6 - Gavi

Barcaman said:
Flick always stresses the work without ball. Both of our goals yesterday were scored after turnovers.
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Of course winning ball matters.. first goal came from Gavi losing it and Pedri winning it back.

But if lacks as much on ball as Gavi does too often others will play ahead of him and he chases ball wildly.

'Winning ball back' doesnt seem to matter when Yamal has much better stats for it than Raphinha though it seems.

It works both ways.. players losing ball for Barca and not being able to do much with it is a negative also.
 
He ads nothing, seriously. I was never a fan of his, ever. There are a couple dussin other midfielders half his price I would rather get that would do a much better job for us.
 
ZenI said:
He ads nothing, seriously. I was never a fan of his, ever. There are a couple dussin other midfielders half his price I would rather get that would do a much better job for us.
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I get the frustration but it's El Sadar. Probably be of the hardest places to visit for us in ages.
 
Barcaman said:
I get the frustration but it's El Sadar. Probably be of the hardest places to visit for us in ages.
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I'm not really frustrated, I never had my hopes up. He bleeds blaugrana, he works and he fights. He has a place as a rotation player, but he doesn't really add much. If somebody would pay us +60M for him, I'd take that asap though - there are at least 10 CM's we could get for under 50M that would do a better job. Silva for free would be twice the player for 2 seasons...
 
Oh and I mentioned Bernal came in and was much better than Gavi and somebody commented that they're different players. Of fucking course they are, but so what??? You can still see if a CB, RB, 9, DM or whoever is good and if he helps the team "forward" - Gavi runs around, bitches a little, gets a yellow, gets almost a red, get subbed and almost nothing positive comes out of it.
 
He wasnt as bad as that and had decent enough game.

Still chases ball far too often and leaves game wide open or fouls.

Against teams who actually try to take Barca on with ball that will be even more evident than was yesterday.

His passing was a bit better and more forward at times.

Did very much feel like they left him on ball though at expense of going tighter on Pedri.

But overall looks leaner, more mobile.. if not quick and his passing was more positive with bit more range.

Much more positive signs than what Xavi let him devolve to.
 
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ZenI said:
Oh and I mentioned Bernal came in and was much better than Gavi and somebody commented that they're different players. Of fucking course they are, but so what??? You can still see if a CB, RB, 9, DM or whoever is good and if he helps the team "forward" - Gavi runs around, bitches a little, gets a yellow, gets almost a red, get subbed and almost nothing positive comes out of it.
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It doesn't work like that at all. Gavi is a very annoying player in midfield for the opponent, a nuisance to play against because he is hard to dribble, runs non stop, passes the ball quickly usually (takes few touches which makes us play faster), and is strong in duels. He can be the missing defensive player with intensity that we normally lack in midfield. And, if he stays fit, he can improve on the ball and become the complete package.

I think I will go with how managers like Hansi Flick and Luis Enrique rate Gavi over this forum's opinion of him.

If Gavi stays fit our midfield goes up in quality and we have more options.
 
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Gavi doesnt make Barca play faster.. it is same that was claimed with likes of Puig.

Passing the ball quickly or taking few touches doesnt always equate to team playing faster in any meaningful way.

Yesterday he was better a bit as paused on it more.

Both Pedri and Frenkie take a lot more touches and longer to scan for best option and are better on ball for it.

Gavi is young and can improve though still. Without being amazing yesterday was his best game since injured his knee initially and looked like trying to do the basics properly need from a midfielder playing there.

Xavi was terrible for his development.
 
As said, the top tier managers that worked with Gavi loved him and rated him.

We put up a weak team off the ball vs AM on Camp Nou, and Flick put in Gavi at half time. Since then, Gavi is strarting to make claims for a starting position. I wouldn't be surprised to see Pedri - De Jong - Gavi more and more in more complicated matches next season.

The only problem in his development are two back to back complicated injuries that took him off for the majority of the last 2 seasons and messed up his continuity.
 
