Think this shows how good Barcelona team is, their players have all under-performed this year and were not voted in and yet they still finished second.
Messi left out of La Liga Starting XI
- Thread starter Raoul
- Start date
Think this shows how good Barcelona team is, their players have all under-performed this year and were not voted in and yet they still finished second.
So was Griezmann for Sociedad. Koke and Gabi have played as many games as anybody in la liga and have been absolutely important all the way through.
According to whoscored he has 8 goals and 13 assists.
Koke has 6 goals and 13 assists.
Well I didn't mention Costa. He should be in there, obviously. But so should Messi. Those two with Ronaldo as a front three seems like a no brainer to me.
Yes, and Madrid fans have often booed Ronaldo. The fact remains Louvega's right.
As for that XI, it's ridiculous. Atletico won the league on the last day. Yes, they have some players that should be in there, but Real and Barca do too. Messi, Modric, and di Maria should definitely all be in there, and that's just the first three that come to mind off the top of my head.
Victim of his own high standards. Even though the standard in which he's played this season was still better than almost any player in the league.
The way ppl are reacting you could think Diego Costa, Koke and Gabi have all won the Balon D'or at once
You are right, I misscounted.
Koke has 6 goals and 13 assists.
Cesc has 8 goals and 19 assists.
He should be in the team.
It's not just the lfp that have left Messi and that out, pretty much all the best xi's I've seen from media outlets are similar.
No, according to whoscored Cesc too has 13 assists.
And it's really not all about stats, otherwise ppl should not watch the games but just have a look at the stats at the end of the season and then pick a team.
Anyone who has watched most of the Barca AND Atletico games will tell you that Koke and Gabi have been better than Cesc.
The way ppl are reacting you could think Diego Costa, Koke and Gabi have all won the Balon D'or at once
The reason people are reacting, is because it's ridiculous to get 7 players in the Team Of The Season when you won the league on the last day. I can't ever remember seeing something like that before. Whenever a team gets more than 4 players into Team Of The Season, it's usually an indicator of a complete one-sided victory, ala Bayern over the last 2 years.
Even people on reddit.com/r/soccer disagree completely with this team, and they freaking adore Atletico!
I've watched plenty of the top three this season but not enough of any other La Liga side to feel confident assessing any of their players over the entire season. So this is my Atletico-Real-Barca XI for this season:
A lot of the Atletico players excel as part of the incredible unit, rather than because of the sort of individual excellence which gets you into a 'best XI' like this. Including Simeone is a better way of reflecting that than just putting an Atleti player in every position. Also, obviously, this is an XI made of the best players, not a working, balanced side. Gabi would be more useful in that midfield than Koke, but Koke has been the better midfielder, so he's in there to reflect that.
EDIT: Only just noticed that this still only has one Barca player. The problem is that there are a lot of positions where a Barca player has just missed out. Two of their most effective players, Sanchez and Neymar, are unfortunate to be competing with Ronaldo, Messi and Bale. Busquets possibly suffers a little from the fact that so much of Barca's football rotates around him that when their football is underwhelming he inevitably looks underwhelming too. Modric is the only one of my midfield three there who I feel 100% confident about - either of the other two could have lost out to a whole host of different players, and Busquets is one of those.
Courtois
Juanfran Pepe Godin Luis
Koke Modric di Maria
Messi Costa Ronaldo
Manager: Simeone
Juanfran Pepe Godin Luis
Koke Modric di Maria
Messi Costa Ronaldo
Manager: Simeone
A lot of the Atletico players excel as part of the incredible unit, rather than because of the sort of individual excellence which gets you into a 'best XI' like this. Including Simeone is a better way of reflecting that than just putting an Atleti player in every position. Also, obviously, this is an XI made of the best players, not a working, balanced side. Gabi would be more useful in that midfield than Koke, but Koke has been the better midfielder, so he's in there to reflect that.
EDIT: Only just noticed that this still only has one Barca player. The problem is that there are a lot of positions where a Barca player has just missed out. Two of their most effective players, Sanchez and Neymar, are unfortunate to be competing with Ronaldo, Messi and Bale. Busquets possibly suffers a little from the fact that so much of Barca's football rotates around him that when their football is underwhelming he inevitably looks underwhelming too. Modric is the only one of my midfield three there who I feel 100% confident about - either of the other two could have lost out to a whole host of different players, and Busquets is one of those.
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Then either whoscored or transfermarkt has it wrong.
Also, numbers help because otherwise we can only argue with opinions instead of facts.
I haven't seen enough of the other La Liga goal keepers to know for sure, which is why I didn't name him.
Pretty sure the season we lost on goal difference, we barely had any players in the team of the season.
But at least you had one or two. Not having any player of #2 team...
@united_99 You are right, it's either 13 or 14 assists in liga. Don't know how transfermarkt has it wrong.
What an awful year to give up. All 3 times didn't win their last 3 games. Atletico winning the title was the greatest victory in the history of La Liga.
