Xavi Hernández

[delancey]

@Birdy
Exactly what we discussed in the supercopa thread last night. Toni said it out loud..it goes beyond finding a decent to top coach.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1746897808450359624

1. “Another coach can play better.” I mean, shouldn’t that always be the case at Barca? That is, whatever our circumstances are, our manager should be qualified to lead one of the biggest clubs in the world?

A manager who gets the best out of his squad, and helps younger players to improve?

2. “Money.” We have the 6th highest wage bill in the world, and the most expensive front line in La Liga. Let’s not act as if we’re Girona here. We cannot spend like PSG or City; therefore it is even more important to hire on a top Manager who plays well and gets results.

3. Fair play. Yes, this is a disadvantage, but however unfair it is, we still own a very talented squad, albeit an underperforming one. Again, our wage bill is astronomically high with the most expensive attacking line in LL. Disadvantage, yes, but we still have huge advantages compared to most of LL.

4. “Sponsors looking crazy.” What?

5. No pivot. True, but would it really make a difference under Xavi? To rephrase, If Xavi managed City, what would happen?

6. Striker is 37. Lewandowski is 35 (not 37), and he’s still one of the best strikers out there. Age needn’t be an excuse. Hence why Bayern wanted a fortune for him. One can have the best machinery in the world, but if an operator doesn’t know how to operate it, what’s the point? Our entire frontline is underperforming massively. Every single player who joins us underperforms.

 

[Fati_Future_BallonDor]

Absolutely crazy to stay so high against a 95 Fifa pace Vini, players should have protested against this tactic

 

[Vladinho]

1. “Another coach can play better.” I mean, shouldn’t that always be the case at Barca? That is, whatever our circumstances are, our manager should be qualified to lead one of the biggest clubs in the world?

A manager who gets the best out of his squad, and helps younger players to improve?

2. “Money.” We have the 6th highest wage bill in the world, and the most expensive front line in La Liga. Let’s not act as if we’re Girona here. We cannot spend like PSG or City; therefore it is even more important to hire on a top Manager who plays well and gets results.

3. Fair play. Yes, this is a disadvantage, but however unfair it is, we still own a very talented squad, albeit an underperforming one. Again, our wage bill is astronomically high with the most expensive attacking line in LL. Disadvantage, yes, but we still have huge advantages compared to most of LL.

4. “Sponsors looking crazy.” What?

5. No pivot. True, but would it really make a difference under Xavi? To rephrase, If Xavi managed City, what would happen?

6. Striker is 37. Lewandowski is 35 (not 37), and he’s still one of the best strikers out there. Age needn’t be an excuse. Hence why Bayern wanted a fortune for him. One can have the best machinery in the world, but if an operator doesn’t know how to operate it, what’s the point? Our entire frontline is underperforming massively. Every single player who joins us underperforms.

4. I think he's referring to Libero not paying or to the Nike situation, where some deadlines were not met regarding merchandise delivery.

6. As much as I would like to think he's still one of the best out there, his first touch and associative play has been abysmal ever since the ending of the world cup...so, far from best and with little expectation to improve, considering his age. But I'm all for proving me wrong here, no problem, just don't see it happening.

 

[delancey]

4. I think he's referring to Libero not paying or to the Nike situation, where some deadlines were not met regarding merchandise delivery.

6. As much as I would like to think he's still one of the best out there, his first touch and associative play has been abysmal ever since the ending of the world cup...so, far from best and with little expectation to improve, considering his age. But I'm all for proving me wrong here, no problem, just don't see it happening.

4. Ah, gotcha! That’s true.
5. When a top manager takes over, it will be easier to evaluate our squad, for right now, everything is chaotic and dysfunctional.

 

[xXKonan]

We knew coming in Xavi was a work in progress and coming from Qatar to La Liga was a big step up and expected him to improve and show us what kinda of philosophy he's aiming for.

But it's been a couple of years now since he replaced Koeman and while indeed we won the Supercopa and La Liga, He struggled quite a bit to get a foothold on the coaching aspect and often or not we got lucky at times being able to ride games out due to the other teams in the League not being able to hit a barn door and individual brilliance.

It's no secret Xavi has always been "It's this certain way or the Highway" idealist. There were rumors that he wasn't happy at all during the Tata Martino era as Tata wanted to go a different direction with the tactics (Remember the 6-0 vs Rayo?) But Xavi himself played under various different winning coaches and one would be expected him to learn from the likes of Van Gaal, Rikijard, Pep, Lucho, Del Bosque, Aragones and how their coaching philosophies.

But all we have is a Xavi who is struggling to lay down any sort of foundation for this team and one that cannot seem to get a grip on coaching nor understand what kind of players he needs for the team. Often or not does not do enough self-reflection and is obsessed with the idea that it's the players who can't understand him.

Lucho was a guy who had an it's my way or the highway attitude but eventually learned to compromise himself and connected with his players much better than what we have seen out of Xavi.

It's up to him to understand this is a team game and if the players aren't getting your messages then it's on him to better himself and instead of trying to play the blame game.

