. Etoo must put on his shooting boots for this game.

 

[FC Barcelona9]

I am hoping that Pep can use 4-2-3-1 instead of our classical 4-3-3:

-------------Valdes------------

Alves---Pique---Puyol---Sylvinho

---------Keita---Toure----------

Messi---------Xavi--------Iniesta

--------------Eto'o--------------

The FBs Alves and Sylvinho can provide alot of support for the attackers while players such as Keita and Toure maintain the balance between defence and attack, both of them have been called several times box-to-box type of midfielders and I would like to see that being fully utilized. This can only mean that Xavi has even more freedom up front and he will be relived from any defending duties in the middle allowing more vertical play as K4 has mentioned previously (which is something the team really lacks). Iniesta IMO have performed best every time he played as a LW, both him and Xavi can create danger. My only concern is that Eto'o needs to perform up front, if he fails to do so the likes of Henry and Bojan should get a nod ahead of him.

Players that can come in as substitutes:

Pedrito for Iniesta
Bojan/Henry for Eto'o
Busquets for Toure/Keita

If Pep is looking for more balance on the left side like he did last time, he can push Sylvinho into the LW spot and Abidal/Caceres as the LB. We all know how much Abidal loves to cross the half way line, he gets traumatized every time he does and his crosses are sensational. Sylvinho have provided many decent crosses in the past and IMO he can provide the balance on the left that Pep might look for in some games.

 

[Yaya17]

I like Catalan05's formation, I had something similar in my mind. :thumbsup: With the number of CBs who can play RB/LB too we have in our team, it would make sense too.

 

[Subramanian]

If we don't win this, we can start to close the Camp Nou and wait for anothe year. Seriously, we had a good schedule to get 9 points in 3 games and we're not playing to avoid relegation places, live to see.

Hey JA

Dont panic,man.Have a joint and chill.I know you do stuff.

And,Do they like us back in Asturias?

 

[Tomaz]

The list:

Valdés, Pinto, Alves, Piqué, Márquez, Puyol, Xavi, Gudjohnsen, Iniesta, Eto'o, Abidal, Touré Yaya, Cáceres, Bojan, Keita, Messi, Pedro, Busquets


Henry is still sick. Hleb, Milito and Jorquera injured. Sylvinho and V. Vazquez are not called up by technical decision.

 

[Saphan]

I like Catalan's line up too. Instead of Henry, who is not called, I think Bojan might get a chance, especially after the media pressure this week.

Pep has surprised us many games this season with the lineup, so I expect something new again . Also, in next 2 weeks we play 5 games, so there's gonna be a lot of rotation.