Should Mata play vs Barca

[ulsterchelsea 3,221]

Why fix something if it isn't broken is the expression I'll stick with here. Why change anything? The possession was 75-25 in favour of them. Not like it's going to be 95-5 at Camp Nou. We stopped them from scoring, we can do it again with the same team.

Mata should indeed play. He's one of our better players at holding the ball up and maintaining possession. Another reason I was shocked to see Kalou on instead of Malouda or Sturridge. Sturridge is fantastic at creating and keeping the ball. He could be important in this next fixture as a substitute.

its a stick or twist match really. Hard to know what to do because I think the element of surprise could work as barca will be expecting us to do the whole defensive thing again. Maybe hit them all out attack from the kick off for a while to shake them up or as you say stay with the tried and tested defensive style. But what if they score? Do we sit back and try and get extra time and pens? Bit risky

[Bir_CFC 3,455]

I don't understand why people want to bench Mata and play such an ultra-defensive game. You can't expect us to keep a clean sheet at Camp Nou. WE HAVE TO SCORE 1 in Spain.

What you guys don't realize is that without Mata on the left wing, you are inviting even more pressure from that flank too, cause no one is gonna worry about Kalou while we are on offence, whereas Mata will surely suck in 2 or 3 defenders everytime.

The only player I would replace Mata with is Malouda, not Kalou. We have been very lucky with the amount of times Kalou has lost a ball on the counter which in turn begins their counter. It happened 3-4 times against Spurs in the first half and it happened once last night too, but we got lucky.

A counter with Kalou, is a counter for the other team waiting to happen.

[didierforever 7,349]

remember your own history and we dont need to look very further back to see suicidal tactics deployed. napoli were in search of an away goal and after ac milan got there away goal they started to attack thinkin they can get an even better edge and in both the cases the teams comitted suicide. they attack better and we defend better. lets stick to our guns, park the bus, and if we can stop them till 45 minutes they will try somethin fantastic (like last night when barca started crossin the ball), and then hope for a good counter and a goal. but we should start by parking the bus.

[HRiver 1,512]

To think of starting with Kalou instead of Mata in a Champions League semi final at Nou Camp is insanity. That's all I have to say.

[Sheva. 5,373]

I'd play the same exact team as the first leg, only exception is Sturridge for Mata.

We're going to have like 10% possession, and when we do have the ball we need quick outlets out wide = Rambo and Danny!!

[Thor 2,689]

its a stick or twist match really. Hard to know what to do because I think the element of surprise could work as barca will be expecting us to do the whole defensive thing again. Maybe hit them all out attack from the kick off for a while to shake them up or as you say stay with the tried and tested defensive style. But what if they score? Do we sit back and try and get extra time and pens? Bit risky

I'm just not getting the "Oh, it's Camp Nou now, they're definitely scoring goals there" attitude. Says who?

I'd like to see Sturridge play. Ramires was killing them just with his pace on those long balls. If we get Sturridge in there, who is probably our most technically proficient player in the squad with the ball at his feet, I think it will cause them even more problems. He just needs to understand to track back and get into those gaps, to make it easier to defend.

I'm sure some have mentioned it, but prior to this game I was sure that we'd have to play Torres in this second one and live off the counter, but it's got to be Drogba. When we do get the ball, we need someone who can hold it. With Ramires and Sturridge on the wings, I think it would lead to great link up play, and Drogba is sublime at finding the gaps as he showed last night as well. I remember the ball he played to Kalou right at the end, and I was thinking to myself, if that had been Sturridge, he would have been quick enough to get there before the Barca player.

[Thor 2,689]

I'd play the same exact team as the first leg, only exception is Sturridge for Mata.

We're going to have like 10% possession, and when we do have the ball we need quick outlets out wide = Rambo and Danny!!

Completely agree. Obviously I didn't like the amount of possession we had and the way we played, but the result was great. Having said that, it's a thing of beauty to watch Ramires in full flight attacking the other teams defense. He's gotten quite crafty with the ball as well putting on some nice dukes to get around players in his way. Before he'd just charge. Seems like Danny has showed him a few moves in practice.

[BlueLyon 9,359]

Team at camp nou

---------cech

Iva-Cahill-Terry-cole

luiz-mikel-meireles-ramires

-------lampard

--------drogba

[Thor 2,689]

Team at camp nou

---------cech

Iva-Cahill-Terry-cole

luiz-mikel-meireles-ramires

-------lampard

--------drogba

Now is not the time to experiment and play players like Luiz out of position.

[ulsterchelsea 3,221]

I'm just not getting the "Oh, it's Camp Nou now, they're definitely scoring goals there" attitude. Says who?

I'd like to see Sturridge play. Ramires was killing them just with his pace on those long balls. If we get Sturridge in there, who is probably our most technically proficient player in the squad with the ball at his feet, I think it will cause them even more problems. He just needs to understand to track back and get into those gaps, to make it easier to defend.

I'm sure some have mentioned it, but prior to this game I was sure that we'd have to play Torres in this second one and live off the counter, but it's got to be Drogba. When we do get the ball, we need someone who can hold it. With Ramires and Sturridge on the wings, I think it would lead to great link up play, and Drogba is sublime at finding the gaps as he showed last night as well. I remember the ball he played to Kalou right at the end, and I was thinking to myself, if that had been Sturridge, he would have been quick enough to get there before the Barca player.

I never said barca would definitely score! I posed the question what if they score and my post wasn't advocating the defence or offence, just stating the quandary bobby Di faces.

[Thor 2,689]

I never said barca would definitely score! I posed the question what if they score and my post wasn't advocating the defence or offence, just stating the quandary bobby Di faces.

Yeah, sorry, that bit wasn't directed at you. Just seems like some people are certain Barca will score.

I honestly don't think they will. And if they do, I think they'll overplay it and concede on the counter. Just my opinion.

[ulsterchelsea 3,221]

Now is not the time to experiment and play players like Luiz out of position.

plus he is expected to still be injured for that game

[Ollie 4,400]

I think Mata should play, he's played there a few times before and wont be overwhelmed like Kalou & Sturridge would be. I'd even see Malouda ahead of Kalou and Sturridge purely because of experience alone.

[ulsterchelsea 3,221]

Yeah, sorry, that bit wasn't directed at you. Just seems like some people are certain Barca will score.

I honestly don't think they will. And if they do, I think they'll overplay it and concede on the counter. Just my opinion.

yeah , in fairness its a fair assumption to make that barca will score at theirs because they have been prolific there but they really don't have a good record against us. Can't wait

[manpe 10,861]

Mata should play (can't even believe we're discussing Kalou over Mata), but ideally he should be rested for it, but since we play against bumfuckers before, I can't see that happening. He's visibly fatigued, how many games this season has he not played in at all? Has he ever not been included in match day squad?