Barcelona doesn't need a winger to hug the line. That has been the most problematic tactic for us this season, the idea that having two wingers very close to the sidelines might actually help us unlock teams. Id didn't help us and will not helps us in the future, because from the wing, the most realistical thing to do is to cross. And crossing to 1.70m guys isn't particularly helpful, is it? We are the most dangerous in the center, not on the wings. What I would do is instruct both Neymar and Alexis to play closer to Messi, leaving the wings to be covered by the fullbacks, and only when those fullbacks have plenty of space to use.
Why are you answering to something I never said. The way Barca played last season is a way they have never played recently and not the way they need to play. They played as if they had a conventional CF and conventional wide wingers, when what they have is a false 9 and creative wingers/WAM.
When I say the role Barca need, is that they need wide forwards instead of wingers or other types of wide players. Because they have a false 9 in the middle and not a conventional CF, they need their wide attacking players to be wide forwards that push forward and centrally and act as wide CF when Messi drops deeper. This is how Barca is at its best. They need the Henrys and Eto'os type of forwards. Those agile and technical enough to play wide, but still possessing great CF skills.
Alexis is simply not this, Neymar either for that matter, at least not yet. They are more creative types than clinical forwards. Barca need to shuffle their lineup a bit because they just currently don't have wide forward types in their roster.
Alexis also as the furthest player on goal is IMO not ideal. He will get lost in the shuffle and get closed out by defenses. Get him deeper, on the ball early to allow for his creativity and allow him to make runs into the box from deep to confuse the defense.