8 - Pedro Gonzalez "Pedri"

Xavi and Iniesta also "got to the level" of controlling games after they were past their 25. And both started in quite destitute Barca teams and average Spain.
Not sure that these two would get even near their prime, but if we compare them in the age timeline, they're currently doing great.

Loving that. They are still kids. Even more gavi for posting that.

Gnidrologist said:

Xavi and Iniesta also "got to the level" of controlling games after they were past their 25. And both started in quite destitute Barca teams and average Spain.
Not sure that these two would get even near their prime, but if we compare them in the age timeline, they're currently doing great.

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Perfect assessment of the situation !

Made some decent challenges but didn't see him creating any good chances or threatening passes.

He was getting out with a ball from closed spaces with such an ease. The way he keeps his cool... Great stuff.

Iniesta Ultra said:

Made some decent challenges but didn't see him creating any good chances or threatening passes.

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He is one of my favourite players but to his standard I felt he was largely ineffective .

This Spain team as a whole plays exactly like Barca just without Dembele and Lewa. Same problems, about the same strengths, apart from Dembele penetration and Lewa finishing. Goes to show that either Xavi and lucho are the same level managers or the players have an established style with given limits.

JohnN said:

This Spain team as a whole plays exactly like Barca just without Dembele and Lewa. Same problems, about the same strengths, apart from Dembele penetration and Lewa finishing. Goes to show that either Xavi and lucho are the same level managers or the players have an established style with given limits.

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Very good post as usual. Beyond that it's splitting hairs, club football is noticeably faster and more intense, especially in CL, hence why Spain look faster, but really aren't, it's the games and the opponents that are playing at a lower intensity.

The philosophy is similar, a more basic and less complex variation of juego de posicion from Cruyff days and heavily inspired and modernized by Pep. Lucho just has more experience, which Xavi will inevitably obtain in time.

Your comment is exactly why we need to sign valuable players that can complete the team in areas where our existent young core is lacking. Goals from midfield, physicality and speed in central defense, that sort of stuff.

serghei said:

Very good post as usual. Beyond that it's splitting hairs, club football is noticeably faster and more intense, especially in CL, hence why Spain look faster, but really aren't, it's the games and the opponents that are playing at a lower intensity.

The philosophy is similar, a more basic and less complex variation of juego de posicion from Cruyff days and heavily inspired and modernized by Pep. Lucho just has more experience, which Xavi will inevitably obtain in time.

Your comment is exactly why we need to sign valuable players that can complete the team in areas where our existent young core is lacking. Goals from midfield, physicality and speed in central defense, that sort of stuff.

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What my main issue is with Spain (and obviously this applies to Barca too), apart from the "difference making" players is the lack of intent. They just seem to recycle posetion but without an actual plan to attack. It's really different to past Barcelona teams.

I don't find any problem with Spains style. It's actually the most effective to score goals. But Spain in their football academy level need to rethink their forward training and scouting strategies. Spain both in club and NT level would be miles above their current level with competent scorers. I guess it's tougher hurdle than looks.

JohnN said:

What my main issue is with Spain (and obviously this applies to Barca too), apart from the "difference making" players is the lack of intent. They just seem to recycle posetion but without an actual plan to attack. It's really different to past Barcelona teams.

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They lack some players to make a difference up front. The player to push the game the most is Olmo so far. Back in the day they had Villa, Pedro, Iniesta... different caliber players.

serghei said:

They lack some players to make a difference up front. The player to push the game the most is Olmo so far. Back in the day they had Villa, Pedro, Iniesta... different caliber players.

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Yes, you are right. top talent is required to make the difference and this probably is the reason Spain look kind of toothless at times. I mean, compare Ferran missing sitters and dribbling himself with Vila who was deadly for every defense. Also, Iniesta, apart from once on a lifetime talent, was clutch as fuck, when the game was tough.

Spain team really doesn't play anything like Xaviball which is way less focused on possession, than a true Barcelona
/Spain team, less interplay between midfield players and the half space.

The current Barcelona team is more direct and focus on keeping the pitch as wide as possible, spreading the play, when you watch Xavi's Barcelona the forwards rarely play off each other, midfield to a lesser extent.


Xaviball is shit compared to what Luis is doing TBH, add lewa to Spain and they would be the best team in the world, add any high level finisher and they would be

Which is why Luis Keeps calling up Fati, he knows if Fati gets back to what the entire world knew he could have been, he would be that missing link to take Spain tothe next level.

Pedri, gavi ana even busquets look like world beaters playing for Spain, again Germany/Bayern, they weren't ran over in the same way they do while with Barcelona, dur to Luis setup.

jamrock said:

Spain team really doesn't play anything like Xaviball which is way less focused on possession, than a true Barcelona
/Spain team, less interplay between midfield players and the half space.

The current Barcelona team is more direct and focus on keeping the pitch as wide as possible, spreading the play, when you watch Xavi's Barcelona the forwards rarely play off each other, midfield to a lesser extent.


Xaviball is shit compared to what Luis is doing TBH, add lewa to Spain and they would be the best team in the world, add any high level finisher and they would be

Which is why Luis Keeps calling up Fati, he knows if Fati gets back to what the entire world knew he could have been, he would be that missing link to take Spain tothe next level.

Pedri, gavi ana even busquets look like world beaters playing for Spain, again Germany/Bayern, they weren't ran over in the same way they do while with Barcelona, dur to Luis setup.

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Absolute rubbish. Spain also deploy wingers very wide to stretch the field. Ferran for Spain is exactly the same Ferran for Barcelona for example. No difference. The brother of Inaki is used exactly like Barca use Dembele. To a T.

The only reason Spain look better is because the pace of games is far less intense and sped-up compared to what you get in CL in club football.

Say, if every team in CL would be forced to play at a 50% reduced pace, Barca would win CL 7 times out of 10 and Busi would be the best DM in the world. Amigo Barca always was a technically brilliant team, just lazy, slow, and washed up.

It's just so that in CL those are key attributes that you just can't survive without. You can't approach CL and aim to win it with slow, old, and lazy players. The margins are so small, that you have to go in 100% every time. Barca didn't give 100% effort-wise in a CL tie since Pep days. Even the MSN Barca was a bit lazy and unfocused, just too talented at their best to cope with.

Only now we're seeing close to 100% commitment, but the team is, this time, lacking some quality and experience.

They dont play like Barca all that much. Some elements there but Barca use wings and cross ball more from Dembele.

To think Inaki is being used like Dembele is clueless and this is first game he has started anyway.. sure as fuck Torres wasnt being asked to play like Dembele on right either. So if Spain have no one being fed ball like Dembele that is a huge difference.

Pedri for a start is clearly allowed to go and find ball more than often is at Barca.

Regardless.. Spain played this way before Xavi got the job and little has changed. It is not down to Xavis tactics either way.