Let's talk about Xavi's replacement (2024)

Xavi's replacement


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serghei

Senior Member
Judging by Deco short stint, I think we are heading for the rebuild direction more than anything.
And if Marquez is the choice, then it surely is the case.
No idea if we will sell players, as we want to be at least pseudo competitive in order to not lose on sponsors and prize money.
Deco is saying we won't, but considering the way he handled the press regarding the whole coach thing, he is a bit discreet.

That's completely hypocritical from the club if you put huge pressure on Xavi to deliver you instant results almost, and then suddenly the next guy doesn't have to do any of that and he can go by being "pseudo competitive".

Xavi is leaving because because of this reason, that's the main source of his frustration this season. The club demanding too much, too quick, and giving too little in terms of transfers compared to the teams we're supposed to compete with for titles.

There is absolutely no issue with trusting young players and rebuilding. He does that plenty. The club demands results in the present, that's the root of the frictions between the manager, the board, the media etc.
 

Porque

Senior Member
That's completely hypocritical from the club if you put huge pressure on Xavi to deliver you instant results almost, and then suddenly the next guy doesn't have to do any of that and he can go by being "pseudo competitive".

Xavi is leaving because because of this reason, that's the main source of his frustration this season. The club demanding too much, too quick, and giving too little in terms of transfers compared to the teams we're supposed to compete with for titles.

There is absolutely no issue with trusting young players and rebuilding. He does that plenty. The club demands results in the present, that's the root of the frictions between the manager, the board, the media etc.

Do you think the breaking point was the Vitor Roque transfer?

No funds, yet mustering up 60m w/ variables while Xavi is screaming for a defensive midfielder.
 

serghei

Senior Member
Do you think the breaking point was the Vitor Roque transfer?

No funds, yet mustering up 60m w/ variables while Xavi is screaming for a defensive midfielder.

Unless the guy is some rare talent and we simply could not afford to miss out on him, the move is dumb. But it's not just that. It's the approach for this season. It is clear Xavi valued Busi and Dembele as key players of his team. He asked for quality reinforcements, he got none. He got scrap-yard signing Oriol Romeu.

It's extremely difficult to continue to improve a team while your rivals are all spending money to sign the best players and you can't do that. It is just mentally exhausting and frustrating, and that has taken its toll on Xavi imo.
 

khaled_a_d

Senior Member
That's completely hypocritical from the club if you put huge pressure on Xavi to deliver you instant results almost, and then suddenly the next guy doesn't have to do any of that and he can go by being "pseudo competitive".

Xavi is leaving because because of this reason, that's the main source of his frustration this season. The club demanding too much, too quick, and giving too little in terms of transfers compared to the teams we're supposed to compete with for titles.

There is absolutely no issue with trusting young players and rebuilding. He does that plenty. The club demands results in the present, that's the root of the frictions between the manager, the board, the media etc.

Barca and Xavi knew what was happening from the get to go. Xavi knew he had only one summer to build the squad and after that there was non. Of course they put pressure on him to won something last year.

Xavi talked big, Laporta talked big. But this year the board supported Xavi publicly which was the only thing they could do.

They have been embarrassingly begging Xavi to stay FFS.

Media have been harsh on Xavi, sometimes rightfully and sometimes because it is what they do. This is going to be the same with next manager regardless.
Xavi complaining about it was a bit weird, because in comparison to every Barca coach during his playing career, only Pep was supported more. He knew what the media is doing before he joined but expected different treatment, which he has ironically got but wasn't enough.

So no, the club here will be consistent frankly.
If Marquez joined and we are still broke, it is a rebuilding project and they are acting accordingly.
The media will still do their thing, most likely more harshly because Marquez/Flick/Motta/Amorim etc aren't Catalan and we all know how xenophobic/nationalist the Catalan media is.
 

khaled_a_d

Senior Member
Do you think the breaking point was the Vitor Roque transfer?

No funds, yet mustering up 60m w/ variables while Xavi is screaming for a defensive midfielder.

