Xavi Hernández

[Armando929]

But it works for Spain, well atleast up till now it has

It worked in Euro 2012 but I think that was a one off.

The false 9 formation is what we desperately need to ditch. But... I do think Messi would possibly have a problem with that, especially if it means moving him to the right.

 

[Elite-BkD]

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.

So Courtois was shit/pointless and perhaps shouldn't have started against Chelsea?

Xavi was, according to what was necessary, given a function which was a bit lacking in glamour and excitement, but his execution of it simply was not poor, which is still nearly always the case regardless of what's asked of him.

 

[Sumlit]

So Courtois was shit/pointless and perhaps shouldn't have started against Chelsea?

Xavi was, according to what was necessary, given a function which was a bit lacking in glamour and excitement, but his execution of it simply was not poor, which is still nearly always the case regardless of what's asked of him.

I like how your example is that of a keeper instead of another field player. But even then, Courtois had 2 saves and 2 crosses claimed vs Chelsea.

I also like how Xavi was the engine of this team when it was at the top, but now people are fine with him having a role "a bit lacking in glamour and excitement", in which he brings absolutely nothing to this particular game.

 

[Pepe Silvia]

I like how your example is that of a keeper instead of another field player. But even then, Courtois had 2 saves and 2 crosses claimed vs Chelsea.

I also like how Xavi was the engine of this team when it was at the top, but now people are fine with him having a role "a bit lacking in glamour and excitement", in which he brings absolutely nothing to this particular game.

Spot on.

 

[footyfan]

I also like how Xavi was the engine of this team when it was at the top, but now people are fine with him having a role "a bit lacking in glamour and excitement", in which he brings absolutely nothing to this particular game.

But he was the engine of the team, and he still is. And his role is lacking in glamour and excitement.

There have been many games where Messi or Cesc or Iniesta do absolutely nothing besides score a goal/make an assist, which can be interpreted as their role, but you don't go around saying they were really poor.

 

[Sumlit]

But he was the engine of the team, and he still is. And his role is lacking in glamour and excitement.

There have been many games where Messi or Cesc or Iniesta do absolutely nothing besides score a goal/make an assist, which can be interpreted as their role, but you don't go around saying they were really poor.

When Xavi was truly the engine that drove this team, his role was not lacking in glamour and excitement. I feel people have gotten so used to this current iteration of Xavi that they have truly forgotten what he was like when he was at the top.

Go watch the 6-2 Bernabeu mauling in 09 to get an idea what Xavi used to play like when he was at his peak. The whole game is in youtube I think.

The current Xavi is but a shadow of his younger self.

 

[footyfan]

When Xavi was truly the engine that drove this team, his role was not lacking in glamour and excitement. I feel people have gotten so used to this current iteration of Xavi that they have truly forgotten what he was like when he was at the top.

Go watch the 6-2 Bernabeu mauling in 09 to get an idea what Xavi used to play like when he was at his peak. The whole game is in youtube I think.

The current Xavi is but a shadow of his younger self.

I don't disagree that Xavi is not as good as before, you will notice that I actually agreed with your original statement (even though you framed it with sarcasm). The Real Madrid game is irrelevant, they played like noobs. You will not find a single team that plays this way against Barcelona anymore.

What I disagree with is the notion that Xavi was really poor against Villarreal, your stats don't say much because Xavi got subbed off in the 60th min. It's not inconceivable that his passing accuracy would go over 90% had he stayed on because Villarreal were getting tired and couldn't keep up the same pressure.

 

[Sumlit]

I don't disagree that Xavi is not as good as before, you will notice that I actually agreed with your original statement (even though you framed it with sarcasm). The Real Madrid game is irrelevant, they played like noobs. You will not find a single team that plays this way against Barcelona anymore.

What I disagree with is the notion that Xavi was really poor against Villarreal, your stats don't say much because Xavi got subbed off in the 60th min. It's not inconceivable that his passing accuracy would go over 90% had he stayed on because Villarreal were getting tired and couldn't keep up the same pressure.

I did not say anything with sarcasm, I meant everything I typed. The Madrid game is not irrelevant because it showcased the player's skill at the height of their power. It is true team's play Barcelona differently now, but a lot of it Barcelona's own doing. Their aimless passing causes teams to drop back. There is a difference between teams parking the bus from the get go and teams being dropped back because of Barcelona's slow, methodical and aimless passing of late.

