George_Costanza
Active member
This is what I heard too, he really thinks Busquets is still an elite player.
I said it right before we hired Xavi, his downfall would be playing his old friends' Pique, Busquets and Alba.
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This is what I heard too, he really thinks Busquets is still an elite player.
I said it right before we hired Xavi, his downfall would be playing his old friends' Pique, Busquets and Alba.
JamDav1982
Senior Member
Folk thought it was just words when he was calling Busquets the 'best DM in the world'.. it clearly wasnt.
As big as the failure of Barcas expensive signings has been the prominence given to legendary players.. both on and off the park.
At least this has raised the issue of Busquets and older players and not so easy to ignore next time they play poorly.
It is not even just the errors it is the clear drop in intensity Barca have near enough every game as so many old players. Watch Pique and Busquets the way pull defence deeper in second half v Granada as protecting themselves.
Then they have the hard neck to complain Barca stopped passing ball.. when they sat deep, coulnt get ball from defence to midfield and kept deferring ball back to MATS.
As big as the failure of Barcas expensive signings has been the prominence given to legendary players.. both on and off the park.
At least this has raised the issue of Busquets and older players and not so easy to ignore next time they play poorly.
It is not even just the errors it is the clear drop in intensity Barca have near enough every game as so many old players. Watch Pique and Busquets the way pull defence deeper in second half v Granada as protecting themselves.
Then they have the hard neck to complain Barca stopped passing ball.. when they sat deep, coulnt get ball from defence to midfield and kept deferring ball back to MATS.
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Birdy
Senior Member
Xavi's quote to his entourage that its 'Busquets and 10 others' is eye-opening to the folk here, who still dream of Busi being dropped, and Frenkie playing his position @khaled, [MENTION=15262]serghei[/MENTION], Jammy and others
And it's not that Xavi is wrong about Busi.
He has the characteristics he wants from his pivot. Summarizes neatly here:
EPV is similar to xT increase, show how much progressive pass increases threat.
And then, NO he can't play Frenkie there.
As if Frenkie ever played as single pivot, or as if he ever showed potential to play there
One of the best coaches out there, Erik Ten Hag, when asked whether Frenkie can play pivot, said in 2019:
"He leaves the middle of the pitch too often for that. And if you don?t give him the freedom to go forward, you won?t get the best out of his game."
Which is nothing other than spot on. Frenkie either as libero or as box to box has shown potential precisely because of his on and off the ball drives.
It's a complete misunderstanding of the players skills to think he can play as pivot.
I have criticized Busi many times, and his flaws, but it's clearer than daylight that the way Xavi sees football, Busi will never be dropped.
And that he has no replacement of him in his squad with similar football skills
And it's not that Xavi is wrong about Busi.
He has the characteristics he wants from his pivot. Summarizes neatly here:
EPV is similar to xT increase, show how much progressive pass increases threat.
And then, NO he can't play Frenkie there.
As if Frenkie ever played as single pivot, or as if he ever showed potential to play there
One of the best coaches out there, Erik Ten Hag, when asked whether Frenkie can play pivot, said in 2019:
"He leaves the middle of the pitch too often for that. And if you don?t give him the freedom to go forward, you won?t get the best out of his game."
Which is nothing other than spot on. Frenkie either as libero or as box to box has shown potential precisely because of his on and off the ball drives.
It's a complete misunderstanding of the players skills to think he can play as pivot.
I have criticized Busi many times, and his flaws, but it's clearer than daylight that the way Xavi sees football, Busi will never be dropped.
And that he has no replacement of him in his squad with similar football skills
Vladinho
Member
Xavi's quote to his entourage that its 'Busquets and 10 others' is eye-opening to the folk here, who still dream of Busi being dropped, and Frenkie playing his position @khaled, [MENTION=15262]serghei[/MENTION], Jammy and others
And it's not that Xavi is wrong about Busi.
He has the characteristics he wants from his pivot. Summarizes neatly here:
EPV is similar to xT increase, show how much progressive pass increases threat.
And then, NO he can't play Frenkie there.
As if Frenkie ever played as single pivot, or as if he ever showed potential to play there
One of the best coaches out there, Erik Ten Hag, when asked whether Frenkie can play pivot, said in 2019:
"He leaves the middle of the pitch too often for that. And if you don?t give him the freedom to go forward, you won?t get the best out of his game."
