Xavi (Spanish Lego Pep) | Barca manager - and will be next season

[Tom Cato]

Ole, are you watching?

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Manchester Untied have a established self governing body in the lockerroom that includes fines for all kinds of infractions (including showing up late) and has been in placed for decades. The current one is being managed by "Serb Cop" Nemanja Matic.

“I have to say, just before the Newcastle game, I fined myself,” Matic has told United’s official website before their clash against Real Sociedad.

“I was late for a meeting by two seconds, and the rules are the same for everyone. I had to fine myself, because they catch me!

“I was late to the meeting. In front of the room [where the meeting was taking place] I was talking to Paul, so I will ask him to pay 50 per cent of my fine. I don't know if he will accept!”

Maguire told the official Utd Podcast earlier this month: “I’ve been fined once which is still debatable. It’s crazy but I let Nemanja do it. I took the hit and put the money in the pot.

“When you meet in the gym before training for pre-activation you are not allowed your phone. We did pre-activation, I didn’t have my phone.

"But then you go outside to put your boots on and you aren’t allowed to go on your phone in that period. I had my phone and carried it out with me.

“I wasn’t on my phone because straight after training I was going to put my trainers back on and go up for a massage instead of coming all the way back.

"I could have gone straight to a massage and Nemanja fined me for that. He’s strict with everyone so I’m happy. I can set the standard.”

 

[André Dominguez]

Barca are 10 points behind Sevilla and 11 behind Sociedad (1 game in hand) with 26 matches to go, so if those teams stay at their current rates that means Barca need about 80-82 points to sneak 4th, which is 63 points in 26 games. That's a 92 point pace. I think that's asking a bit much.

Europa league will be a humiliation for them next year, but if they end the season on 75 points that's still an 83 point pace which I feel like should be enough for him to keep the job if they play good Barca 4-3-3 football and he can make the case that they desperately need a RB, a replacement for Busquets, a replacement for Pique and a RW to compete with Dembele (though they can play Pedri-Memphis-Fati too).

Then a short leash next year, sure, but unless one of Sociedad or Sevilla drop off, it really is a lot to ask that he suddenly turns them into a 90+ point team, particularly if Fati misses any time at all.

Both Sevilla and La Real will loose many points in the way. I agree there's a big risk missing top4 though, and also agree if the playing style quality improves, Xavi will be secure for next season (mainly if they start playing a possession flow football).

Unfortunately their needs for squad engineering are strongly dependent of how much their finantial situation will improve this year, and I think they have to pretty much rely on cantera solutions for the short term, unless player like Coutinho and etc will start to accept offers to play in arabian leagues.

 

[Oly Francis]

Manchester Untied have a established self governing body in the lockerroom that includes fines for all kinds of infractions (including showing up late) and has been in placed for decades. The current one is being managed by "Serb Cop" Nemanja Matic.

It's quiet common for a new coach to pretend he'll change the whole mentality of the team with the harshest rules in the history of football, that they were lazy with the previsous coach but now they're working hard blablabla. Good PR move, not a lot of effect.

 

[Tom Cato]

Just to stay on topic, I'm pretty excited to see what Xavi can do with Barcelona. The entire foundation from the title winning side is gone except for a small number of players and they are very much in a rebuild forced by the gross negligence of the former board.

They lack Messi, so who's going to be "the guy" in this team? Ansu Fati is dubbed as the heir apparent but he's already mising games with knee problems, both knees have set him sidelined so far for various issues.

I think Xavi got his work cut out for him and will more than likely be hampered by a significant lack of options in the transfer market and will be forced to rely on loans to bolster the squad. He already brought in Dani Alves. Maybe he can persuade Andrés Iniesta to make a homecoming as well (admittedly, extremely unlikely)

 

[Zen]

Ole, are you watching?

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30 minutes late or 2 hours and 30 minutes late?

 

[Cloud7]

Don't see all the fuss. Coaches are always the first to arrive and the last to leave. Showing up at least 2 hours before training at that level is necessary.

As for the players, I assume they know they are expected in at a certain time, they have at least 90 mins for breakfast, fix their hair, take a shit, put on some kit and get out on the pitch.

Anyone who's ever played football knows that when training starts at a certain time that means you are on the pitch ready to go and not only showing up at that time. If you're gettimg paid millions every year to play football the very least you can do is be ready to go on time.

Exactly. Even in our fecking secondary school after school training we knew that training started at x time, so we had to be there before to do whatever, and the time stated that training starts was the time you're on the field and ready to go. It's expected that you show up before and do what you have to do so you are ready to go at the allotted starting time. Seems like making a story out of nothing.

Then again this is the caf where you can say 1+1 is 2 and someone will find that controversial or try to argue against it.