As for the rest, you're operating on assumptions. You're assuming he would have performed better due to Villareal players being tired. I speak of what actually happened. I saw a poor Xavi in the game, and stats support my observation.

Even if you were to extrapolate Xavi's passing stats over 90 minutes of play, he would still have fallen below other players like Iniesta and Alves, barely beating Busquets.

 

[footyfan]

I did not say anything with sarcasm, I meant everything I typed. The Madrid game is not irrelevant because it showcased the player's skill at the height of their power. It is true team's play Barcelona differently now, but a lot of it Barcelona's own doing. Their aimless passing causes teams to drop back. There is a difference between teams parking the bus from the get go and teams being dropped back because of Barcelona's slow, methodical and aimless passing of late.

As for the rest, you're operating on assumptions. You're assuming he would have performed better due to Villareal players being tired. I speak of what actually happened. I saw a poor Xavi in the game, and stats support my observation.

Even if you were to extrapolate Xavi's passing stats over 90 minutes of play, he would still have fallen below other players like Iniesta and Alves, barely beating Busquets.

It's not assumptions, the correct comparison would've been to compare Xavi to the others during the first 60 minutes of play. Do you have stats for that?

And what exactly is really poor about the bolded part, even though it ignores the assumption we talked about? Under par by Xavi's standards? Yeah maybe. Messi has more than a goal per game average over the past 5-6 seasons, does that mean he's really poor every game he doesn't score?

 

[barcanuck]

But it works for Spain, well atleast up till now it has

Of course it works for Spain because they have an a proper defense and they also cover Xavi by having Busi and Xabi Alonso covering him. Not to mention they don't play with two attacking full backs.

 

[Sumlit]

It's not assumptions, the correct comparison would've been to compare Xavi to the others during the first 60 minutes of play. Do you have stats for that?

And what exactly is really poor about the bolded part, even though it ignores the assumption we talked about? Under par by Xavi's standards? Yeah maybe. Messi has more than a goal per game average over the past 5-6 seasons, does that mean he's really poor every game he doesn't score?

It is assuming when you suggest he would have raised his percentage stat because Villareal was getting tired. That's assuming Villareal players got tired, something you cannot verify, and assuming Xavi would have been able to capitalize on the tiredness if indeed they had been tired.
I cannot tell you the passing stats for all the players at the time of Xavi's substitution, but I can extrapolate his stats the full 90 minutes and did so. They corroborate my point.

And under what standards was he poor? Well under the standards of influencing the game from a position poised to very much influence the game. Aside from passing, which he did not do a lot nor accurately for his standards, Xavi had no other contribution to the game. None.

I really do not want to carry on this pointless argument.

You feel Xavi played well, I disagree. Let's just leave it at that.

 

[JamDav1982]

The most tired and heavy legged player on the pitch was not any of the Villareal players but Xavi himself.

 

[barcanuck]

I'm really getting sick of him trying to score free kicks. There is no hope for any of them and he's only scored 10 in his life while Messi scores 10 shots like that in his sleep. Stop stepping over the ball for the love of god Xavi.

 

[hardyboy]

I'm really getting sick of him trying to score free kicks. There is no hope for any of them and he's only scored 10 in his life while Messi scores 10 shots like that in his sleep. Stop stepping over the ball for the love of god Xavi.

 

[BerkeleyBernie]

I cannot tell you the passing stats for all the players at the time of Xavi's substitution...

I can. You can limit stats by time at Squawka.com (using the sliders).

First 60 Minutes (Xavi off at 61 minutes):
Xavi 49/56 88%
Pedro 25/31 81%
Iniesta 54/60 90%
Sanchez 15/21 71%
Messi 27/32 84%
Pinto 2/4 50%
Mascherano 36/37 97%
Bartra 33/37 89%
Busquets 51/52 98%
Adriano 42/48 88%
Alves 66/71 93%

Number of through-balls attempted by the ENTIRE team in first 60 minutes: 1 (Messi, 42 min). Number completed: 0.
Number of key passes first 60 minutes: 8 (2 each by Pedro, Alves, Iniesta, and Messi)

So Xavi about the same as Iniesta for time on. And the only reason Xavi has no through-balls is the same reason no one else on Barça has any: there weren't any to be had.

Number of through-balls attempted by the ENTIRE team in LAST 30 minutes: 1 (Busquets, 83 min). Number completed: 1.
Number of key passes LAST 30 minutes: 5 (2 Messi, 1 Busquets, 1 Alves, 1 Cesc)