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Lots of departures needed: Umtitti Firpo Semedo - the two current RBs are just not good enough, so keep the versatile Roberto, try to find an upgrade to be the regular starter Either Rakitic or Vidal Greizmann Septien All the decision makers who have been choosing the acquisitions in recent...

Osasuna is almost Europa league quality, so this was going to be a tough match for this current Barca team. Then, with no Busquets in the starting lineup, and also no Suarez, Osasuna became the favorite. Barca rarely wins without Busquets. Fati tries, and he has talent, but at this stage of...

Well, I'm sure Lautero will work out a lot better than the last half dozen forwards the team has brought it. Up front for Barca, you must combine well with Messi. If not, you gotta go. Greizmann should leave, ideally. Greizmann would be a lot better on a different team. Of course, any new...

Vidal at forward. But even when he's supposed to be playing forward, he's more like a midfielder who makes moves on goal. Rakitic does well in these two forward lineups, because of his willingness to make moves on goal. Puig seems to be getting more offensive oriented, so looking forward to...

At this point, developing the youth is also probably the best way the make the most of the current squad. Puig should get most of the remaining Liga minutes. Ansu should play maybe half the time. Araujo needs to move above Umtitti, be the #3 CB, with a couple of starts. There is no way to...

At least we can still see a really good team play when we tune into Barca games. It's really quite something that pretty much every Barca opponent these days looks like a very fine team. And we still get little sparks from our team, like when an old dog can still liven up for short bursts.

Puig might get exposed with too much playing time, especially on defense. But he has a very important role to play for the rest of this season. When Barca needs a late goal, Puig and Fati need to be out there.

Making a very skinny 17 year old a starter would be a bit much. As of now, I see him as an ideal substitute. Against tired legs, he is going to kick butt. He should finish almost all games, start a few.

Is he now our second best player? Fourth best? His passing has been particularly good recently. I'd probably still rate him behind Pique, who has much more impact on free kicks and when he joins in the attack.

The team is getting back in shape. Some of the players are taking good advantage of the chances they are getting. Lenglet, Vidal, Fati, Semedo and Braith have all shown they deserve to play more. Some others do need to show better. Arthur is looking like midfielder #5 out of 5. When Lenglet...

Loved that non-goal, need more of that from Greizmann and Semedo

Sub Suarez and Vidal

Excellent lineup. Now, pull Pique, Busquets and Messi after going up 3-0 in the first half.

I still think Arthur has a bigger upside than Semedo. Another Xavi, no, it is unfair to ever expect that. I would be pleased if Arthur gets to be as good as Rakitic was during his best Barca years. How good he gets is mostly up to Arthur, no coach will stand in his way if he can show he...

Sure, a draw away would be tolerable. But a Barca win would really hurt RM. This will happen.

I fully expect him to be a big upgrade from Boatang, or from anyone currently available from Barca B. He's just one injury away from starting every game.

The sad truth is that if we were going to lose a starter now for three weeks, this is one of only a few positions where we have OK depth. At most positions, an injury now would significantly or disastrously weaken the team. Firpo is at least good, La Liga-level starter quality. Not as good as...

Ever since I first started monitoring this forum, the manager has been second-guessed and criticized for his squad selection. Thank goodness those days are finally over. Quique will start those who can walk and are not suspended. The bench will be the semi-injured and a bunch of children. No...

Yes, it's one thing to have hits and misses with the players that you acquire. But when you fail to even sign the minimum number of players needed, you have achieved a very special, inarguable level of incompetence. This team needs professional management ASAP, it would be impossible to do...

This question is unreasonably optimistic. This season will never end, we will suffer the continued injury attrition down to 14 players, then 13, then 12, then, finally, just only Messi and Mats on the field. Like a terrible nightmare, but you can't wake up.