Nor should he really relative to the strikers they've had. Eto'o, Henry and Suarez are streets ahead of him. I'd also add Zlatan to the list even though Villa was probably a better fit.
How many City players get into Pep Guardiola's Best XI?
- Thread starter Martial
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Depends what the dynamics are, really. A one-off big game final? I wouldn't have KDB near the team. A full 38 game season? De Bruyne has to be in there somewhere just for his sheer creative freak numbers.
That's a fair point. I think I myself tend to consider big game decisiveness is the ultimate decider between world class and that level slightly above. To me, KdB and all the City players to be fair fail in that regard when compared to the other names mentioned.
Maybe should go with ultimate total football with 3-4-3, Dani Alves will miss out and KdB can be in the team.
He was only good for a season for them before the injuries kicked in, and overshadowed by Messi stepping up into 50+ goals a season freak
Replaceable is an adjective which means it’s possible to replace (change) something.
You could have deployed many players in that Barça team and the result would have been the same, in my opinion. His main job was short passes to Puyol, Piqué, Xavi and Iniesta.
Take Rodri out of City and they have problems; he is irreplaceable (that means it’s not possible to replace him) and does so much more.
There hasn't been a single player close to Busquets at his prime that made Barca think he could be upgraded on. His main job was more than that, you're making him sound like a Makelele in terms of passing and tempo setting
.There ain't a single player who's irreplaceable at City, Rodri is a fantastic player but City would find ways to adapt.
Exactly.
There hasn't been a single player close to Busquets at his prime that made Barca think he could be upgraded on. His main job was more than that, you're making him sound like a Makelele in terms of passing and tempo setting
There ain't a single player who's irreplaceable at City, Rodri is a fantastic player but City would find ways to adapt.
Exactly.
When Rodri’s replaced, they struggle. 75 games unbeaten until he got Kobbied.
Rodri also won Champions League Player Of The Season in their treble winning team; Busquets probably never got invited to the awards ceremony. I don’t know where you live, but players who play in other countries often have unwarranted hype, and I think this is what you’re doing with Busquets. He was appreciated but not lauded here.
They certainly weren't able to adapt without him these last two seasons.There hasn't been a single player close to Busquets at his prime that made Barca think he could be upgraded on. His main job was more than that, you're making him sound like a Makelele in terms of passing and tempo setting
There ain't a single player who's irreplaceable at City, Rodri is a fantastic player but City would find ways to adapt.
Exactly.
As others have said, KDB gets in for me and Iniesta goes out left. He played there a lot for Barca under Pep and did many times for Spain too, he was very comfortable there.
A fit Kompany is better than any CB he had other than Puyol maybe.
A sleeper pick is Cancelo. At his best he was as good as any LB that played under Pep. Alba only had one season under Pep I believe and was better after he left.
It’s all very difficult though because players like Robben, Lahm, Eto’o, Abidal, Mascherano can all feel like they can force in a spot too.
A fit Kompany is better than any CB he had other than Puyol maybe.
A sleeper pick is Cancelo. At his best he was as good as any LB that played under Pep. Alba only had one season under Pep I believe and was better after he left.
It’s all very difficult though because players like Robben, Lahm, Eto’o, Abidal, Mascherano can all feel like they can force in a spot too.
I thought it was Rakitic who took over the Xavi role in your years.
Do you think City currently are looking to upgrade on Rodri or something? You're just doing the same hyperbole on the other end. For the way City is playing right now he is absolutely integral. Would they adapt if they lost him? Surely. Barca would as well, it's not like their squad wasn't filled with world class talent.There hasn't been a single player close to Busquets at his prime that made Barca think he could be upgraded on. His main job was more than that, you're making him sound like a Makelele in terms of passing and tempo setting
There ain't a single player who's irreplaceable at City, Rodri is a fantastic player but City would find ways to adapt.
I never criticized Rodri, I didn't say anything negative about him. The whole discussion was about Busquets being replaced so don't be moving goalposts now.
Because they didn't plan on losing him but if he were to be replaced (sold) then yeah they'd adapt and easily so with that cheque book
That's pure conjecture though. His football was more than short passing it, like I said you're making him sound like a Makelele. Just read @giorno post about him
I'm not moving goalposts. You're claiming Rodri is easily replaced because City would adapt. I'm saying Barca would have as well. They did win a treble when he played about half the minutes in La Liga and CL after all.
And they would easily replace him with who for example ? Given that he's actually widely regarded as the best in his position...
And Busquets was never among the top 2 best or most important players for Barcelona at any given time, saying that is just trying to re-write history.
Neuer
Alves
Puyol
Kompany
Lahm
busquets
Xavi
Iniesta
messi
Aguero
Henry
picking the players in prime not necessarily best under him. Could nearly picked three teams
Alves
Puyol
Kompany
Lahm
busquets
Xavi
Iniesta
messi
Aguero
Henry
picking the players in prime not necessarily best under him. Could nearly picked three teams
No, Rakitic was basically a better version of Wijnaldum at Liverpool. Busquets was the brain of the team
Agreed. There really isn't much, if anything, between Rodri and Busquets, though the latter had a decade plus at this level vs 2 seasons. Also up until 2 years ago they were competing for the same role for Spain and the difference between them was significant
Admittedly part of that is a function of having all of Messi, Neymar and Suarez on the team. Even if one is missing you still have the other 2. By contrast there was nobody who could replace Busquets, and he was the key player in their build up and the organizer, basically Xavi's successor in the role
When you have an open cheque book, you can buy anyone. Man City has lost many great players over the years and have found no issue in replacing them directly and indirectly. We're talking about Pep Guardiola here
I just know that Barca didn't for many years. Rodri is a fantastic player but guess what ? Man City have lost many fantastic players over the years and they still kept up a high level
The attack. I'm not going for players that fit each other and I think Haaland will eventually go down as comfortably his best striker.