Roque deal was essentially 30M + 25M, 5M for each season he starts half of the games with maximum 5 season. And that is on 7 years contract not counting current one and he accepted they will register him whenever they wanted. Guy was on 4.25 amortization deal, and probably not a big salary. Which midfielder we would have signed that would have accepted such package?

If he is mad at that, he isn't the brightest bloke out there.

Flick said in an interview that he would build the team from the youth/academy. And his background is in development.

The guy has been out of the job for a while, and been linked to the Barca job for months.

We're [mostly]armchair fans and know the first team, B team and UYL/u19 teams inside out. For a professional like Flick it is also more than enough time to know all of our talents 15+ extensively.

Atleast moreso than the likes of Tuchel, Naggelsmann, De Zerbi, Motta, etc who are all in full time jobs.

So it is feasible that the youth orientated approach suggested for Marquez, also applies with Flick.

For Laporta it will mostly be down to personality and alignment. Basically his gut bacteria will be selecting the manager.

Flick starting line up when he won with Bayern
had Lewa, Muller, Neuer, Boateng & Presic as players over 30, Alaba & Thiago were late 20's. Gnabry, Kimmich & Groetzke were 24 and only Davies was a young player back then.
He isn't really a development manager tbh.
 

DonAK

President of FC Barcelona
If you think Mourinho should be anywhere near a top club in 2024 you have to question your sanity or your IQ.

This guy is finished. Could be great for NTs though.

Look at Roma since they fired him. They look like a completely different team.
 

Porque

Senior Member
Roque deal was essentially 30M + 25M, 5M for each season he starts half of the games with maximum 5 season. And that is on 7 years contract not counting current one and he accepted they will register him whenever they wanted. Guy was on 4.25 amortization deal, and probably not a big salary. Which midfielder we would have signed that would have accepted such package?

If he is mad at that, he isn't the brightest bloke out there.



Flick starting line up when he won with Bayern
had Lewa, Muller, Neuer, Boateng & Presic as players over 30, Alaba & Thiago were late 20's. Gnabry, Kimmich & Groetzke were 24 and only Davies was a young player back then.
He isn't really a development manager tbh.

But that's because he initially took over interim.

There are articles like this that suggest him working with Bayerns youth for example.


About Roque. Well considering his use, those numbers seem in line with a young player like a Roque for midfield. Think Vermeeran or Moscardo (I know injured now) who Xavi may have been more inclined to play.

Or a squad player like Dendoncker or Matusiwa, or someone expiring like Guido.
 

DonAK

President of FC Barcelona
If we're getting the 100m signing bonus from Nike this summer, and can get the 40-50m from Libero as well we'll be in compliance with the salary cap and be able to spend 1:1.

Sell Frenkie and a couple of other players in the squad and you might have enough money to sign a legit CDM and a legit LW that would improve the team.

The issue obviously would be the managerial hiring and who they spend their resources on. You cannot really trust this club to make the right decisions.
 

Porque

Senior Member
If we're getting the 100m signing bonus from Nike this summer, and can get the 40-50m from Libero as well we'll be in compliance with the salary cap and be able to spend 1:1.

Sell Frenkie and a couple of other players in the squad and you might have enough money to sign a legit CDM and a legit LW that would improve the team.

The issue obviously would be the managerial hiring and who they spend their resources on. You cannot really trust this club to make the right decisions.

Agreed. it all starts with getting a top manager, and let them cook.

zelda-bot-w-link-is-cooking-zelda-bot-w.gif
 

DonAK

President of FC Barcelona
Agreed. it all starts with getting a top manager, and let them cook.

zelda-bot-w-link-is-cooking-zelda-bot-w.gif

Honestly I'd be okay with even letting Marquez stick around for a year if they don't want Flick and want to wait a year to try to entice Klopp or someone else.

But they need to make the right signings in that case which means a proper CDM and if they want a LW sign a proper winger with pace and 1v1 ability and not a pseudo-midfielder like Olmo.

We might eventually luck into a great manager, but if you spend your scarce resources on the wrong players/profiles it's tough to bounce back from that.
 
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