Which is nothing other than spot on. Frenkie either as libero or as box to box has shown potential precisely because of his on and off the ball drives.
It's a complete misunderstanding of the players skills to think he can play as pivot.
I have criticized Busi many times, and his flaws, but it's clearer than daylight that the way Xavi sees football, Busi will never be dropped.
And that he has no replacement of him in his squad with similar football skills
Yeah, nice analysis. Saw it too. Maybe Xavi should have a second look at the fourth/last stat on that graph. The ammount of mistakes from Busi that lead to goalscoring opportunities for the other team is too high.
Messigician
Senior Member
" Busquets will be the most important player in my system"
Xavi 2020
Xavi 2020
MTL_Barca
Well-known member
Is there a stat about acting like a tree in defense? Because that's the stat Busi would dominate with ease.
I mean of course it's clear what Xavi and others see in him. He has his qualities for sure. But...Xavi would still have these qualities as well, like i'm sure with regular training he could still play and nail passes like always but he knew it's not enough anymore to keep up. Xavi left at 36, Busi will be 34 going into next season. Time is ticking, and Busi already plays like he's 40 anyway.
Like yeah keep Busquets, but for the love of god at least think about alternatives already.
I mean of course it's clear what Xavi and others see in him. He has his qualities for sure. But...Xavi would still have these qualities as well, like i'm sure with regular training he could still play and nail passes like always but he knew it's not enough anymore to keep up. Xavi left at 36, Busi will be 34 going into next season. Time is ticking, and Busi already plays like he's 40 anyway.
Like yeah keep Busquets, but for the love of god at least think about alternatives already.
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Birdy
Senior Member
I agree.
But this applies in general to all Barca players IMO.
I posted a graph some time ago, showing that Memphis' losses of possession deep in the opposition's half lead often to threatening counter-attacks.
I bet for any Barca player we will find similar results if we look up what happens in their possession losses.
That is a problem of addressing modern football and the changes it induces since the time Xavi was playing.
counter-pressing in transitions, and in general dealing with transitions is fundamental nowadays
Our team is a liability in transitions: in the recent El clasico RM only threatened us through transitions, and NOT A SINGLE chance from structured attacking.
Xavi has to find a solution for that, and it doesn't concern Busi in particular
Birdy
Senior Member
This is a problem of the SD area of the club.
They should be looking to find a WC potential, and long-term replacement of Busi, with similar characteristics.
Right now no one is available to bench Busi.
Not the same can be said about Pique for instance
JamDav1982
Senior Member
There is solutions to replace Busi more...FDJ in DM or change formation.
This idea of a 'unique skill set' that cant be replaced is nonsense.
As said.. Xavi had a unique skill set but his legs were gone to be same player he was and Rakitic came in to replace him and system tweaked which contributed to a treble.
Busquets was terrible v Real and they targeted him on and off the ball. Even against the poorer teams he looks knackered for periods and it impacts the team.
There is no other Busquets out there.. no other top team plays with a sole DM in same set up that is even remotely in same mould for a reason.
Stop trying to replace Busquets with a clone or else can just keep playing him until he is 40+ with that reasoning.
This idea of a 'unique skill set' that cant be replaced is nonsense.
As said.. Xavi had a unique skill set but his legs were gone to be same player he was and Rakitic came in to replace him and system tweaked which contributed to a treble.
Busquets was terrible v Real and they targeted him on and off the ball. Even against the poorer teams he looks knackered for periods and it impacts the team.
There is no other Busquets out there.. no other top team plays with a sole DM in same set up that is even remotely in same mould for a reason.
Stop trying to replace Busquets with a clone or else can just keep playing him until he is 40+ with that reasoning.
Rassvet
Well-known member
Messigician
Senior Member
Lmfao savage
Birdy
Senior Member
You didn't read a line of what I posted.
FDJ can't play DM, it is well documented from people who understand the sport (you are obviously not in the category)
Get over it!
Formation also can't change under Xavi, as Xavi always wants a pivot with Busi characteristics.
So you want another coach, admit it
don't play hide and seek here
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