FanPost

Thread for lineup options against Bayern

THIS POST IS ABOUT WHAT I THINK WE SHOULD USE, AND NOT ABOUT WHAT KOEMAN WILL USE

Barca face Bayern in a day's time, undoubtedly our biggest and most difficult match since, well, the previous Bayern match. This match was going to be extremely difficult for us, injuries have only made it harder. According to me we are major underdogs. The staring lineup can make huge differences in matches like this, and we need to be extremely good with our choices. For eg- if we made better choices with our lineup in 2019, we may have lost, but with less humiliation. For eg- We should have started Griezmann instead of Vidal, and Messi behind Grizi- Suarez duo, becuz Messi doesn't track back much, which resulted in Semedo being left alone with Davies (in scintillating form) and Perisic. Griezmann could have helped, and his attacking output could not have been worse than Vidal's. But let's leave that.

Tomorrow, we cannot go with 4-3-3. I know it's a very flexible formation, our primary formation. But I say this mainly for these two reason-

  • We lack forwards. Our only fit forwards currently registered with the first team are - Luuk De Jong, Memphis Depay, and Demir, Coutinho who are more of 10s, so you can count them here as both can be used as Right Wingers, or with a slight tweak in 4-3-3, it can be taken as a 4-3-1-2 with these 10 options for the 10 position. So in summary, only 4 fit forwards. Out of these 1 has barely played in an year, the other is yet to play a single game with us, one is very young. Only Depay is good enough, and probably Demir too.
  • It's not a defensive tactic. Let's face it, Bayern have an OP attack, and we should focus more on defense, than on attack. Like prime Simeone football is what we need to play. We need something more defensive to avoid another humiliation. I guess we fans can stand a game won with extremely horrible football, but not another humiliation
Now I BELIEVE that we should go for a defensive setup rather than an attacking one. 3-4-3 is not an option, becuz midfield is undoubtedly our strongest department, and hence we should have all 3 of our main men on the pitch right from the go. Plus again, we don't have enough attackers. 4-4-2 and 3-5-2 are more defensive formations.

Now as for the 4-4-2, if you ask me personally it's the most pathetic formation I have ever seen. It's balanced, but it's just so plain. The only benefit of this is that we have the flanks covered, but it is such a slow formation. The worst thing we can do against Bayern is play with a slow tempo, they have such a physical team, they'd probably get frustrated and injure one of our players. 3-5-2 is a more swift and fast paced formation.

I really like the 3-5-2 as even though this lacks attackers, it still boasts a lot of fluidity and with 3 midfielders, a lot of creativity. Plus it's defensive, with theoretically 5 defenders. Enough cover for the flanks, midfield creativity, it's a good formation for Bayern. They have pacy wingers, wing backs, so extra cover on the wings can only be beneficial.

Ter Stegen is an undisputed starter, not like we have an option anyways, but let's not forget he's a world class keeper, and the previous 8-2 was becuz of the shit defence, and last season he was playing with an injury. Now we have to choose our players both sportingly, but for this particular game, it's more about mental fitness. Which is why I say- keep Lenglet miles away. He's a decent player, and with the same formation, I might have used in any other game, but against Bayern, he might just get PTSD. A 3-5-2 needs a left footed centre back as the most important factor in this is distribution from the back. But, Mingueza played on the left against Eibar. I know it was just Eibar, but he was decent. And anyways, it's better to play him on the left than taking a risk with Lenglet. Umtiti can be used maybe, but he lacks pace, doesn't fill me with confidence. Araujo is undisputed starter, he starts in the centre. Now the last RCB, I guess either of Garcia and Pique can start. But I'd choose Pique as I believe he's more mature (no room for errors) and more experienced. Garcia did well with Spain in Euros, but he had Laporte alongside him. Araujo is really good, but I don't think he's as good as Laporte, like he himself is so young.

So for me that's our backline-

Ter Stegen

Pique Araujo Mingueza

Moving to the wing backs. Starting with the LWB- Alba may or may not be available. I read a report than Dest is closer to fitness than Alba. If he's not fit, then I would count on Balde. He's pretty good, and maybe Bayern is quite huge for him, I believe he can do well. As for the RWB- Barca have ruled Dest out for the match, but he's trying to be fit for the match. Honestly, if he's fit enough to not suffer a long term injury becuz of playing, I'd play him. Even a 50% good Dest is better than our other options. But if just in case he's not deemed fit, I'd play, with a heavy heart, Sergi Roberto (This might actually make it a 4-4-2 with Alba/ Balde, Araujo, Pique, Mingueza). I really don't want him to start, but we don't have any other option.

So far-

Ter Stegen

Pique Araujo Mingueza

Dest (Roberto) Alba (Balde)

Now midfield. I'm not explaining y'all know why I'm picking them. Pedri, Busquets, Frenkie

Ter Stegen

Pique Araujo Mingueza

Dest (Roberto) Alba (Balde)

Pedri Busquets Frenkie

Now the forward line is the most complicated one. We have just one proper 9 in Luuk De jong. Memphis is an undisputed starter. Demir is young but a huge candidate. I guess I'd go with Luuk and Memphihs. Let me say I absolutely hate to start Luuk, but we need a proper 9. Memphis will help in creating, and Luuk will have to help, Memphis can't do everything alone. Memphis is not a proper 9, else it would have been easier. But looking a the bright side, Memphis and Luuk have a good partnership (PSV times) and both are Dutch so Ronald knows how to use them.

Final lineup-

Ter Stegen

Pique Araujo Mingueza

Dest (Roberto) Alba (Balde)

Pedri Busquets Frenkie

Luuk Memphis

I won't lie, this is not our strongest lineup, but the best we can do with our available players. We would need Busquets and the defence to be at their very best, idc shit on the pitch against any other team, but against Bayern, it's about the revenge. We need to beat them this time out.

I'd love to hear what you guys would do if you were the manager. Again, this is about the players YOU'D start, and nothing related to who you think Koeman would start/ bench.

<em>This does not represent the views of Barca Blaugranes or SBNation</em>