Abidal

Whenever abidal plays, barcelona looks very calm in the back, he is very good tactically and knows exactly where to be to stop a counter. He is also fast and very strong. He could have easily out muscled Drogba. If you notice 3/ 5 goals scored on barca this week were from the right side of the field where abidal would be. His height is also an advantage. Abidal brings another dimension to the game. He doesn't get sucked in with the attack like dani alves and adriano.

People are saying his career is over, who can replace him?

I haven't seen you in a while lol

Ever since Abidal and Pique have been out of the defense we are as solid as water defensively...

It's amazing how Pep insists on playing 3-4-3 without Abidal in the line-up.

He's the one guy who is solid defensively on the left side and drifts inwards and plays CB when needed. The 3-4-3 without him is useless.
We also lacked Pique who is vital in a 3-4-3. Mascherano doesn't have the positioning and Puyol doesn't have the speed to be the sole CB. Busquets slotting back into Cb wasn't ideal, especially against top teams, as seen against Milan, Arsenal, etc.

Well in the games that cost us I think Pep still probably would have insisted on playing Mascherano, who cost us.

Mascherano did everything he could.
He's not a natural centerback. He goes for the ball when he sees it. Playing him as a lone CB in a 3-4-3 passing system is hilarious.

in a 3-4-3 we need:
Abidal's versatility and relability
Pique's defensive abilities
Alves as the RB (Puyol can sub with Alves when we need)

Unfortunately we had none of these pieces of the puzzle, except for Alves - who was benched in the most important game of the season.

Much better defensive option than Adriano. In the 4-3-3 formation, he is vital as Adriano is a fullback and you have two attacking fullbacks you have 2 at the back with Busquests rarely helping out. Abidal is vital for me and well Alba may be decent or Muniesa (improving game by game, season by season) but Abidal is important for us defensively!

Solid rock defender with great athletic skills and aerial ability.
I can’t see him easily replaced

Can only take time for b teamers. Muniesa has been decent in that position though he is short and wo't stand a chance for contesting long high balls. Enrique is also an option like Khaled has said in a few threads but he is most likely not going as its his first season with Liverpool

CBarca wrote:I haven't seen you in a while lol

Lol. Whats up?