 

[ariveded]

It seems lots of propaganda. Every manager in big club has a project, but we are being sold that Xavi is a special man with a special project.

We gonna hear a lot of off pitch "great work" , than on-pitch performances.

 

[Idxomer]

It seems lots of propaganda. Every manager in big club has a project, but we are being sold that Xavi is a special man with a special project.

We gonna hear a lot of off pitch "great work" , than on-pitch performances.

Yep, it does seem as they are trying to convince themselves and the fans he's the right man.

He might be but it's always better to let the performances speak for themselves.

 

[NoPace]

Both Sevilla and La Real will loose many points in the way. I agree there's a big risk missing top4 though, and also agree if the playing style quality improves, Xavi will be secure for next season (mainly if they start playing a possession flow football).

Unfortunately their needs for squad engineering are strongly dependent of how much their finantial situation will improve this year, and I think they have to pretty much rely on cantera solutions for the short term, unless player like Coutinho and etc will start to accept offers to play in arabian leagues.

Yeah, most likely one of Sevilla or Sociedad will drop off a bit and the door will open.

They definitely need some attackers and defenders, but I've been impressed with Nico and Gavi and we know Pedri and De Jong can play so I think they should just be patient in that area and spend whatever they have elsewhere.

 

[therealtboy]

Yeah, most likely one of Sevilla or Sociedad will drop off a bit and the door will open.

They definitely need some attackers and defenders, but I've been impressed with Nico and Gavi and we know Pedri and De Jong can play so I think they should just be patient in that area and spend whatever they have elsewhere.

I say the cash in on De Jong and go with Gavi, Nico and Pedri for the future. Not that De Jong isn't great but they can use those funds to strengthen other areas. They have enough numbers in midfield and Sergi Roberto too can come in there and can't forget Puig so De Jong could be used to raise funds. If Xavi gets his system going, it will take time but he would at least take Barca back to the top 4 then from there they can become great again but it will take time and I'm sure he will be given time.

 

[NoPace]

I say the cash in on De Jong and go with Gavi, Nico and Pedri for the future. Not that De Jong isn't great but they can use those funds to strengthen other areas. They have enough numbers in midfield and Sergi Roberto too can come in there and can't forget Puig so De Jong could be used to raise funds. If Xavi gets his system going, it will take time but he would at least take Barca back to the top 4 then from there they can become great again but it will take time and I'm sure he will be given time.

My completely based on vibes guess is Xavi will fall in love with De Jong and be disgusted by the thought of Sergi Roberto as a midfielder, but you're right that De Jong to us or City would raise a lot of money, maybe enough for both a decent fullback and a winger.

Puig has a lot of hype, but I've never really seen him play well yet.

 

[therealtboy]

My completely based on vibes guess is Xavi will fall in love with De Jong and be disgusted by the thought of Sergi Roberto as a midfielder, but you're right that De Jong to us or City would raise a lot of money, maybe enough for both a decent fullback and a winger.

Puig has a lot of hype, but I've never really seen him play well yet.

Absolutely have no doubt he will fall in love with De Jong, hard not to but I think he'll also understand the bigger picture and he and Laporta will have gone through the finances so he knows there is also a fiscal responsibility. Gavi, Nico and Pedri are already ready to go so it won't be as much of a loss. Would love for him to come to us but first Ole has to go and VDB start getting games, VDB is close to him and could put in a good word.

 

[André Dominguez]

Yeah, most likely one of Sevilla or Sociedad will drop off a bit and the door will open.

They definitely need some attackers and defenders, but I've been impressed with Nico and Gavi and we know Pedri and De Jong can play so I think they should just be patient in that area and spend whatever they have elsewhere.

They have no other choice than either playing with their cantera promising players or try to get some rough diamonds that aren't in those "most wanted" lists. Off course things might chance if they can offload some top wage players.

I do think we'll see them play without a focal reference under Xavi, but they still need player who can bang goals.

 

[Hoof the ball]

My completely based on vibes guess is Xavi will fall in love with De Jong and be disgusted by the thought of Sergi Roberto as a midfielder, but you're right that De Jong to us or City would raise a lot of money, maybe enough for both a decent fullback and a winger.

Puig has a lot of hype, but I've never really seen him play well yet.

From January through end of season, under Setien, he was getting a lot more minutes (pre Koeman) and was impressing. Then Koeman 'Donny'd' him and his development stalled.

There was one CL game he got MOTM vs. Juve with a 25 minute cameo. Barca were getting pounced, Puig came on, and Barca looked 100 times more settled and effective on the ball.

It's his performances under Setien and that Juve MOTM game that runs the hype machine mostly, but it's not blind faith; he is very talented. It just needs the right coach to provide him the sustained minutes and unlock his next level. This is why fans are high on him. There's just certain players you know , that might peak later, but when they do they've got the skillset to do it at a high level.

