Does he have a time machine? If not then how is he going to buy the 4 players that made his style work? Biscuit, xavi, iniesta and Messi?
You make Biscuits, Xavi and Iniesta sound like they're impossible to find. Pep has inherited much of the creative side of that Bayern side. He has to mould those players which is much harder. But that's not the case at United, we already know we need a DM and Creative Midfielder. If he has to buy players for those roles I think it's completely realistic to think he'll bring in quality for those positions. That leaves Messi. Although RVP is injured, RVP or any pacy CF with good technical ability can play that role. Look at Spain who don't have Messi.
Busquettes was never a key player for Barca, any number of players could play his role in the side. Messi, Xavi and Iniesta where the 3 star players
They played the same possession and pressing football. They won 3 international trophies on the bounce. What the fck do you want?
I agree with you, but the focus here is, can you play that brand without Messi and be effective. Spain showed you can. They became progressively boring bcos of Torres's absence and decline. Put any technically gifted CF with pace in there and bingo, you have the same dynamism as in 2008. United are more than capable of achieving that under Pep if he brings in the right midfielders. Another thing UIR, do you not think Fergie adopted a more possession style football in his last 3 seasons? And I have to be honest it was even more pointless. It was a poor imitation of Barcelona with lesser players and yet you liked it?
They got boring the moment they played Busquets and Alonso in the same midfield. In 2008, they played Marcos Senna alongside Xavi, and were a joy to watch.
I'm surprised you disagree. From about 2010 it's ALL been about holding on to posssession and if that meant passing sideways and backward from the likes of Carrick and/or Fletcher, that's what we did. It's been mundane at times and not this free-flowing attacking football you seem to admire. Granted we looked for openings and then tried to take those opportunities, but how can you deny we've needed a creative midfielder precisely because we've played possession football without any penetration? What we also lacked, and what made us inferior, was our complete lack of pressing. Both those things meant that everytime we went up against a decent side who did press us, we crumbled.
Weve not had the players to keep possession. Weve tried sure but actually playing possession football? Lol. Weve also been dire to watch 90% of the time.
Well he has 2 that are better holding midfielders at Bayern, in Lahm and Shweinstieger. Barca even tried to buy Song to play ahead of him, until they realised Song was **** to. Xavi Alonso gets in the Spanish side ahead of him to, and I'd agree that he's a better holding player to
We've tried is all I was saying, but Fergie definitely used it post-Ronaldo. Pass pass pass pass pass for the sake of it, wait for opening, give to Rooney, Hernandez, RVP to do something. Even last season, I remember reading Carrick made about 2500 passes and of those, 80% were 10 to 100 yard sideways and backwards lol. That was Fergie's way of holding on to possession. Carrick played about 10 through balls all season, none successfully and created the sum total of about 20-30 actual chances all season. And the rest were those sweeping cross field long balls he loves.
That is why playing possession football barca style with >70% possession you have to have the right players. Like Messi, xavi, Iniesta. Not losing the ball in dangerous areas and able to squeeze that penetrating pass between two closer defenders.plus the ability of the striker to take advantage with close control and precision. Otherwise you end up playing like Swansea and even worse like Moyes's United at Everton. Having >65% of the ball! but clearly thrashed by a more incisive and faster team...
