Plip: You might have a point. I can't really comment on how the players used to perform below Barca B levels since I only watch Barca B (anything below that level is way too raw for me to assess the quality of players properly IMO). It's just that whenever I see Rafinha he doesn't look like a midfielder. More like a forward. Like ... he doesn't dictate things. Rushes decisions. Goes for the Hollywood pass way too often etc. He can run with the ball at his feet but that's all I see him doing. No idea how much of that is down to Eusebio.
In so far as we are discussing levels of performance below Barça B, I do agree that there is a certain degree of rawness in the talent pool available. However, when you have two players (the ones I singled out) perform to a nigh perfection under previous coaches (Sergi Roberto was actually amazing under Lucho) and then suddenly become incredibly erratic in terms of build-up, tactics and dictation of play - one must beg the question of what exactly happened between now and then, and how may there
even be such a tremendous change for worse.
I honestly believe that Eusebio has neither the skill to nurture the so-called "perlas," and prepare them for the transition in to the first team, nor does he have the ability to see the bigger picture of how the team should be structured in order to perform on a higher level. Barça B's structure has fallen to complete irrelevance ever since he took over - the team has no distinctive identity. By the looks of it, he seems to be on his merry way in destroying players that were once deemed as great talents. Shame, really.
