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For me there are still some question marks surrounding Balde long term. The position is Balde's to lose, but if Valle fancies his chances he could probably make a challenge for it.

His creative contribution is really great, but the most valuable part of his work is still in the minor things he does continuously to tie things together. Tireless running yes, but tireless focus as well, which adds up to a lot over the course of 90 minutes. Can see it rubbing off on others...

16 and looks like he slots in comfortably for the b team

Pedro Rodriguez as in Pedro Rodriguez. Looks more like a classic controlling 8 than a strict DM tho.

Pedro Rodriguez looks like the real deal to me. Can't tell with those other Pedros.

Just rewatched the second half of the clasico and Pena lowkey initiated two of the goals from his long passes.

It checks with what you can see on the pitch and what I've been saying since the injury. There's something not quite right about the way he moves. Doesn't take more than a slight inhibition to throw you off your game. The margins are tight in this game. The difference between a great player and...

My skepticism is that it works largely by stupefing the opponent with opportunities they aren't used to and where they are just enough out of sync to critically mistime the execution. And that there is also a psychological effect working in our favor, a compounding frustration among the...

Seconded. If we're comfortably up by the hour mark, games are also much less costly to those on the pitch. Intensity drops when the opponent loses hope. Don't have to risk those late game sprints or anything that looks like a risky challenge. A welcome chance from Xavi's conservative tactics...

How do I watch this thing?

Took him a while to get into the game. First time I've seen him look affected by the occasion. But then got in the zone and left his mark, as he always does. Youngest player to score in El Clasico, with great style. Congrats youngon!

Downvote. Respect a great performance without this need for derision.

Really liked his grit in the first act. How eager he was to recive the ball and take it forwards. Steadily running out of things to criticize here.

Don't really see the big talent with Quim. I like the quick feet but there's something a bit too imprecise and vague about his touches and movement with the ball. If I were to pick a midfield talent from the videos it would be Adam Argemi from Cadet A.

Might have overrated this kid. In every one of those b team match videos he looks completely average. Something happen to him?

Think he'll be good under Flick. His ball carries and ability to trigger transitions might lead to more.

It's not like top talents just fizzle out and die if they don't get prompt first team integration. If you've really got what it takes you will likely make it anyway, just perhaps through a less expedient route. It's not like no-one got the chance either. Samper, Sandro, Munir, Halilovic, Adama...

To be clear, it wasn't supposed to be taken as a serious thesis. When that's said, I don't think you're entirely correct either. What serious prospects did we really fumble under Barto's reign? Maybe it just so happened that there weren't anyone that great coming through?

Strong Barca teams create weak La Masia years. Weak La Masia years create weak Barca teams. Weak Barca teams create strong La Masia years. Strong La Masia years create strong Barca teams. This is the cycle.

His improvement has everything to do with the system. The good stuff he is doing currently is not something he failed at under Xavi, it's something he wasn't instructed to do at all, something he couldn't do when having to stay out wide. He is still not great at creating with the ball at his...