Xavi Hernández

[Birdy]

Well for anyone who's level headed after the disasterclass we just watched, these are the conclusions that can be drawn from that match.

1. We need experience when we're under pressure in knockout games. That's one thing Madrid have over us, and it showed in this match. This will come with time as our squad is generally young and have not had much exposure to under pressure knockout games.

2. We need a new mentality cos when under heavy pressure, our mentality sucks. If there's anything Xavi should work on during preseason, it's this. It's high time we got rid of this beta mentality that has plagued us for years.

3. We need depth/quality bench. Cos our squad is generally thin. 1-2 injuries to any of our starting players, and our whole team suffers bcos of the absentees cum the inability of the bench players to provide what our starting players do (or even half of it tbh)

4. Xavi needs to make us level/intensity throughout the whole game. This is a recurring problem in most of the big games we have lost this season (Bayern, Inter, Man Utd, Real Madrid). If we really need to make progress next season, this should be one of our major problems.

5. Get rid of the deadwood. This doesn't need any explanation

1 is totally wrong

Busi and Alba and Pique and Messi when he was around were all experienced in being under pressure.

YET all of them were SHIT at dealing with it and crybabes

 

[Porque]

Porque, some limitations are too big to deal with when the other team is having a top night. It's part of football. Some problems can be managed, some can't.

There's not much to learn from this game, really. Plan didn't work. Same manager beat Madrid 4-0 in exactly the same fashion almost last year.

No amount of coaching will magically make some bench warmers perform like multiple CL winners.

There's really not much learning to be done today from this game. All things that the game showed were mentioned here before many times.

I get you. But we're talking of a 4-0 home drumming, and not one where you still go on to win the league like Madrid, but one where you get KTFO of the Cup.

Maybe tonight we never win. But what we can't accept is we never attempted to react.

Go in half time, come out second half with same setup.

Go two behind, stay the same.

Go three behind, change nothing and Madrid have another big chance to go 4 up before making a sub.

Fati <> Kessie on the 60. More than likely the sub he was already planning to make on the 60 pre-game.

Then there was double sub on 66 where Raphinha final goes off 15 minutes (atleast) too late.

Game was lost, or rather got away from in Xavi's part from half time up until 60 minutes where a top manager needed to step in and try to change the momentum.

As I said, maybe we never go through, but damn try something before we are 3-0 down. And that part of the loss is on Charvy.

 

[Respekt_III]

Well for anyone who's level headed after the disasterclass we just watched, these are the conclusions that can be drawn from that match.

1. We need experience when we're under pressure in knockout games. That's one thing Madrid have over us, and it showed in this match. This will come with time as our squad is generally young and have not had much exposure to under pressure knockout games.

2. We need a new mentality cos when under heavy pressure, our mentality sucks. If there's anything Xavi should work on during preseason, it's this. It's high time we got rid of this beta mentality that has plagued us for years.

3. We need depth/quality bench. Cos our squad is generally thin. 1-2 injuries to any of our starting players, and our whole team suffers bcos of the absentees cum the inability of the bench players to provide what our starting players do (or even half of it tbh)

4. Xavi needs to make us level/intensity throughout the whole game. This is a recurring problem in most of the big games we have lost this season (Bayern, Inter, Man Utd, Real Madrid). If we really need to make progress next season, this should be one of our major problems.

5. Get rid of the deadwood. This doesn't need any explanation

1. that's CAP, we had more than enough experience in the squd to lead - oh wait those experienced players xavi is leaning on are the ones with a weak mentality
2.Yes we do need a better mentality and players like arujo and balde bring that - others not so much.
3.Xavi brought in a lot of those backup players (not as back mind you) himself i wouldnt trust him to bring in anyone - hes made too many mistakes as it is.
4.He's improved out intensity compared to where it was but yes definitely needs to be improved more.
5. That aint happening because he brought in deadwood and also renewed deadwood.

 

[Luftstalag14]

Yeah, Xavi's in-game management is just atrocious, today is just another example.

And Xavi is definitely not the one to help us improve our mentality.

 

[serghei]

I get you. But we're talking of a 4-0 home drumming, and not one where you still go on to win the league like Madrid, but one where you get KTFO of the Cup.

Maybe tonight we never win. But what we can't accept is we never attempted to react.

Go in half time, come out second half with same setup.

Go two behind, stay the same.

