Like every team, Barcelona plays better with chemistry, but it takes players time to build that (the one quicker than the other). It took Roberto years to have the chemistry he now has with the team. It's good that it didn't take Coutinho that long to have it (neither did it take Umtiti long), but that's not the case for every player. Even Neymar didn't have an immediate impact on his first season. What I'm trying to say is that you have to give them time to integrate. Valverde is certainly isn't making it easier on them, and Roberto had Alves to learn from.
True.
I didn't reply on one post about Dembele from a few days ago where a user replied: all players play weaker against parked buses.
True.
But some players are awesome with a free space and still very good against parked buses.
While some are awesome with a free space and very average against parked buses.
So, yes, all players are better with a lot of free space, but there are tons of differences and levels among players.
The same as with this thing from your post.
Yes, all players play better over time when they click with a team, but in general, some players are more team-players, who will follow teamplay more and some players are individuals who will play "a strange" football even after 5 or 10 seasons.
I want to say: for some players, even though they are new, you can see: he will click here and in this system.
While with some others, there are serious doubts like: will this guy click even after 5 years based on his style of play and his natural style of play (if a player is a more individualistic player).
For example, Adama or Halilovic wouldn't click with our team properly even after 10 seasons.
While someone like Xavi clicked probably after 2 weeks.
This is not only about IQ.
It is also about player's natural style of play (is he more of an individual-solo player or a teamplayer, or whether he plays in a possession style or in counterattacking style), team's style of play etc.
Majority of posters here are posting all the time: Dembele/Semedo have talent, now they only need time etc.
Having a potential and getting minutes is only a small part of the story.
You can't put Messi in a team which is playing 1000 crosses per match.
You can't put Rakitic as a Cf or Cam in a team which relies on through balls and pace.
You can't put Andre Gomes in a team which is trying to play football etc.
My opinion is that both Semedo and Dembele are extremely weird fits for our team, and especially Dembele's case is a panic buy in my eyes and a proof how our board doesn't know what they are doing and they are just buying players in a hit and miss way without too much planning about our longterm formation, tactics, 2-3 attacking styles and options, about teammates, about future coaches etc.
Dembele was a panic buy and Semedo was a guy with 1 professional season behind him, lol and they were supposed to be future key players of Barca? A good joke.
Director Robert getting fired is probably the best thing which happened to us in the last few years.
Zubi really looks like a magician and a visionary compared to this Robert guy and his summers of 22' over and over.