It's worrying that with a squad of 20+ players we
1. Have an ageing squad with some key players close to 30 or over 30
and
2. Have a group of 13-14 players that are actually able to contribute and push for a spot in the starting XI, while the rest are deadweight or not good enough.
Now, I'm not saying that we should buy the best players in every position because this is not Football Manager 2016 or FIFA Career Mode, but compared to most teams, our squad is thin when it comes to overall quality.
Even if MSN cannot be rotated that much, the others players can be.
Our Starting XI of Bravo/ter Stegen; Alves, Pique, Mascherano, Alba; Rakitic, Busquets, Iniesta; Messi, Suarez, Neymar - Play way too many games, way too many minutes.
Why?
Because their replacements are not good enough. When they are rotated, we lose a good chunk of quality.
We don't even need 2-3 players in each position. Just one player who's talented enough to rotate without a considerable drop in quality, or push for a place in the Starting XI, is more than good enough. Especially when some of the players are 30 or older.
Tonight's loss and elimination is very disappointing, but when you think about, not that strange with the amount of games played and how the 'Gala XI' have played most of the minutes. It's both physically and mentally tiring. You can talk all you want about desire and motivation, but in the end, you simply are out of gas. You can be very motivated and have the desire to win it all again, but just not be able to do so because....you're just tired.
With the Espai Barca project coming up, there will be no room to replace several players at once. We need to start removing the deadweight and bring in capable players right now, preferably players that aren't 30.
The midfield and the defence can easily be rotated without someone getting pissed off. Even MSN can be rotated effectively with a proper 4th attacking option. Could be someone with a lower profile who's talented enough to make some difference. Don't need to be a superstar and 50m+ signing.
The boards and managements have been dicking around way too much with signings like the Verminator. Time to sign smart and hopefully young, and time to act rather than react.
I think you meant 29+ ?
I agree with many of your points really
Couple of weeks ago someone brought an interview for Lucho with 442 ,the part that was the most interesting to me was his talking about young players getting promoted
He said only Messi walked in the team ,other players has to take it step by step from the bench .you know he has a point and he is right .we have seen it it with players like Puyol,Xavi ,Iniesta and we now seeing it with Roberto and to lesser extent and less success so far with Munir&Rafinha
The thing is ,while I agree with his point on young players ,I think it should be also with some signings
I am not saying new signings should sit on the bench ,but there should be players signed with the idea of being starter in couple of years
Last classico ,it was said we had an average age of around 29 years& 5 months or so .the highest since 1988
I can get having an old team ,experienced team usually have better chance of winning ,but old teams need rest ,specially when they are competing for everything .we didn't offer that rest
We also doesn't look to have have players who can take it from the starters ,at least for now .whom in the team can take a starting spot from the classical starting XI? may be (and only may be) MATS will switch places with Bravo and that's it .Roberto might have a chance too but we don't even know if is on RB or CM .both are totally different positions
Next season ,I really can't see that team changing much in the starting lineup ,after all this still a gr8 group of players .but it is aging group and it really needs heavy rotatin .there are players who should never play 2 games in one week now .Iniesta,Alves mainly . father time is undefeated
We have a clear need in a back up LB and back up attacker who can give our attackers rest .those are actually a reaction to clear weakness
But thinking beyond next season ,I can't see Alves/Mascherano/Iniesta starters anymore .that would be another Xavi in 13/14 season or Puyol in 12/13 season /.players who were overused and living in denial of their age
We need to have at least 1 replacement of those players from the team .while we already have 3 solid CBs in Pique/Mascherano/Mathieu .we don't have young player who can replace them
We clearly need one .I don't know who but there should be a signing for a CB for the future .that is a priority
AM/CM look a bit tricky .we have several players who "might" turn to be gr8 in S.Roberto/Halilovic/D.Suarez/Rafinha and even Samper & Alena .we will bring back D.Suarez and probably loan Samper & Halilovic .I think we won't make a new signing unless Arda is sold .And we will take a year figuring how good are those kids really are.
RB is another tricky situation ,we have ALves ,new signing Vidal & new emergence of Roberto .unless Lucho has lost faith in Vidal I think we will try to figure out how good Vidal/Roberto really are .
We will also need to fill B team with some real prospects ,there should be need more of signings in the D.Suarez/Halilovic mold and less overweight Robert Gonçalves Santos overweight signings .
Overall ,Robert has a lot of wok to do next summer .I hope winning domestic double won't make the board try to sugarcoat our team needs
