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#3 Messi occupying the 'hole' behind Griezmann and Suarez in a 4-3-1-2
Luis Suarez and Antoine Griezmann could be tasked with leading the line, with Messi dropping in behind centrally, and with the traditional three-man midfield maintained.
On paper, this looks this an attacking system which would be seamless, but a deeper incursion reveals underlying issues within this framework.
While it might seem that this system plays to Messi's strengths; as the Argentine is at his destructive best when played centrally, it is pertinent to note that on the occasions when Messi was deployed through the middle, it was almost always as a false nine.
Messi in a false nine role presents a dilemma for opposition defenders, as they are usually caught out between coming out to mark him and leaving space behind them, or maintaining their defensive lines and allowing the Argentine maestro to come at them with plenty of space.
The 32-year-old's ability means that either course of action is tantamount to danger, as if the defenders come out to mark him, Messi's exquisite passing could be exploited by his teammates who would possibly be occupying the spaces left behind in the box.
If the defenders maintain their positions, this essentially invites Messi to run at them, and we know his capabilities when given space and time to shoot.
In this variation however, Messi would have not one but two teammates ahead of him, and this coupled with the requisite two central opposition defenders and one or two holding midfielders means that the middle of the field would be extremely choked by at least five or six players, and this therefore, limits the Argentine's creativity.
Also, Barcelona would have virtually no wing presence in this system, piling more pressure on their full-backs, as they would not have anyone to provide protection ahead of them.
Finally, while Griezmann might have led the line on occasions for Atletico Madrid, he usually did so alone or behind the main striker, and it is highly unlikely that either him or Messi would prosper in this system.
