Xavi Hernández

[KingLeo10]

Sorry Alik, amigo culture is stronger than ever with Xavi at the helm (BOTH xavi and Busquets are responsible). Not to mention, using "stats" from friendly games is just plain wrong.

https://fbref.com/en/players/5ab0ea87/Sergio-Busquets

Last season, Busquets played the highest minutes he's ever played in LL in his whole career. And this season he starts with his usual 90 mins.

 

[Alik]

Wait, you are counting minutes from friendly games.

Only Pique will have a drop in minutes this season, the other two will play whenever they are available.

Sorry Alik, amigo culture is stronger than ever with Xavi at the helm (BOTH xavi and Busquets are responsible). Not to mention, using "stats" from friendly games is just plain wrong.

https://fbref.com/en/players/5ab0ea87/Sergio-Busquets

Last season, Busquets played the highest minutes he's ever played in LL in his whole career. And this season he starts with his usual 90 mins.

1. I am counting the last 5 matches, because this transfer window we have made significant changes to the squad. The situation is entirely different from last season. Why are we ignoring that?
2. Pique will definitely have his minutes reduced, he has a lot of competition in his position. That leaves what? Two players equals "amigo culture"?
3. Amigo culture is not stronger than it was, back when Messi and Suarez were here, and Pique had no competition.
4. Catta's original assertion was that "No elite coach will touch this club as long as the amigos call the shots". Obviously, we are talking about a scenario without Xavi.
5. Do you seriously think a manager like Klopp or Guardiola would not be able to stamp his authority because of a couple of players like Busquets or Alba?

 

[JamDav1982]

The fact Pique exists at the club to this point is proof of amigo culture.

The way he behaves and gets away with it is an absolute disgrace and has been for years.

Had far too much input and influence on board and getting away with unprofessional behaviour and every coach knew where power dynamic lay.

No top coach would touch Barca and one of many reasons would be the influence of amigos.

 

[khaled_a_d]

1. I am counting the last 5 matches, because this transfer window we have made significant changes to the squad. The situation is entirely different from last season. Why are we ignoring that?
2. Pique will definitely have his minutes reduced, he has a lot of competition in his position. That leaves what? Two players equals "amigo culture"?
3. Amigo culture is not stronger than it was, back when Messi and Suarez were here, and Pique had no competition.
4. Catta's original assertion was that "No elite coach will touch this club as long as the amigos call the shots". Obviously, we are talking about a scenario without Xavi.
5. Do you seriously think a manager like Klopp or Guardiola would not be able to stamp his authority because of a couple of players like Busquets or Alba?

Yeah, I would argue that Barca job is actually more desirable than any time in past decade

 

[serghei]

With 52.63%, Xavi has the worst win percentage from a Barcelona manager in the last 20 years.

Worse than Koeman (58.21%), Seti?n (64.00%), and Valverde (66.90%).

?
@LaLigaenDirecto


Bring back EV!

Bring back EV and also bring back 30 years old Messi .

 

[Horatio]

folks keep saying Valv was a YES man yet Grassman almost pulled an undefeated and never threw his players under the bus

Xavi otoh would throw FDJ to the sharks just as to stay in da fat man's good graces

Ratios!

Xavi rather throw FDJ to sharks, while Earnest V. spun his car around to save DFJ from impending death at Catalunya airport.

Levels to this.

 

[KingLeo10]

EV had a Messi who scored ~100 goals and gave about 40 assists in his first 2 seasons.

If Xavi gets that sort of production from Lewa (he won't), Xavi will also have EV's league winning percentage.

 

[serghei]

EV had a Messi who scored ~100 goals and gave about 40 assists in his first 2 seasons.

If Xavi gets that sort of production from Lewa (he won't), Xavi will also have EV's league winning percentage.

That's because EV knew how to use Messi expertly.

 

[Fati_Future_BallonDor]

EV had a Messi who scored ~100 goals and gave about 40 assists in his first 2 seasons.

If Xavi gets that sort of production from Lewa (he won't), Xavi will also have EV's league winning percentage.

this 'argument' is old, LE had also (younger) Messi and didnt win in his last season, Setien didnt win either + defense was in ll terrific (because of Messi ? )

Xavi is underperforming, even if Lewa scores 0 goals he has to do better

 

[serghei]

See? EV is even behind the Messi factor.

 

[KingLeo10]

Messi won 5 Ballon D'Or and averaged 50 goals a season for the 9 seasons before EV came to Barca.

But sure, only EV knew how to use Messi...

 

[Sailor Mars]

With 52.63%, Xavi has the worst win percentage from a Barcelona manager in the last 20 years.

Worse than Koeman (58.21%), Seti?n (64.00%), and Valverde (66.90%).

?
@LaLigaenDirecto


Bring back EV!

Surprised that Valverde's win percentage is only about 3 points above Setien's. Would've thought it was much higher.

Wonder how that compares to Enrique, Pep, and Rijkaard.

 

[khaled_a_d]

Messi won 5 Ballon D'Or and averaged 50 goals a season for the 9 seasons before EV came to Barca.

But sure, only EV knew how to use Messi...

The argument is whether Messi presence alone is enough to win. Not getting best of Messi.
We lost with younger Messi, just saying "he has Messi" is a weak argument in itself
Also, Messi became a second striker only in 2016, 18 months before EV came. Only then Messi became a real tactical burden

 

[KingLeo10]

The argument is whether Messi presence alone is enough to win. Not getting best of Messi.
We lost with younger Messi, just saying "he has Messi" is a weak argument in itself
Also, Messi became a second striker only in 2016, 18 months before EV came. Only then Messi became a real tactical burden

My counter is...

The times we did lose the league under Messi (since his prime began in 08-09):

11/12 - RM all time record of 100 points
13/14 - AM 90 points (and we still should have won if not for...Messi's disallowed goal on last day lol)
16/17 - RM 93 points (best RM side of the last 50 years)

Basically, it took 90 points + referee benefits to beat a prime Messi in the league. EV had the benefit of having the last legs of Messi's prime...and even then, he won those 2 leagues because RM had 75-80 point seasons. Ok, he beat RM H2H (I credit him that) but RM was trash against multiple other sides too. You can't tell me the RM of those 2 years was the same as RM 11/12 or RM 16/17. Or even AM 13/14.

Messi was always THE factor in our league dominance. He was basically a 1 goal + 0.33 assist a league game player from 08-09 to 18-19.

 

[Rassvet]

Surprised that Valverde's win percentage is only about 3 points above Setien's. Would've thought it was much higher.

Wonder how that compares to Enrique, Pep, and Rijkaard.

It is a bit suprising indeed. I think Valverde drew more of the games he didn't win unlike Setien who lost 5 matches in half a season.

Also, a lot of the matches Valverde didn't win were less important ones like a handful at the end of his two full league seasons when the title was already wrapped up and a number of copa del rey first leg matches where Barca ended up advancing anyway.