I was thinking about this yesterday. How I believe Xavi sees importance/roles of players next season.
I'll use FM analogy but explain what I mean with each.
- star player (expected to start 85-90% of games when available)
- important player (75-85%)
- regular starter (60-75%)
- squad player (start 30-50% of games, also get a lot of minutes off the bench)
- backup (10-20%)
- impact sub (playing most minutes of the bench, rarely starting)
Goalkeepers:
Star player: MATS
Cup GK: Inaki Pena
Things are pretty clear here.
Defenders:
Star player: Alba (at this point he doesn't have competition, his role could diminished little if/when a LB is bought but not by much)
Important players: Araujo, Kounde
Regular starter: Azpi (if signed)
Squad player: Christensen
Backups: Garcia, Pique, Dest
Impact sub: Roberto
AC could improve his status closer to Regular starter with good performances and/or if one of Araujo or Kounde gets injured.
Midfielders:
Star player: Busquets
Important player: Pedri
Regular starters: /
Squad players: Gavi, Kessie, FDJ (if he stays)
Backup: Nico
Impact sub: Roberto
In regards to Busi obviously not something I want to see but something we can all expect to happen. Hope to be wrong though. If healthy I think Pedri will be the next in line to have almost guaranteed spot in midfield while others will have to share minutes.
Forwards:
Star player: Lewa
Important player: /
Regular starter: Raphinha
Squad players: Dembele, Ansu, Ferran
Backup/Impact sub: Auba
Didn't mention five players on the "not wanted" list neither Memphis, Pjanić or Balde (loan) who I think will all leave.
Overall it's clear we have a much improved team. Problem is pretty obvious though when you see that all four our supposed "star players" are 30+. On a bright side we'll have a lot of competition for most positions which is something we didn't have for years. We have a lot of players I labeled as squad players but who I (and themselves as well) believe are good enough to be starters.
It's up to Xavi to find the right roles that will get the best out of everyone. He wanted a big/deep squad, we mortgaged a big part of our future to give him almost all he wanted and now he needs to prove he can manage this squad.
There is absolutely no excuse to not use 5 subs in every game and also make subs early when needed because we'll always have combinations of Kessie/Gavi/Pedri and Ansu/Dembele/Ferran/Auba that could change flow of the game coming off the bench. Or at least rotate to rest players in this strange season when WC will basically divide season in two parts and most players will be away from the club for a month when Xavi and his staff won't have control over their training process etc. and some of them might come back tired or even injured.
That's why I hope Xavi will use common sense and decrease minutes of likes of Busi and Alba, maybe even Lewa to keep them fresh for second part of the season.