It might not work out for Puig, but he has similarities to Xavi, who found himself not playing a featuring role under LvG and choose to stay instead of taking a loan move (like Puig decided to stay under Koeman), so, Xavi will have sympathies with the player. He's also high on Puig too. He'll get a lot of minutes under Xavi this season, so we won't have to debate anymore; he'll either sink or swim with the minutes provided to him.

 

[Hoof the ball]

Curious.

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[Samid]

Curious.

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Doesn't seem like it worked tonight?

 

[P-Ro]

Disappointing that it's looking likely they won't get out of the group. I really wanted us to get the opportunity to batter this horrible club and manager.

 

[OverratedOpinion]

I find it nuts that they seemed to chase him as if he were a world class manager. Not to say he won't be great, maybe he will be it just seemed very odd.

 

[Samid]

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[Samid]

Seems out of his depth so far.

 

[Rojow]

He has shitty players unlike Pep. He can't play Tiki Taka or possession game if he don't have players that excel.

 

[Daysleeper]

He deserves a hell of a lot more time. We are destroyed with injuries too as it is.

 

[::sonny::]

Plays with a lot of regen

 

[giorno]

Plays with a lot of regen

Doesn'r have enough first teamers!

Today they lined up with Gavi and another kid who is like a forward as wingbacks because they had none

 

[Cloud7]

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Quality respects quality

 

[Zen]

Shall we put some respect on how well Messi actually managed this team already. They'd be 2nd and still in the CL (albeit waiting on the inevitable battering from whoever) with him.

 

[MalaysianRed7]

Not started well but he can’t do much with this team. Barca are spawning random youth players for every single game. Began with Gavi at the start of the season, and the most recent one is called Ez Abde. He’s playing a Barca career mode on FIFA, where he’s 12 seasons in.

 

[Oly Francis]

Doesn'r have enough first teamers!

Today they lined up with Gavi and another kid who is like a forward as wingbacks because they had none

He chose this formation and still kept Coutinho on the bench, he could have done differently.

 

[VanDeBank]

He was incredibly lucky in his first few games to get points.

The overall play might be even worse than under Koeman.

They basically threw out an average, experienced manager in the hopes that Xavi is a fairy tale protagonist, much like we did with Ole. There's no policy or structure behind the appointment.

Barcelona is the new Manchester United.

 

[stefan92]

He was incredibly lucky in his first few games to get points.

The overall play might be even worse than under Koeman.

They basically threw out an average, experienced manager in the hopes that Xavi is a fairy tale protagonist, much like we did with Ole. There's no policy or structure behind the appointment.

Barcelona is the new Manchester United.

Nope.

United still has the financial power to correct those mistakes. Barca doesn't.

 

[rotherham_red]

Interviews about his philosophy and understanding of football. Footage of his team. Xavi has given some really insightful talks while all I saw from Solskjaer in that department is a video of him telling his players to shoot more in training. But of course, there's more evidence of Solskjaer being shit than Xavi being great.

 

[GifLord]

Shall we put some respect on how well Messi actually managed this team already. They'd be 2nd and still in the CL (albeit waiting on the inevitable battering from whoever) with him.

But Messi was cancer remember?

 

[Zehner]

What's your point? I literally wrote he could be not up to it. Just in a different way to Solskjaer.

Still too early to judge obviously.

 

[Robertd0803]

How likely is it that Barca are not going to qualify for the CL next season at this point?

 

[The Corinthian]

How likely is it that Barca are not going to qualify for the CL next season at this point?

They might not even qualify for Europa.

 

[Tyrion]

I find it nuts that they seemed to chase him as if he were a world class manager. Not to say he won't be great, maybe he will be it just seemed very odd.

Because he's an ex-player. Barca is more of a cult or political party than a club when it comes to believing in their "philosophy". The Pope isn't picked for his management skills and neither is Barcelona's manager. It's all about how pure you are and how strong your belief is.

 

[Idxomer]

How likely is it that Barca are not going to qualify for the CL next season at this point?

They need the likes of Pedri and Fati to recover from their injuries and stay fit.

Without them, they don't have a great chance of qualifying.

 

[giorno]

How likely is it that Barca are not going to qualify for the CL next season at this point?

We might be at a point where culés discover themselves madridistas afterall later tonight

 

[The Corinthian]

Interviews about his philosophy and understanding of football. Footage of his team. Xavi has given some really insightful talks while all I saw from Solskjaer in that department is a video of him telling his players to shoot more in training. But of course, there's more evidence of Solskjaer being shit than Xavi being great.

 

[Mb194dc]

Only 6 games in but only won 33% of games and those were pretty lucky.

Desperately need a striker in January. They don't look any better than the 8th they're in currently.