this analysis aged like fine wine. Barca has no chemistry.

This is why Xavi wants profiles like Bernardo Lo celso and Guler as right interior signings and Joao Cancelo as a rb signing to help balance the right side

I think Cancelo will solve a lot of those problems, and hopefully we see more of Ansu and Abde on the left, especially against teams sitting deep. But we will see how Xavi develops from here, until now I think his progress has been great

I am watching this video 5 months later and your prediction has come true ,good analysis..Barca is really struggling

I was wondering why the quality of our football has dropped off so much from his first 6 months and you've explained it perfectly

Beautiful video. I was wondering the same. Xavi's first season was surprisingly exceptional.

Xavi line up and squad "on paper" sounds like a very good team and you can make "MULTIPLE" line ups with it. The main problems comes down on "if you want to control the midfield and be that team that is constantly on the other area with the possesion" or be this deadly aggresive team that can counter blitz attack and have the verticallity options like Bayern or as clinical as Real Madrid. Xavi will always choose to play the possesion game but without taking risks. While Guardiola usually goes for possesion but always risking and always commiting. Only when his team is winning is when Guardiola tell them not to commit.

I think barca didn't have a long enough preseason to build that chemistry . there are new players straight into the team . And it needs time to adapt and leran something as complicated as positional play...

You were on the money with this, but their pressing and defense is worse this season

It will definitely take time, given the financial barriers and lack of appropriate profiles, but I'm pretty sure Xavi is the right man to take this team forward.

I think if we get Cancelo we’re fine it’s game week 2 we have time to improve tactics and chemistry.

Major problem is that they only have Pedri that is a threat to breakdown a defense on the dribble from the midfield and he does so infrequently. Without a threat from the midfield, defenses can sit back in a block and push the only remaining threat, the wingers, out wide and make them ineffective. You either need another attacking threat in the midfield or more inside outside runs from the wingers to destabilize their defensive form.

This saw what we are going through now.. miles beforeee 💀

Great video, usually people just point out the problem but can't come up with solutions. I think Xavi has to find himself and his coaching in this season, it's make or break time.

I've been saying exactly this for some weeks now. The problem is Xavi, he seems to not train all this movement.

I was worried first time when I saw Barca's preseason schedule. It was more like playing UCL than preparing. We needed more low intensity game to prepare the team. The second worry was Dembele's departure just before the start of the season. But I think Xavi will grind result with his exceptional defensive solidity (if players remain fit) although the play will remain more or less static.

I think the problem also lies in Xavi himself. He doesn't come up with any B or C plans, and is constantly forcing players to adapt to his roles, instead of coming up with a tactic that would use them in their best side. For example using Fati as a "10" in middle, instead of wing where he seemed to have formed some link with Balde (which would make them easier to cooperate in triangle) when he's clrearly not that good of a passer. Ferran would be more natural in that position, but we haven't even seen him for more then 20min so far (even tho he was one of the best in preseason). Balde is constantly alone on wing with very poor support, meaning he HAS to play 1v1s or backpasses, because there's noone that could overlap/underlap him. Playing with 4 (5 if counting Lewy dropping into midfield) midfields against teams that stay on a low block, thus erasing any room for potential plays for those midfielders. Lewy's dropping also creates a blank space in already poor attack, meaning there's pretty much noone to even pass too or run into as Lamine/Raphinia often stay wide. Xavi for now stuggles with this squad as he's not good enough yet to change his way of play for the sake of team that he has and i think THAT will be a potential downfall to this season.

Bro predicted it

Feels weird seing the best midfielder of his generation put next to the word "problem".

im really very curious on the emphasis for a rb at barca. sure past barcelona teams operated with both fullbacks that dominated the wings and allowed wingers to cut inside, but it's not like the asymmetrical set up now is all that bad either. raphinha, and formerly dembele, always found themselves tons of space on the flanks and chances were created with simple long diagonal balls. i dont really mind this asymmetry in the lineup, it gives the team a bit more dynamism. we might just need more luck with finishing, finding lewa more, and build on the jdp. more of a chemistry problem than a personnel as mentioned.

Whenever i watch these videos i'm reminded that whilst Pep is the student that surpassed his teacher, Cruijff (&Rinus) remains the master. Both Ajax and Barcelona are build around his vision. Makes me curious how Man City will play in the post Guardiola era

I Think our biggest problem is, that xavi doesn’t play our best players form wise and also is being to defensively orientated. The already mentioned lack of mobility in build up, combined with too many similar midfielder styles that all want to be in the center of the pitch leads to a missing goal threat. Lewy hasn’t been cutting it since the WC and with him out of form, we are missing offensive power. I don’t understand why xavi keeps insisting on this box midfield in every game sacrificing attackers. Ansu and ferran have been our most promising forwards so far this season (not including yamal cause he shouldn’t be a starter at this age yet) and they are still the players being sacrificed. As soon as these two end up on the pitch and we go back to 3 forwards, at least we gain our attacking threat back

I seriously love when you talk about Barcelona. Your analysis is always on point and really opens my eyes on the issue with the squad

I love watching football tactics vids, and this channel is among the best Keep it up man❤

currently top of the table and thrashed real betis 5-0, im really excited top see what this season has to offer

Please excuse any audio issues, adjusting to a new office so there might be a bit of an echo.

