Bernardo Silva

[JamDav1982]

I'd cash in on De Jong, and reinforce the defense and attack. Kounde and Raphinha if possible. Gavi Busquets/Kessie and Pedri all in. With Torre next in line.

Dont need to sell FDJ to do any of that.

They are selling him for football reasons and Xavi thinking Busi is man in midfield.

For me better to bin Busi and play FDJ in a midfield that suits him.

Xavi has to compete next season now that he is getting so much freedom in market and levers pulled with reason have to compete now.

 

[serghei]

De Jong has been ok and never been played in role that suits him.

There is a reason teams will still pay big money for him when wouldnt for flops.

They realise he has been good but never had full chance when likes of Busi are at DM.

I am not against selling FDJ if think improves team but selling him as Xavi thinks Busi is still a top DM to base team on is ridiculous.

Which is what?

You've said in the past he's the best box-to-box in the world. Nowhere near, or proved he is comfortable in advanced positions. His best position is in a double pivot with a defensive player next to him.

We don't play it, and nor should we for his sake.

At Ajax, the box-to-box midfielder was Donny Van de Beek. De Jong was predominantly a defensive player, but not sole DM or pivot either.

De Jong is a bit the defensive version of Pogba. Hard to find a very suitable position for him, because he wants a lot of freedom. That comes in short supply at the top.

Based on his interviews, he sees himself as playing Busi's role. For some reason all managers disagreed with him.

 

[JamDav1982]

Which is what?

You've said in the past he's the best box-to-box in the world. Nowhere near, or proved he is comfortable in advanced positions. His best position is in a double pivot with a defensive player next to him.

We don't play it, and nor should we for his sake.

Yes.. box to box in a two is his best position..but he is also a better DM than Busi.

Better to play a way have players for than force a system for an old Busquets and blame other players like FDJ, Gavi, Nico etc for their lack of positioning when trying to make them play roles never have.

 

[serghei]

Yes.. box to box in a two is his best position..but he is also a better DM than Busi.

Better to play a way have players for than force a system for an old Busquets and blame other players like FDJ, Gavi, Nico etc for their lack of positioning when trying to make them play roles never have.

I disagree. Better to shop for the right players to play the way you want to play. At Barcelona, fans demand a certain type of football. Offensive, possession-oriented, and so on and so forth.

That's what Laporta, Xavi, and the others in the staff have to do. Prove the model we aim for is not wrong, and get the players to make it work. It's a tough job due to finances, but I think it can work.

 

[JamDav1982]

I disagree. Better to shop for the right players to play the way you want to play.

Not for me if midfield is set up badly but that is on Xavi and results will tell if he is right or wrong.

Can easily say dont like the way a coach sets up a team and not getting best from players he has.

All coaches will think their way is right.

The midfielders Barca has now is up there with any group from any team in the world. I would bet my bottom dollar top coaches would have that group dominating.

 

[serghei]

Not for me if midfield is set up badly but that is on Xavi and results will tell if he is right or wrong.

Can easily say dont like the way a coach sets up a team and not getting best from players he has.

All coaches will think their way is right.

The midfielders Barca has now is up there with any group from any team in the world. I would bet my bottom dollar top coaches would have that group dominating.

Too bad in the real world the midfield depends on a top defense and a top attack because that's where we absolutely suck balls.

 

[JamDav1982]

Too bad in the real world the midfield depends on a top defense and a top attack because that's where we absolutely suck balls.

Nah the midfield was shite towards end of season due to the set up of team and players being asked to play the role they were.

That midfield with options available a top coach would have dominating their area of the park.

Silva is more suited to Xavis AM in between lines where players are positional cones to stay in certain areas agree with that.

 

[jamrock]

We are selling Frankie because the economics situation dictates we have to, have to bring our wages down, combined with him not performing to the expected level consistently enough over the time he has been here, xavi may not like him but that's because he doesn't deliver what xavi expects from a midfielder.

