What is Barcelona’s best starting XI for the 09/10 season?
This is where you get to pick Barca’s best starting line-up for this season. First up, I’ll reveal my selection (based on Barcelona’s squad at time of writing). No doubt Pep Guardiola will use several different formations this season but this is the default starting team I would go with:
My XI (in a 4-1-2-3 formation):
Victor Valdes
Dani Alves, Carles Puyol, Gerard Piqué, Eric Abidal
Yaya Touré
Xavi Hernandez, Andrés Iniesta
Lionel Messi, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Thierry Henry
Compared with picking Arsenal’s best XI, this seemed fairly straightforward. Barcelona haven’t made many changes to their brilliant, Champions League-winning squad this summer, and why would they?
At the back, there is a reassuringly settled look. There is no threat to Victor Valdes or Dani Alves, for example. At left-back though, I thought about picking new signing Maxwell ahead of Abidal, but decided to go with the more defensive player; Maxwell will get his chance but the Frenchman deserves to keep his place. In the middle, Carles Puyol gets the nod ahead of Rafa Marquez, and starts alongside the imperious Gerard Piqué, who is now firmly established – in my mind, at least – as the club’s first-choice centre-back.
In midfield, again there can be little dispute about the first choices. Some of you may prefer Sergi Busquets to Yaya Touré, and while both are fine defensive midfielders, Touré has the edge. Those little Spanish geniuses, Xavi and Iniesta, must start.
Up front, same story: Zlatan is a direct replacement for Samuel Eto’o, with Lionel Messi and Thierry Henry as the wingmen. Formidable x3.
So that’s how I see it. (I’m right, of course.)
Let’s hear your XIs…
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Spot on in every single position, although we may see Marquez or Maxwell playing a fair number of games as Pep is still trying to develop Pique as the ball-carrying centre back -a role that only marquez can play out of the current centre backs in my opinion. The other option is Maxwell at left back, as he is more adept as a ball carrier than Abidal. To my mind, this XI is correct though.
Sorry, in the comment above I mean by playing a ball-carrying left back it eliminates the need for Marquez to do the same job at centre back
Spot on on the positions. However I am not entirely sure yet what is the best combination here for the CBs.
Puyol should definitely start but all 3 of them Puyol, Marquez & Pique can play with each other in the back. Puyol & Marquez might be our best in the back but I think the ideal combination depends on the opposition. To have 3 world class CBs in the back is great though since all of them will get enough game time and be rotated.
Maxwell looks good too as LB but both Dani & Maxwell could get too offensive and we end up having a shaky defense. Plus we havent seen enough of Maxwell to say he fits in better than Abidal yet. But again its great to finally have another good player available for one of our problem areas.
Only thing is I am not too convinced by our subs up front….there is really no ideal Xavi or Ineista replacment. There is no ideal Ibra replacement either, Bojan is still learning.
Only thing is I am not too convinced by our subs up front….there is really no ideal Xavi or Ineista replacment. There is no ideal Ibra replacement either, Bojan is still learning.
Agree with all except Abidal, who is pants. If Maxwell stays fit, it’s a foregone conclusion that he should play.
Zlatan is overrated, inter got the better end of the deal as you will see throughout the season….
Barca have a cracking first XI but we will see how they hold up if they pick up a few injuries….especially in the attacking half….without that they will be tough to be beat….even though i still think valdes is crap…
I thanks all barcelona’s players. Be/c there are great peoples. from Juan lapota and Gurdiola and all barca’s fans all over the world i thank everyone of you we are great people. I think barca should start with maxwell than eric abidal. be/c we surffered too much last season be/c of his (Red card) fcb 4 life
I thanks all barcelona’s players. Be/c there are great peoples. from Juan lapota and Gurdiola and all barca’s fans all over the world i thank everyone of you we are great people. I think barca should start with maxwell than eric abidal. be/c we surffered too much last season be/c of his (Red card) fcb 4 life
messi vem jogar no benfica
abidal not a patch on me. hes rubbish
on ze contrary. we french rule zat position
wow really? you get top scorer in the serie a, and that makes you overrated?
[...] What is Barcelona’s best starting XI for the 09/10 season? What is Tottenham’s best starting XI for the 09/10 season? What is Arsenal’s best [...]
[...] close to winning the title this season. That’s my take. Let’s hear your XIs… MORE What is Barcelona’s best starting XI for the 09/10 season? What is Tottenham’s best starting XI for the 09/10 season? What is Arsenal’s best [...]
formation: 4-5-1
Captain: Puyol/Xavi
GK: valdes
RB: dani alves
CB: puyol pique
LB: maxwell
CM: xavi iniesta
RWM: henry
LWM: messi
ST: ibrahimovic
I dont have much to say but to appreciate every participants of barcelona team.Gurdiola you are well done.