Been waiting for this barca vid bro keep up the good content ❣❣💪🏿💪🏿

Thanks bro…. Was eagerly waiting for this

Amazing interesting video like always, I would love to see you analysis on the way the team work and what might be better more. Especially with the 4/5 midfield formation with our new signings 😊

its amazing how you figure stuff even our coach is unable to see

kinda weird seeing this rn after our 2 5-0 wins

Love your channel & I'm a Zimbabwean ❤

Great video man. You're articulating what I could see put couldn't put words to.

Omg you are the best show and tell!! So right in everything you say.. Will like to more depth in to what you think they have to do!

one of the best anyalysis I have ever seen. keep up the good work buddy 🥰

This aged well 🥲

Man I love you're videos! It provides so much understanding.

I think so too. The current squad is lacking the understanding of positional play, thus why we always see such an abstract shape on our build ups. It's almost like the players have to interpret what "positional play" themselves and try to execute it. Like Lewy for example, he tends to drop deep in the wrong time, while i get why he was doing that but the other teammates often feels like they were surprised that lewy drop deep and no one make a run in behind. They lack chemistry to play this style of play. So now it's either we change our approach on football and build it based around our players or we keep teaching them about that style of play until they get it right, because let's be honest searching player that fit with our style of play (especially with our financial situation) is a very hard thing to do.

absolutely brilliant video

you are right man!

Another great video Purist. Amazing insight simply communicated. It is really worth noting that Xavi has played an entire season without a quality RB, so the arrival of Cancelo can’t be understated. We will see a more balanced and complete squad with greater fluidity. It will just require time

We are so glad as Barca fans we have you great video once again

Spot on…exactly correct. The team is often stagnant with the ball slowing the buildup, and the lack of movement particularly impacts the final third in the attack where we resort to lobs inside the box and hoping to get a foot or head on the ball for a tap in. There is no unlocking of the middle of the pitch.

Great video. It would be great if you do a tactic analysis of every Barça game of the season.

Basically barcas financial problems results in Xavi not being able to use de Jongs strenghts yet again as the team around him arent as adapted to play with de Jong like that making it static awell as a lack of a RB that provides width up. Edit:Its a bit unfortunate as de Jong is an amazing player to build a squad around and u have amazing players in lewandowski and gundogan.

The face at the left of Xavi at 8:46 😱

Thnx for the video finally I got an idea about the problem in the squad.

Fantastic work as always

good work man👏👏

Gold! Great analysis! I've been convinced for a while this is both a coach and quality of player problem. I think part of mastering positional play is to 1) try a play style that compliments the player's strengths AND 2) timing: - I think a lineup with 4-5 midfielders with all midfielders lacking attacking creativity is an unbalanced midfield. - I think allowing wingers to invert more often will complement Lewy better (i.e. too many times last year Demebele was just asked to go wide and pray he makes a perfect cross) - Running into the perfect position before the defense figures it (i.e. not taking advantage of counterattacks) - Making the pass that creates an attacking chance before it's too late (i.e. passing the ball wide to the winger when 3 defenders already got into position instead of passing it sooner when they were 1 v 1) - Give and go as fast as possible (I barely see an attempt at this, but I could be wrong) Barca is too slow and this so-call patient buildup method is delusional. Instead it's just looks like they have no idea.

Wow.... really insightful diagnosis 👌

Wow this a great breakdown

I always love watching your analyses. I truly believe that my own understanding of the game has improved greatly by watching your videos.

Great video! Especially that you propose a solution or idea. The static play may also be a result of Xavis game management. Barcas transitions and counter attacks are mostly sacrificed, for control and structure. The system leaves little room for the automation of taking on opponents. Yes the players are looking for openings when the ball drones side to side, but it merely translate into stringing one or two moves together, before defaulting. I wonder if Abde and Lamal will lose their edge and moment of surprise, when "Cruyffs 10.000 hours" has "automated" them to take a rest on the ball.

Amazing video and channel 🤩

Very beautifully done video, Thank you!

Amazing video !!! thanks for the insights

Great video. I've noticed how Balde has more freedom making runs when Ansu is there & vice-versa. When Xavi plays someone who's not a winger like Gavi or Pedri there's little to no penetration on the left and lesser chances are created. The significance of Dembele was that he always made himself a threat as a winger and tested the defence. We need that threat on the left flank also rather than someone who isn't so focused on keeping possession and making the right pass, I think the answer is Ansu & Abde.

That's what I noticed too, the team was way to static, players kept waiting to make a run in behind, never trying to move around to create space, this also made it easy for the defenders to stop the runs with dirty fouls.

