The midfield standards have certainly regressed - mind you, choosing between Busquets, Mascherano, Rakitic, Iniesta, super sub Xavi is still a luxury - but I still don't get why it's blamed on "Lucho's system". Today:
Iniesta 36 successful passes in 52 minutes.
Xavi 53 successful passes in 38 minutes.
In absolutely the exact same roles.
Not everything is down to the tactics board. The players themselves dictate the tactics.
I can only blame Lucho in this matter for the transfer window (if he actually had any say in it, he also blatantly wants Alves renewed yet nothing happens) but then again he probably thought that Iniesta can adapt to the deeper, withdrawn "Xavi role" and start controlling the midfield on his own. Didn't we all think Iniesta would one day do it when Xavi retires? Guess we were all wrong.