Xavi Hernández

[behindbrowneyes]

its like pique busi and alba have blackmail on him

no matter how unreliable, error prone, disastrous, or lazy they play, they have a guaranteed spot. its absurd

The question remains why this is the case for the 3rd consecutive coach in a row... Maybe old but gold and still better than their competitors?

I mean, hard to criticize Pique after yesterday's game. I think he needs to be phased out, but him being still a starter is the result of bad transfers and bad squad management in recent history and not his fault. Frenkie has been here for a longer time, yet none of his coaches replaced Busi with him. Alba doesn't even have a competitor in the squad. There is Balde, but let's face it, he is very raw and won't start a Clasico. Even worse for him, other B players are more important and therefore he rarely stands a chance to get playing time because of that stupid rule.

I agree that we need to move on from Alba, Busi and Pique starting majority of games, but there must be something about them that coach after coach relies on them. Same phenomenon with Puig. Many said he was treated unfairly, yet every coach prefers other players over him, even those, who initially praised him.

 

[serghei]

I think "solid" is achievable wih better DM and GK, even with current defense.
Don't think we need world class for that. Sure we need reinforcements there but we are better than what we are showing IMO

Easy there, he improved the team since he came. Should I remind you he took the team in 10th round with ZERO away wins?

Since he came we're top 3 in La Liga away from home.

Sure, he makes mistakes, but some perspective wouldn't hurt.

 

[khaled_a_d]

Easy there, he improved the team since he came. Should I remind you he took the team in 10th round with ZERO away wins?

Since he came we're top 3 in La Liga away from home.

Sure, he makes mistakes, but some perspective wouldn't hurt.

I am seriously confused what is this all about regarding my reply

 

[khaled_a_d]

Well better GK and DM is already a big if, especially since Busi and ter Stegen are probably our 2 safest starters for next season unfortunately

My point was just that individually speaking our backline is far from great, and we don't even have many promising prospects like in midfield and attack. With all that Haaland talk i really hope they'll gonna somehow adress defense as well.

I am not exactly disagreeing about your point, I actually agree.
I just think we need to add better organisations in the backline
We have better defense than what we are showing

 

[serghei]

I am seriously confused what is this all about regarding my reply

You said we are better than what we are showing. No we're not.

 

[JamDav1982]

Barca are better than 1-1 with Granada.

That was the argument for other coaches when dropped points v same level teams.

Still a work in progress and plenty improvement to come.

 

[khaled_a_d]

You said we are better than what we are showing. No we're not.

On the defensive end? We are
And that is what I said

 

[serghei]

Barca are better than 1-1 with Granada.

That was the argument for other coaches when dropped points v same level teams.

Still a work in progress and plenty improvement to come.

Sure, you can nitpick on games, but overall, we got more points than the previous manager and the team showed a generally positive attitude, compared with the defeatism with Koeman. There are many areas to improve on still but Xavi is doing a good job. Even if I don't like some of his ideas (I probably watch Guardiola too much and have unreasonably high expectations from managers as a result).

 

[JamDav1982]

Sure, you can nitpick on games, but overall, we got more points than the previous manager and the team showed a generally positive attitude, compared with the defeatism with Koeman. There are many areas to improve in still.

Nit picking on same games as were highlighted before.

Barca have a lot to improve on still with squad have.

Koeman should never have been in charge after being undermined anyway.

Barca are still getting pumped by Bayern, beaten by Real in fairly close game and dropping points to poorer la liga sides. Things getting highlighted before and just improving slightly on league total when played poorer teams is now seen as good as can be doing.

 

[Barcilliant]

I see no proper vision from Xavi. I don't know how he wants to play. I have no idea why he starts seniors all the time.
The DM position at Barca is crucial. If the DM is slow, out of position or dispossessed this usually leads to a quick turnover and a goal. Especially with Mats in goal. He conceded another soft goal yesterday.
Busquets HAS to go. He should have gone five years ago.
Pep can be an asshole but his ruthless streak isone of his best qualities. How many managers would get rid of Ronaldinho, Eto, Deco, Ibra and Yaya? If he had his way he would have purged Cesc, Pique, Villa and Alves too.
Xavi is no where near Pep. Doesn't have the same vision, man management and tactical acumen.
We have a good core of youngsters. They need to be guided and developed properly. We can't afford to waste time.
Some people think we played well against RM but I think Real could switch into a higher gear if required. I think they played within themselves.