Best for both parties to go there seperate ways, Barcelona to get a player xavi wants, give him the opportunity to build a team he wants given out current economic situation & for Frankie to go show that under the right coach & setup he can be class.

Clean break.

 

[JamDav1982]

He is being sold for footballing reasons more than anything.

That is linked to finances if then think paying too much for a player that doesnt suit system but primarily it is football reasons and Xavi not seeing him as fitting.

They most likely wont want to find any financial adjustment for him to stay as that is not what it is about.

For the money he is going to cost in next few seasons compared to Pique/Busi etc he is much more worthy as a player... if system suits him and even without that is player at higher level than those two.

 

[serghei]

Nah the midfield was shite towards end of season due to the set up of team and players being asked to play the role they were.

That midfield with options available a top coach would have dominating their area of the park.

Silva is more suited to Xavis AM in between lines where players are positional cones to stay in certain areas agree with that.

Not looking to get into this again. Xavi did the best that could be achieved in the league. Finishing 2nd from getting the team on 9th. Everything else is arguing for the sake of arguing. Now lets see what we do on the transfer market and see how we improve on that and compete next season for titles.

 

[JamDav1982]

Not looking to get into this again. Xavi did the best that could be achieved in the league. Finishing 2nd from getting the team on 9th. Everything else is arguing for the sake of arguing. Now lets see what we do on the transfer market and see how we improve on that and compete next season for titles.

Top four was good... not the miracle is made out when he had Pedri, Fati and Dembele coming back from injury and could sign x4 players for 60m odd in Jan.

The cups were horrendous but had a good run in league and then was outcoached badly in last few months when teams got up to speed with Barcas tactics.

The midfield looked awful and Xavi taking away their freedom to dominate the ball in that time.

 

[jamrock]

Can't sell or get rid of pique or busquets though, he's out most sellable asset outside of Pedri & Gavi and those two aren't leaving.

Xavi has a lot to improve him, but let's give him a bit of time, so far is one big player request has been a C- at best, but the club has to back him or sack him no middle ground.

 

[JamDav1982]

Can't sell or get rid of pique or busquets though, he's out most sellable asset outside of Pedri & Gavi and those two aren't leaving.

Xavi has a lot to improve him, but let's give him a bit of time, so far is one big player request has been a C- at best, but the club has to back him or sack him no middle ground.

Yeah they cant sell them but they can be more brutal and tell them time is up and wont play as much at all rather than thinking they are still top players.

The way Pique behaves would not be tolerated by a board in any top team nor the coach. Personally would prefer they sack him and take it from there.

As said FDJ going is not so much the issue as all players can go and team can be improved... the frustrating part is from the footballing side and favouring Busi as main man to link up and protect the defence when failed for years in CL etc.

Agree on giving him time and no final conclusions as not even had a pre season yet just commenting on what feels like at moment after last few months of last season.

 

[Porque]

I disagree. Better to shop for the right players to play the way you want to play. At Barcelona, fans demand a certain type of football. Offensive, possession-oriented, and so on and so forth.

I'd argue not anymore. This isn't Tata post Pep where we win a game 3 or 4 nil and and the papers lambast the possession stats.

LE, Valverde, Koeman never played the Barca way.

Barca DNA is dead. The last top midfielder that came through with Barca DNA was Thiago 10 years ago.

Gavi, Pedri, Araujo, Nico are all not Barca DNA defenders and midfielders. There's no Pedro's, Messi's, Alba's, Piques, Busquets coming through. Only one that is close is Eric.

His big money bet so far Ferran, is not a Barca DNA striker, suffering the quickness of brain and intuition in short spaces and passing.

So it is probably better if Xavi adapts his ideas around the talent in the scope of a modern 433.

Because waiting to revert the current base to our football of a single one-off LaMasia generation is dreaming.

 

[JamDav1982]

Not sure what that argues against in what I said.