PFA Premier League Team of the Year: Edwin van der Sar, Gary Neville, Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand, Patrice Evra (all Man Utd); Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Cristiano Ronaldo (all Man Utd) and Steven Gerrard (Liverpool); Didier Drogba (Chelsea) and Dimitar Berbatov (Tottenham)
That's the PFA team of the season 2006/07. Eight (!!!) United players. Considering we had a very close title race with Chelsea AND Chelsea actually conceded 3 goals less than us, why do we had out gk and ALL 4 defenders in it? Maybe ppl still had some reasons for that team? Maybe they didn't just look at the stats? Or maybe the team could be a bit different but it's still hard to leave any United players out when they have won the league? Same should apply to Atletico.
The only player who doesn't belong on team is Iturraspe. I'd replace him with di María. Courtois changed to Navas. The LFP used the Europa League as a boost to Rakitic's credentials clearly, I'm sure if they didn't factor that in Messi would have taken that spot. Others were noted in the honourable mentions that nobody bothered to point out, to which I would add Carlos Vela and Miranda:
"Por ello no podemos dejar de mencionar a otros jugadores como Leo Messi, Alexis Sánchez, Luka Modrić, Pepe, Rafinha o Keylor Navas"
"Por ello no podemos dejar de mencionar a otros jugadores como Leo Messi, Alexis Sánchez, Luka Modrić, Pepe, Rafinha o Keylor Navas"
Ah, I forgot about di María. Keylor Navas had a great season but I don't think he should be getting in ahead of Courtois.
And Cesc? Ha. Stats aren't everything, he'd just about get in Barcelona's best 11 over this season never mind the whole league's. Over the first half of the season, sure, but he was awful in the second half.
And Cesc? Ha. Stats aren't everything, he'd just about get in Barcelona's best 11 over this season never mind the whole league's. Over the first half of the season, sure, but he was awful in the second half.
Wow, I couldn't remember this far back, but if this really is the case, then I have to say that I don't agree with it. I just don't see how a team that barely wins can have the 8 best individual players in their own position, unless we're talking about an incredibly shit year in the league, where all the other teams collapsed.
That's the thing about Cesc. He has become the spanish version of Frank Lampard. He disappears during the game but pops up with goals and assists. Koke has been twice as effective not to mention he averages more than twice as many tackles as Fabregas and creates more chances per game while still managing to almost match his end product. Koke isn't there solely because of his offensive stats. He's a complete midfielder. Defensively he's much much better, offensively he's as good if not better.
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Messi is first on the team sheet of any team in any time.
Is that why they got two players from Bilbao?
Would've had Modric and Bale in there to be honest. Modric has probably been the best midfielder in the league all season.
Can anyone explain why Itturaspe is there...
They won the league on the last day, and they get 7(!) players in the starting XI?
I don't watch La Liga consistently, but I really doubt that this is a fair Team Of The Season...
"Only"???
This was probably the greatest league win in my lifetime.
Tbf Ituraspe has been fantastic which is why he was selected by Del Bosque but im not sure if he deserves to be in the La Liga 11.
Bale?
He's had a good season considering his injury problems and the fact he's moved to a new league, but there's no way he deserves to be in a team of the season. Next season has to be better for him, and by that I mean he has to do more throughout 90 minutes instead of covering poor performances with his output.
He's had an excellent season. Maybe not good enough for this team, I wouldn't argue if people thought Modric etc. should be picked instead, but he's a big reason why Athletic Club are in the Champions League next season.
I dont mind that team at all. Only change I'd make is Vela or Messi ahead of Cristiano. Maybe a more interesting excercise would be a top-5 per category?
