Xavi Hernández

[serghei]

There's a real air of resignation surrounding Xavi and Laporta. Both seem to be looking for scapegoats instead of assuming responsibility and driving forward. Koeman did this and was crucified for it.
Leadership starts from the top and the president and coach should set an example.
Laporta and Xavi have both not confronted the elephant in the room: the amigos. Get these guys out and the youngsters will be able to express themselves. At the moment they look stifled and hesitant. Also it's Xavis job to motivate and create the intensity. If he can't do that he should quit. Pretty Strange to see Laporta hang the team out to dry. He should be having a look at the manager first and having a chat with the players for feedback about Xavi.
I just don't have confidence in these two at the moment. They are trying to grapple with the reality of the new Barca but they came from the old, glorious era. I don't think they can handle the transition. More pain ahead of us for sure. This is not a two or three season transition,it will take longer.

No, that is not the problem. The team has been competing well in the league and secured 2nd since Xavi came. The issue is Laporta and Xavi are winners in mentality and they would like us to fight for the CL title and win La Liga.

This is simply unlikely without major reinforcements (hilariously it's Madrid who are moving on the market and looking like signing top players like Rudiger and Tchouameni), and no one really demanded that from Koeman. I said we would finish 2nd-3rd this season, while the manager was still Koeman. For me, considering the problems we had this season, that is not a bad result, especially considering we were 9th when Xavi came. Problems were to be expected in the first place in a team with so many holes.

It's the fans who should realize that finishing top 3 and competing better for the title next season, making it past group stages in CL and maybe make the quarters, going deep in Copa and trying to win it, those are reasonable expectations for a good next season for a team in our position. If you don't think that is a reasonable objective, it's you who has a problem not Laporta or Xavi. Of course you want to win and the aim is to win titles, but there is also a realistic expectation that kicks in when you look at what weapons you have, compared to the weapons the rivals in Spain have, or in Europe.

 

[Barcilliant]

No, that is not the problem. The team has been competing well in the league and secured 2nd since Xavi came. The issue is Laporta and Xavi are winners in mentality and they would like us to fight for the CL title and win La Liga.

This is simply unlikely without major reinforcements (hilariously it's Madrid who are moving on the market and looking like signing top players like Rudiger and Tchouameni), and no one really demanded that from Koeman. I said we would finish 2nd-3rd this season, while the manager was still Koeman. For me, considering the problems we had this season, that is not a bad result, especially considering we were 9th when Xavi came. Problems were to be expected in the first place in a team with so many holes.

It's the fans who should realize that finishing top 3 and competing better for the title next season, making it past group stages in CL and maybe make the quarters, going deep in Copa and trying to win it, those are reasonable expectations for a good next season for a team in our position. If you don't think that is a reasonable objective, it's you who has a problem not Laporta or Xavi. Of course you want to win and the aim is to win titles, but there is also a realistic expectation that kicks in when you look at what weapons you have, compared to the weapons the rivals in Spain have, or in Europe.

My gripe is the reluctance to accept the fact that football has changed and going back to our roots is only going to leave us stuck in the past.
Football require more physicality and less tiki taka. I mean a side like Eintracht showed us that.
It's time to evolve. We can keep our basic template but add stuff to it. Bayern and Liverpool are good examples of teams that are balanced. Even City. Pep has evolved, it's time Barca do too.

 

[serghei]

My gripe is the reluctance to accept the fact that football has changed and going back to our roots is only going to leave us stuck in the past.
Football require more physicality and less tiki taka. I mean a side like Eintracht showed us that.
It's time to evolve. We can keep our basic template but add stuff to it. Bayern and Liverpool are good examples of teams that are balanced. Even City. Pep has evolved, it's time Barca do too.

Our roots and best eras also included players like Yaya, Eto'o, Henry, Alves, Macherano, Abidal, Puyol, Marquez etc.

You make it sound that our whole team was made of phisically weak players, when in fact we had strong players in every area almost.

Kessie is a physical player. So is Raphinha. So is Lewandowski, so is Kounde. The problem is most of these players are expensive and very desirable by currently better and richer clubs. Old Spanish players like Azpilicueta at the twilight of their career are a lot chaper and feasible for a club with poor finances such as us.

We met with Rudiger, hence we were interested. It's not like we prefer someone like Garcia to someone like Rudiger. The problem is we couldn't afford Rudiger.

 

[Bobo32]

Physique is added value to players that already have the DNA. All players (maybe but one or at the most two) should have the DNA, it all falls apart when you have too many players who don't understand how to move and how to keep the ball and when to threaten, but who instead try to threaten all the time. Running is at the heart of football, and running intensely at the right time is crucial, but for there to be "right times" you need to have players who are predictable and make good decisions.

Barcelona should not look for inspiration at a team placing on the lower half of the German Bundesliga with a negative goal difference, bringing them up just shows how pathetic the analysis is.

