Preseason or not, i definitely like Flickball better than Xaviball. Whether it will succeed at highest level is still an unknown, but at least i was entertained for once and the overall play had clear structure and patterns. And that with mostly second and third tier players.
Main thing i like:
1) more vertical play, constantly seeking ways to pass the ball into attacking space instead of handball perimeter keepball
2) players constantly moving into spaces to open up or running into spaces for through balls + passers acknowledging it and playing forward balls more instead of static standing around and receiving ball to feet with defender behind them (except Lewa, who cannot into it)
3) pressing is not headless chicken runing after every player (like Xavi did), who has the ball, but carefully closing down lanes and pressing, when there's a clear chance to dispossess and then retreating, if failed --> low compact block, when in their own half. Not many chances were conceded and most of them were cleared away without much panic.
4) players obviously know what they're doing even, if failing. Clear patterns of passing and ways to stretch the field, then attacking the free spaces. None of the confused keepball, where players look like they don't know what they should do next. That's already a big plus for Flick. I didn't get what Xaviball was trying to achieve at all most of the time.
5) way more one-touch passing than in previous years. Players are instructed to circulate the ball as quickly as possible (except Lewa, of course)
The main scare is defense. I have no idea how such an aggressive and straight forward approach would work even against bus parking/counter attacking Laliga teams, let alone big shots in Europe. Also, need to see how our main lineup copes with this kind of ball. Youngsters tend to be more assertive, if less skilled and calm.
Anyhow, these two matches were more pleasing to the eye than our entire last season. Carefully optimistic.