Let's talk about Xavi's replacement (2024)

[khaled_a_d]

I think the thing with Flick from reading his quotes (talking about building from the youth - well all candidates who understand the club say this) is that he probably wants to build a project. Because that is what his career as a first team coach lacks thus far.

He could very well bring instant results as well because of his ethos and the core albeit old (Stegen, Gundagon, Lewy) believing in it which will encourage the young players to follow. You could probably add Frenkie to that list.

I guess his arrival, would be best related to Van Gaal first stint back in the 90s. You are looking at someone that has the potential to burn the candle at both sides at the same time, rather than leaning too far into one side (De Zerbi) or the other (Mourinho).

Luckily the media should be much more forgiving than back then, while their isn't a strong Catalan identity to win over.

The only old guard left is Bob, so is on the way out. While apart from Cubarsi, we have an LaMasia generation coming through but nobody Catalan immediately breaking through, unless something extra special happens with Fort and Bernal.

Again, the question is mostly about the club expectations from him, rather than what he is capable of.
I don't know if hiring Flick will mean we will be in a rebuilding mode and be happy with steps he is taking, but rather looking for a magic solution to improve the results.

The current team is awful fit for his style, a match made in hell. Handful of players fit his style and fairly few number of players that we can get cheaply to fit in. He will need to do just like Motta, Alonso, and even Xavi did and change a fairly good chunck of the squad.
Question is do we have the funds now or patience to do it over years? Because ain't no way Flick is winning anything with this snail front line to make it work both ways. LVG bought some players and wasn't such a bad fit to the squad either.

Maybe the board has the patience and understanding of what is needed with him, but feels unlikely to me.

 

[Porque]

Again, the question is mostly about the club expectations from him, rather than what he is capable of.
I don't know if hiring Flick will mean we will be in a rebuilding mode and be happy with steps he is taking, but rather looking for a magic solution to improve the results.

The current team is awful fit for his style, a match made in hell. Handful of players fit his style and fairly few number of players that we can get cheaply to fit in. He will need to do just like Motta, Alonso, and even Xavi did and change a fairly good chunck of the squad.
Question is do we have the funds now or patience to do it over years? Because ain't no way Flick is winning anything with this snail front line to make it work both ways. LVG bought some players and wasn't such a bad fit to the squad either.

Maybe the board has the patience and understanding of what is needed with him, but feels unlikely to me.

Great points.

It has it's risk, I'm trying to decipher Flick myself still.

I prefer to look at his 20/21 side than the 19/20 side. For different reasons, but in the way that I prefer to assess Pep in the 09/10 season than the 08/09.

This is the season.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020–21_FC_Bayern_Munich_season

This is the squad and their ages.

Bayern Munich - Detailed squad 20/21

Bayern Munich at a glance: The compact squad overview with all players and data in the season 20/21.

www.transfermarkt.com

Quite clearly Lewy was out of this world statistically, as much of a cheat code for them as Messi was for us. Then you had Gnabry and Sane unstoppable from wide to support him. Midfield and defence was physically incredible but quite systematic. Standout being the world class Kimmich.

If nothing changed for us, the question is if he could physically get his to a level similar to that Bayern level over 6-8 months?

His attack was reliant on suffocating the opposition and then individually exploiting quick transitions and verticality. If nothing changes, can he bring the best out of Raphinha and Ferran as support acts. Lamine physically wise would still be a work in progress and not to be pushed.

 

[serghei]

Again, the question is mostly about the club expectations from him, rather than what he is capable of.
I don't know if hiring Flick will mean we will be in a rebuilding mode and be happy with steps he is taking, but rather looking for a magic solution to improve the results.

The current team is awful fit for his style, a match made in hell. Handful of players fit his style and fairly few number of players that we can get cheaply to fit in. He will need to do just like Motta, Alonso, and even Xavi did and change a fairly good chunck of the squad.
Question is do we have the funds now or patience to do it over years? Because ain't no way Flick is winning anything with this snail front line to make it work both ways. LVG bought some players and wasn't such a bad fit to the squad either.

Maybe the board has the patience and understanding of what is needed with him, but feels unlikely to me.

What do you mean about club expectations? It's quite obvious the club expects to win titles. That's the reason Xavi is leaving. He had a bad season with no titles, and under the pressure of winning, he couldn't take it anymore.

Club's expectations are through the roof. Laporta said this numerous times. At Barcelona you have to win titles as a manager or you're gone more or less.

Patience over years? When Xavi said this, that the club is in rebuilding and needs the club patience and time, everyone said this is Barca, the club should always demand the best.

The minimum expectations are:

- Compete neck and neck vs Madrid for the title. Win it if Madrid don't produce an elite season.
- Go far in CL and don't go out to an inferior team (inferior team not being likes of City, Bayern, Arsenal, Madrid, Atletico, Liverpool, Inter). So not a top 6 side or close to that.

Can't fault the team for losing the title vs a team I consider to be superior in Madrid. But other than that... not much error margin for the next manager.

 

[malvolio]

I think the thing with Flick from reading his quotes (talking about building from the youth - well all candidates who understand the club say this) is that he probably wants to build a project. Because that is what his career as a first team coach lacks thus far.

