Some players excel when you limit what they can do. Alaba is literally one of the best LB's in the world. Giving him more freedom to express himself, I think, won't result in any long term gains. Guardiola wants a total football system but in the modern game sometimes players express themselves better when they are given constraints. It's basically how Mourinho has coached, but Pep's style is the antithesis of Mourinho's. The perfect combination has to have been SAF, and I really think Pep should move in that direction.

quote:
Pep said he only sees Lahm as a midfielder now.

This is disappointing. The modern fullback is basically a wide midfielder, and if Pep deploys a 3-5-2, then I would love to see Lahm wide right, but without Kroos, I feel that Lahm will become the possession midfielder, which I think is redundant when Schweinsteiger plays, as he is literally the best in the world at recycling play and setting the tempo, taking that mantle from Xavi and Pirlo.

quote:
it's got to be Javi playing there. He was practically born for that position.

I really despise the way Pep has used him. Javi is a once in a lifetime player in my estimation, as players of that size do not often have his sort of technical ability.

This post was edited on 7/25/14 at 9:25 am

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Posted by drockw1

Member since Jun 2006

9117 posts

Posted on 7/25/14 at 9:32 am to crazy4lsu

quote:
Javi is a once in a lifetime player in my estimation, as players of that size do not often have his sort of technical ability.

Well said...

You can't deny Alaba's talent, and I feel in some ways he's gotten bored sitting back in defense when he often wants to attack on the wings....I want to see how he does in the middle for a few matches though.

The good thing is that there's a good bit of time early in the season to allow for experimentation with the XI.

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Posted by hendersonshands

Univ. of Louisiana Ragin Cajuns

Member since Oct 2007

160105 posts

Posted on 7/25/14 at 9:36 am to crazy4lsu

Yeah, two years ago when Ribery was one of the 3 best players in the world, Alaba was a huge reason for that. I think he was the best left back in the world that year. Last year I was a little disappointed but he was still very good. I think you have to keep him out wide. If he plays the 3-5-2, you need Javi in the middle of the 3. With Boateng, Badstuber and Dante rotating the other two spots.

Your midfield triangle should be Schweiny, Thiago and Götze/Müller with Alaba and Lahm on the flanks.

Then you give Lewandowski, Robben, Ribery, Muller freedom to roam up top.

quote:
This is disappointing

Agreed. Lahm is a good midfielder but the best right back I've ever seen. Pep likes him at midfield because he's a soccer genius and never has a loose touch.

quote:
I really despise the way Pep has used him.

Yeah beginning of the year, he tried to shoehorn him into a regular CB spot. Then he fought injuries for a while. The Pokal final when he was in the libero spot, he was amazing. Dude is a freaking bull out there, he's just as athletic as any center forward and he's smart with the ball in possession. Even Beckenbauer's crazy arse had to be impressed. Hopefully Pep sticks with that.

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Posted by Friend of OBUDan

Member since Dec 2008

9963 posts

Posted on 7/25/14 at 10:07 am to crazy4lsu

quote:
Some players excel when you limit what they can do. Alaba is literally one of the best LB's in the world. Giving him more freedom to express himself, I think, won't result in any long term gains. Guardiola wants a total football system but in the modern game sometimes players express themselves better when they are given constraints. It's basically how Mourinho has coached, but Pep's style is the antithesis of Mourinho's. The perfect combination has to have been SAF, and I really think Pep should move in that direction.

wenger talked some about this general idea yesterday with Pires saying he (and most players) have extreme preferential vision. they see the game better from a certain angle or certain position. like AW said, put pires on the right and he's a normal player because he can't see the pitch as well. place him on the left and he's world class with world class vision. maybe pep underestimates this idea. much different view of the game centrally than out wide.

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