3 - Alejandro Balde

Horatio

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Not gonna lie, this point baffles me. How can you watch him and think he's technically average?

Gavi has good technique yeah. Agree with this. Does have to make ways in passing. Biggest issue for him to fix is positional awareness and rushing into this as been said.

But remember handful of moments where he dribbled way out of under pressure from 3 three players. Also ok center cross. Many players we have with worse.
 

JamDav1982

Senior Member
The best I have ever seen Gavi on ball for Barca was last season away to Mallorca in first half.

That is type of level he needs to get up to and sustain it for longer and he will start being much more of an asset.

He can dribble.. but also loses it cheaply a lot doing it.. he can pass at times.. but again is often in too much of a rush.

That will be known in Barca judging by what those that look at him think and comments Xavi has made.
 

jamrock

Senior Member
Hope so.

I am not seeing it easy for him this year to establish himself in a 4231. More talented than Casado but way less tactical discipline for the pivot position for example. Which is normal given Casado has been there throughout LaMasia and Gavi was always an attacking player.

But works hard and stays injury free, probably the best bet for him. Hopefully Thiago can translate ideas better than Xavi.

Like I've said before, some of the best football we played last season, was with gavi deeper in a double pivot, I think that's his natural position.

Once he's fit and available, I think the opposite, he rather easily walk into the team, he adds intangibles that no other midfielder we have is capable of.

His work rate, technical ability and short passing is perfect for the box to box player, only thing he needs to develop are his long passes.

Next season if we sign olmo, flick will need to be a very good man manger because a few players in midfield, will start to fill left out.

Since we won't sign a DM.
De jong -- Gavi

Gavi makes up for de jong's lack of presence and generally relaxed attitude on the pitch, as well as press resistance

de jong adds the ability to progress the ball forward.
 
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JamDav1982

Senior Member
Barcas best football last season by far was FDJ deeper and before Gavi and he got injured.

Gavis last few games deeper he was awful away to Sociedad and in the European game.

Cant think of any great game Barca had with him playing there.

Barca did play well with FDJ and Gavi deeper in 2nd half away to Villareal though. That was some of best football played.
 

jamrock

Senior Member
Barcelona at no point looked good with de jong in any meaningful game last season, he had is usual run of 6 good games and everyone went crazy, then he came right back down to earth.

The moment he came back and Gavi got injured, the season started to fall apart, lost 1 game against Madrid, with gavi starting and de jong out.
 

JamDav1982

Senior Member
Barca won all but 1 game before FDJ got injured at start of last season and thats when their best/most consistent football was played.

In that one game Barca did not win FDJ got MOTM away to Getafe and was a bit of scandal from the ref.

That was 7 games.. won 6 of them putting 5 past Betis, 5 past Antwerp, beating Villareal away in dominant way 4-2, beat Osasun away 2-1. last min pen won from world class FDJ pass, beat Cadiz 2-0.


That was the best run of form Barca had all season and best football they played for any run really.

The games that Gavi was deeper and playing more of the 'FDJ role' came after that really. He did have a good assist to help beat Celta.. but was badly over run in that game for long spells also.

Barca won 4 of 8 Gavi started deeper after FDJ out and before his injury. Dropping points to Mallorca, Real M, Granada and losing to Shaktar in CL.. probably lucky to even win 4 as R Sociedad absolutely battered Barca and somehow lost 1-0.

Not sure how that all ties in with Barca playing best football with Gavi in team.

In those last 8 games when deeper he was abysmal away to Sociedad and Shaktar and gave away a goal when caught on ball away to Granada.. and did it twice more got away with as drew 2-2.

There is no world where Gavi was better than FDJ last season.. look at the games.. look at the stats of two and impact had.

Gavi was nowhere near what some think last season.
 

JamDav1982

Senior Member
How did the 'season fall apart' when Gavi got injured?

Barca in Gavis last 8 games started won 4 of them.. after winning 6 of first 7 with FDJ.

Barca were 4th when Gavi played his last game and lost to Shakhtar to complicate a fairly easy CL group.

It makes zero sense to claim Barca were better with Gavi.. results show it.. his stats of what he did on park show it.

Another Gavi myth that folk just repeat until think it is true.

After both were injured and MATS etc it becomes a bit of shambles but to make out team dropped after Gavi got injured and he was better than FDJ in best form of season is utter nonsense.
 

jamrock

Senior Member
How many games did we lose when gavi was playing and de jong was injured?. one.

Was gavi not playing at the start of the season? Yes, so idk what conclusion you're trying to draw from that, when he played too.

Did the team not start to drop more points once de jong got back, Yes.
 

JamDav1982

Senior Member
How many games did we lose when gavi was playing and de jong was injured?. one.

Was gavi not playing at the start of the season? Yes, so idk what conclusion you're trying to draw from that, when he played too.

Did the team not start to drop more points once de jong got back, Yes.

I literally just said.. Barcas best run of form was start of last season with FDJ deeper and running midfield.

Barca won 6 of 7.... and the one they drew to Getafe FDJ was voted MOTM.. as he was in others in that run.

In those games.. 5-0 wins x2, beat Villreal away, Porto in CL, Osasuna away where FDJ helps win with WC pass to Lewa to win pen in dying minutes.

With FDJ injured and Gavi there.. Barca then win 4 of next 8.

Losing to Shakhtar and Real Madrid and drawing with Granada and Mallorca. Drawing with Granada and Mallorca not far off a defeat and a very poor result cant ignore.

Even the wins in that 8 games were ropey.. Gavi was horrendous away to Sociedad on the ball as Barca probably get 'luckiest' result in years to win that late on then need 17 year old Guiu to come off bench and beat Bilbao late on in another ropey game.

Gavi was also horrendous away to Shaktar and gave away ball for goal in dropped points v Granada and did it more times in that same game but got away with it.

Gavi was playing at start of season.. but not deeper as much as FDJ and nowhere near the standard of FDJ.

Barca were 4th when Gavi played last game.
 
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Gnidrologist

Senior Member
All these 'jams' would never stop bickering among themselves in every thread they put foot in. Almost as bad as Temp/Fati/KL bullshit flood.
 

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