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Sumlit
San Claudio Bravo
You need stats because you're a prime example of how what you see can be clouded by bias. Only a pro Xavi biased person would say he played well today. I gave you both a volume stat and a percentage stat, both painting a clear picture of a Xavi that was below his standards.
Stats paint a picture of the performance after the fact. It does not tell the whole story, but it is a valuable tool to combat wrong perceptions and confirmation bias.
You saw "nothing poor" out of Xavi's performance, yet I saw a poor Xavi during the game, and stats confirm that.
BerkeleyBernie
Senior Member
Okay, point out "poor Xavi" moments during this game to me. I can't name anything; can you? Where did he lose the ball for no good reason? Where did he not try a through ball (tbh, there were none available for any player)? What exactly did he do "poorly?"
As I wrote in the game thread at halftime, I totally enjoyed Barça's play in the first half and had no doubt we'd win- BECAUSE of how we played, not in spite of it. And that's exactly what happened, thanks to everyone on the pitch, including Xavi and Alexis. Barça's pressure was relentless on the edge of the box, not just sitting back and passing "sideways."
Sumlit
San Claudio Bravo
He did very little in the game, which is exactly the problem. He doesn't need to make an egregious mistake in order to have a poor game.
His contributions and impact on the game were mostly non-existent, and again stats confirm this, or the lack of them anyway. He had no significant impact on the game.
BerkeleyBernie
Senior Member
Okay, by your definition, everyone was poor today except Busquets (through ball), Cesc (assist), Messi (goal).
In my opinion, Barça (and Spain) succeed because of how the team plays as a unit, no more so than when playing against a bunker defense, when the game must be controlled until the cracks appear late in the game. When playing against such a defense, it's rare for Barça/Spain to score in the first 60 minutes, and the team must carefully wait out the siege without losing focus. Xavi's contribution was exactly what it should be- keeping up relentless pressure, offering a release to pressured players, protecting the ball, and trying to create goals when advantageous opportunities arise (as in his two passes-of-the-game in his last two appearances). Offensively, I was happy with the entire team's performance, from beginning to end.
In my opinion, Barça (and Spain) succeed because of how the team plays as a unit, no more so than when playing against a bunker defense, when the game must be controlled until the cracks appear late in the game. When playing against such a defense, it's rare for Barça/Spain to score in the first 60 minutes, and the team must carefully wait out the siege without losing focus. Xavi's contribution was exactly what it should be- keeping up relentless pressure, offering a release to pressured players, protecting the ball, and trying to create goals when advantageous opportunities arise (as in his two passes-of-the-game in his last two appearances). Offensively, I was happy with the entire team's performance, from beginning to end.
Pepe Silvia
Active member
As a mentor, leader, and example of excellence for this club he is second to none, but on the park he is toxic to our buildup. No longer do we need to control the games as much with teams playing the exact same way for us. Now that channels are closed off we must be more dynamic in the middle of the park, and for anyone with eyes can see Xavi damages our play with pointless ineffective passes that lead no where. He is not good for us as a starter he is better as an impact sub or starter for games when we need to pull a rabbit out a hat.
Sumlit
San Claudio Bravo
There are other contributions beside those, but none of which Xavi did. By contributions to the game, Xavi did the least out of all the starters.
I also don't know where you're getting that Xavi kept relentless pressure, nor where you're getting that he had the pass of the game. If any pass was to be called the pass of the game, it would be Busquets lofted pass to Fabregas for the Messi winner.
I also don't know where you're getting that Xavi kept relentless pressure, nor where you're getting that he had the pass of the game. If any pass was to be called the pass of the game, it would be Busquets lofted pass to Fabregas for the Messi winner.
BerkeleyBernie
Senior Member
The *previous* two games. Not this one.
Sumlit
San Claudio Bravo
Ah ok, you said the last two appearances so I assumed you were including this last game.
Superstar85
New member
But it works for Spain, well atleast up till now it has
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