Victor Font

[Bobo32]

Well if Xavi is manager then Depay and Wijnaldum wouldn't make sense.

But that doesn't look like a project 5 years in the making. Keep the old core and add Xavi as manager. F'n lol.

Question is how to be competitive in 5 years without a good transition.

You can't just throw everything out and hope to build a great team from 0 (or from a core of Griezmann, Depay, De Jong and Dembele) Barcelona have a very decent squad right now and some players who are not canteranos are worth a lot (like de Jong) but it's Pique, Messi, Busquets, Alba and yes Roberto who have the standard of a great team and who can introduce the next generation in the right way under the right circumstances

This is probably Fonts thought, which I think is logical and obvious. These core players have been misused for at least 5 years, and now it looks like they'll leave without getting the revival I so much would've liked to see.
Overall, Fonts thoughts seem to be in line with mine a lot.

 

[serghei]

Question is how to be competitive in 5 years without a good transition.

You can't just throw everything out and hope to build a great team from 0 (or from a core of Griezmann, Depay, De Jong and Dembele) Barcelona have a very decent squad right now and some players who are not canteranos are worth a lot (like de Jong) but it's Pique, Messi, Busquets, Alba and yes Roberto who have the standard of a great team and who can introduce the next generation in the right way under the right circumstances

This is probably Fonts thought, which I think is logical and obvious. These core players have been misused for at least 5 years, and now it looks like they'll leave without getting the revival I so much would've liked to see.
Overall, Fonts thoughts seem to be in line with mine a lot.

Even if the core players aren't told to fuck off from day one, if you impose a standard of work ethic and effort in training and in games, they are gonna be excluded naturaly. Simply because they are unable to play at that level of effort and concentration. Meaning that both their head and their legs are gone.

So, Xavi could count on them at the start, but if he imposes what he wants to impose in terms of training and style, the veterans won't survive, 70% of them would be done and would drag the team down.

You simply need legs, speed, and hunger to reach the top.

Xavi might be overvaluing his motivational abilities, or the fitness state of the current players. They are more finished than he believes, and he'll convince himself pretty fast when in the managerial seat. That is if he's adamant and decisive about the football he wants to play, and is prepared to take bold decisions. Which I believe he is.

 

[Bobo32]

Even if the core players aren't told to fuck off from day one, if you impose a standard of work ethic and effort in training and in games, they are gonna be excluded naturaly. Simply because they are unable to play at that level of effort and concentration. Meaning that both their head and their legs are gone.

So, Xavi could count on them at the start, but if he imposes what he wants to impose in terms of training and style, the veterans won't survive, 70% of them would be done.

These players have shown work ethic and effort good enough to win more trophies than any players you can name.

They need the right guidance and the right tictocs and the right players around them and they will show to be great again.
If Xavi count on them from the start and until the end he will be the same as Tito, Tata, Lucho, Ernesto, Quique and Koeman before him.
I believe Xavi is stubborn and demanding enough that he might be the first to dismiss them if they weren't up to the standards, I believe he would be quick to find a Barcelona B player who runs if that's what he thinks is lacking.
I also think Xavi would have the respect that some of the former managers maybe lacked
I am very sure that Xavi would analyse a bit deeper than some of you, I think a key quote was the one about Busquets the other day.

 

[serghei]

These players have shown work ethic and effort good enough to win more trophies than any players you can name.

They need the right guidance and the right tictocs and the right players around them and they will show to be great again.
If Xavi count on them from the start and until the end he will be the same as Tito, Tata, Lucho, Ernesto, Quique and Koeman before him.
I believe Xavi is stubborn and demanding enough that he might be the first to dismiss them if they weren't up to the standards, I believe he would be quick to find a Barcelona B player who runs if that's what he thinks is lacking.
I also think Xavi would have the respect that some of the former managers maybe lacked
I am very sure that Xavi would analyse a bit deeper than some of you, I think a key quote was the one about Busquets the other day.

You have to be joking or trolling. Who, Pique who brags he sleeps 4 hours a night?

Most likely Xavi counts on them, gets burned as all managers prior to him, then drops them one by one, except a select 2-3 players (Messi, Alba, Busi, in this order). This would have been highly likely.

 

[Porque]

Question is how to be competitive in 5 years without a good transition.