 

[Andresito]

I see no proper vision from Xavi. I don't know how he wants to play. I have no idea why he starts seniors all the time.
The DM position at Barca is crucial. If the DM is slow, out of position or dispossessed this usually leads to a quick turnover and a goal. Especially with Mats in goal. He conceded another soft goal yesterday.
Busquets HAS to go. He should have gone five years ago.
Pep can be an asshole but his ruthless streak isone of his best qualities. How many managers would get rid of Ronaldinho, Eto, Deco, Ibra and Yaya? If he had his way he would have purged Cesc, Pique, Villa and Alves too.
Xavi is no where near Pep. Doesn't have the same vision, man management and tactical acumen.
We have a good core of youngsters. They need to be guided and developed properly. We can't afford to waste time.
Some people think we played well against RM but I think Real could switch into a higher gear if required. I think they played within themselves.

Dude, Xavi's been here for 2 months. Relax

Not like Klopp set the world on fire when he took over mid season at Liverpool.

 

[Bobo32]

Dude, Xavi's been here for 2 months. Relax

Not like Klopp set the world on fire when he took over mid season at Liverpool.

Dude there is a difference between setting the world on fire or not and having a vision and guts and knowledge to fulfill it.
I'd prefer it if he lost a few more games and even played a bit worse now and then, but was more clearly working on something that might give fruits long term. I don't see it so far.
He is more or less continuing on Koemans "plan" but speaking a bit more eloquently.

 

[JamDav1982]

I see no proper vision from Xavi. I don't know how he wants to play. I have no idea why he starts seniors all the time.
The DM position at Barca is crucial. If the DM is slow, out of position or dispossessed this usually leads to a quick turnover and a goal. Especially with Mats in goal. He conceded another soft goal yesterday.
Busquets HAS to go. He should have gone five years ago.
Pep can be an asshole but his ruthless streak isone of his best qualities. How many managers would get rid of Ronaldinho, Eto, Deco, Ibra and Yaya? If he had his way he would have purged Cesc, Pique, Villa and Alves too.
Xavi is no where near Pep. Doesn't have the same vision, man management and tactical acumen.
We have a good core of youngsters. They need to be guided and developed properly. We can't afford to waste time.
Some people think we played well against RM but I think Real could switch into a higher gear if required. I think they played within themselves.

Opposite for me.

The main plus from Xavi is a clear plan and direction that is his main plus point so far and players looking more composed/calm of what is being asked of them for most part.

There is not much Xavi can do about age of squad being old and young although persisting with likes of Busquets no matter what is on him.

You are believing fake stories about Pep wanting Cesc, Pique, Alves and Villa gone. Never happened but even if true had some of best players in world still in the team. Xavi has none of that.

 

[Andresito]

Dude there is a difference between setting the world on fire or not and having a vision and guts and knowledge to fulfill it.
I'd prefer it if he lost a few more games and even played a bit worse now and then, but was more clearly working on something that might give fruits long term. I don't see it so far.
He is more or less continuing on Koemans "plan" but speaking a bit more eloquently.

Xavi's task this season is to qualify for CL and do well in EL. Everything else is secondary. Without CL our possibilites to attract players decreases, then we're stuck without replacements for Pique, Busi and likes.
Not saying developing a 'fun' tactic and making all youngsters grow isn't important, it is. But if he does that and not get into CL, we're basically going into next season as Europa League favourites.

Xavi comes in as an inexperienced coach to a team in shambles mid season, with majority being too old or too young. Got 1 reinforcement he wanted in Ferran so far.
Biggest improvement by Xavi has been the morale. Without morale and belief that they can win is pointless. The system is developed from there on.

I expect a more Xavi esque tactic as the season goes on. Like I said, it's been 2 freaking months.

 

[Bobo32]

Xavi's task this season is to qualify for CL and do well in EL. Everything else is secondary.
Not saying developing a 'fun' tactic and making all youngsters grow isn't important, it is. But if he does that and not get into CL, we're basically going into next season as Europa League favourites.

Xavi comes in as an inexperienced coach to a team in shambles mid season, with majority being too old or too young. Got 1 reinforcement he wanted in Ferran so far.
Biggest improvement by Xavi has been the morale. Without morale and belief that they can win is pointless. The system is developed from there on.

I expect a more Xavi esque tactic as the season goes on. Like I said, it's been 2 freaking months.

I hope you are correct.
It's not about 'fun' for me though, but it is about seeing hints of vision and determination, and things that might not work at the moment but that they work on and might improve a lot over time.
I think there is a window in the first weeks-months where a new leader can set standards - it is very tough to make BIG changes after that.
Him waving the players back in the last liga game for example, or his treatment of Luuk v Depay in the last games... Signs of almost cowardice to me, I don't see him making many daring decisions. Maybe some things like signing Alves could be seen as daring though (to me it looked very obvious)

You have a point about morale though, they seem to focus a lot on that, and that is correct and good. He speaks well, but I think some of his decisions might even lessen the belief of the players. It is really heart breaking for constructive and good players (most Barcelona players) to be told to defend deep only to lose the lead anyway against pretty shitty teams.