Xavi Hernández

[BerkeleyBernie]

I think it was by design. Van Gaal was spot on with his tactics. I was there and didn't see this horrible version of Xavi or Iniesta, that many are portrating here.

I'd agree. It was a pragmatic move by Van Gaal. Netherlands is quite capable of excellent carpet passing, but this was designed to bypass the midfield and pressure the back line directly. Given the quality of their strike force, it proved an excellent strategy.

 

[khorne]

Keep him, let him be our elder statesman and captain and help easing in the canteranos. I guarantee you with lucho he won't play one second more than is beneficial for the team.

btw xavi's close up after the 1:5 was heartbreaking. i don't care about the world cup any more, messi can have it or neymar, but please, let spain at least pass the group stage so he won't end his international career in shame. his fourth world cup, ffs!

 

[Sumlit]

I didn't think Xavi was great, but I also didn't think he had a bad game. Iniesta and Silva either.

I think the problems was firstly, the lineup. It looks good on paper, but that was a woefully slow lineup VdB put out there. That midfield of Busquets, Alonso and Xavi is really slow, and it doesn't have the benefit of speedy wingers to provide work rate and cover because you put Iniesta and Silva in the wings, 2 more slowish players.
Every time the ball was lost there was no quick pressure on the dutch players because you had no quick players out there. They would move quickly and make a quick pass to an open player and then a long ball. No pressure on the passers.

The second part was, the 2 CBs got destroyed. Both had a disastrous game. Pique was slow to respond and react, and Ramos had his head up his ass. Alba also was really poor. Azpilicueta did some good things, but he too got lost in the shuffle. Casillas was also poor.

Busi was caught in no mans land a lot and Alonso was slow as hell out there

IMO they need to put Pedro out there to get some workrate and pressure when the ball is lost. Get Koke too to get some workrate on that midfield to close out players and recuperate balls. And get that turd Costa out.

They need to surround Xavi and Iniesta with players with high workrate, quickness and capable of pressuring the ball as they are no longer quick enough to do it themselves. They need other to do the dirty work so they can dictate the offensive game.

 

[footyfan]

Xavi was nowhere near as bad as being made out. Iniesta on the other hand just likes to pick an area of players to dribble into for no reason.

 

[Sumlit]

Iniesta did get dispossessed a lot. Sometimes he tries to do too much or tries to get out with possession from situations where he should just pass the ball to relieve pressure.

 

[Ritchie]

Regardless if he's staying, the system needs to evolve and if he keeps frowning upon tactical variation, then what is his role here?

Xavi's legs have gone and he's obsessed with keeping a style of play that a) teams have worked out how to play against with Spain and Barca both torn apart in big games now over the last 12-18 months and b) you can't play it when one of your midfielders legs have gone.

So Xavi can no longer play tiki-taka effectively for himself as a regular starting player.

 

[Armando929]

It's more the players than our style I think. Tiki taka could still be effective but the players are old now.

Xavi must go. Iniesta is getting up there in age too. Busquets has been poor for a couple of seasons now. In attack, Messi has been Messi (Though I'm a bit worried about him now), Villa got injured then left, and Pedro has been deplorable. Alexis has improved but inexplicably was benched in the 2nd half of last season, and our youngsters such as Tello don't get any time. Neymar has been ok but his finishing is poor and he doesn't provide much movement off te ball.

In defense, Pique without Puyol is just a disaster. All the talk of replacing Xavi, it's Puyol who's really gonna be hard to replace. We don't need an exact Xavi replica. But a defender like Carles is a must. Had we not broke the bank to get Neymar... Never mind.

 

[Alarcón]

I'd say the rule of thumb is, when the team play great and a player is still bad, it's the player's fault. When all players play like shit, it's the coach's fault. Of course, in reality, it's more complicated; but getting a great coach again, someone who is able to motivate the players and someone who sees the game and knows which tactics to use and how to convey them to his players, is much more important than buying new players.

 

[Zincubus]

It's more the players than our style I think. Tiki taka could still be effective but the players are old now.

Xavi must go. Iniesta is getting up there in age too. Busquets has been poor for a couple of seasons now. In attack, Messi has been Messi (Though I'm a bit worried about him now), Villa got injured then left, and Pedro has been deplorable. Alexis has improved but inexplicably was benched in the 2nd half of last season, and our youngsters such as Tello don't get any time. Neymar has been ok but his finishing is poor and he doesn't provide much movement off te ball.

In defense, Pique without Puyol is just a disaster. All the talk of replacing Xavi, it's Puyol who's really gonna be hard to replace. We don't need an exact Xavi replica. But a defender like Carles is a must. Had we not broke the bank to get Neymar... Never mind.

Twitter is awash with comments / tweets suggesting a parallel between the sad demise of Barca and Spain .

I actually think that we are gong to go through a transitional phase where we win nothing for a few years ...

 

[Samuel Eto'o]

I'd agree. It was a pragmatic move by Van Gaal. Netherlands is quite capable of excellent carpet passing, but this was designed to bypass the midfield and pressure the back line directly. Given the quality of their strike force, it proved an excellent strategy.

Ruud Van Nistleroy was basically saying the same thing before the game. He opted for giving the mid field battle to the Spanish. Never thought it would have worked to perfection.

 

[Beast]

Twitter is awash with comments / tweets suggesting a parallel between the sad demise of Barca and Spain .

I actually think that we are gong to go through a transitional phase where we win nothing for a few years ...

Of course it is when you have 7 players of a team that was off form most of the season & won nothing it reflects on the national team, but that's Del Bosque the same way he stood by Iker last summer he will stand by his Barcelona players

 

[Pepe Silvia]

Xavi was trash. I love him to death but he was trash.

 

[Cule4life]

It's time for barca and Spain to move on from xavi. Thank you xavi for giving us wonderful memories but it's time for you to step aside and pad the baton to the next generation

 

[xavisionary]

I don't understand. He's the same age as Gerrard, how could he have declined so rapidly? You'd think of anyone Xavi would be intelligent enough to adapt his game.

 

[Antimadridista1]

I don't understand. He's the same age as Gerrard, how could he have declined so rapidly? You'd think of anyone Xavi would be intelligent enough to adapt his game.

Xavi is playing 60/70 matches per season . Gerrard isn't playing Champions League and his national team is never going far in Euros and World Cups.
Xavi gave a lot !! You guys shouldn't forget that.