You can't just throw everything out and hope to build a great team from 0 (or from a core of Griezmann, Depay, De Jong and Dembele) Barcelona have a very decent squad right now and some players who are not canteranos are worth a lot (like de Jong) but it's Pique, Messi, Busquets, Alba and yes Roberto who have the standard of a great team and who can introduce the next generation in the right way under the right circumstances

This is probably Fonts thought, which I think is logical and obvious. These core players have been misused for at least 5 years, and now it looks like they'll leave without getting the revival I so much would've liked to see.
Overall, Fonts thoughts seem to be in line with mine a lot.

I'm talking about Font saying he has a sporting project 5 years in the making. Not how we will be in 5 years time.

There is no problem with starting Pique (if he is 100% fit and focused for a whole season, big and small games) Messi, Busquets, Alba. The issue comes with starting them all together and them settling into conformity.

The team wants to push forward quickly and then Pique getting the ball and telling everyone to slow down for example. Because doing that suits him, but it does not suit the counter attack where we had the chance to create an overload.

We saw with Suarez at Atletico that the issue wasn't really Suarez, but the issue was having Suarez and Messi (and then Busquets and then Pique) all together which compromises the defensive system because half of the players can't react off the ball, leaving the other half having to anticipate this. And thus also compromising the freedom of their game.

So I think it casts debt when Font says all of those are core players. Roberto is becoming a bit of an easy target because his wages are not proportionate to what he brings to the 11, but I don't think there is any justification for him to be grouped into the core list. Yes he is decent in a possession system, but he is also a peripheral position where we now have two other options. With one year on the contract you have to question this decision.

 

[Bobo32]

You have to be joking or trolling. Who, Pique who brags he sleeps 4 hours a night?

Most likely Xavi counts on them, gets burned as all managers prior to him, then drops them one by one, except a select 2-3 players (Messi, Alba, Busi, in this order). This would have been highly likely.

Enough to win more than any player you can name.

Ok if Xavi drops them, it would be great for you then? He would be the first to do so.
If he does, I'd have no problem with it, I just want a coach to give them the right surroundings and trust in the style of play in which they could still perform at their best.
edit: And if Xavi came and did that and found there were better alternatives now, that would be great.

 

[Bobo32]

I'm talking about Font saying he has a sporting project 5 years in the making. Not how we will be in 5 years time.

There is no problem with starting Pique (if he is 100% fit and focused for a whole season, big and small games) Messi, Busquets, Alba. The issue comes with starting them all together and them settling into conformity.

The team wants to push forward quickly and then Pique getting the ball and telling everyone to slow down for example. Because doing that suits him, but it does not suit the counter attack where we had the chance to create an overload.

We saw with Suarez at Atletico that the issue wasn't really Suarez, but the issue was having Suarez and Messi (and then Busquets and then Pique) all together which compromises the defensive system because half of the players can't react off the ball, leaving the other half having to anticipate this. And thus also compromising the freedom of their game.

So I think it casts debt when Font says all of those are core players. Roberto is becoming a bit of an easy target because his wages are not proportionate to what he brings to the 11, but I don't think there is any justification for him to be grouped into the core list. Yes he is decent in a possession system, but he is also a peripheral position where we now have two other options. With one year on the contract you have to question this decision.

They are core players and the team should be setup to suit them - which means some runners and some dribbler, but a lot of DNA around them. I doubt Xavi or anyone seeks conformity or a very slow or dull game.

Pique told Griezmann to calm down and play more securely when at 1-1, Greasys response was "I'm also running". The coach should sub him in that game and bring someone able to keep the ball, and give the same instruction as Pique did, then they'd probably hold on to a decent result and maybe go through in the 2nd leg.

Suarez functioned under another manager, that's my analysis. These amigos you all speak about functions well in these bad systems the latest years as well, but they should be used in a better system, with the right players around them.
Or you get rid of them all and get some tired and less talented dutch players and hope that they will run a lot like they did playing for worse teams than Barcelona, and hope that'll bring success.

 

[Porque]

They are core players and the team should be setup to suit them - which means some runners and some dribbler, but a lot of DNA around them. I doubt Xavi or anyone seeks conformity or a very slow or dull game.

Pique told Griezmann to calm down and play more securely when at 1-1, Greasys response was "I'm also running". The coach should sub him in that game and bring someone able to keep the ball, and give the same instruction as Pique did, then they'd probably hold on to a decent result and maybe go through in the 2nd leg.

