Frank Rijkaard has got a fair bit of thinking to do this weekend to decide who will make up the XI to play Villarreal, but no decision will be more difficult than deciding who plays in attack and more precisely who plays on the right side of attack in place of the injured Leo Messi.
In the last couple of games against Atletico and Celtic Rijkaard put Samuel Eto’o on the right when Messi wasn’t playing but the idea didn’t really work. The problem comes when he decides to play the three remaining fantasticos. Ronaldinho, Henry and Eto’o can all play in the centre and can all play on the left, however, none of them seems particularly comfortable on the right side of attack.
This seems to be because none of them are wingers in the classical sense, rather they can play wide with the intention of cutting inside to shoot, and they all favour cutting in from the left. If Rijkaard wants to play the three of them together I would opt to put Henry on the right which would at least allow both Eto’o and Ronaldinho to play in their natural positions.
When Messi got injured in December the first game without him was the game against Real Madrid Thierry Henry was also injured, and Rijkaard chose Iniesta to play on the right with Eto’o and a below par Ronaldinho on the left. That day it didn’t work but Ronaldinho has improved a fair bit since then.
In January, Giovani dos Santos started four games (Mallorca, Sevilla twice in La Copa, and Racing) on the right with mixed results. While Barça were unbeaten in those games they only managed to score a total of four goals, none of which were scored by Giovani. At least he seems comfortable playing there and perhaps it gives the team better balance.
The highest scoring game in Messi’s absence was the 4-0 victory over Murcia when Barça played with a front three of Bojan-Eto’o-Henry. Bojan looks comfortable as well on the right, but it should be remembered that Murcia are going through a dreadful spell and really were very poor opposition for Barça.
So, who should play on the right? There are six candidates: Eto’o, Henry, Ronaldinho, Bojan, Giovani and Iniesta. Or maybe you’d put someone else there. And who would accompany them in attack. For Sunday’s game I would go for a front three of Bojan-Eto’o-Ronaldinho. What about you?
24 responses so far ↓
Taras // Mar 7, 2008 at 17:16
Nic:
Do you mean Bojan-Eto’o-Ronaldinho from right to left or from left to right? I wouldn’t put Ronnie on the right. I think Ronnie on the left, Eto’o as centre forward and Bojan on the right.
FCB - Canada // Mar 7, 2008 at 18:17
I agree with Taras. I would also like to see more of Sylvinho when Ronnie is playing. They link up very well.
Nic // Mar 7, 2008 at 18:46
Yes I mean Bojan on the right.
I always write football teams in the following way with the goalkeeper at the top:
For 4-3-3:
———————————-Goalie———————————–
–rightback—–centreback———centreback——–leftback–
——-right midfield——centre midfield—–left midfield——-
–right forward———centre forward———–left forward—
carlos // Mar 7, 2008 at 23:03
Gio should start playing he is not getting a fair shot, if barcelona does not realize how good this kid can be then he should play elsewhere like man u or chelsea,arsenal, juventus. there is a reason all these teams want him if barcelona does not realize what they have then they are idiots!
Youssef Gazia // Mar 7, 2008 at 23:22
Should we be happy that Madrid lost to Roma?
Lorenzinho // Mar 7, 2008 at 23:29
We are one of the deepest if not deepest teams in the world. I believe this team may perform better with out Messi. We will play more as a team and rely less on his individualities.
Lets leave the talking to our most experimented side in my opinion. We all know Iniesta is our most complete a versitile player along with Xavi and Yaya, so I think he should take Messi’s spot.
Ronaldinho_________Eto’o________Iniesta
_______Deco ____________Xavi________
_______________Yaya_______________
Sylvinho____Milito____Puyol____Zambrotta
________________Vv________________
Lorenzinho // Mar 7, 2008 at 23:37
ah, last minute sub, Thuram for Puyol.
bobkat // Mar 8, 2008 at 1:17
I would certainly choose bojan over gio for the right wing, in many less minutes he’s shown much more ability and industry. Gio has yet to really show his quality and he has had ample chance. He is probably good to come on as a sub. The biggest problem is that there is no toure this weekend, this may be our undoing :(.
