Arthur

[FinBarcelonafan]

Everyone needs to use some common sense. It is understandable that an older player will have less energy than a younger player. You have to remember some of our old core (Messi, busquets and pique) have been playing at the highest level for 10+ years week in week out. It is stupid to expect them to be the same. There is so much wear and tear that comes with football. Loads of players legs are gone even before they reach around 27/28 like ronaldinho, ozil, James Rodriguez etc

Bad examples. All those could be labeled lazy.(later on)

 

[Messigician]

Bad examples. All those could be labeled lazy.(later on)

Fabregas, Gerrard, Schweinsteiger, Rooney, Kante, RVP, Ronaldo 9 etc

 

[Batistuta9]

Bad examples. All those could be labeled lazy.(later on)

I just used them as examples as they are big names. There are plenty of players that could have been used. But I'm sure ronaldinho still tried to be good at Milan and ozil at arsenal, looks like James will be leaving real Madrid. It goes hand in hand when a players legs have gone, their playing style looks lazy and slow. They were all very good earlier on in their career

 

[serghei]

In most cases it's about psychological and mental exhaustion. You just don't commit to the game as much as you did when you were hungry. Players fall off from 28 years to 30. Let's be honest, physically they're about the same players, but most players lose drive and motivation after winning big titles, and are unable to find new ways to motivate themselves. Some players didn't have too much hunger to begin with.

I'm watching The Last Dance on Netflix, and it's vital to continue to find ways to motivate yourself when you reach 30 or so. Or else you will decline sharply. You simply don't want it as much. Which is why I have tremendous respect for players who have this iron mentality to always give their best.

The problems with our veterans is that they won a lot and just don't want it as much. Xavi had his best years ever between 28 and 31. So it's not exactly age reated. You can still be very competitive at 31-32 if you work as hard. But most of the time, you lose a couple of step because by that time you're already tired of football, you probably have a couple of kids, and so on.

 

[BBZ8800]

The problems with our veterans is that they won a lot and just don't want it as much. Xavi had his best years ever between 28 and 31.

Xavi won his first CL aged 26.
And he didn't even play, he missed the whole season due to a knee injury.
Xavi won his first NT trophy aged 28.
His first true CL came when he was aged 29.
So, it is logical that he was more hungry than some current players.

Busi won a CL aged 21.
And NT trophies in early 20s.
Messi won 4 Cls.

Then some guys here mention Milner.
How many CLs, Nt trophies and leagues he won?
He has won his first trophy in 30s.

Also, comparing Liverpool to Barca...
We have the team who won the highest amount of CLs and leagues in the last 15 years.
Our core players won majority of players.
Is it fair to compare a motivation and a physical state of players who were winning for 10-15 years with Liverpool who won their first league this season, after 30 years.

I mean, of course that they are running like crazy.
Frenkie and Alena also run more than drained Busi and Raki.
What a shock.

 

[JamDav1982]

Xavi won his first CL aged 26.
And he didn't even play, he missed the whole season due to a knee injury.
Xavi won his first NT trophy aged 28.
His first true CL came when he was aged 29.
So, it is logical that he was more hungry than some current players.

Busi won a CL aged 21.
And NT trophies in early 20s.
Messi won 4 Cls.

Then some guys here mention Milner.
How many CLs, Nt trophies and leagues he won?
He has won his first trophy in 30s.

Also, comparing Liverpool to Barca...
We have the team who won the highest amount of CLs and leagues in the last 15 years.
Our core players won majority of players.
Is it fair to compare a motivation and a physical state of players who were winning for 10-15 years with Liverpool who won their first league this season, after 30 years.

I mean, of course that they are running like crazy.
Frenkie and Alena also run more than drained Busi and Raki.
What a shock.

It is not even about the players not being motivated it is just too many of them being older at the same time and never been the greatest athletes either.

There have been plenty top players that have won it all and kept themselves in top shape and for some others it just doesnt go that way.

Xavi had an unbelievable engine, got about park more than any other player in those peak years but he couldnt keep that level of fitness up to mid thirties.

 

[Messigician]

Xavi won his first CL aged 26.
And he didn't even play, he missed the whole season due to a knee injury.
Xavi won his first NT trophy aged 28.
His first true CL came when he was aged 29.
So, it is logical that he was more hungry than some current players.

Busi won a CL aged 21.
And NT trophies in early 20s.
Messi won 4 Cls.

Then some guys here mention Milner.
How many CLs, Nt trophies and leagues he won?
He has won his first trophy in 30s.