Suarez functioned under another manager, that's my analysis. These amigos you all speak about functions well in these bad systems the latest years as well, but they should be used in a better system, with the right players around them.
Or you get rid of them all and get some tired and less talented dutch players and hope that they will run a lot like they did playing for worse teams than Barcelona, and hope that'll bring success.

I think when you get them all together, they lack intensity through the natural subsequence of aging, and thus fall into playing a game which works around this. If Xavi can solve this and get those 5 all playing with the fitness of 2015 levels then great. But he should also have the hindsight that he himself at the same age had to ride the bench with Enrique as he could not physically bring it, which he noted in interviews how meticulous he had to be with his fitness, diet and sleep patterns at that age to try and keep up.

So to build around a team of 5 players past their physical peak is questionable.

The fullbacks are auxilliary to the structure of the team and have to just assist the basic functions of the team at a decent level. We won CL with combinations of Gio van Bronkhorst/Sylvinho/Adriano/Abidal and Belletti/Oleguer/Alves and would with Alba/Firpo and Dest/Emerson/Roberto too if the spine of the team (Centre mids, Centre defenders, striker+Messi) were at peak levels too. So I wouldn't care to analyse starting Alba and Roberto or Emerson or Dest too much.

But maintaining the spine around Pique, Busquets, Messi, then Aguero as Font mentioned him is problematic. Then if de Jong is not mentioned as a core player, he might as well be sold.

 

[Bobo32]

I think when you get them all together, they lack intensity through the natural subsequence of aging, and thus fall into playing a game which works around this. If Xavi can solve this and get those 5 all playing with the fitness of 2015 levels then great. But he should also have the hindsight that he himself at the same age had to ride the bench with Enrique as he could not physically bring it, which he noted in interviews how meticulous he had to be with his fitness, diet and sleep patterns at that age to try and keep up.

So to build around a team of 5 players past their physical peak is questionable.

The fullbacks are auxilliary to the structure of the team and have to just assist the basic functions of the team at a decent level. We won CL with combinations of Gio van Bronkhorst/Sylvinho/Adriano/Abidal and Belletti/Oleguer/Alves and would with Alba/Firpo and Dest/Emerson/Roberto too if the spine of the team (Centre mids, Centre defenders, striker+Messi) were at peak levels too. So I wouldn't care to analyse starting Alba and Roberto or Emerson or Dest too much.

But maintaining the spine around Pique, Busquets, Messi, then Aguero as Font mentioned him is problematic. Then if de Jong is not mentioned as a core player, he might as well be sold.

This is how it often has looked, and I say it is because the focus of the coach/the other players hasn't been the right one.
Roberto is of course not essential, but it is essential that his type is valued and isn't instantly ruled out in favour of someone like Semedo/Dest or Vidal/Paulinho.
All five doesnt need to start, Messi+Busquets+Alba are the three best players and the team should be setup to suit them. Pique needs a kick in his ass, but under the right manager with the right surroundings I have faith in him being able to bring a lot still.
Although I think that Xavi should've played a lot more, if he says what you wrote then at least he is very aware of the problem.
I don't think Aguero should be close to be a core player, but I was like Font positive to bring him (probably as a supersub, but he could very well show to be a starter as well)
Yeah I agree about de Jong, and I don't think he is good enough as a midfielder for Barcelona currently, but he has great potential and should benefit A LOT from being under someone like Pep or how I imagine Xavi to be for a year or two.

 

[serghei]

This is how it often has looked, and I say it is because the focus of the coach/the other players hasn't been the right one.
Roberto is of course not essential, but it is essential that his type is valued and isn't instantly ruled out in favour of someone like Semedo/Dest or Vidal/Paulinho.
All five doesnt need to start, Messi+Busquets+Alba are the three best players and the team should be setup to suit them. Pique needs a kick in his ass, but under the right manager with the right surroundings I have faith in him being able to bring a lot still.
Although I think that Xavi should've played a lot more, if he says what you wrote then at least he is very aware of the problem.
I don't think Aguero should be close to be a core player, but I was like Font positive to bring him (probably as a supersub, but he could very well show to be a starter as well)
Yeah I agree about de Jong, and I don't think he is good enough as a midfielder for Barcelona currently, but he has great potential and should benefit A LOT from being under someone like Pep or how I imagine Xavi to be for a year or two.