Henry - Haaland - Messi
The midfield picks itself. All amongst the best to ever play their respective roles.
Xavi - Busquets - Iniesta
Defence is the area I think he has had some weaker players, central defence anyway.
Lahm - Dias - Kompany - Alves
Keeper is another easy one.
Neuer
Henry - Haaland - Messi
The midfield picks itself. All amongst the best to ever play their respective roles.
Xavi - Busquets - Iniesta
Defence is the area I think he has had some weaker players, central defence anyway.
Lahm - Dias - Kompany - Alves
Keeper is another easy one.
Neuer
This is what I don't agree with. Busquets was never at any point the focal option of the midfield like Xavi was or like Rodri has been for City these last 2 seasons. Even for the NT during the last Euros for example, Pedri was the focal point of the midfield, not Busquets.
After Xavi, Messi became the full time playmaker of that Barca team until he left.
It's not just about replacing him with anybody is it? We're talking about replacing him with him with any player near the same quality, otherwise any player can be numerically replaced on any team (they all have to put 11 players on the pitch after all).
And the same argument you're using can apply to Busquets. If Barca needed to replace him earlier, i'm sure they would have found a way to also.
I'll ask this though, other than being a bit better at keeping possession (which Rodri is also good at by the way, but I admit Busquets was slightly better at this), what other qualities did Busquets possess that Rodri doesn't? And what other aspect was he better?
That version of Henry should be nowhere near the team honestly.
Like I said, Barca didn't replace him so that's that. For your question, just read what was already posted. I feel like we're going in circles
This question depends on whether we are talking about players who played for him at his peak or those who played for him at any point in their career.
the latter would be
Neuer
Alvez. Kompany Puyol. Lahm
Xavi Toure. Iniesta
Messi. Eto’o. Ronaldinho.
Those who were great for him however I would have Pique for Kompany, Sergio for Toure and Ribery for Ronaldinho.
the latter would be
Neuer
Alvez. Kompany Puyol. Lahm
Xavi Toure. Iniesta
Messi. Eto’o. Ronaldinho.
Those who were great for him however I would have Pique for Kompany, Sergio for Toure and Ribery for Ronaldinho.
He was absolutely the focal option of their midfield post Xavi. What you are describing is the attacking playmaker, and that was Messi even with Xavi. Rodri isn't that for City either.
As early as 2 seasons ago Busquets was significantly better at it than Rodri too, as evidenced by how much worse Spain was when the latter played over the former
Probably not but the question wasn't who was the best when they played for him was it?
Haaland as striker? With his numbers, he shoukd be in for discussion.
Ribery, Haaland, Messi ?
Ribery, Haaland, Messi ?
Who gives a fcuk ?
David Pannick has to be in there. City's most important player by far.
That's the problem though, those who've been saying that Busquets is far better haven't answered that question. Myself and others have pointed out Rodri's strength that far outweighs Busquets, but those who thinks Busquets was far better haven't done the same and just expect everyone to agree that Busquets was way better and more important.
Everyone was praising Pedri on how at a young age he was controlling the tempo of the midfield after the MSN period (where Barca won playing more of a transition style so Busquets wasn't focal during that period either). Barca then got De Jong and there fans kept complaining about the coaches didn't have the balls to drop Busquets and play Frenkie in that position, rather than playing him as an 8 in order to still incorporate Busquets. Busquets like I said was a great player, but was never revered to as the main man who ran the midfield for Barca and for Spain.
I watched Spain too and there problems were rarely ever the presence of Rodri or the absence of Busquets, there problems were that often they were often seriously lacking in the final 3rd and on the other end had huge issues with counter attacks, independent of who they had in the mid
field.
And yes Rodri's not City's main attacking playmaker (no one has said he was), but he's offensive contribution far outweighs that of Busquets.
That's the entire point I would think.
Of course. Barca has as well. They lost the best player ever 3 years ago. They were bad for a season, then they won the title again. They will move on past Busquets, they already have.
Surprised to see Kompany in so many teams, give me Dante over that guy let alone Pique and Puyol
Honestly there ain't much else I can add. Let's agree to disagree
They won a title but clearly they're not the same club. Even you can't deny that.
Based off of pure talent,Ronaldinho has to be in the team.He is the most skilled player in my lifetime.
Obviously. They've gotten gradually worse since their latest treble season. I'm just questioning the idea that they would not be able to adapt losing Busquets as they adapted losing better players.
Busquets didn't need Rodri's strength even though he is surprisingly tall. He was so good because his reading of the game allowed him to pick up the loose balls created by Barcelona's press and once he'd got the ball never lost it. Rodri couldn't do that to the same level but City's game requires him to do something else, he needs to get involved in the physical battles and make more tackles.
For me Rodri is great at what he is asked to do but plenty of others could/have done that to a similar level. Nobody was as good as Busquets at his game and you could say the same about a number of his teammates, and Barcelona changed their style of play once that manic press no longer worked.