He could very well bring instant results as well because of his ethos and the core albeit old (Stegen, Gundagon, Lewy) believing in it which will encourage the young players to follow. You could probably add Frenkie to that list.

I guess his arrival, would be best related to Van Gaal first stint back in the 90s. You are looking at someone that has the potential to burn the candle at both sides at the same time, rather than leaning too far into one side (De Zerbi) or the other (Mourinho).

Luckily the media should be much more forgiving than back then, while their isn't a strong Catalan identity to win over.

The only old guard left is Bob, so is on the way out. While apart from Cubarsi, we have an LaMasia generation coming through but nobody Catalan immediately breaking through, unless something extra special happens with Fort and Bernal.

Can't believe what I'm reading here. Van Gaal, who managed one of the best football teams at club level in Ajax '95, is compared to an idiot like Flick.

The man fluked a CL and found himself with 6 trophies, as we all know that international supercups and domestic trophies were a given with Bayern.

 

[serghei]

Can't believe what I'm reading here. Van Gaal, who managed one of the best football teams at club level in Ajax '95, is compared to an idiot like Flick.

The man fluked a CL and found himself with 6 trophies, as we all know that international supercups and domestic trophies were a given with Bayern.

Don't worry. His next job is probably gonna expose Flick. I just hope it won't be at the expense of Barca.

He already had a massive failure at Germany. If he backs it up by another failure at a big club... he's gone.

Tuchel is better option than Flick for me.

 

[Porque]

Can't believe what I'm reading here. Van Gaal, who managed one of the best football teams at club level in Ajax '95, is compared to an idiot like Flick.

The man fluked a CL and found himself with 6 trophies, as we all know that international supercups and domestic trophies were a given with Bayern.

You getting all clamchowdered coz Flick took 18 months to win almost as much as LVG won at Ajax in 6 years?

 

[serghei]

You getting all clamchowdered coz Flick took 18 months to win almost as much as LVG won at Ajax in 6 years?

German media called Flick the worst manager in the history of German NT.

You think Bayern would've sacked him if he was that great? Makes no sense at all. Bayern obviously didn't consider him such a huge factor in that CL win back in Covid days.

Him going over to the German NT and tanking hard kind of proves them right so far.

Bayern obviously doesn't rate Flick nearly as high as some here do. And he actually worked for them so I tend to think they know better.

 

[Porque]

German media called Flick the worst manager in the history of German NT.

You think Bayern would've sacked him if he was that great? Makes no sense at all. Bayern obviously didn't consider him such a huge factor in that CL win back in Covid days.

Him going over to the German NT and tanking hard kind of proves them right so far.

Bayern obviously doesn't rate Flick nearly as high as some here do. And he actually worked for them so I tend to think they know better.

Mate. The Bundesliga finished in May and Flick announced he was leaving in April to be National Team manager.

His national team run was awful no doubt though.

 

[Birdy]

Now that Flick is looking all the more likely with every passing day, even straight out LIES are employed to belittle him, like that he was sacked at Bayern or that the german media said he is the worst

No surprise this coming from Xavi goers who didn't even admit they were wrong after 2.5 years of horror-ball

 

[malvolio]

You getting all clamchowdered coz Flick took 18 months to win almost as much as LVG won at Ajax in 6 years?

Hope your trolling here. Nobody give us a fuck about some Mickey Mouse cups that Bumsi won.

 

[serghei]

Now that Flick is looking all the more likely with every passing day, even straight out LIES are employed to belittle him, like that he was sacked at Bayern or that the german media said he is the worst

No surprise this coming from Xavi goers who didn't even admit they were wrong after 2.5 years of horror-ball

Don't worry. If he comes he will be judged by his results. Nobody is gonna trash him if he wins the title like some did with Xavi.

But he does need to do it. Otherwise, what's the point of replacing a title-winning manager with Flick? To do what exactly?

 

[Birdy]

Don't worry. If he comes he will be judged by his results. Nobody is gonna trash him if he wins the title like some did with Xavi.

But he does need to do it. Otherwise, what's the point of replacing a title-winning manager with Flick? To do what exactly?

To not win by lucky 1-0s, and play good football

That for starters, there is a lot more

 

[Barcaman]

So, a guy who coached one club for 2 years is our best choice?
Also sacked after one of the worst shows in German NT history.

 

[Nello]

Not convinced about Flick. He had immense succes with Bayern, but with an absolutely stacked squad suited to high pace vertical football.
Given how our current squad doesn't fit that at all, and how he hasn't shown any tactical flexibility or adaptability to squads that aren't absolutely full of WC players in all positions, I don't think he has shown he has what it takes to be succesful here with the current squad and limited transfer options.
Not saying he isn't capable of it, just saying he hasn't shown to be so far. It's a big gamble.

Think I like the idea of Motta more. He is really overachieving with Bologna, and really enjoyed watching them the other week.

Nagelsmann is also a better option imo, he has shown great tactical knowledge both at Leipzig and Bayern. Only problem is he seems to be an arrogant ass.

 

[mc_lovin]

Still hope for a Xavi u-turn. I firmly believe he gets the blame for a very incomplete squad.