No offense, but you're delusional.

These are not players who have the drive to have another go. They simply checked out from being very competitive because of the sacrifices they have to make with most other aspects of their lives. You have to be a workaholic to still have the drive to perform at 33+ when you've already won what they have won.

This kind of story had its last dance in 2019 and ended permanently with the Liverpool fiasco. No hope of ever getting there again 3 fucking years later.

What you say can be true for underachievers in their 30s. Someone who didn't already win multiple CLs, sure, he can be motivated by a manager well in his 30s. someone like Milner for example in the case of Liverpool.

The only player that could maybe be energized this way is Roberto. But, unfortunately, even at his near best he was not a top-class player.

 

[Birdy]

Xavi might be overvaluing his motivational abilities, or the fitness state of the current players. They are more finished than he believes, and he'll convince himself pretty fast when in the managerial seat. That is if he's adamant and decisive about the football he wants to play, and is prepared to take bold decisions. Which I believe he is.

Xavi does not get that times passes, and they are not the same players anymore.
Plus, they are his buddies from Barca.
I think you are more optimistic than what reality tells us here.
He would never bench them if they themselves did not realize and ask him to give minutes to other players.

 

[serghei]

Xavi does not get that times passes, and they are not the same players anymore.
Plus, they are his buddies from Barca.
I think you are more optimistic than what reality tells us here.
He would never bench them if they themselves did not realize and ask him to give minutes to other players.

Pure negative speculation. On one hand you guys say Xavi is obsessed with following Pep's ideals, on the other hand you say he'll let oldies get in the way. If he's obsessed with total football he won't let some slow veterans ruin all that.

He will either repeat Pep's MO, or he'll be fucking EV 2.0.

 

[fergus90]

To be quite honest I get the feeling Xavi doesn’t want to coach now because the likes of Busquets and Pique are here. He may be complimentary about them in the media but why wouldn’t he, he’s been respectful to teammates he shared the dressing room with during a very successful era.

If he truly thought the likes of Busi, Pique etc were still up to it, he’d jump at the chance to manage them now. I think he doesn’t want to be the one that gets rid of them and taints their previous history.

Not that I’m too in favour of Xavi being coach, feels a little premature. He might well be successful, he’s got his Qatari team playing nice football but I’d like Barca to show some ambition and hire a top proven manager next if possible.

 

[Birdy]

Pure negative speculation. On one hand you guys say Xavi is obsessed with following Pep's ideals, on the other hand you say he'll let oldies get in the way. If he's obsessed with total football he won't let some slow veterans ruin all that.

He will either repeat Pep's MO, or he'll be fucking EV 2.0.

It is perfectly consistent, because he has in mind the version of those guys when they were compatible with total football, meaning under Pep
He will not play like EV,
but trying to play the 08-12 football with Pique, Busi, and Roberto while football has evolved so much since then, the outcome would be hilarious

 

[Bobo32]

No offense, but you're delusional.

These are not players who have the drive to have another go. They simply checked out from being very competitive because of the sacrifices they have to make with most other aspects of their lives. You have to be a workaholic to still have the drive to perform at 33+ when you've already won what they have won.

This kind of story had its last dance in 2019 and ended permanently with the Liverpool fiasco. No hope of ever getting there again 3 fucking years later.

What you say can be true for underachievers in their 30s. Someone who didn't already win multiple CLs, sure, he can be motivated by a manager well in his 30s. someone like Milner for example in the case of Liverpool.

The only player that could maybe be energized this way is Roberto. But, unfortunately, even at his near best he was not a top-class player.

None taken, but I think you're as wrong as you think I am and I think I am right.
We can't really know though - what we do know is that so far, all coaches have used and trusted these players, despite their different styles, and I think the players have mostly been performing the best too, despite the different styles.

I do believe that there is much more to get from the players though, they could play much better than they've done (Valverde really used Messi in a great way though)
I do not think that it's a saturation problem but a trust and style problem (with trust I mean that they probably think deep down that someone like Setien or Koeman can't really teach them anything, I do not think they fully trust their directions, although they haven't shown that super clearly). I think Xavi would have their full respect, and I think he would play a style that would suit them.
I do not think that Xavi is some "idiot" who only knows one way to play or would be afraid to make the right decisions! To the opposite, I think he'll take tough decisions and find new ways if needed to dominate games through dominating the ball and the space.