8 - Pedri

[serghei]

So Pedri scores the most out of Barca's midfielders while being constantly slaughtered for it. Good to know

Well, he is technically an AM right? You expect Busi to score more?

 

[Joan]

Well, he is technically an AM right? You expect Busi to score more?

Tbf expected De Jong to lead by a margin.

 

[BusiTheKing]

He's basically a status quo player.

Iniesta and Xavi were great status quo protectors and because our status quo was mostly positive (winning) in those halcyon days, that's what they mostly did. So that's what many people associate them with. And then you see Pedri doing the same kind of things as they did most of the game, retaining possession, doing smart little touches, displaying sensibile decision making, having good overview. And you think, wauw, this guy does the same things that Iniesta and Xavi used to do.

But those people somehow haven't really woken up to the fact that this is not the same team. They also seem to have forgotten that Xavi and Iniesta also knew how to change the status quo when we needed to. That's when their game took on a different temperament, a higher gear, that Pedri just doesn't seem to possess.

There seems to be some sort of bias imprinted in the minds of Barca fans stemming from back then. That if we do the same as we did back then, then we will be the same team. Because these people's sense of what we did back then is superficial. Playing with a lot of sensible passes and keeping possession is the tip of the iceberg. A lot of fans want to take that tip and put it on to this team because they expect the same result.

 

[serghei]

Tbf expected De Jong to lead by a margin.

Didn't he played CB for quite some games too?

But I agree actually, De Jong is not scoring enough compared with the positions he gets himself in. But then, this is because both are looking for Messi all the time.

 

[Joan]

Didn't he played CB for quite some games too?

But I agree actually, De Jong is not scoring enough compared with the positions he gets himself in. But then, this is because both are looking for Messi all the time.

Yes, but he's not really competing with Lampard himself. Pedri's shooting is beyond poor. Not saying much, just find it surprising.

Yes. Your edit basically. Thought he was scoring way more going by chances he gets.

 

[BBZ8800]

I have looked for total number of shots in La Liga and a CL.

Goals in total/shots in total:
Frenkie 3/17
Pedri 4/29
Busi 0/7
= 7/53

Atletico
Carrasco 7/50
Llorente 13/56

Kroos 3/48
Casemiro 7/55
Modric 4/51

The funny thing is: our 3 midfielders combined in the whole La Liga and a CL season have 53 shooting attempts.
Yet, midfielders from Real and Atletico, each of them ALONE have similar amount of shots (50-55 shots per season).

That is because no one shoots in our team and we all look only for Messi.
No wonder that we are losing against all big teams since they know: every ball will be passed to Messi, no one else is brave enough to shoot and majority are horrible at shooting.
Just man mark Messi with 2 players and Barca is dead.

Casemiro 55 shots vs Barca's midfield 53 shots.
Insane.

 

[Catta]

If you compare them to Reals midfield, both Pedri and Frenkie are not as bad at finishing like people think. CMK have 3 times more shots but only 2 times more goals. If our midfielders tried more shots, their number would look so much better than they do currently.

Stop looking for Messi in every action and the midfield wouldn't be a problem anymore.

 

[FinBarcelonafan]

It makes sense to pass Messi. He is one of the best goal scorers in the history.

I am sure other teams would take less shots from mid if they had Messi too

BUT one thing I agree, Pedri and DeJong needs to improve their goal scoring instincts and shooting.

 

[serghei]

I have looked for total number of shots in La Liga and a CL.

Goals in total/shots in total:
Frenkie 3/17
Pedri 4/29
Busi 0/7
= 7/53

Atletico
Carrasco 7/50
Llorente 13/56

Kroos 3/48
Casemiro 7/55
Modric 4/51

The funny thing is: our 3 midfielders combined in the whole La Liga and a CL season have 53 shooting attempts.
Yet, midfielders from Real and Atletico, each of them ALONE have similar amount of shots (50-55 shots per season).

That is because no one shoots in our team and we all look only for Messi.
No wonder that we are losing against all big teams since they know: every ball will be passed to Messi, no one else is brave enough to shoot and majority are horrible at shooting.
Just man mark Messi with 2 players and Barca is dead.

Casemiro 55 shots vs Barca's midfield 53 shots.
Insane.

How many goals by our strikers though compared with Madrid and Atletico? Midfielders of these teams shoot more because their attacks aren't producing enough.

Carrasco and Lorrente are forwards ffs. Koke and Saul are the CMs.

 

[fergus90]

I have looked for total number of shots in La Liga and a CL.

Goals in total/shots in total:
Frenkie 3/17
Pedri 4/29
Busi 0/7
= 7/53

Atletico
Carrasco 7/50
Llorente 13/56

Kroos 3/48
Casemiro 7/55
Modric 4/51

The funny thing is: our 3 midfielders combined in the whole La Liga and a CL season have 53 shooting attempts.
Yet, midfielders from Real and Atletico, each of them ALONE have similar amount of shots (50-55 shots per season).

That is because no one shoots in our team and we all look only for Messi.
No wonder that we are losing against all big teams since they know: every ball will be passed to Messi, no one else is brave enough to shoot and majority are horrible at shooting.
Just man mark Messi with 2 players and Barca is dead.

Casemiro 55 shots vs Barca's midfield 53 shots.
Insane.

That's been our tactic for a few years before De Jong and Pedri arrived to be fair.

 

[Porque]

Skewed stats, skewed expectation of Pedri. It is one of the big issue's with the current over analysis and attention deficit of fans.

Shall we judge Modric by his first season at Real Madrid?

Spoiler.
For those who want to judge it purely on stats and not on memory of actual performances where Modric was slated by Madrid fans and media.

Modric
27/28 years old
Minutes played - 3.284
Goals - 4
Assists - 8

Pedri
17/18 years old
Minutes played - 3.451
Goals - 4
Assists - 6

 

[serghei]

That's been our tactic for a few years before De Jong and Pedri arrived to be fair.

I think even now the schematics are basically the same. If Messi is somewhere near them they will try to pass him even if they can place a shot. But anyway, this discussion is a bit pointless as long as our offense is comfortably the best in Spain.

 

[fergus90]

Pedri is too young to be compared to the likes of Modric, Kroos now anyway. The lad has had one season at Barcelona after playing for Las Palmas. The other two belong with the best midfielders in the world for the last decade with multiple honours between them.

Expecting way too much at this point. The only issue here is that he's started 50 fucking games which means the unrealistic expectations get placed on him.

 

[serghei]

If you compare them to Reals midfield, both Pedri and Frenkie are not as bad at finishing like people think. CMK have 3 times more shots but only 2 times more goals. If our midfielders tried more shots, their number would look so much better than they do currently.

Stop looking for Messi in every action and the midfield wouldn't be a problem anymore.

If they tried more shots, the forwards would have fewer chances and fewer goals, especially Messi. Barca has scored nearly 40% more goals than Real Madrid in La Liga.

 

[Fati_Future_BallonDor]

Shooting is one thing but the other thing is he needs to improve his vision. I rarely see through balls from him and De Jong.