 

[Barcilliant]

Physique is added value to players that already have the DNA. All players (maybe but one or at the most two) should have the DNA, it all falls apart when you have too many players who don't understand how to move and how to keep the ball and when to threaten, but who instead try to threaten all the time. Running is at the heart of football, and running intensely at the right time is crucial, but for there to be "right times" you need to have players who are predictable and make good decisions.

Barcelona should not look for inspiration at a team placing on the lower half of the German Bundesliga with a negative goal difference, bringing them up just shows how pathetic the analysis is.

Well,the problem is that even our Masia youngsters don't know or can't seem to pick up the art of positioning. Xavi has mentioned this numerous times about Gavi and Nico. So why are you ripping into other players? The fact is Xavi has no real vision on how to play. He's gone full retard on crossing and always has something negative to say about the players.
In terms of Eintracht they won the EL. What did we win?

 

[delancey]

Very important meeting for next season between Xavi, Laporta, Alemany, Yuste & Jordi Cruyff soon; about 20 players will be discussed.
@fansjavimiguel [🥇]

Pique, Alba, Busquets, Alves and Roberto are excluded from the meeting. Untouchables 😂

 

[Bobo32]

Well,the problem is that even our Masia youngsters don't know or can't seem to pick up the art of positioning. Xavi has mentioned this numerous times about Gavi and Nico. So why are you ripping into other players? The fact is Xavi has no real vision on how to play. He's gone full retard on crossing and always has something negative to say about the players.
In terms of Eintracht they won the EL.

Gavi has a feel for positioning. The problem lies in the tactics together with the players selected in attack primarily. Xavi also wants his midfielders to be too conservative while his attackers can attempt whatever, it seems.

What did we win?

The majority of the games, contrary to Frankfurt. It's hysterical to look up to them.

 

[vegitot]

Didn't Xavi say he hope Gavi, Nico will bring joy to fans??? Now they are bum???

 

[BADGERBHOY]

Very important meeting for next season between Xavi, Laporta, Alemany, Yuste & Jordi Cruyff soon; about 20 players will be discussed.
@fansjavimiguel [��]

Pique, Alba, Busquets, Alves and Roberto are excluded from the meeting. Untouchables ��

If you remove all 5 of them from the squad thats a healthy wage that could be put to much better use where we could replace them with younger, hungry players on much less money.
We wont do that though because Catalans have to be strongly represented even if they're past it and not giving value for money.
Its frustrating that we're that sentimental

 

[serghei]

If you remove all 5 of them from the squad thats a healthy wage that could be put to much better use where we could replace them with younger, hungry players on much less money.
We wont do that though because Catalans have to be strongly represented even if they're past it and not giving value for money.
Its frustrating that we're that sentimental

Slim chance. Quality free players ask for a lot of money in bonuses and wages. So we have no real chance to fill these positions except getting lucky as we did with Pedri.

Singing a cheap player on a low wage that happens to be class is the stuff of fairy tales. Seldom happens. It can happen, except in our case, we have quite a few players already that cost us little compared with their potential and quality. Araujo, Pedri, Gavi, Fati. You can't build a whole team like that. We have to put in some money to fill the other positions with more experienced top players.

I'm not talking about 100m signings, but 40-50m signings for 4-5 positions will be needed. We simply lack the funds to get those pieces, and we'll have to make due with the veterans in those positions for another season.

 

[JamDav1982]

They are not as difficult to replace as is made out.

A midfield six of FDJ/Kessie/Pedri/Gavi/Nico and Torre for example or even Collado as 6th option is more than good enough for top two and CL last 16.

If play in way to suit FDJ and believe Pedri/Gavi/Nico mature.

It is made out Barca have absolute scrubs at times.. there is a coveted Italian league winner, former Europes best mid, current Golden boy and probably next Golden boy.

 

[serghei]

We never even seen Torre play in the first division yet.

Sure, we probably will get top 2-3 and the Last 16 in CL next season. But I'm talking about the next steps beyond that, like competing for CL (as in getting in the latter stages, like quarters and maybe semis with a bit of luck), and fighting for the title even if Madrid doesn't collapse and get close to 90 points.

 

[JamDav1982]

We never even seen Torre play in the first division yet.

Sure, we probably will get top 2-3 and the Last 16 in CL next season. But I'm talking about the next steps beyond that, like competing for CL (as in getting in the latter stages, like quarters and maybe semis with a bit of luck), and fighting for the title even if Madrid doesn't collapse and get close to 90 points.

Obviously havent seen him play but as a 6th option in midfield there is basically nothing but upside.

The midfield has more quality than folk let on at times.

What Barca dont need is to get stuck in middle. Taking CVC deal and selling off other parts just to bring in players in their 30s.

Sticking with current squad would not be because think that is future set and back as CL challengers it would be a consideration as to push on for another year and not take the CVC and other deals.

 

[jamrock]

If everything goes to shit & we can't replace dembele we are unlikely to make top 4 next season.

Fati along won't be able to bring the attack, with Torres as his main striking partner, that & FB is our main issues right now, midfield isn't great but it's good enough for top 3 in la Liga.

 

[JamDav1982]

Should make top four easily with squad have.

La Liga is poor and barely any team below will strengthen.