29 Aug 2020 14:16:13
Hi Ed001, slightly old issue but was it the case that Thiago left Barcelona because he didn’t get the minutes? I suppose it didn’t help that Cesc was bought and being played ahead of him?

{Ed001's Note - Thiago was young and up against Xavi and Iniesta, nothing to do with Fabregas who played a false 9 when he was there in the main. He was never going to replace either of those 2 in the short to medium term, so he moved on.}

1.) 29 Aug 2020
29 Aug 2020 14:59:44
I've never really 'gotten' Busquets, so I always thought Barcelona missed a trick by not dropping Xavi deeper and playing Thiago and Iniesta in front of him, especially as Xavi was already 32/ 33 when Thiago moved to Bayern.

2.) 29 Aug 2020
29 Aug 2020 15:21:56
Busquets is probably the most holding midfielder in the history of the game.
Apart from the obvious breaking up of play and excellent positional sense he has, he is actually an unbelievable passer of the ball and keeps the ball in the most unlikely of situations. Besides, why would they drop Xavi and take Busquets out when that particular side is the best club team in history as it was.

3.) 29 Aug 2020
29 Aug 2020 15:30:39
Zpecialone, i personally don't rate Busquets either. He was carried by Xavi and Iniesta. Not an awful player but decidedly average in my opinion.

4.) 29 Aug 2020
29 Aug 2020 16:19:22
Singh, in my opinion, when rating Barcelona players of the last 10-15 years you have to factor in that they played with Puyol, Iniesta and Messi. Those 3 players are arguably in the squad if you pick a Football XI of the last 30 years. Yet Barcelona had them all at the same time for a period. Messi and Iniesta are maybe even getting into an all time Football XI. Busquets is average in my opinion. As is Pique, Alba, Valdes and many more who rode on the crest of a wave generated by other truly generational talents.

5.) 29 Aug 2020
29 Aug 2020 17:47:33
Busquets only appeared average. The ball was glued to the guys feet. I've never seen a DM with his level of ball control and dribbling before ask any one of the world class players he would regularly embarrass with a shoulder drop or shift of weight or even some sneaky tricks. He was superb at giving players in front of him time to move into better positions.