Andrés Iniesta

[Don_Andrés]

While we're at this, am I the only one who sees him as Xavi's heir in central midfield? Somehow it makes more sense to me that Iniesta will just back up a bit and take over Xavi's role, rather than Busquets playing more up front, or Cesc backing up. Iniesta is already the one taking over Xavi's duties in the Spain NT when Xavi is subbed off or whatever, I don't see why he couldn't be our main CM when Xavi starts declining.

Ballague mentioned this on Revista La Liga earlier in the week. It makes more sense like you say. Iniesta is the most senior member of the midfield, let him take more of the responsibility. Who play's with him (with Xavi being rested), now that's another matter for discussion.

 

[Cule4life]

He's not the midfield conductor like Xavi is in terms of distributing. He's more into roaming and drawing defenders to find players in positions to start an attack.
While I do see him dropping deeper, he's just too different from Xavi for him to really take his role, and that's not where his strengths lie. Take into account that not every player will be replaced with an exact version of them and our midfield will not always have the same system as the Xaviniesta type thing we have going now.

Thiago is in the mold of Xavi by kick starting the tiki taka metronome and spreading the play to the wingers/fullbacks, starting passing movements, and overall bossing the midfield. He's more attack minded though I'd say. We might even one day see Samper as the deep lying distributor/playmaker and Thiago as the roaming Iniesta-type player, or Rafinha being an advanced playmaker and Thiago being the distributor. We can't be sure yet.

This

 

[Stric]

Iniesta might not be the type of player Xavi is, but to me, he's still closer to that type than either Thiago or Cesc. He's not an orchestrator like Xavi, but he's more of an orchestrator than either of the other two. Both Thiago and Cesc are, IMHO, better suited for the attacking role.

 

[Don_Andrés]

Nobody see's a future for Sergi Roberto in the Barca midfield then?

 

[Kerrybai]

He's not the midfield conductor like Xavi is in terms of distributing. He's more into roaming and drawing defenders to find players in positions to start an attack.
While I do see him dropping deeper, he's just too different from Xavi for him to really take his role, and that's not where his strengths lie. Take into account that not every player will be replaced with an exact version of them and our midfield will not always have the same system as the Xaviniesta type thing we have going now.

Thiago is in the mold of Xavi by kick starting the tiki taka metronome and spreading the play to the wingers/fullbacks, starting passing movements, and overall bossing the midfield. He's more attack minded though I'd say. We might even one day see Samper as the deep lying distributor/playmaker and Thiago as the roaming Iniesta-type player, or Rafinha being an advanced playmaker and Thiago being the distributor. We can't be sure yet.

True but at the same time Iniesta is a one of a kind player, it wouldn't surprise me if he could adapt his game to become the orchestrator of the team

 

[DonAndres]

Nobody see's a future for Sergi Roberto in the Barca midfield then?

I've said this before and I'll say it again. I see Roberto fitting anywhere. He could be a great midfield utility man. Being a barcelona bred box to box midfielder he can attack, defend, he know's the team's philosophy and style from being in the masia, and has a good physical presence. He could play as a rotation/sub for any midfield position when the starters are resting/injured and fit anywhere. This might not be a glamorous role but it sure is necessary and damn well useful. It'll take a lot of work to build up all of those skills and be great overall so I'd want him to go on loan to Espanyol for a few years to gain experience. He's a jack of all trades, master of none, but his role in the team the way I see it could be one of the most vital.

 

[BerkeleyBernie]

He's not the midfield conductor like Xavi is in terms of distributing. He's more into roaming and drawing defenders to find players in positions to start an attack.
While I do see him dropping deeper, he's just too different from Xavi for him to really take his role, and that's not where his strengths lie. Take into account that not every player will be replaced with an exact version of them and our midfield will not always have the same system as the Xaviniesta type thing we have going now.

Thiago is in the mold of Xavi by kick starting the tiki taka metronome and spreading the play to the wingers/fullbacks, starting passing movements, and overall bossing the midfield. He's more attack minded though I'd say. We might even one day see Samper as the deep lying distributor/playmaker and Thiago as the roaming Iniesta-type player, or Rafinha being an advanced playmaker and Thiago being the distributor. We can't be sure yet.

+1 Yup!

 

[Ocurrente]

 

[ThwiX]

It's sad that he's no goal threat, never been, never will be.

 

[Barca8]

Nobody see's a future for Sergi Roberto in the Barca midfield then?

I agree with DonAndres that Sergi is a great utility player. He has the ability to anywhere in midfield. Which midfield role (Xavi, Iniesta, Busquets) is he the best to slot into remains the main question. He just hasn't had the time and experience yet to make a position his own. I do hope he gets more time though

It's sad that he's no goal threat, never been, never will be.

I think Iniesta does just fine

 

[ThwiX]

A YouTube video could even make Alexis look like a clinical finisher. Like I said, Iniesta is no goal threat and his shooting is very poor.

 

[Barcaman]

I was impressed again with Iniesta. While Busquets and Xavi looked frightened, Don took the reins and looked brave out there.

 

[abual3bed1]

 

[Alissa]

He is a genius, but damn he's so useless in front of the goal. How is it possible to be so freaking talented in every department of the game and then choke so badly in front of the goal?

 

[Kerrybai]

It's sad that he's no goal threat, never been, never will be.

If he could score goals he would go down as one of the best ever IMO, he still will but not to the same extent.