8 - Pedri

[Porque]

He and Casado would have been the best pivots for this game, but it was wiser to give Frenkie the minutes.

 

[vegitot]

I always thought he was better deeper too, but plenty think he's better closer to the goal.

He has arguably best first touch in current Europe. And great passing skill. It's a bit waste if he can't use these in the final third.

But for now he is better when he plays deeper and doesn't have to worry too much about creating chances.

The only way he can permanently plays as a 10 is if somehow he can learn to play that role like Xavi did before. Still a 10 but always drop deep and move all over the pitch to dominate the play.

 

[Temptation]

He has arguably best first touch in current Europe. And great passing skill. It's a bit waste if he can't use these in the final third.

But for now he is better when he plays deeper and doesn't have to worry too much about creating chances.

The only way he can permanently plays as a 10 is if somehow he can learn to play that role like Xavi did before. Still a 10 but always drop deep and move all over the pitch to dominate the play.

He's a good passer but doesn't have the best final ball or killer instinct. His natural instinct is to play safer passes and preserve and recycle possession instead of attempting(and pulling off) inventive, killer low percentage final balls like a KDB or Ozil.


He's much better deeper where he gets a bit more time and space to bring out his actual qualities. He's not a bonafide goal threat like Olmo or KDB either so I don't see him as a proper 10 at all.


Ideally, Pedri is an 8 in a 433. Similar profile to Iniesta - although Iniesta's natural swiftness and acceleration allowed him to be more versatile and even fill in as a false LW in a 433 when needed. Pedri doesn't have that swiftness. In Flick's system Pedri can play in the pivot or slightly ahead based on the players available. But he's not a proper 10 like Olmo is. Proper 10s need that naturally inventive, risk taking instinct and have a certain X Factor about them.


The higher you're up the pitch(closer to the opponent's goal), the less amount of time and touches you are allowed on the ball. Pedri is at his best when he has that little extra time on the ball to do his thing. For instance, Pirlo used to be a 10 but Ancelotti moved him deeper and that unlocked a whole new Pirlo where he had more time on the ball to dictate play. Not saying that Pirlo and Pedri have a similar player profile. They don't. Just an example to illustrate my point.


@Birdy @Fati_Future_BallonDor @Maradona37 do you agree? 🧐

 

[Maradona37]

He's a good passer but doesn't have the best final ball or killer instinct. His natural instinct is to play safer passes and preserve and recycle possession instead of attempting(and pulling off) inventive, killer low percentage final balls like a KDB or Ozil.


He's much better deeper where he gets a bit more time and space to bring out his actual qualities. He's not a bonafide goal threat like Olmo or KDB either so I don't see him as a proper 10 at all.


Ideally, Pedri is an 8 in a 433. Similar profile to Iniesta - although Iniesta's natural swiftness and acceleration allowed him to be more versatile and even fill in as a false LW in a 433 when needed. Pedri doesn't have that swiftness. In Flick's system Pedri can play in the pivot or slightly ahead based on the players available. But he's not a proper 10 like Olmo is. Proper 10s need that naturally inventive, risk taking instinct and have a certain X Factor about them.


The higher you're up the pitch(closer to the opponent's goal), the less amount of time and touches you are allowed on the ball. Pedri is at his best when he has that little extra time on the ball to do his thing. For instance, Pirlo used to be a 10 but Ancelotti moved him deeper and that unlocked a whole new Pirlo where he had more time on the ball to dictate play. Not saying that Pirlo and Pedri have a similar player profile. They don't. Just an example to illustrate my point.


@Birdy @Fati_Future_BallonDor @Maradona37 do you agree? 🧐

I can see yours and vegitot's points, but I tend to lean more to your side, yes. I think he's an Iniesta-style player and can start and play deeper or play in the final third, but his best abilities lie a bit deeper. However, it's definitely a good debate.

Overall though I think you make some very good points.

 

[Andresito]

I think Pedri's best position is as controller of the game. Be it in a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 he needs to be partnered with a more defensive player and a more offensive player, like Casado and Olmo. Frenkie is not ideal for Pedri if we want to get the best out of him.

His technique is used more like Xavi rather than Iniesta which is to get out of tricky situations rather than dribble to create chances like Iniesta could do. I don't think he resembles either Xavi or Iniesta to 100% but imo he'd be more effective playing in Xavi's role rather than Iniesta's.

At the same time Pedri's creative strength lies in the short passes and combinations rather than hitting killer passes. For that he needs to be further up the pitch. He's usually very dangerous when combining with Yamal just outside the box for example. But having a defensive player next to/behind him enables him to do that.

I do feel though sometimes he needs time to impose himself on a game. It can take 20-30 minutes before he can make his mark which is a long time as team's main controller. Doesn't happen all the time but it's something he can improve.

 

[Maradona37]

I think Pedri's best position is as controller of the game. Be it in a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 he needs to be partnered with a more defensive player and a more offensive player, like Casado and Olmo. Frenkie is not ideal for Pedri if we want to get the best out of him.

His technique is used more like Xavi rather than Iniesta which is to get out of tricky situations rather than dribble to create chances like Iniesta could do. I don't think he resembles either Xavi or Iniesta to 100% but imo he'd be more effective playing in Xavi's role rather than Iniesta's.

At the same time Pedri's creative strength lies in the short passes and combinations rather than hitting killer passes. For that he needs to be further up the pitch. He's usually very dangerous when combining with Yamal just outside the box for example. But having a defensive player next to/behind him enables him to do that.

I do feel though sometimes he needs time to impose himself on a game. It can take 20-30 minutes before he can make his mark which is a long time as team's main controller. Doesn't happen all the time but it's something he can improve.

