22 - Marc Bernal

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Porque

Senior Member
It is true but those two (Iniesta more so from an individual point of view) were incredible at 17/18.

I think in current football, Iniesta is breaking into the first team at 17 or so. When Gavi gets his first minutes at 16, Dro at 17 and Nico at 18, then times have definitely changed. Then the best of that crop Pedri at 16.

Xavi probably the same or 18. Just different level of player.
 
ZenI

ZenI

Professor Balthazar
Porque said:
It is true but those two (Iniesta more so from an individual point of view) were incredible at 17/18.

I think in current football, Iniesta is breaking into the first team at 17 or so. When Gavi gets his first minutes at 16, Dro at 17 and Nico at 18, then times have definitely changed. Then the best of that crop Pedri at 16.

Xavi probably the same or 18. Just different level of player.
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Yeah it has indeed shifted a little... But than again, Bernal was out for a year and still slowly coming back from his injury.
 
Horatio

Horatio

You're welcome
Porque said:
It is true but those two (Iniesta more so from an individual point of view) were incredible at 17/18.

I think in current football, Iniesta is breaking into the first team at 17 or so. When Gavi gets his first minutes at 16, Dro at 17 and Nico at 18, then times have definitely changed. Then the best of that crop Pedri at 16.

Xavi probably the same or 18. Just different level of player.
Click to expand...

It also depends on who 17 year old Iniesta has ahead of him.

Gavi and Lamine would have broken through at later age if it weren’t for desperate times.

Maybe that is what you are already saying.
 
ZenI

ZenI

Professor Balthazar
Horatio said:
It also depends on who 17 year old Iniesta has ahead of him.

Gavi and Lamine would have broken through at later age if it weren’t for desperate times.

Maybe that is what you are already saying.
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I mean as for midfield goes, there hasn't been desperate times now since Pedri and Gavi broke through - we've been producing some very fine midfielders every season, one we even had to let go who is already starting matches in PSG. Now we have Tommy and soon Tunkara and even Diarra can play as CAM.
Anyhow, I was glad to see some decent defensive work from Bernal the other day. I think he's here to stay, we'll probably loan or sell Casado this summer - we need the minutes to develop the next Masia talent. Next season we'll have Frenkie, Eric, Pedri, Gavi, Bernal + Tommy + next Masia talent - that's 6 players for 2 positions, we're good :) Oh and Olmo can also pitch in as CM...
 
T

TacticsTim

Active member
Idk what you all are talking about but he wasn't good, he does the bare minimum which is not gift goals to opponents. Other than that he does absolutely nothing with or without the ball. He's just kinda there to do a side/back pass, basically an Andre Gomes. Even though he is tall he is soft and slow. In 2 years he will be in Elche or something
 
serghei

serghei

Senior Member
He is a weakness defensively without doubt. This is worrisome if we count on him in big games while De Jong is out. It doesn't matter if he has a good game or not, even his good games are riddled with defensive errors.

There is not much this team can do to improve defensively, since it has become pretty clear the manager is not willing to adapt in any way to the personnel he disposes of. So, the best bet we have is hope Lamine, Pedri, and Raphinha all show up in a very impactful way, or we can easily go out even vs Newcastle.

As for Bernal, quite odd that a perceived DM has stood out more for offensive things and his biggest weakness is basically a DM's bread and butter. This team lacks badly in reliable defenders in almost every defensive position. Bernal doesn't fix anything of what we do badly, he arguably makes the matter worse.
 
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jamrock

jamrock

Senior Member
He wasn't really a pure defensive midfielder coming through the ranks, his goal scoring numbers says as much.

He's more being groomed into one since the U-18s, but he's also missed one season of football.

But he's obviously going to be a Spanish style DM, and those kind of players take a while to develop and start to impress in that position because they aren't running all over the place like some would prefer to see.

Just look how people doubted busi, rodri, zubi while they were still in the development phase and some doubted them ever after that.
 
BusiTheKing

BusiTheKing

Senior Member
I just don't see how athletically he isn't going to be badly exposed against a serious side.

Off the ball movement extremely dopey to the point where yesterday the entire game just bypassed him. Did he even have a single positive ball progression?

Defensively his instincts might be good enough but he clearly needs to leave a ton of space between himself and his mark as buffer so as not to get shaken off on account of his heavy feet. Big difference from Eric and Frenkie who are able to get right up in the back of the ball holder.
 
P

Porque

Senior Member
Main thing is he got the minutes and we won.

And with that I mean that despite not excelling he is still a high potential player.

Reality is LaLiga level is low right now and we are the best team in it. So we need to use home fixtures to give starts to the highest prospects for the next generation. We should still win in doing so.

Dro by comparison has played every game for PSG and has two starts, despite not being great. But because of the PSG quality relative to the league, they can afford to do so.

We have to think the same way right now with Bernal, Onion and Lewandowski.
 
Total-Football

Total-Football

Senior Member
Much more potential than cassado that much is certain. Which brings to mind cassado and Gavi. Those two players played enough and didnt prove worthy (at least so far). Both of them need be sold (with buy back options ) and give their precious minutes to Bernal and other up and commers. Gavi and Cassado were given their fair chance and came short. Im team Bernal.
 
jamrock

jamrock

Senior Member
You would think gavi hasn't played 1.5 good season at Barcelona & won a league title as a starter.

Has multiple excellent games against top teams.

Not to mention being a starter for Spain up until he was injured, including winning a Nationals league final

Sell him for bernal, who in no way has showed more potential that Gavi, was again was a starter for Spain at 18, would probably still be right now if not got injuries.
 
Total-Football

Total-Football

Senior Member
1 gavi was played for spain and barcelona because he was good for his age.

2 gavi hasn't developed a single feat in his game since he debuted til his acl.

3 if we could win laliga with gavi we could have done so without.

4 I wouldn't have minded a squad player like gavi but in current squad he has nothing to offer anymore , him or cassado. They are superfluous.

5 Bernal is a interesting because he is a different profile with an interesting physique that we haven't seen since buskets .. nico was supposed to be that but wasn't as promising as current Bernal. Club is right to bet on him
 
Barcaman

Barcaman

Administrator
Staff member
Match against Atletico tomorrow will be his biggest test yet. Injured Frenkie, suspended Eric and Casado not in Flick's plans, means he is practically guaranteed to start.
 
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