FC Barcelona, a household name in world football that inspires an undying spirit and a firm belief to win the ball and dictate gameplay. What can possibly step up their game even further? What tactics pattern can totally make them dominate rival games and come on top of teams like Real Madrid, Athletico Madrid and Valencia CF, season after season? With this zeal I started my career as a manager of the prestigious club, which is only second best to my favourite club Arsenal FC in terms of the beautiful game play. Uninvited tackles, uphill cup glory hunting and facing my inner demons changed the manager that I used to be before, with Pro Evolution Soccer 2014: Master League. Do check out our PES 2014 review.
The lethal attacking pair of Neymar and Messi:
Haven’t touched FIFA 14 Manager Mode at all, so wouldn’t know this. But in PES 2014, it is Messi and Neymar that you should definitely look forward to, whether they’re in your team or they’re the opposition. In quick successive one-two touch plays the duo can repel any defensive line in the world and break inside the box, usually converting a random chance into a glorious goal. The reason why the duo is lovingly called Ney-Messi-s, or Nemesis. Neymar Jnr. has great pace and almost infinite stamina and it’s usually he who plays the whole 90 minutes. Lionel Messi, on the other hand, has a tendency to drop his work rate by the 75th minute or so, for which I already have a super sub in the Chilean Alexis Sanchez.
Both Neymar and Messi are double footed, which means that a precision shot can hit the back of the goal from either of their feet, given the conditions are right. They are extremely pacy and short height-ed, and can be a constant pain for the defenders marking them. Beating the offside trap is like bread and butter for the in-form attacking pair. But after sometime, I did realize that I was missing on variety in the frontline. I love mixed up tactics, especially when you’ve got a mixed bag pool stage and furthermore in the UEFA Champions League. Even Messi and Neymar were broken down thanks to some extremely stubborn defending by the likes of Chiellini (of Juventus) and Rio Ferdinand (of Manchester United). I needed someone to win the ball in the air, pass it around before making a dash at the goal himself. I needed a poacher cum target man who can challenge Messi and Neymar for the La Liga Golden Boot. With my second signing, my questions were answered:
Signing Klaas-Jan Huntelaar:
I’ve been a Gunner for the most time of my football days. And I have strictly followed depth in my lineup, or at least the starting eleven just like Arsene Wenger would. Going without a targetman cum poacher in matches wherein you are already trailing or have a physicality problem can be damaging. I lost out to Real Madrid in the opening season of the Master League 2014 La Liga, and I needed someone big and hefty up front, big time. Player positioning and poaching as sensational as ex Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United man Dimitar Berbatov, good aerial skills like the Bordeaux times Maraoune Chamakh and decent physical play, bringing the midfield alive like Olivier Giroud of Arsenal.
While it was hard to find someone who is perfectly bred for the frontline, it wasn’t that hard convincing a wantaway legend. In Master League 2014, you simply cannot sign anyone you want (unlike EA Sports FIFA). The percentage of liking or want that the player has for the switch becomes the final decision, and you have limited bids to make in a limited amount of time. If the percentage is less than 25%, then forget about chasing the player. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Stefan Kiessling came in the same category for the same percentage (45% want for FC Barcelona switch). Kiessling was younger, but it was Huntelaar who could decide games for me in the bigger league clashes. Huntelaar it was. He came as a substitute for his debut match against Malaga, Barcelona trailing by 2 goals at half time. Swapped Iniesta for Huntelaar and tactically ordered everyone to pressurize the opponent with the “All Out Attack” preset. My tactics worked. The first ball that bounced off the hands of the Malaga goalkeeper after half time was blasted back into its righteous place inside the net by Huntelaar. Two more goals to win, one to get even. Huntelaar received the ball on his shoulders, pressed the sweeper, juggled passed him and eased the ball into the back of the net. Equaliser. Minutes before the match closure, Huntelaar charged again with the ball, devoid of much creativity on the ball, I was happy to command Huntelaar to chip the ball over the Malaga stopper, which was neatly accepted by Neymar and converted for a winner!
In Kompany of Gentlemen:
While it is important to go all out, fearlessly, trying to hunt the enemies with both long and close range attempts, it is equally important for someone to suck up to the opposition attackers and never leave them out in the open. With a defusing Puyol and a slow Pique, it was my defense that needed a look again. Marc Bartra and Javier Mascherano couldn’t be relied during big matches, and I needed an expert marksman who had still the youth in him. Enter Winter Transfer Season and a new breed of tantrums, which includes PES 2014’s horribly short transfer window. Three Time Forwards and the Transfer Season is gone. I was hunting for some of the best defenders from the EPL, Vidic, naah too much age, Luiz, naah too much hair, Vermaelen, naah too many had clearances. And then I found Vincent Kompany, and he seemed 50% keen to join FC Barcelona. With him, I not only felt relaxed at the back, but I had more time attacking the opposition and less time to steal it back in case they closed in. Kompany has that hefty thing about him that can really trigger amazing set piece playing. And yes, he is tremendously strong in the air. I remember Kompany totally neutralizing Robin Van Persie (how I hate taking that name) during a Champions League Semis Round.
Reigniting Alexis Sanchez:
With Barcelona, the problem is, everyone is special. And nearly everyone can be a match winner. One such dark horse, in PES 2014 as well as in real, is Alexis Sanchez. This Chilean born ex Serie A player may not be getting the reception that he deserves. But play him for a season or two and he will become one of the most prolific right wingers in the world. He reaches a stunning 93 mark within the third year itself, but that’s on paper, here’s telling you how I rediscovered the little maestro. In PES 2014 Master League, off record stuff, like player morale and determination doesn’t change drastically like in FIFA 14. So, if you’d rest a player, he won’t twitch an eye but ask for a contract renewal for yet another 3-4 years. For months, Sanchez was ducking ball boys while Messi and the newly recruited El Sharaawy were deploying their attacks with Neymar at the base. In one such match, because of the master himself Pepe, Neymar was forced off the pitch. Alexis Sanchez stepped in and for the remainder of the season he made me realize what I missed so far. Sanchez is super pacy and in a way sturdy like Wayne Rooney. With him you can dribble, tackle and get right inside the box. Alexis Sanchez scores and assists at will, and trust me, you won’t need anyone on the right flank if you’ve got a blossoming Alexis Sanchez. Just play him, you’ll know for yourself.
Possession and Domination, the Barca way
One of the biggest reasons why much fellow opposition quit their online game with me mid way is because I play a lot of possession. I do not always attack, so the opposition feels exhausted and dry searching for a ball that they won’t get. It is not unattractive football, it is what football deserves to be like. Play like Arsenal, score like Barcelona. With the team that I had, I just needed to set traps for the opposition and wait for them to fall for them every now and then. If I’d go for tough away games, like against the two Madrids or Valencia, I would drop one midfielder to an anchorman role in the CDM area and leave the rest of the boys to stick to their positions and play long possession games, with sticky tap passes in the centre of the field, with Xavi and Iniesta around. If I had home games, I would only play flamboyant short passing possession game. That will lift the morale of the players and also open up more opportunities especially if you love fooling the opposition with a random flank attack.
This has been my Pro Evolution Soccer 2014 Barca story as the Master League Manager. What’s yours?