Also, comparing Liverpool to Barca...
We have the team who won the highest amount of CLs and leagues in the last 15 years.
Our core players won majority of players.
Is it fair to compare a motivation and a physical state of players who were winning for 10-15 years with Liverpool who won their first league this season, after 30 years.

I mean, of course that they are running like crazy.
Frenkie and Alena also run more than drained Busi and Raki.
What a shock.

Milner actually won two premier league titles with City in his 20s

 

[serghei]

Xavi won his first CL aged 26.
And he didn't even play, he missed the whole season due to a knee injury.
Xavi won his first NT trophy aged 28.
His first true CL came when he was aged 29.
So, it is logical that he was more hungry than some current players.

Busi won a CL aged 21.
And NT trophies in early 20s.
Messi won 4 Cls.

Then some guys here mention Milner.
How many CLs, Nt trophies and leagues he won?
He has won his first trophy in 30s.

Also, comparing Liverpool to Barca...
We have the team who won the highest amount of CLs and leagues in the last 15 years.
Our core players won majority of players.
Is it fair to compare a motivation and a physical state of players who were winning for 10-15 years with Liverpool who won their first league this season, after 30 years.

I mean, of course that they are running like crazy.
Frenkie and Alena also run more than drained Busi and Raki.
What a shock.

I agree, but the point is to make moves as a club and not let veterans run things until they are 35. We did almost nothing, the board and almost all managers just stood around and did jack shit. We still have a core from 8-12 years ago.

So, it is normal for players to decline and lose motivation after more than a decade at the top (some of them). It's not normal for a club to just stand around and still think of these players as irreplaceable, even though they are clearly past it.

The reality is we have been embarassed in CL 3 years in a row due to not being fit and intense enough, and this board still acts as if what we need is more veterans.

 

[FinBarcelonafan]

Xavi won his first CL aged 26.
And he didn't even play, he missed the whole season due to a knee injury.
Xavi won his first NT trophy aged 28.
His first true CL came when he was aged 29.
So, it is logical that he was more hungry than some current players.

Busi won a CL aged 21.
And NT trophies in early 20s.
Messi won 4 Cls.

Then some guys here mention Milner.
How many CLs, Nt trophies and leagues he won?
He has won his first trophy in 30s.

Also, comparing Liverpool to Barca...
We have the team who won the highest amount of CLs and leagues in the last 15 years.
Our core players won majority of players.
Is it fair to compare a motivation and a physical state of players who were winning for 10-15 years with Liverpool who won their first league this season, after 30 years.

I mean, of course that they are running like crazy.
Frenkie and Alena also run more than drained Busi and Raki.
What a shock.

You are confirming what I was saying. Players are not motivated and so on. We need to change the players. No other way out.

 

[LABarcaFan]

The truth is that Barcelona is late with the rejuvenation of the team.

Dani Alves (Semedo), E.Abidal (Alba) C.Puyol (Mascherano), Mascherano (Lenglet) and Xavi (Arthur) replacements were done in time, but we still have a lots of useless veterans, who unfortunately are the backbone of the team. Most of the top European clubs has done it gradually and they don't have the problems we are facing at the moment.

 

[serghei]

The truth is that Barcelona is late with the rejuvenation of the team.

Dani Alves (Semedo), E.Abidal (Alba) C.Puyol (Mascherano), Mascherano (Lenglet) and Xavi (Arthur) replacements were done in time, but we still have a lots of useless veterans, who unfortunately are the backbone of the team. Most of the top European clubs has done it gradually and they don't have the problems we are facing at the moment.

Madrid are in a similar situation with us, and here they are close to being knocked out form CL twice in a row in Last 16. They still play with Ramos, Carvajal, Kroos, Benzema, Marcelo. Not much different than our case.

 

[El Gato]

Madrid are in a similar situation with us, and here they are close to being knocked out form CL twice in a row in Last 16. They still play with Ramos, Carvajal, Kroos, Benzema, Marcelo. Not much different than our case.

Very different.

 

[FinBarcelonafan]

Madrid are in a similar situation with us, and here they are close to being knocked out form CL twice in a row in Last 16. They still play with Ramos, Carvajal, Kroos, Benzema, Marcelo. Not much different than our case.

Yes but they have better youth. We have no youth.

 

[serghei]

Very different.

Not so different as you like to believe.

Yes but they have better youth. We have no youth.

They have better youth, I agree, but still not Madrid level. So they still are stacked with veteran players in all compartments. They don't have a premiere level talent tbh. A bunch of promising young players, and some good ones, but not one is legit world class talent who can walk in the team.

 

[JamDav1982]

Yes but they have better youth. We have no youth.

Their youth is massively overplayed.

None of them bar Valverde and possibly Hakimi look nailed on.