Xavi Hernández

[Maradona37]

Shouldn't go there. Very few players you can actually work with there. Also fanbase that overrates their players too much and then expects crazy results with an objectively mediocre squad (this doesnt apply for ETH of course, his results are below the standards of even such a shitty team like United's in 2024).

Yes I agree. Ten Hag is poor but the quality of their squad is average on a good day. If they think getting rid of Ten Hag is the key to vast improvement with this squad then I think they're in for a rude awakening.

Personally, I think they're in denial. They're scared they're miles off challenging, and of course it's easier to get challenging if the manager is managing poorly an amazing squad - because you can challenge far quicker with a better manager if you have a top squad. If they admit to themselves that their squad is mediocre, then they know they have far far more work to do than simply bringing in a top coach.

But yes, a better coach would improve them. But not to any significant degree. Coaches aren't miracle workers - that squad is poor, despite how much their fans overrate some of the players and blow smoke up their arses.

 

[BJJ]

Yes I agree. Ten Hag is poor but the quality of their squad is average on a good day. If they think getting rid of Ten Hag is the key to vast improvement with this squad then I think they're in for a rude awakening.

Personally, I think they're in denial. They're scared they're miles off challenging, and of course it's easier to get challenging if the manager is managing poorly an amazing squad - because you can challenge far quicker with a better manager if you have a top squad. If they admit to themselves that their squad is mediocre, then they know they have far far more work to do than simply bringing in a top coach.

But yes, a better coach would improve them. But not to any significant degree. Coaches aren't miracle workers - that squad is poor, despite how much their fans overrate some of the players and blow smoke up their arses.

The weird thing is their squad is poor despite all the heavy spending. I think Bruno Fernando's and Lisandro are the only quality players there. Onana is decent on a good day but the rest are poor. Garnacho is criminally overrated as is Rashford.

 

[Maradona37]

The weird thing is their squad is poor despite all the heavy spending. I think Bruno Fernando's and Lisandro are the only quality players there. Onana is decent on a good day but the rest are poor. Garnacho is criminally overrated as is Rashford.

Agree on Rashford and Garnacho, though the latter still has hope as he's young. But he drastically needs to improve his touch and football IQ.

Onana has been quite good so far this season to be fair to him. But it tells its own story that one of their better players has been the GK.

Fernandes is a weird one. He can clearly do something brilliant out of thin air but - like Rash - he can only play in hail mary chaos counter-attack teams. So he actively forces them to play this turgid 'get it forward as fast as we can' football. He causes so many opposition counter-attacks with his Hollywood balls. He can do some good stuff but I think with his giving the ball away he's a net negative. He's also a poor dribbler and bad in tight spaces. He can produce an amazing pass over distance though.

Lisandro is a weird one too. Has some brilliant games and some awful ones. He's at a disadvantage though due to inferior height and strength to other CBs, and I feel he tries to win the ball too high sometimes. But on form he has very good passing and has warrior-like qualities. I am not convinced about him but he's likely one of their better players.

Eriksen is maybe their most technically gifted player but his legs are gone.

One example of them overrating their players is some of them are saying Dalot would get in any team in the world and that's based on a purple patch of form from last season (and he was still making mistakes). So far he's been poor this season which would suggest he played a bit above himself in general last season, as some of us said he did. He's a bit of a microcosm of their mentality - one decentish (not even brilliant) season and all of a sudden he's a superstar who can get in any team. They're way too reactionary and get really carried away when someone has a few good games.

 

[khaled_a_d]

If Xavi gets the same support Ten Hag received, he will turn Manu around.

They won't be the next City ir anything, but they will be back to top 4 at regular basis easily with him.

 

[BJJ]

If Xavi gets the same support Ten Hag received, he will turn Manu around.

They won't be the next City ir anything, but they will be back to top 4 at regular basis easily with him.

I don't think so.
I don't think Xavi can adapt to a different league , club culture and team. It's too much, too soon for him.
He has too much ego,that's the problem. He should go to a mid level team where there's less pressure and hone his craft.
I mean Cesc is at Como. It gives him room to breathe, allows him time to make mistakes, fix them and experience management without the suffocating expectations of a big club.

 

[TheStig]

I could see Cesc as an interesting option for us some day. Played in different big clubs in two biggest leagues, coaches in third, played under Wenger, Pep and Mourinho, knows Barca, is Catalan... Him and Busi are my bets.

 

[Porque]

I could see Cesc as an interesting option for us some day. Played in different big clubs in two biggest leagues, coaches in third, played under Wenger, Pep and Mourinho, knows Barca, is Catalan... Him and Busi are my bets.

Cesc midfield at Como is one player from Real Madrid, one player from Barcelona player and one player from Man City. He should be top of the league.

 

[Fati_Future_BallonDor]

I could see Cesc as an interesting option for us some day. Played in different big clubs in two biggest leagues, coaches in third, played under Wenger, Pep and Mourinho, knows Barca, is Catalan... Him and Busi are my bets.

Cesc looks a bit like Arteta

If he can also coach like Arteta we are lucky

 

[Fati_Future_BallonDor]

I wonder what Xavi is thinking atm

he must be extremely surprised to see Barca playing like this

 

[jamrock]

I was watching a renew of the game, and the moderator said.

"xavi tell us what you think".

I legit thought they got Xavi to come in and review the game, I perked up immediately.

 

[Porque]

Xavi probably loved it more than us as a Cule.

As a manager he was probably deciding whether he wanted to pay 60m at Man UTD for Zubimendi or Casado.

 

[Loki]

I wonder what Xavi is thinking atm

he must be extremely surprised to see Barca playing like this

I would give much, much for an honest Xavi interview right now. It's basically his squad apart from Olmo, which he didn't trust and said not to expect much.

 

[Fati_Future_BallonDor]

I would give much, much for an honest Xavi interview right now. It's basically his squad apart from Olmo, which he didn't trust and said not to expect much.

Same bro, same.

Maybe we will see him in Germany soon, Sahin has been average/bad so far with Dortmund

 

[Loki]

Same bro, same.

Maybe we will see him in Germany soon, Sahin has been average/bad so far with Dortmund

I think Dortmund will try to get an experienced coach after 2 interns with Terciz and Sahin didn't work out.

 

[Horatio]

I think clever people like Xavi are able to compartmentalize and flip the switch and be back into "barca fan" mode instead of "fired barca coach". I think he's enjoying the games greatly.