-As for Busquets, I think the issue is deeper
I mean help me here, tell me a player in this club who was 34 (Busquets age next season) at start of a season that was starter through that season? I have been a fan of the club for over 20 years and I am not sure I remember correctly
Messi, Xavi, Puyol, Alves, Iniesta didn't make it as starter till that age.
Only 2 I remember? Thuram in 06/07 and that was due to Marquez injury at the end of the season iirc (wasn't starter in CL) and Pique in current season is in his way to end it starting most games.
In both cases, the players really weren't Barca level starter.
Busquets has been a liability for few years now, and it is going one way, initially it was his defense in counters, then his overall defense and now it is his on the ball skills. He is now being targeted by opponents.
Then again, can Busquets be helpful? sure, as bench player who is well rested I think he can.
But is he getting that bench type of treatment? I doubt it, team captain who is coached by a guy who is his biggest fan.
It is just we can't afford Busquets as starter for another year, and he probably wants playing time for the World Cup. we just need to move on from him.
We can't keep Alba (33), Busquets (34), Roberto (30), Pique (35) as squad players next season. not even 2 of those should stay and Alba is going to stay.
At least one needs to leave.
What we need is more players aged 25-28 in the mercato, we have enough youth and overload of old players.
PS: I am speaking about next season because we already have the squad set for this year, no one is coming to take minutes from those two in the winter
Not a fair assumption, is it? I am sure Busquets will accept any role given to him, but it has to come from the top. If you don't trust Xavi and want to take away his 'toy' then we are f**** anyway. That's no way to lead a team.
There's a natural progression, when we have a player who's better than Busquets I am sure he will find himself more often on the bench. I expect some signs of that this season already if everyone is back. Midfield looks quite deep with Gavi vs Pedri and Nico, Frenkie and Busi on the other side. Trust the process. Just kicking out players to 'replace' them never worked.
Agree about Pique though, he adds nothing (or very, very little) for me. If Roberto and him are gone next I would be pretty happy.