Agree with most of that, though Iniesta was very press-resistant too. But I get the point that Xavi was more of a controller than Iniesta.

In numerical terms (which can be cringe in football) you are describing Pedri as more as an 8 to be paired with a 6 and a 10, where Casado would be the 6 (defensive midfielder) and Olmo the 10 (offensive midfielder). Of course, in practice they interact and interchange and positions aren't always so fixed. But in a general sense that is how it works. I too see Pedri as an 8 but I can understand why people would see him as more of a 10 too.

Iniesta was very versatile and could play as an 8, 10, or even LW. He roamed around and did all sorts of jobs, within games or in different positions from game to game. I think Pep and other coaches enjoyed how many strings he had to his bow. Whereas Xavi was a pure midfield metronome (though ironically probably better in G/A than Iniesta a lot of the time).

 

[Porque]

Pedri still lacks the natural instinct to play the killer pass.

Casado has 5 assists while Pedri has 2, though Pedri has 3 goals.

With the amount of movement the offensive is giving, his assist count should in theory sky rocket from deeper positions.

So far, this early in the season, Pedri is incredibly important for his balance and distribution, but the closest to Xavi on the ball has been Casado surprisingly. He has reminded me of early Xavi- specifically under Radi Antic where he started to show more of his offensive game- but from deep positions.

 

[Maradona37]

Pedri still lacks the natural instinct to play the killer pass.

Casado has 5 assists while Pedri has 2, though Pedri has 3 goals.

With the amount of movement the offensive is giving, his assist count should in theory sky rocket from deeper positions.

I didn't know Casado has 5 assists. That is pretty impressive and as you say highlights the supreme movement in final third, as well as Barca squeezing the play and being more direct and playing quicker or earlier balls from deeper positions into the front men.

 

[Fati_Future_BallonDor]

I feel he has the vision and the skill for the final pass but he often chooses the safe pass instead of the killer pass. But if i remember correctly he was still one of the leaders in key passes last season when he played.

Otherwise his ball control is excellent, have the ball feeling like Thiago which makes it extremely hard to get the ball from him and the leader mentality in midfield in young age is impressive.

His stamina improved and if he can be fit he will be crucial for us.

 

[Andresito]

Agree with most of that, though Iniesta was very press-resistant too. But I get the point that Xavi was more of a controller than Iniesta.

In numerical terms (which can be cringe in football) you are describing Pedri as more as an 8 to be paired with a 6 and a 10, where Casado would be the 6 (defensive midfielder) and Olmo the 10 (offensive midfielder). Of course, in practice they interact and interchange and positions aren't always so fixed. But in a general sense that is how it works. I too see Pedri as an 8 but I can understand why people would see him as more of a 10 too.

Iniesta was very versatile and could play as an 8, 10, or even LW. He roamed around and did all sorts of jobs, within games or in different positions from game to game. I think Pep and other coaches enjoyed how many strings he had to his bow. Whereas Xavi was a pure midfield metronome (though ironically probably better in G/A than Iniesta a lot of the time).

Prime Iniesta would be the most press resistant player in this team. But I'm not sure about Iniesta's ability to play at Xavi's position. He never actually did regularly.

After Xavi left the natural move would be to play Iniesta there and get a new offensively oriented midfielder because those are arguably more common than the Xavi clones unless you get total ass versions like Seri and Arthur.

Btw, I think Pedri has received more instructions to play killer passes even from Xavi. I can’t remember a single situation this season where he has avoided the killer pass for the safer option. Those moments were far more common a year ago.

 

[Maradona37]

Prime Iniesta would be the most press resistant player in this team. But I'm not sure about Iniesta's ability to play at Xavi's position. He never actually did regularly.

After Xavi left the natural move would be to play Iniesta there and get a new offensively oriented midfielder because those are arguably more common than the Xavi clones unless you get total ass versions like Seri and Arthur.

Btw, I think Pedri has received more instructions to play killer passes even from Xavi. I can’t remember a single situation this season where he has avoided the killer pass for the safer option. Those moments were far more common a year ago.

Fair enough, agree with you there. Also agree that Iniesta never really played as the metronome, as I implied. But I think he could have done it to a decent level. Not Xavi level though, of course.

As a liker of Barca but not a Barca fan, I wasn't watching Barca last season often. So cannot offer a perspective on Pedri being riskier with his passes this season. But will take your word for it.

I agree it's easier to find attacking midfielders than controlling midfielders. Guys like Xavi are very unique - a Xavi clone in this era would be invaluable for any team. I guess Rodri comes closest in terms of controlling games and exerting influence over his team and dominancing over the opposition, but even then he has different attributes and style in some ways to Xavi.

Either way, it's great that the boy Pedri has it in him to play more of a Xavi role and more of an Iniesta role (though not exactly like either as you say, and obviously not as good as either). He shows versatility and will be one of the best players in the world for years to come hopefully (assuming he is over the injuries).

 

[soul24rage]

Pedri has an incredible sense of positioning and where he needs to be. Give him positional freedom and he will cook.

 

[jamrock]

AM/CM, I told y'all this already and that's exactly what he's doing.

Flick system when pedri is in the field, is a really a 4-3-3 in practice and he's in the midfield and attacking third.

He doesn't have the range of passing to play deep, that is more of de jong's profile, which is why we've only really played a double Pivot since his return from injury.

His best comp in today's game is probably B.Silva

 

[Joan]

After he’s been with us for years, people still don’t understand what kind of a player he is.

Sometimes I’m surprised.

Sometimes not.

 

[Maradona37]

After he’s been with us for years, people still don’t understand what kind of a player he is.

Sometimes I’m surprised.

Sometimes not.

What kind of player is he? Admittedly I have mostly watched him with Spain, and here and there with Barca.

He fits a couple of profiles I think.