Indeed they have.. but also Lucho probably suffered for it at World Cup and also played Busi in midfield ahead of Rodri.

Gavi was ok when he came on v Ateltco and he has been decent since starting since.

He hasnt been as good as some make out or as bad as others have but fact he is trying to do a lot of the correct things is a positive.

In games where he is pressed in midfield it could be a different story and in games where opposition will try to play on ball more he needs to be more disciplined but that could come.

Would like to see more of the Gavi/Frenkie/Pedri midfield if Yamal had more freedom to come to AM, an attacking RB and probably a better 1v1 LW.
 
I asked for a more defensive intense player that is hard to ditch or dribble past and if Gavi stays fit, La Masia may just come to the rescue big time once again.

His top tier qualities are resilience, workrate, intensity, and mentality. Things to obviously improve are the ability to also play between the lines more often and with more precision. Goals is something he should also add. His reference point is a more defensive version of Joao Neves.
 
Gavi is one of the most dribbled past players in the Barca team.

He is all or nothin..wins it, fouls or gets skinned/drawn out leaving space.

High numbers on all three.

Pedri is similar on that side. Wins it a lot and gets dribbled a ton also.
 
There is a difference between Gavi and Pedri in terms of pace and intensity. Gavi is a naturally better defender because he is faster, more robust, and more fearless. Remember when Pedri didn't head the ball vs Inter in the CL semis because he was scared of contact with Dumfries, and Dumfries scored? Gavi will never do that. He will compete with intensity in every duel and leave nothing off the table.

To be a good defender in midfield, you have to have no fear of contacts. Gavi doesn't even after 2 bad injuries. The downside of this is these types of players are prone to making rash decisions, because they are hot headed. But the good they bring far outweighs this. And it is something that can be improved by Gavi in time.
 
As said Gavi is more intense but gets dribbled a ton as does Pedri.

Gavi will stick head in more often and go in but there are pros and cons to that at times also.

Pedri is vastly the superior player overall at moment.

Gavi gets dribbled and leaves team wide open a lot and over presses often.
 
This is not about who is superior, that's Pedri for us. This is about Gavi having a profile that is not matched by any other midfielder in the squad currently. Not by Pedri, not by De Jong, not by Bernal, certainly not by Olmo or Fermin.
 
Pedri is vastly superior for any team going.

Can say every single midfield has a profile not matched.

Gavi brings intensity but to make out he doesnt also leave team exposed at times due to that is wrong.
 
Part of the reason we were so bad vs AM on Camp Nou is because we put in the first 11 too many players who lacked intensity off the ball. If you make a list of our most intense players off the ball in midfield and attack, these are Raphinha, Gavi, Fermin, De Jong, and Ferran Torres, in this order probably. De Jong and Raphinha were injured, bad luck. But Gavi, Fermin, and Ferran were left on the bench.

Flick realized the error and subbed Gavi and Fermin to increase the level of aggression in midfield right at the start of the 2nd half, which was lacking big time. This is probably first time in a big match when Flick makes two subs after only 45 mins.
 
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JamDav1982 said:
Pedri is vastly superior for any team going.

Can say every single midfield has a profile not matched.

Gavi brings intensity but to make out he doesnt also leave team exposed at times due to that is wrong.
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You're trying to turn this into Pedri vs Gavi for no reason at all. Like you try with Raphinha vs Yamal. Each covers different needs for the team, and provide equally important things.
 
Barca were not even that bad at Camp Nou in first leg really although were soft on the goal a bit.. as were on the goal in 2nd half.
 
serghei said:
You're trying to turn this into Pedri vs Gavi for no reason at all. Like you try with Raphinha vs Yamal.
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Nah you are the one that starts that by saying what Gavi brings that others dont.. if do that then be prepared for response to be what those players are better at and better overall.

Likes of you try to make out Raph more important than Yamal etc then cry off when others say Yamal is better and more important.
 
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