homesteady:


We don't need him to be scoring goals like he was doing in Sevilla. Rakitic has never been a good creative midfielder, his skill is running after every ball. But Barcelona always have the ball on most occasions and we get attacked only just a few times. Therefore his creative side is needed more often, but he doesn't offer any noteworthy creativity and that's why Messi drops so deep.

patrickmuf:
This is not true of Rakitic, at Sevilla, he was the creative force, he has had to adapt tp the role expected of him at Barcelona, the coach can't keep playing him if he is not delivering according to the game plan...

homesteady:


We don't need him to be scoring goals like he was doing in Sevilla. Rakitic has never been a good creative midfielder, his skill is running after every ball. But Barcelona always have the ball on most occasions and we get attacked only just a few times. Therefore his creative side is needed more often, but he doesn't offer any noteworthy creativity and that's why Messi drops so deep.

Coutinho14:
beardless Leo is back!

patrickmuf:
This is not true of Rakitic, at Sevilla, he was the creative force, he has had to adapt tp the role expected of him at Barcelona, the coach can't keep playing him if he is not delivering according to the game plan...

femiti:


Suarez was a scoring force at Liverpool and he has had to adapt to the barca style, the coach has been playing him and he has been delivering according to the game plan.

orisirisi

Miremoses1:
lol, this is the 11th time I'm seeing this post online.

jonsnow92:
Messi has gone back to this face.

patrickmuf:
I think most folks here don't understand what some of us imply when we say Rakitic has been doing a great job for the team albeit one that isn't aesthetically pleasant on the eye...
If you want him to play like Xavi or offer more in attack then you must know this, Barcelona doesn't have a RW as Messi is fond of drifting into the AM position thus Roberto is left exposed everytime a team attacks through the right of Barcelona's defense where you have a slow Roberto, slow Pique (age factor and a Messi that doesn't really track back)...Now this is where Rakitic is a necessity...

jonsnow92:
Messi has gone back to this face.

MJBOLT:

still looks the same,doesn't age

Excallibur:
NOOOOOOO!!!!

jonsnow92:
dippset always says Messi would pray till he's 37, i honestly wish and pray it happens.

patrickmuf:

I hope you're not looking at Suarez and thinking he should be acoring like Messi? He has been great for Barcelona and currently he is on the decline ao your point about his days at Liverpool doesn't hold water...

femiti:


But rakitic has been peak xavi right?...he is been so good to the extent that the coach keeps playing him just as the "declining" Suarez has been playing too.

What point are you trying to make ffs?

patrickmuf:
You can skip my post...Thanks

homesteady:
Now let's compare stats of Modric and Rakitic for last season. (Screenshot below) I'm using Modric because he plays almost the same role with Rakitic.

- From the stats, You can see how Modric destroys Rakitic in offensive contributions.
- You can also see Modric defensive contribution, which is quite similar to Rakitic contribution, except unsurprisingly aerial duels. he even makes more interceptions and tackles than Rakitic.

This just sums my problem with Rakitic.

patrickmuf:
Modric plays on the right side of Madrid midfield 3 in the right side of attack, you have Bale or Vasquez who do a good job tracking back, in defense, you have Carvajal and Varane covering up, you can'tcompare that to Messi who hardly tracks back, Roberto who is a midfielder playing RB and an aging Pique.

philfearon:

I don't even think you understand what you are saying or posting.
You were saying one thing and yet posting something else which entirely supports our point.
Check the:
-Total forward passes.
- Total Chances created.
- Successful passes.
- Key passes.
- Assists...
Rakitic trumps in all against Modric using what you posted.
So, exactly what are you even saying?

homesteady:


From the stats I posted, Modric defensive contribution isn't far off from Rakitic contribution. In two major defensive stats - Interception and tackles won, Modric even had better stats.
As you rightly said, the Madrid right side is more fortified than Barcelona's, yet we still see Modric posting almost similar defensive stats with Rakitic who is supposed to be guarding Barcelona's weaker right side. This just proves my point that Rakitic doesn't spend a significant period of time defending as you guys are assuming.

Coutinho14:
beardless Leo is back!

patrickmuf:
Stats doesn't really tell the story in this case, I hope Rakitic misses a couple of games and let's see how the team fares without him...

homesteady:


Are we looking at the same stats I posted?

Besides Barcelona plays more of possession, so it should be expected that Rakitic have more passes than Modric.