Considering only La Liga, personally I'd have
GK
1. Keylor Navas (Levante)
2. Willy Caballero (Málaga)
3. Kiko Casilla (Espanyol)
4. Víctor Valdés (FC Barcelona)
5. Thibaut Courtois (Atlético Madrid)
honourable mention: Asenjo (Villarreal), Yoel (Celta)
DF
1. Diego Godín (Atlético Madrid)
2. Juanfran (Atlético Madrid)
3. Filipe Luís (Atlético Madrid)
4. João Miranda (Atlético Madrid)
5. Mario (Villarreal)
honourable mention: Laporte (Athletic), Pepe (R. Madrid), Fazio (Sevilla), Gurpegi (Athletic), Juanfran (Levante)
MF
1. Gabi (Atlético Madrid)
2. Koke (Atlético Madrid)
3. Luka Modric (Real Madrid)
4. Ivan Rakitic (Sevilla)
5. Ángel di María (Real Madrid)
honourable mention: Susaeta (Athletic), Bruno (Villarreal), Tiago (Atlético), Ander (Athletic), Trashorras (Rayo), Rafinha (Celta), Cani (Villarreal), Iturraspe (Athletic)
FW
1. Diego Costa (Atlético Madrid)
2. Carlos Vela (Real Sociedad)
3. Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona)
4. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
5. Aritz Aduriz (Athletic)
honourable mention: Nolito (Celta), Griezmann (R. Sociedad), Gio (Villarreal), Alexis Sánchez (FC Barcelona), Bale (R. Madrid), Javi Guerra (Valladolid)
Considering only La Liga, personally I'd have
GK
1. Keylor Navas (Levante)
2. Willy Caballero (Málaga)
3. Kiko Casilla (Espanyol)
4. Víctor Valdés (FC Barcelona)
5. Thibaut Courtois (Atlético Madrid)
honourable mention: Asenjo (Villarreal), Yoel (Celta)
DF
1. Diego Godín (Atlético Madrid)
2. Juanfran (Atlético Madrid)
3. Filipe Luís (Atlético Madrid)
4. João Miranda (Atlético Madrid)
5. Mario (Villarreal)
honourable mention: Laporte (Athletic), Pepe (R. Madrid), Fazio (Sevilla), Gurpegi (Athletic), Juanfran (Levante)
MF
1. Gabi (Atlético Madrid)
2. Koke (Atlético Madrid)
3. Luka Modric (Real Madrid)
4. Ivan Rakitic (Sevilla)
5. Ángel di María (Real Madrid)
honourable mention: Susaeta (Athletic), Bruno (Villarreal), Tiago (Atlético), Ander (Athletic), Trashorras (Rayo), Rafinha (Celta), Cani (Villarreal), Iturraspe (Athletic)
FW
1. Diego Costa (Atlético Madrid)
2. Carlos Vela (Real Sociedad)
3. Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona)
4. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
5. Aritz Aduriz (Athletic)
honourable mention: Nolito (Celta), Griezmann (R. Sociedad), Gio (Villarreal), Alexis Sánchez (FC Barcelona), Bale (R. Madrid), Javi Guerra (Valladolid)
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I think you basically have to include Ronaldo, Messi and Koke, then it should probably be one attacking player, either Rakitic or Costa, then 2 CM`s, which here are Gabi and Iturraspe and that looks fine to me. I guess you could cheat and go:
Ronaldo---Costa----Messi
------Rakitic------Koke--
-----------Gabi----------
Though Gabi always had Tiago or Suarez defending deeper centrally and allowing him to press higher up the pitch, and Koke was more of a winger than a shuttler, though Simeone has them play so narrow when the ball is on the other wing that it`s still sort of Koke`s correct position.
Ronaldo---Costa----Messi
------Rakitic------Koke--
-----------Gabi----------
Though Gabi always had Tiago or Suarez defending deeper centrally and allowing him to press higher up the pitch, and Koke was more of a winger than a shuttler, though Simeone has them play so narrow when the ball is on the other wing that it`s still sort of Koke`s correct position.
Can you explain why we didn`t sign Bruno Soriano 3 years ago?
Also, that list is depressing. The players are either a bit older than we`ll likely sign, play for Barca on loan or play for Bilbao and can`t be gotten, or are playing CM for Simeone, so would probably drop a bit playing for us instead.
Any thoughts on CM`s United should buy? Think Ruben Pardo will develop or Parejo is good enough?
I really hope we throw all our money at Atletico for Koke.
keylor navas was a better keeper then courtois considering the league performances. no big deal that he wasn't picked, but he was better. if valdes wasn't injured he would've been a close 2nd imo, he was just faultless and outstanding while he was healthy.
Messi probably should be in it, but Costa was vital. I'd think Ramos should've been in ahead of Laporte as well.
He was too inconsistent all season. He was poor till around mid November, early December and he definitely improved in 2014 but still had some bad games and made big mistakes like in the classico and away to athletic bilbao as some examples. Pepe was our best defender this year and I don't think he should be in the team either.
Maybe faultless is pushing it, but yeah he was by far #1 at the time of his injury. Many of Navas' and Caballero's most impressive performances came after that point, by the way. Kiko Casilla started the season really well but dropped off a bit, so maybe you'd switch them -- still considering Valdés' injury I couldn't place him ahead of the first two (don't think he evens qualifies for the Zamora criteria).
Pardo is very much a work in progress, but don't think he'd be a good fit for the PL anyway. Parejo lacks the consistency to be starting for a top team IMO. He's had some imperious displays this season in the league and EL, but most of the time he's just yer run of the mill.
I sort of agree on Parejo, but he`s only just turned 25, and CM`s don`t tend to peak before then, so I sort of wonder if he should be a serious backup plan for us if we don`t get Kroos. Could finance basically all of it by selling Fellaini to Russia.
As alluded to in my previous post I'd have Diego Costa (by far) and even Vela ahead of Messi and Cristiano this season (as far as the "forward" category goes). I'm curious to hear your thoughts on Cristiano's La Liga season? He had an impressive spell mid-season, but usual "slow" start and a very disappointing ending when the iniative had been with his team. Messi had an impressive start, then the multiple injury set-backs and run of poor form in mid-season, an impressive resurgence in Feb-March, only to completely shut down after that. In all, I'd rate Messi's league season ahead of Cristiano's. Some posters remarked that Messi had been less decisive, but I don't really know where that notion comes from -- especially if you look at the opponents Messi had his most impressive performances and contributions against.