Xavi Hernández

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Messigician

Senior Member
Xavi to the referee before his red card:

- "Don't f*uck with me!"
- "Your f*cking mother, b*stard!"
- "Go ahead, send me off!"

— @MovistarFutbol
 
  • Haha
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delancey

Senior Member
It would have been logical keeping a player on who is fast in transitions, is able to pass his marker(s) with ease, and get the ball into PSG’s box to score himself or assist… especially when one man down. That is exactly what we needed and Xavi took him off because he was the youngest of the attacking trio (and not because he was the least suited for counter attacking football). Poor decision.

What else? Directness and verticality becomes important too when one man down (obviously). Having possession based midfielders who prefer passing sideways and back (add a few spins into the mix) wasn’t the answer either. Maybe Fermin should have been introduced sooner?

And then we got battered and humiliated due to being one man down, inferior tactics, and Xavi’s behavior on the sideline. I mean, does anyone believe that wasn’t a red? Regardless, like someone else said, it’s difficult to make rational decisions when emotional and upset and this also transferred onto the squad. One man down is not an excuse for conceding 4 goals.
 

malvolio

Senior Member
Anyways, there are two kinds of trophyless seasons... the ones in vain and the ones actually leading to something. I strongly believe we build the fundament for our next winning team this year.
Let's see:
GK - should get a real competitor/backup for Stegen
FB - poor state, with the Portuguese idiot on the left and Kounde as makeshift RB
CB - good enough, if Cubarsi is the real deal we are set. can do some sales depending on plan
DM - ?
MC/AM - some players that we see as worldclass, but in reality they are mediocre. dunno if a new manager might change that.
RW - biggest win of this season with Yamal, but tbf I don't know if you can put so much weight on him delivering a full season
ST - junk, with retiree Lewa and a Youtube bum
LW - Raphinha should not play there, Ferran and Felix are terrible

So what the fuck are you on about when you're saying we're building the next winning team? Madrid will field Vinicius/Mbappe/Rodrigo and we'll look like bums yet again.
 

companyofcules

Well-known member
Sometimes it amazes me how some people come to certain conclusions. It's as if they don't even watch the games. Lewa hasn't exhibited remotely any kind of good, extended form all season. He's been AWFUL at set pieces. Despite being tall, he's not strong at headers. Good at hold up?! This one made me legit laugh out loud. Do you actually watch the games? He's been HORRENDOUS at hold up. He loses the ball every single time he gets in under pressure or looks for a foul. He never holds it up in a useful, progressive way. Like I can't honestly believe you watched him this season and came to that as a conclusion.

It doesn't matter if he has experience, he's been doing fuck all. Yamal had been creating nearly everything, especially most of the crucial goals. The other teams know this. They weren't afraid of Lewa, at all. Not even enough respect to command double covcoverage
He had a decent hold up play in the first game based on the season he had. The rest I agree. Xavi was a morron since it makes no tactical sense given he can't run, he cant win you useful duels. He was able to fragment the game. If let's say Yamal was poor you still had the option of Vitor or Ferran. But for me Guiu is our best striker and that tells you everything about our level and Xavi's transfers.
 

companyofcules

Well-known member
It would have been logical keeping a player on who is fast in transitions, is able to pass his marker(s) with ease, and get the ball into PSG’s box to score himself or assist… especially when one man down. That is exactly what we needed and Xavi took him off because he was the youngest of the attacking trio (and not because he was the least suited for counter attacking football). Poor decision.

What else? Directness and verticality becomes important too when one man down (obviously). Having possession based midfielders who prefer passing sideways and back (add a few spins into the mix) wasn’t the answer either. Maybe Fermin should have been introduced sooner?

And then we got battered and humiliated due to being one man down, inferior tactics, and Xavi’s behavior on the sideline. I mean, does anyone believe that wasn’t a red? Regardless, like someone else said, it’s difficult to make rational decisions when emotional and upset and this also transferred onto the squad. One man down is not an excuse for conceding 4 goals.
Cancelo Inigo Cubarsi Kounde
Pedri FDJ Fermin Yamal
Raphinha
Probably a humiliation but maybe in space Yamal and Raphinha would have made it.
Then Fort instead of Cancelo after that brain fart.
 

delancey

Senior Member
Yup or Pedri/FDJ out instead of Yamal. Many of the games that we’ve played the best this year have really been when Pedri and FDJ weren’t playing together. Don’t know if it’s about their qualities (purpose on the pitch) being too similar or if Xavi is just using them incorrectly, but something isn’t working well there. Too slow and ineffective. Too indirect.


Cancelo Inigo Cubarsi Kounde
Pedri FDJ Fermin Yamal
Raphinha
Probably a humiliation but maybe in space Yamal and Raphinha would have made it.
Then Fort instead of Cancelo after that brain fart.
 

companyofcules

Well-known member
Yup or Pedri/FDJ out instead of Yamal. Many of the games that we’ve played the best this year have really been when Pedri and FDJ weren’t playing together. Don’t know if it’s about their qualities (purpose on the pitch) being too similar or if Xavi is just using them incorrectly, but something isn’t working well there. Too slow and ineffective. Too indirect.
Both holding mids but different styles talent wise.
 

companyofcules

Well-known member
PSG were weak every time we went forward.

We didn't need midfielders to defend the lead because PSG were slow at circulating the ball. This was no Man City. If we aimed to keep possession in their half like the first game then we could have scored 2 or 3.

The issue was mostly tactical, and possibly because Pedri and FdJ as a pair didn't have the required fitness. A fully fit Frenkie will usually move back to sweeper to receive balls, which would have taken the pressure off of Araujo. He never done this
Well what if you Lewandowski stumbles in possession, Raphina stumbles in possession, Cancelo stumbles in possession and you have 7 counters per 15 minutes.
Can Barcola Dembele Mbappe hurt us in space?
You see, for possession against star packed teams you really need possession reliable players.

You have FDJ, Pedri but with poor fitness and body mass, Gundogan maybe and a kid.
We have too many players that can brain fart or are incapable to just hold the ball and kill games like that and just one Kid that can actually take on players in claustrophobic spaces.
 

ajnotkeith

Senior Member
That's why I said you need time to call a player great.

Last night it was probably the biggest match of Araujo's career at Barcelona by a distance, and he fucked it up. Let's hope more games of this magnitude will follow in the next seasons, and he will get the chance to prove that it was just a horrible night.
He has also participated in very important games like El Clasico 2nd round last season to seal the title and passed with flying colours.
 
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