Abdul // Mar 8, 2008 at 1:22
It dsnt matter who plays on d ryt cuz sometimes even messi fails 2 hav d desired effect on d ryt (eg getafe-barca). The strongest link is d midfield. Wit gud support frm d midfield, any of them wld do well. Toure, xavi n iniesta i suggest. And oh! Nic, ur predictn abt atletico-barca was ryt, expect u didnt get d goal directions ryt. Next tym, i hop u’ll predict a loss 4 barca n we’ll see wat happens.
Blaugrana // Mar 8, 2008 at 4:42
Maybe a formation change is required but otherwise i’d put bojan 0n the right drifting to tha SS position, where’s guily when u nid him? We shud’ve bot a decent replacement 4 messi.
Taras // Mar 8, 2008 at 11:30
Youssef Gazia:
I think we shouldn’t. Now they will focus on La Liga and become stronger, so it would be better if they got knocked out of the Champions League somewhere in the semis. But on the other hand last season we also got knocked out of the CL early, but we lost La Liga. But last season Madrid could also focus on the league because they also went out in the 1/8. So I don’t know what to say!
Taras // Mar 8, 2008 at 11:46
carlos:
You are wrong! It is decisive part of the season, we can’t afford to lose points! Gio is not better than Bojan and if we start playing Gio all the time then we will have a risk of losing lethal points. It is like saying that Pinto must get his chance to play somewhere in the Champions League final.
Jay // Mar 8, 2008 at 12:26
Ronaldinho-Eto’o-Iniesta
Ronaldinho-Eto’o-Bojan
Ronaldinho-Eto’o-Giovani
Titi186 // Mar 8, 2008 at 12:47
Why o’ why does no one think a 4-4-2 is the way to go??
Barca have two of the best strikers in the world in TH14 and E9 so why not sacrifice a half-fit Ronnie for a couple games and try out the formation.
They are lightening quick, deadly at finishing, and are THE best two strikers in the world at playing in behind the defence given the proper service and they seem to remarkably have a good understanding of each other despite only playing such a small number of games.
Messi is out injured, Ronaldinho is hardly undroppable, now is the time for Henry and Eto’o to show that they can work and for Rijkard to prove he is not only a good manager but also a great one by adapting his tactics.
Titi186
Taras // Mar 8, 2008 at 13:40
Titi186:
I do not agree. Ronnie is coming back with every game step by step. Creativity on the wings is part of Barca’s style, so we need Ronaldinho, Eto’o and maybe Henry or Bojan to cut inside and shoot. If we let Ronnie to lose faith in himself then he won’t come back to his previous form. I understand you are a big fan of Henry but changing Barca’s style is the reason why Laporta doesn’t want to fire Rijkaard.
Blaugrana // Mar 8, 2008 at 14:31
If it’s true laporta is gona be presid. Til 2010,rijkaard is gna be manager til then so 4-3-3 til the end i blieve.4-4-2 we d0nt hav pure wingerz so nah.
Dr.Osmo // Mar 8, 2008 at 16:10
Iniesta !
BARCA 4 LYF // Mar 8, 2008 at 16:23
I think eto’o should be on da right and henry in da centre and brazilian magician ronnie on the left!
Hector // Mar 8, 2008 at 21:30
I would put Ronaldinho on the left, Eto’o on the right; and drop Gio a little back in a triangle configuration: sort of a mix between a 4-3-3 and a 4-4-2
Or Henry on the left, Eto’o on the right; and Ronaldinho a little back in the same configuration.
BOBBY // Mar 8, 2008 at 21:48
TARAS! dude gio plays way better than bojan only that bojan is spaniard and there always going to prefer spanish blood than mexican blood on the barca team!! but gio is way better if he was argentinian or brazilian he would be a starter for sure…
Taras // Mar 8, 2008 at 22:10
BOBBY:
No way! Bojan has more skills, better shot and he passes more than Gio. Bojan scored 4 goals this season and Gio scored only one! Man, just look at the statistics!
Taras // Mar 8, 2008 at 22:13
And by the way Gio had more minutes but scored less than Bojan.
Rafael // Mar 9, 2008 at 1:14
Why would you want to sacrifice the form of Ronaldinho for Henry?
I dont know if Henry is stillin trying to fit in with the azulgrana, but apart from some LIMITED flashes of brilliance, Henry hasn’t exactly been the ex-factor.
I think Bojan should come later on in the game, while Iniesta starts on the RF position. Maybe get Gudjohnsen to start in the midfeild?
Youssef Gazia // Mar 9, 2008 at 19:08
One simple word: Bojan!
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