abual3bed1
New member
2 weeks without important games. Xavi and many others should be rested.
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Cule4life
The Culest
Xavi is aging. Everyone and their mother knows that except Tata and the management. We have to let go of our past glories and stop clinging to yesteryear heroes. Xavi has declined. His playtime should be reduced significantly. Its time to blood in a new midfielder. Give Roberto a try or buy Gundogan/Veratti. We have already lost a massive talent like Thiago to assuage the ego of Xavi (or the management) that refuses to accept that Xavi is not the player of the Pep era.
Thiago leaving doesnt seem like a small loss now does it?
Thiago leaving doesnt seem like a small loss now does it?
Thiago leaving only seems like a problem because of Tata's poor management of Cesc/Sergi. Cesc should permanently start in Xavi's position alongside iniesta and Busi if you're gonna shove him in as a foward every game you might as well sell him to manchester or something. Also Sergi should have been subbed on in the 60 min for every game where we had those 2/3 goal leads so by now he'd be comfortable enough to start a liga game so even if we HAD to start Cesc in false 9 we would atleast have a YOUNG,FAST ad HARDWORKING person in midfield.
Galning
Moderator
L
linetty
Guest
aaaaaand how do you know that? I think Xavi even said sth like Barca should count on younger players, that he's time is slowly ending...
the same thought is going trough my mind...
JamDav1982
Senior Member
I get the same vibes from Xavi as well, he is reluctant to give up and inch and he clearly has started to decline.
From claiming that Barcelona dominated the midfield against Bayern last year, to barely giving up any set pieces to a better player in Neymar and just watching him he doesnt appear to want to change his style in any way whatsoever.
It seems at the moment you have a coach and wide players that are at there best getting the ball forward quickly and early but a midfield of Xavi and Iniesta that cant/wont change.
Something has to give. Either the players adapt or a manager comes in that wants to dominate the ball for 90 mins.
darthvader7888
Banned
And didn't he say last season amid the Thiago saga that he feels he can play every 3 days?
CatalinR10
Senior Member
Most passes completed in top-5 leagues this season: Trashorras (Rayo) 1008 - Xavi 988 - Yaya Toure 925 #fcblive [via squawka]
Always used to be 1'st when it comes to nr of passes.
Always used to be 1'st when it comes to nr of passes.
abual3bed1
New member
He was rested in a couple of games.
Maria
New member
Xavi and Iniesta statistics in the first 15 liga rounds since 2008:
Passes/minute Good passes/minute Dribbles/game Goals/game Shots/game Assists Balls recovered/game
Passes/minute Good passes/minute Dribbles/game Goals/game Shots/game Assists Balls recovered/game
He said that he is at his best when he plays every 3 days.
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I'd like to see Xavi and Iniesta play till they're over 35. I enjoy watching them play, even as they slow down. I would watch Depor matches last year just to get a glimpse of Valeron, at age 37, doing a little shimmy and threading a wonderful pass through the defence! It would be the same with Xavi.
HOWEVER, precisely because I'd like to see them play for long, they need a lot more rest than they are getting now. It's frustrating to see them being burnt out like this. If it continues this way, there's going to be an ugly ending. Xavi and Iniesta will continue their steep decline, and Barca has no one ready to replace them. Short-sightedness at its worst.
Like I've always said, soccer should look to North American sports to see how older athletes are rejuvenated and get a 'second life' by rest and training programs appropriate to their age. Barca should force their older players, including Messi, whose body is getting old, into such a regimen, least of all to extend their careers.
HOWEVER, precisely because I'd like to see them play for long, they need a lot more rest than they are getting now. It's frustrating to see them being burnt out like this. If it continues this way, there's going to be an ugly ending. Xavi and Iniesta will continue their steep decline, and Barca has no one ready to replace them. Short-sightedness at its worst.
Like I've always said, soccer should look to North American sports to see how older athletes are rejuvenated and get a 'second life' by rest and training programs appropriate to their age. Barca should force their older players, including Messi, whose body is getting old, into such a regimen, least of all to extend their careers.
They're kind of like Batman and Robin but i think people are lumping Xavi and iniesta together a little too much. Iniesta hasnt begun his decline yet like other players (messi this season for instance) he was off form at times. Xavi on the other hand has a problem in that his body itself is losing its ability to keep up on a regular basis at this level. Hestill has the talent to be called the best cm in the world but it'll come out less frequently so you'll get the 4-0 ac milan game but you won't get it every week.
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