General Mirth wrote:

I honestly can't believe I'm having this conversation.

I feel like I'm discussing a player with people who rarely watch him play. You have to go back to the early Rijkaard days to find a manager who considered Iniesta a predominantly attacking player.

Humble Rex wrote:

Iniesta is often played as a left forward this season, and he has been the most attacking player in Barcelona´s midfield for years.

That's just not true. Iniesta usually plays the Arteta role in Barca's midfield. Xavi has been more attackminded than him for most of his career.

Technique wise iniesta is insane

I really like his hairline. All man. :dulaoohtobe:

Klaus wrote:

General Mirth wrote:

I honestly can't believe I'm having this conversation.

I feel like I'm discussing a player with people who rarely watch him play. You have to go back to the early Rijkaard days to find a manager who considered Iniesta a predominantly attacking player.

Humble Rex wrote:

Iniesta is often played as a left forward this season, and he has been the most attacking player in Barcelona´s midfield for years.

That's just not true. Iniesta usually plays the Arteta role in Barca's midfield. Xavi has been more attackminded than him for most of his career.

I am confused. IMO Arteta most of the time plays as the midfielder closest to our goal. Which position are you saying players like Busquets and Toure has played?

You are just wrong here Klaus. Same as Santon having a good half v Walcott recently...

It's actually impossible to determine what position those Barcelona players set themselves up but generally speaking Iniesta takes a subservient role to Xavi. Not in terms of where he stands on the pitch but he's a bit like Hleb in that regard.

Anyway, enough is enough. I don´t care how you all rate Iniesta. I agree he is world class, but not in that elite category of world class players who should ever be in contention for the best individual honors in football. Not enough end product to warrant that in relation to the team he plays for, and his position on the pitch. IMO. Basta. I´m done here.

Humble Rex wrote:

I am confused. IMO Arteta most of the time plays as the midfielder closest to our goal. Which position are you saying players like Busquets and Toure has played?

Arteta is the central midfielder at Arsenal whose main responsibility is to distribute the ball from deep. he sets the tempo in midfield. Song is the midfielder who presses higher up to make room and tracks back all the way when we're defending. Combines Gattuso's famous role at Milan with a bit of midfield skills to varying degrees of success.

Busquets is practically a sweeper when Barca defends. Other than that his role is mostly about a lot of pressure both on and off the ball in the middle third.

Touré was a rest from a different team and couldn't adapt to a more fluid style so he was sold off.

Be honest Rex, the little emo is an unbelievable footballer and every team in the world would have him starting week-in, week-out; probably irrespective of their style of play as well. That's more than enough to cement yourself among the elite.

Rex just probably thinks he's English or summink

Done here!

Klaus wrote:

Humble Rex wrote:

I am confused. IMO Arteta most of the time plays as the midfielder closest to our goal. Which position are you saying players like Busquets and Toure has played?

Arteta is the central midfielder at Arsenal whose main responsibility is to distribute the ball from deep. he sets the tempo in midfield. Song is the midfielder who presses higher up to make room and tracks back all the way when we're defending. Combines Gattuso's famous role at Milan with a bit of midfield skills to varying degrees of success.

Busquets is practically a sweeper when Barca defends. Other than that his role is mostly about a lot of pressure both on and off the ball in the middle third.

Touré was a rest from a different team and couldn't adapt to a more fluid style so he was sold off.

I thought Toure was brilliant against United in 2008 and in the 2009 final. Just two games I know.

He played as a central defender in the 2009 final, didn't he?

Yes he did. Still, i thought he was solid and United found it difficult to breach their defence after the first 10 minutes.

I had a lot of time for him as a Barca player too. I just think Guardiola altered their style to something that played more to Busquet's strengths than Touré's. He was on the bench for most of his last eighteen months in Spain and didn't look too happy about it.

I think it was Guardiola's shift to Catalan products that did for Toure more than anything else.

Not that Busquets isn't an excellent player.

Busquets is a brilliant player

Indeed. Best DM in the world?

In the style of team he plays in yes