Barca squad/XI 25/26

I think Frenkie would be a good choice. He's been here awhile and has won numerous trophies with us.

Captain Raphinha was a beast last season. If we want a captain from XI I think he's the best bet. In the future Cubarsi, Pedri etc are options but for now give it to someone who has shown he can carry the burden.

Veterans like Iñigo and Lewy can lead without armband, like Masche did.

You can't say puyol as captain, then land on de Jong, I'm sorry you simply can't.

I understand him getting as at a player in his prime and he's been here that long, but he's not captain material, the game against Madrid is the first time ever I've seen some fire in his belly.

It's raphinha, if we want the Spirit of puyol.

Martinez too, but then we'll need a new one in 12 months .

Gavi, but he's too young, but everyone up and down the club, tells you he's a leader of men, even those much older than him.

Those 3 can try to get the essence of puyol.

I wouldn't be surprised if de Jong get its bases on years at the club, just like mats, wouldn't even be mad.

But it's obviously one of those 3.

Why isn't Kounde in this discussion?

Guy has brains, beastlike stamina and strength and is an asset on both one of the strongest NT and biggest clubs in the world, never injured, mature, composed.

Because he's a clown off the field?

Anyway, we don't really know how someone is in the dressing room which is the most important for a captain. Hope that is the main reason for picking a captain, not the most years spent in the first team like it was it the past 15 years, that's how you end up with a bitch for a captain like we have now.

I think we can't go wrong with Inigo and Rapha from what we can see from the TV. Long term one of the home kids, we'll see who will become a leader but it's too soon for them.

Raphinha is the leader on the field no doubt. It's true that he can be a hot head at times, but he has every other quality except that. Others don't.

jamrock said:

You can't say puyol as captain, then land on de Jong, I'm sorry you simply can't.

I understand him getting as at a player in his prime and he's been here that long, but he's not captain material, the game against Madrid is the first time ever I've seen some fire in his belly.

It's raphinha, if we want the Spirit of puyol.

Martinez too, but then we'll need a new one in 12 months .

Gavi, but he's too young, but everyone up and down the club, tells you he's a leader of men, even those much older than him.

Those 3 can try to get the essence of puyol.

I wouldn't be surprised if de Jong get its bases on years at the club, just like mats, wouldn't even be mad.

But it's obviously one of those 3.

Click to expand...

Never likened FDJ to Puyol. But all things considered, he's the most suitable among the current batch. He has high IQ AND EQ which the other three lack.
People tend to forget that Puyol wasn't just a fighter, he was so much more. His gladiator spirit aside, he stood for humility, respect and sportsmanship.

As an illustration,

I can totally see Raphinha, Inigo and Gavi get the essence of Puyol. NOT.

FDJ isn't perfect. But he's a top footballer who exudes class, composure and professionalism, and as such commands respect from football fraternity. So yes, still the best candidate for me.

To be a good captain is more than just shouting on the pitch. Captains are also a link between coaching staff and players. Someone everybody trusts and wants to talk to if there are problems to solve them or make the coach, or players aware. A captain also finds the right motivation words, speeches, cheers the team up when they're down after losses. He is also the first person to solve differences inside the team.

Much of it we never see, because it's hidden from us in the changing room or in training. So we also don't know who is really the best option for all of these matters. To be a leader on the pitch, you don't really need the armband. A quiet player on the pitch can be a very good team captain. That's why players voting for their captains is the way to go. They know best.

zanela said:

Never likened FDJ to Puyol. But all things considered, he's the most suitable among the current batch. He has high IQ AND EQ which the other three lack.
People tend to forget that Puyol wasn't just a fighter, he was so much more. His gladiator spirit aside, he stood for humility, respect and sportsmanship.

As an illustration,

I can totally see Raphinha, Inigo and Gavi get the essence of Puyol. NOT.

FDJ isn't perfect. But he's a top footballer who exudes class, composure and professionalism, and as such commands respect from football fraternity. So yes, still the best candidate for me.

Click to expand...

Yea that video just confirms de jong is none of those things, lol


Let's not get being a fan of a player and personality type with being a captain.

Raphinha
Martinez
Gavi are more likely to do that stuff.

Can you imagine de Jong doing that first action in the video to Martinez? Nope.

But it's easy to imagine the other way around.

Lots of intangibles that goes into being a great captain, but one of the few tangibles is, you can't be soft!!, we saw what happen when we had someone like mats as captain.

He's too soft for the job, but he could get it and I wouldn't even be mad.

But his time as captain would be much like his time at the club so far, average a few moments on inspiration.

We strive for more.

In this club the leaders are rarely captains, hope this changes now. The last real one were Puyol and to some extent Xavi but I think the real leader post Puyi until he left was Masche. After Masche and Xavi left there were no real leaders until last season Inigo and Rapha emerged. I thought for a few years that Araujo will be that guy but he didn't show it in the last 2 seasons.

Messi showed he can be a great captain in Argentina but he never really was here.

From the young guys I see captain potential in Casado the most but it's a big question if he'll ever be a starter long term. A real cule, fighter, vocal...

jamrock said:

Yea that video just confirms de jong is none of those things, lol


Let's not get being a fan of a player and personality type with being a captain.

Raphinha
Martinez
Gavi are more likely to do that stuff.

Can you imagine de Jong doing that first action in the video to Martinez? Nope.

But it's easy to imagine the other way around.

Lots of intangibles that goes into being a great captain, but one of the few tangibles is, you can't be soft!!, we saw what happen when we had someone like mats as captain.

He's too soft for the job, but he could get it and I wouldn't even be mad.

But his time as captain would be much like his time at the club so far, average a few moments on inspiration.

We strive for more.

Click to expand...

I didn't say FDJ was any of those things. It was you who was evoking the essence of Puyol in the other 3 mental cases. I was only refuting that point.

Yes, I don't see FDJ reprimanding Martinez. Because Pique, unlike Martinez, wasn't a ink junkie who spat at opponents. I can't even for the life of me understand how he's even a candidate in ppl's eyes. Had a decent season but flopped when stakes got high.

And no its not easy to imagine the other way around. Because unlike the three mental cases, FDJ is least likely to resort to playacting.

Players who are soft dont lead the team in the biggest games of the season and put in inspiring performances. Yes, he could become more consistent, which is why I said he's not perfect. MAtS, for example NEVER rose to the big occasion anytime in his career. So, cannot be compared.