This is the side I'm predicting from Barca. Please agree or disagree and let's come up with some strengths and weaknesses of the players.
Víctor Valdés
Gianluca Zambrotta - Lilian Thuram - Gabriel Milito - Sylvinho
Gnegneri Yaya Toure
Xavi - Iniesta
Lionel Messi - Samuel Eto'o - Bojan Krkic
Subs:
Pinto
Rafael Marquez
Eric Abidal
Eidur Gudjohnsen
Santiago Ezquerro
Giovanni
Henry
Carles Puyol will be missing
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So let's break them down
Víctor Valdés - fairly tame from what i've seen. Looks competant against shots from distance and reaction time is decent, but seems timid on set pieces, however does have decent distribution. He doesn't do much yelling.
Gianluca Zambrotta - Supposedly a physical right back, decent marking, but what he lacks in straight speed he makes up in positioning. Experienced
Lilian Thuram - It could be Marquez stepping in for Puyol, but the one thing Thuram has is height and experience. I'd bet money on him to take the spot if healthy. He hasn't had much playing time this season and will be severally challeneged.
Gabriel Milito - has not meshed well with Puyol, but he seems a solid enough defender. Not the most physical and lacks height, but he may shine once he's stepped out of Puyol's shadow. Personally I see him as a major weakness.
Sylvinho - Outside of Puyol I think he's their best defender and has some great crosses to match. Works well with the winger, but will not maraude forward the way Evra does, but rather more in the Gazza type role.
Gnegneri Yaya Toure - Highly rated by many, but I have questions about his speed when facing a counter attack. Very tall and can be physical when need be. Great positioning and plays the defense midfield role very well.
Xavi - Great passing and vision and a very accurate freekick. He maraudes a bit into the opposition box especially on the right side and often looks for either Messi or Eto'o directly isntead of playing to the wing. Because of this habit, shutting him down will be key.
Iniesta - Creative with clevre passing and does plenty of running into the area, pairing with Eto'o and Bojan. If Xavi is off, Iniesta can pick it up more than capably.
Lionel Messi - Speed is the name of his game. He has incredible, I mean incredible acceleration that is beyond anyone I've seen. His top speed is fast, but not unmanageable. He is weak physically and is really dangerous moving to his right. When he moves infield I feel he is better contained. Limit his space and you limit his acceleration. Give him too little space and he may get by you before you know it. Good footwork on top of fearless running into the box is a real danger. Take Messi out of the game and you castrate Barca significantly. Short and should match-up well in the air with Evra and Vidic.
Samuel Eto'o - Always a danger with even a yard of space and can switch between being a poucher in the Ruud form or a creative asset in the Henry form. Always a threat and with his height, he's as dangerous with his head as with his feet.
Bojan Krkic - Smart player, very young and inexperienced, but older than his years. He can switch flanks at will, but doesn't have nearly the speed of Messi. The rest of the team seems slow in comparison to be honest, but Bojan does have his moments. I haven't seen enough of his shot to know how he is from distance, but he is an annoying poucher and can interpass in traffic.
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edit away. I haven't seen a ton of the team, btu these were my impressions.