 

[Fati_Future_BallonDor]

Poor Xavi, people writing on his Insta pics where he is enjoying time with family 'Xavi out' lol

 

[Blanco]

Lol, Xavi was not your problem. Your problem was that the combined best 11 from yesterday’s starting line ups is all our players plus Araujo instead of Nacho.

Xavi has only 3 defeats in 26 matches this season if we are not counting classicos. Thats pretty good with the players he has.

 

[fergus90]

The whole bet with Xavi was basically praying he replicates Pep in whereby he has such a vision of the game that he can just walk into a job with relatively no experience and transcend a team.

Reality is, Barca may never find another Guardiola again who can have that type of impact.

I think going into a job either for a sustained period in the b team or elsewhere in Europe would’ve allowed him to learn from mistakes that he’s currently not afforded.

Also, the board needs to take responsibility for allowing him to be manager, scout and sporting director in a very perilous financial situation. Everyone of his marquee signings that the club pulled levers for cannot perform to a consistently good standard. Players of course will dip in form but when the entire team struggles, the coaching staff have to be questioned.

 

[KingLeo10]

The whole bet with Xavi was basically praying he replicates Pep in whereby he has such a vision of the game that he can just walk into a job with relatively no experience and transcend a team.

Reality is, Barca may never find another Guardiola again who can have that type of impact.

I think going into a job either for a sustained period in the b team or elsewhere in Europe would’ve allowed him to learn from mistakes that he’s currently not afforded.

Also, the board needs to take responsibility for allowing him to be manager, scout and sporting director in a very perilous financial situation. Everyone of his marquee signings that the club pulled levers for cannot perform to a consistently good standard. Players of course will dip in form but when the entire team struggles, the coaching staff have to be questioned.

Not just Barca, there's no managers in the last 30 years with the same level of revolutionary football vision like Guardiola.

You need to go back to late 80s/early 90s with Sacchi and Cruyff.

 

[JamDav1982]

Xavi has only 3 defeats in 26 matches this season if we are not counting classicos. Thats pretty good with the players he has.

Aye lets live in imaginary world where Classicos dont count for a Barcelona coach.

Barca other then first few games have been poor too often.

Barcelona barely finished top in about easiest CL could have got and had one good game in CL.

In league are seven points behind Girona and injury hit Real having had about the most favourable fixtures can imagine.

 

[fergus90]

Lol, Xavi was not your problem. Your problem was that the combined best 11 from yesterday’s starting line ups is all our players plus Araujo instead of Nacho.

A lot of the players he has, he asked for.

Kounde, Raphinha, Lewandowski & Ferran in particular are four players that started yesterday the club pulled levers for at his request. Gundogan, Christensen and Felix who appeared were also brought under him. How much he wanted him is up for debate as it may be a Laporta signing but still he arrived under his management.

He insisted on a Sergi Roberto renewal, who also started.

He might not be the only problem but he's currently one of them.

 

[Fati_Future_BallonDor]

Lol, Xavi was not your problem. Your problem was that the combined best 11 from yesterday’s starting line ups is all our players plus Araujo instead of Nacho.

Xavi has only 3 defeats in 26 matches this season if we are not counting classicos. Thats pretty good with the players he has.

you must be joking dude

the only top matches this season were the 1-0 against Atletico and the 2x 5-0 wins, maybe also 4-3 win in villareal as its always difficult to win there

 

[Blanco]

you must be joking dude

the only top matches this season were the 1-0 against Atletico and the 2x 5-0 wins, maybe also 4-3 win in villareal as its always difficult to win there

And how many more top matches you expect with Felix, Yamal, Ferran, Raphinha and 35 years old Lewa upfront? You basically have 2 world class midfielders in Gundogan and De Jong, one world class defender in Araujo (being world class is mainly on Xavi) and world class GK, who is injured. What do you want Xavi to do with this squad? He had to replace GOAT DM with Oriel Romeu?!?! Pedri with his 9 career asissts is his best option for attacking midfielder…

 

[JamDav1982]

No one forced Xavi to rate Romeu or fail to plan for Busquets leaving.

DM should have been first position covered and planned for.

 

[Fati_Future_BallonDor]

And how many more top matches you expect with Felix, Yamal, Ferran, Raphinha and 35 years old Lewa upfront? You basically have 2 world class midfielders in Gundogan and De Jong, one world class defender in Araujo (being world class is mainly on Xavi) and world class GK, who is injured. What do you want Xavi to do with this squad? He had to replace GOAT DM with Oriel Romeu?!?! Pedri with his 9 career asissts is his best option for attacking midfielder…

Dude we struggle against Granada, antwerp and barbastro or do you think they have a better squad than barca?...

I think everyone can live with defeats against Real madrid if we would be really a lot weaker but when we lost 1-2 it looked well until Xavi brought the 35 years old Lewa into the match who will ofc dont do much in defence work, completely unneccessary sub and yesterday the high line was comical. These were Xavi's mistakes.