Go three behind, change nothing and Madrid have another big chance to go 4 up before making a sub.

Fati <> Kessie on the 60. More than likely the sub he was already planning to make on the 60 pre-game.

Then there was double sub on 66 where Raphinha final goes off 15 minutes (atleast) too late.

Game was lost, or rather got away from in Xavi's part from half time up until 60 minutes where a top manager needed to step in and try to change the momentum.

As I said, maybe we never go through, but damn try something before we are 3-0 down. And that part of the loss is on Charvy.

The difference between top players and bench players, especially cheapo bench players like ours that nobody wants, is also their inferior mentality and ability to deal with pressure. If all of these attibutes were so easily coachable, you wouldn't have players costing 100m and players that you try to sell for free like Roberto but nobody wants.

I don't agree that this particular game was lost because of anything else than our team having too many inferior players at once on the field, in key positions.

Madrid for example had their best 11 available. Don't tell me they missed Mendy lol. It was a massive difference in quality based on what they had, and what we had. If this happened with our best 11 also available, then yes, you can blame the manager first and foremost.

 

[Redbuck]

1 is totally wrong

Busi and Alba and Pique and Messi when he was around were all experienced in being under pressure.

YET all of them were SHIT at dealing with it and crybabes

Well, that goes hand in hand with no 2. I probably should have written them together. But I was referring to the squad as a whole, not individuals, hence the reason behind no 1

 

[Respekt_III]

The difference between top players and bench players, especially cheapo bench players like ours that nobody wants, is also their inferior mentality and ability to deal with pressure. If all of these attibutes were so easily coachable, you wouldn't have players costing 100m and players that you try to sell for free like Roberto but nobody wants.

not addressing the point just that xavi actually wants those players... the ones like roberto...

 

[Asylum15]

Yeah, Xavi's in-game management is just atrocious, today is just another example.

And Xavi is definitely not the one to help us improve our mentality.

This.

Sometimes it's not about tactics/strategy, it's about being fucking animated, putting fear into players, screaming and being passionate to inspire a change of psychology.

He just stands there, rubbing his nose and doing that deep analytical look and clapping his hands when players fuck up.

Pep would fucking MELT if he saw some of the giveaways tonight.

 

[JamDav1982]

not addressing the point just that xavi actually wants those players... the ones like roberto...

Also missing the point that the starters like Gavi, Lewa, Kounde, Busi etc were abysmal and players like Raph and Torres who spend 100m odd on plat shit also.

The deflection for today is all about focusing on the 'replacements' who in fact were no worse really and the players Xavi chose to spend 200m on and likes of Busi/Gavi get off scot free.

 

[serghei]

not addressing the point just that xavi actually wants those players... the ones like roberto...

He doesn't want them lol. He is forced to because of financial problems.

You can't possibly believe he wouldn't like someone better than what he had to choose from for this game.

 

[serghei]

Yeah, well, overall, bad night, painful defeat, a domestic treble would've been nice. But now regroup and beat Girona and seal the title win, because it is very important to win a big title for these players and for Xavi and Laporta as well.

 

[JamDav1982]

Aye just like Xavi wouldnt want Busi... Xavi wont want Messi..

Usual excuses.

Xavi wanted to keep Roberto. Xavi rates Busi massively. Xavi wanted Alonso extended.

He will want Martinez also and wanted Azpilicueta and pushed all summer for Alonso etc when could have been looking to sign new full backs.

 

[Respekt_III]

He doesn't want them lol. He is forced to because of financial problems.

You can't possibly believe he wouldn't like someone better than what he had to choose from for this game.

Yeah, with his take on busquets and his selection in players we paid good money for - he did want them.

 

[serghei]

Yeah, with his take on busquets and his selection in players we paid good money for - he did want them.

This makes no sense.

Blaming him and the board for Ferran signing is valid cricitism. Saying he happens to like players that cost very little or nobody wants like Roberto, Alonso, Kessie is completely retarded.

It's much more likely that these players are useful for us because they cost very very very little money, compared to top ones, who cost a lot of money.

Use your logic ffs.

 

[JamDav1982]

Usual mental gymnastics from Serghie to focus on these players Xavi 'doesnt want' but has to play.

To then completely ignore the likes of his favourite mentality monster in Gavi.

Surely focus should more be on the big players failing than the back ups playing to same level as them.

But no.. doesn suit the argument.