8 - Pedri

[JamDav1982]

Busi - Pedri - Gavi has never really worked that well or lasted long for Barca or Spain.

It was honking as went out to Frankfurt in Europa in both legs awful.

It was poor for most part as went out the CL the next season in group.

It was shite for Spain in World Cup as could only beat Costa Rica.

Frenkie was a starter in the 433 ahead of Gavi and Barcas best midfielder in the run up to that formation change.

 

[serghei]

Xavi knew exactly what to do with the midfield. He envisioned a midfield 3 with Zubimendi DM, De Jong box to box, and Pedri CM-AM.

That's what we should aim at. Unfortunately, there were no money for Zubimendi in summer of 2023. Maybe he also didn't want to play in Spain for a Spanish club other than Sociedad.

Pedri is not that good deep in a 2 man midfield as some believe. Playing deep requires defensive abilities, stamina, speed, several things he struggles at. If anyone knows what is required to play CM, it's Xavi.

Good thing we have JamDav to tell the greatest CM of all time who can play what in midfield .

 

[JamDav1982]

Xavi didnt try to address the DM position nearly early enough as though Busi would play on for longer.

The time for a DM is when they spent money in 2022.

Xavi didnt do well with the midfield really.

The players he signed and let go was not great and didnt put likes of Pedri in best place to perform.

The old 'coach' knows best is a weak one and from same folk who thought the legendary Koeman was fucking over Riqui Puig.

The best players ever have some shitty opinions at times. Nothing new.

 

[jamrock]

You're almost right, I think he wanted zubi to play

Zubi de jong
Pedri gavi

In his square midfield with whoever as the two forwards, that's before the arrival of yamal, which means we needed to switch to a 433/4231 to play him as a winger.

With a 3 man midfield it was always going to be pedri zubi gavi, at no point has de jong ever played well in a 3 man midfield for us, for more than maybe a few game here & there, xavi knew it too.

 

[JamDav1982]

That would be a cracking midfield but he didnt push for Zubi in summer of 2022.

Nothing needed to switch for Yamal though as that box midfield set up had a RW and a touchline one at that ideally.

Frenkie was ahead of Gavi in the three man midfield under Xavi and out performed him easily.

Gavi was not starting when all fit in run up to the formation change and was not starting in the best form in Xavis first season.

That best run of form winning in Europa League.. Gavi didnt start once. The 4-0 win away in Bernabeu Gavi barely played.

Gavi did play in the Frankfurt scuddings with Pedri and midfield was demolished. In both legs Barca got better when FDJ came on by a long way.

Barca twice went to Bernabeu playing 3 man midfield and Gavi barely played.

Gavi had lost his place in the 433 and it was him the change benefited the most to get back in.

The performance in 433 that FDJ had away to Real etc in that time Gavi has never come close to for Barca.

Frenkie was Barcas best midfiedler when team playing 433 in run up to formation change and Xavi knew it.

 

[serghei]

There were no money to address all positions. Simple as that. DM position is still exposed.

We had some money to make several deals in 2022 with the levers. Everything else was low cost, rejects or free agents.

Hate Xavi or not, he knew the midfield needed a defensive player. No chance he would have went for Olmo before a DM. Neither De Jong or Pedri know how to defend properly. That is why everyone waltzes through our midfield at ease when press is weak.

We dream Pedri and De Jong will magically intimidate midfields from the best sides to play on the back foot, but no chance of that happening when you can do damage there.

 

[JamDav1982]

There was money to address the positions they could and DM was clearly needed.

Xavi thought Busi would play for years and he had it covered.

He was not chasing Zubi then.

In 2022 Barca signed x3 players for 60m. Paid 50m for Lewa on 100m over 4 years. Gave out 10m plus contracts.

It was where they chose to spend the money and didnt look to address DM as thought Busi had it covered.

Nah Frenkie and Pedri can defend just neither are full on DMs.

 

[serghei]

There was money to address the positions they could and DM was clearly needed.

Xavi thought Busi would play for years and he had it covered.

He was not chasing Zubi then.

In 2022 Barca signed x3 players for 60m. Paid 50m for Lewa on 100m over 4 years. Gave out 10m plus contracts.

It was where they chose to spend the money and didnt look to address DM as thought Busi had it covered.

Nah. There were 5-6 positions badly covered at least. At the very least. They did what they could with not enough funds or even close to plug all gaps.

 

[jamrock]

There were no money to address all positions. Simple as that. DM position is still exposed.

We had some money to make several deals in 2022 with the levers. Everything else was low cost, rejects or free agents.

Hate Xavi or not, he knew the midfield needed a defensive player. No chance he would have went for Olmo before a DM. Neither De Jong or Pedri know how to defend properly. That is why everyone waltzes through our midfield at ease when press is weak.

We dream Pedri and De Jong will magically intimidate midfields from the best sides to play on the back foot, but no chance of that happening when you can do damage there.

Xavi would have rioted if we signed olmo over a DM preferably zubi, even though he rated olmo by the looks of it.

He knew a DM was key to his setup

 

[JamDav1982]

Nah dont agree at all.

As said at time spent too much money on positons not needed as much as DM and Busi waning.

Paying 120m for RW players more or less when had Dembele for example and spending 60m on a CB to play RB or 150m over 4 seasons on a mid 30s striker.

Then 20m a season a year later to an early 30s Gundo.

Could have been spent better overall.

 

[serghei]

And it is. We need to find a way to offload 2 midfielders and somehow get over 100m. And move Pedri a bit higher. If you saw the Euro and how Spain play, he is not played as Barca play him.

Who replaced Pedri when he got injured at the Euros? Olmo. Not Zubimendi. At Spain he is played as a playmaker first. With 2 solid players defensively next to him, one of which is a clear DM. Always.

 

[JamDav1982]

And it is. We need to find a way to offload 2 midfielders and somehow get over 100m. And move Pedri a bit higher. If you saw the Euro and how Spain play, he is not played as Barca play him.

Nah Pedri doesnt need to go higher.

He is playing best football of his career and is given freedom to get into final third anyway.

You did nothing but bitch about how over rated Pedri was when played higher and used to claim Euros meant little...

 

[JamDav1982]

Xavi would have rioted if we signed olmo over a DM preferably zubi, even though he rated olmo by the looks of it.

He knew a DM was key to his setup

Nah he didnt push for a DM when thought Busi would be there for years and wanted Gundo which club paid big money on when Busi did leave.

 

[JamDav1982]

And it is. We need to find a way to offload 2 midfielders and somehow get over 100m. And move Pedri a bit higher. If you saw the Euro and how Spain play, he is not played as Barca play him.

Who replaced Pedri when he got injured at the Euros? Olmo. Not Zubimendi. At Spain he is played as a playmaker first. With 2 solid players defensively next to him, one of which is a clear DM. Always.

Pedri now plays deeper for Spain.

Funny how when he actually played better at the previous Euros you dismissed it and said Pedri is over rated, slow and weak.

Now its all about the Euros.

 

[serghei]

Nah Pedri doesnt need to go higher.

He is playing best football of his career and is given freedom to get into final third anyway.

You did nothing but bitch about how over rated Pedri was when played higher and used to claim Euros meant little...

He needs freedom to move up and have 2 behind him to take care of dangerous transitions.