that's the assumption with Alba on suspension. eta: which I like for the US (Dest getting LB minutes) if there's some problem with Jedi (he didn't dress yesterday).
Yeah -0-0 25 mins in, lineup has Dest at L with Dani back at right. I'm going to see if I can watch a bit.
I've been watching- Dest has looked really comfortable out there. Staying wide and seeing a bit of the ball. And he's not just cutting in to his right every time- has hooked a couple of nice left footed crosses in. deserved 1-0 Barca at the break.
This is why #Dest is very dangerous in opening the field and creating an attacking opportunity 👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾#USMNT pic.twitter.com/cWLLo6NVET— DanYohann 🇺🇸 🇪🇷 🇪🇹 (@RealDanYohannes) February 27, 2022
Sergino Dest playing left-back for Barcelona vs Athletic Bilbao pic.twitter.com/qA4GuPUTY9— usmntclip (@usmntclip) February 28, 2022
Let's not give up hope too soon. A smart coach would plan for some rotation and start Dest on Thursday, perhaps on the left with Mingueza on the right. Today La Liga @ Elche Thursday 3/10 Europa League v Galatasaray Sunday 3/13 La Liga v Osasuna Thursday 3/17 Europa League @ Galatasaray Sunday 3/20 La Liga @ Real Madrid - el Clasico International Break
Barca eek this out late - right before Dest subbed in for the last 5 or so minutes, I think (didn't watch). Memphis put away a PK for a hand ball.
I saw the highlight for the goal they gave up. Alves cheats into the middle ball watching right above their box, leaving a man and space wide and behind him. That guy got the pass and scored.
It wasn’t all on Alves, Pedri did his fair share. But defensively?…. Alves is a huge liability. Not only is he snail slow, but he cheats upfield so often because he wants to contribute on offense that he leaves his right CB without help. The announcer was just bashing his ability to recover on counters. But the coach obviously likes what he brings on O. So I think we will continue to see Dest split minutes. Even after his relatively good showings.
Barca is in a real (good) dogfight at the moment and if they can continue this string of points (11 games?) they can hold onto 3rd, which is a pretty decent come-back. But Alves is not a long-term solution in anyone's wildest dreams. Either Barca feel Dest is the hair... I mean heir apparent or they'll upgrade this summer.
I expect Dest to start all Europa matches, and he'll be the first off the bench for Alves/Alba in LaLiga. If Barcelona stay in the Europa league, Dest will continue to get starts. In LaLiga, he'll be waiting on injuries, card-suspensions, possible squad rotations (probably not), and serving as a late sub. What will be interesting and telling is what Barcelona does this summer in terms of signings and how Dest is used in August/Sept. ...and if Dest doesn't start against Galatasaray... that will indicate a problem!
That guy got the pass ... from Pedri. So if we're going to blame anyone on Barca for that goal, it should be the guy who made the brilliant assist for the wrong team, not the guy who had no reason to anticipate his teammate would make such a pass. I don't want Alves to play any more than anyone else on the YA board does, but I can't pin that goal on him.
Dest would have made that a much more difficult shot. I would wager he would have either blocked it or at least got a deflection. As a matter of fact , Dest would have probably been in position to prevent the shot period.
In la liga he will spell Alba on the left side in between Euro Cup games, to keep him fresh. Xavi is really happy with him right now per reports out of Barca.
good stuff, guys. with his recent play re-ingratiating himself with Xavi, you're all correct- seems like there should be plenty of minutes on either the LB or RB spot, even if he's not starting regularly. (eta: and I make this post after being the nervous nelly seeing Alves+Alba slotted back in his place) out of curiousity, who else plays FB that could steal minutes from him?
Mingueza can play right back, but is a much more defensive / right side of a back three type / "center back able to play wide and is pretty two-footed" option. He's played ahead of Dest some times this year. One of his good uses is that he can back up all over the place. Alex Balde could be the backup left back, but I think he's hurt and only 18, so Dest may be the preferred Alba backup for now.
thanks! Mingueza was the guy I was thinking of (but didn't remember the name) being out there in games when I was looking for Dest. but struck me as less of an attacking threat. I guess we'll see how it plays out the rest of the season, but you guys helped me back away from the edge in regards to Dest. ...even though I still get too much on my news feed talking about how Xavi is focusing on FBs for the summer transfer window, "needing" guys like Azp from Chels.
Meant to post this the other day but work got in the way. https://barcafutbol.substack.com/p/inverting-the-script-xavis-formula?s=w