Xavi Hernández

[Raketa10]

Xavi again prepared for this match like an amateur. For more than 2/3 of the game ATM was dominant and we won only because we had a huge amount of luck. Mats and Araujo made some great saves and ATM players missed some clear headers. Unfortunately things don't look good at all and Xavi keeps on insisting on Busi who was once more outplayed heavily. He said in that documentary that he wants to play a beautiful and recognizable type of football. However, ATM, a team that is a definition of an UGLY football, outplayed us in every segment of the game.

 

[matbezlima]

Michael Cox wrote a great article of tactical analysis called "Xavi's fluid Barcelona exploited Atletico Madrid to go top of La Liga". He has written books on tactics, like Zonal Marking, and currently works for The Athletic. Link below to see the article without paywalls.

https://archive.ph/YimOL

 

[jairzinho]

Michael Cox wrote a great article of tactical analysis called "Xavi's fluid Barcelona exploited Atletico Madrid to go top of La Liga". He has written books on tactics, like Zonal Marking, and currently works for The Athletic. Link below to see the article without paywalls.

https://archive.ph/YimOL

A shame he stopped writing on zonalmarking. Used to look forward to reading that.

 

[serghei]

Michael Cox wrote a great article of tactical analysis called "Xavi's fluid Barcelona exploited Atletico Madrid to go top of La Liga". He has written books on tactics, like Zonal Marking, and currently works for The Athletic. Link below to see the article without paywalls.

https://archive.ph/YimOL

He needs to do something about our inability to play out from the back in situations of pressure. This is happening for 10 years already under all managers. Since Pep left and some legends retired, especially Xavi, the team has become very frail when pressed. Crumbles easily, and basically has a very poor counter game as a result, leaking chances left and right out of poor turnovers in bad positions.

In the past, parking the bus was the only chance against us, and pressing us was tactical suicide. Since then, things have changed a lot, and now pressing Barcelona high brings consistent great results. United is gonna do just that, with PL legs and fitness.

Playing with slow and physically weak players like Busi, Pedri, Fati surely is not the answer. Only one that shows a physical edge and tenacity to fight under pressure, and can hold his own in tough contacts, while playing quickly, is Gavi.

 

[mc_lovin]

He needs to do something about our inability to play out from the back in situations of pressure. This is happening for 10 years already under all managers. Since Pep left and some legends retired, especially Xavi, the team has become very frail when pressed. Crumbles easily, and basically has a very poor counter game as a result, leaking chances left and right out of poor turnovers in bad positions.

In the past, parking the bus was the only chance against us, and pressing us was tactical suicide. Since then, things have changed a lot, and now pressing Barcelona high brings consistent great results. United is gonna do just that, with PL legs and fitness.

Playing with slow and physically weak players like Busi, Pedri, Fati surely is not the answer. Only one that shows a physical edge and tenacity to fight under pressure, and can hold his own in tough contacts, while playing quickly, is Gavi.

There needs to be a bit of perspective: we play with a bunch of teenagers in midfield and a brand new defence. It takes time.

Look at Madrid: they 'only' replaced Casemiro with Tchouameni and look less coherent. On paper that was pretty much the best possible solution (and universally hailed here). I am sure it will pay off in the end, but again, it takes time.

 

[serghei]

There needs to be a bit of perspective: we play with a bunch of teenagers in midfield and a brand new defence. It takes time.

Look at Madrid: they 'only' replaced Casemiro with Tchouameni and look less coherent. On paper that was pretty much the best possible solution (and universally hailed here). I am sure it will pay off in the end, but again, it takes time.

I know all that, but he won't get that much time. Nor the funds other much richer teams get nearly every summer. His only path of success is tied to him becoming a great manager.

 

[mc_lovin]

Nor the funds other much richer teams get nearly every summer.

The club did superbly. People don't appreciate that enough. With how many other clubs would you exchange squads?

 

[jamrock]

The club did superbly. People don't appreciate that enough. With how many other clubs would you exchange squads?

Indeed.

 

[serghei]

The club did superbly. People don't appreciate that enough. With how many other clubs would you exchange squads?

About 6-7 clubs.

But it is also about the ability to invest in the near future too. Squad is ok for a 1st year in rebuild. But what about the next step, the next signings? And I'm seeing news that we are looking at cheap options.

If we get funds to invest 100-120m in the summer for about 2 top players (smart buys, not Ferran-like), the club can address some more issues that are affecting current performances.

 

[DonAK]

About 6-7 clubs.

But it is also about the ability to invest in the near future too. Squad is ok for a 1st year in rebuild. But what about the next step, the next signings. And I'm seeing news that we are looking at cheap options.

You'll have Zubimendi for 60m and Pavard for free as RB(even though he hates playing RB and caused an issue in the French camp at the WC because of it) and you'll absolutely love it!

Alternatively you'll get Busquets renewed until 2024 and have Foyth signed for 40m instead.

 

[serghei]

You'll have Zubimendi for 60m and Pavard for free as RB(even though he hates playing RB and caused an issue in the French camp at the WC because of it) and you'll absolutely love it!

Alternatively you'll get Busquets renewed until 2024 and have Foyth signed for 40m instead.

Yeah... if that's the case, maybe we'll compete with the best teams in 2030.

 

[Porque]

You expect to suffer a bit when Atleti step up the pressure at home. Case in point, check the Atletico vs City home game last season and they gave Pep the run around.

But most disappointing is that we're not matching the intensity. When Atleti stepped up the pressure we didn't counter this, which is a huge problem when you setup with 4 midfielders and Dembele- which should setup routes to counter and a way to maintain possession and reduce outlets for Atletico who are not a creative side.

Then we have 5 subs and can bring on attackers like Ferran and Raphinha, and midfielders like Kessie. We should really have been able to keep pressure and hurt on the break- which we failed at.

Still, you can have a match like this every now and again, but it's been a long string of meh performances and that is on Xavi. The expectation was that if the amigo's are dropped we would be able to increase our fitness, tempo and movement as to modernise the Barcelona way of play, and bar a few games here and there- we haven't.

 

[serghei]

Still, you can have a match like this every now and again, but it's been a long string of meh performances and that is on Xavi. The expectation was that if the amigo's are dropped we would be able to increase our fitness, tempo and movement as to modernise the Barcelona way of player, and bar a few games here and there- we haven't.

Pedri, Ansu, and Busi together, it's already way too much fitness and speed penalty on the system. Pedri maybe has a chance at a great career because he is very talented (highly doubtful though), but he should be the only slow and physically weak player in midfield and attack.

Imo, left winger, strong physical midfielder, and rightback are major holes in our team atm.

 

[fergus90]

Domestically the team is grinding these results out but it of course masks the issue somewhat. This always becomes obvious in Europe when teams just look more fitter and motivated before we even speak about tactics. It's become a cultural issue ingrained in the club.

Any game Barca falls behind in now, it feels like there is no hope of a comeback.

 

[serghei]

Domestically the team is grinding these results out but it of course masks the issue somewhat. This always becomes obvious in Europe when teams just look more fitter and motivated before we even speak about tactics. It's become a cultural issue ingrained in the club.

Any game Barca falls behind in now, it feels like there is no hope of a comeback.

They need to look at Madrid and understand why they don't have any Spanish players atm, but some back-ups and Carvajal. Post Xavi, Iniesta, Villa, Xabi Alonso, Sergio Ramos era is a mediocre follow-up.

No surprise our biggest flop is also a Spanish softie.