Sumlit
San Claudio Bravo
That's why I believe it's not a problem of select players underperforming (even a number of them) because it's a systemic issue. For every 2 players jogging/running at any point, there's 4 walking or something like that. The space between the players is either too long or too short, the team shape is a mess which weakens the connection over the entire pitch, and communication is poor as a whole. This, coupled with some personnel defects (Xavi, Alves, and Pique? all declining, poor player form) is what's causing us as a whole to find less success in our tactical and on-pitch endeavors.
There's a clash of tactical ideas, jumbled positioning, and far less cohesion. The fact that we don't play as a team or a working unit weakens us far more than any group of individuals underperforming. The player himself (whoever it may be) is far less of a detriment than a weak connection between him and his teammates. If we had a system, there'd be a massive improvement as the players have more room to gain some form while they also have the support of the others.
I think you might very well be right, however we saw the signs of this even when the system was still in place. The previous two years Barcelona was still playing its system, yet the decline in overall play was starting to appear.
You are right the system, or changes to it, has certainly influenced in this, however the decline and poor form of key players, IMHO, has had a far greater impact. Also, not only are these key players declined and/or in poor form, but a lot of players that were staples of the system and had a huge hand in making it function efficiently, are no longer here and have been replaced by players who are of a different mold and not ideal for the system's efficient functioning.
But yeah, I do agree it is a mixture of maladies, and not just a single crippling one.