Amazing analysis 🎉 as per

You've answered alot of the questions i have in mind. Great video

I was having these cues during last two games. That these things are off.. But never reached a definitive conclusion, you cleared it for me... As always, wonderful explanation & analytical... Love your work..

Great Video❤

Always excellent content as usual

Perfect video ❤ . Loves the analysis ❤.

Brillant explanation, so well put

Thats what Xavi said about Lamine's performance during the match against Cadiz, "He did well but his plays were without purpose.". The problem is that we don't have balance in the team without a RB. Balde on the left wing is also just a stop gap no matter how good he is. It is time we shift back to a 433 and maximize the output of our front line. We have speed in our entire squad to recover lost distance during counters. We just have to trust a more attacking setup and make the team more comfortable to find space and through balls within that setup. For now in the first 2 matches, there is no chemistry b/w the players in anyway. We might also need a winger who can be trained to link the frontline with the midfield. Felix maybe can play that role but ideally someone else would be good. I can bet on Felix's talent though. He has so much raw potential that it can be perfected much more easily in due time.

Great detail on all your videos 🙌🏻 May I ask what software you use for match analysis and visualisations?

I think Xavi maybe needs to become a little more flexible, maybe accept that some parts of the team may need to be more rigid, Cancelo would be a perfect right back and him being able to Dovetail with Pedri and Raphinha could make that right side very exciting. I know how exciting Raphinha can be with movement around him, he was phenomenal for Leeds because he often played with Ayling and Dallas as his inside and right back, and those 2 were incredibly flexible and could play a multitude of positions which at times allowed him to burst into space or get isolated against a full back and wreck havoc. But he needed their intelligence and movement to get those situations. (It also helps that his coach was a genius).

By far, the best analysis of football that I've found. I missed this a lot.

Razor sharp analysis! Thx as always

Great video mate, I hope you make one when Cancelo arrives. I’d like to see how things can change for us!

Well done ✅

I remember you saying something in one your video like losing Busquet and the kind of player that replaces him will define the Xavi project. here we are now, it might take more time than anticipated.

Awesome video as always. Really enjoy it i was wondering if You could recommend a course on tactics and where to learn more about football analysis. Thank You very much

Really interesting breakdown! Is the narrator Seb Stafford-Blor?

It is the 8:46 frame that throws away my focus on this video. :D Anyway, great work!

Solution: Team Attacking position: 2-3-5 Araujo - Christensen/Kounde Cancelo - Romeo - De Jong Raphi/Lamal - Gundodan - Lewa - Pedri - Fati/Ferran Embrace an attacking squad to win! Unpopular opinion: Yes Balde is good with the ball, but the man can’t attack as part of the system and is not that good defensively with tons of mistakes. Just change him with a pure winger

great analysis.

Love you Purist.

I also think. Having a more dynamic striker would help a lot. These day, with Lewa age, he barely gets free of defenders. Ferran could be that for us. He’s been improving his game lately

Great video. With lamine I think if he can play a good portion of games which is always tricky due to his age and having to take care of his body that isn't fully developed, this issue could be resolved

Spot on!

Having watched barceloa for years and Xavis barca since his arrival, I think this is a good analysis on the teams structure or lack thereof. Seems like after the 2-1 Classico win the team dropped off a lot and it looked like a lot of crossing and hoping which is the same this season. Lewandowski has suffered for sure but i cant tell if he has fallen off or is suffering from the lack of formation and space in the team. He was surrounded by defenders the past 2 games but even his confidence to shoot first time looks gone

Ferran is really important for solving the problem. Starting him as a lw to link with de jong/gondugan and balde is a very good solution. Also cancelo at rb linking up with lamine yamal and pedri. Both would open a lot of space on both sides and increase attacking options.

You are so right in your analysis of the team an xavi's reluctance to start with 3 out right attackers is killing us in games. This over exaggerating on packing the midfield is good against certain oppositions not all. If we had natural attackers on the pitch against getafe we could have capitalise on that high line they were playing.. One last thing i think we should shoot more often especially against teams with a back 5, take on more shots from distance and force d opposition defencw to step up an try to close us down..

BRO awesome video explanation and one more thing i noticed is in intention to dominate possession and having control over opposition xavi is using 4 midfield formation and it is making the build up play narrower as they don't have pure wingers

Great video.

This is an impressive insight

10/10 video 👏

Too good at your job 🔥

your understanding of the game is insane bother

Postional play would translate better as Juego Posicional. At least in Spain's Spanish.

Great video

nice video bro.

In La Liga, changes in team rosters tends to happen in a gradual manner. FC Barcelona drastically altered their team, for the better, and it took a while for the rest of the league to adapt to the “new” Barca squad. I think Barca’s drop off in performance was largely due to teams making appropriate tactical adjustments. While Busquets and Alba had fallen behind in performance, they were amazing at distributing the ball and were masters of positional play. We’ll see if Xavi can get this new group of players playing sharp passing, traditionally oriented Barca style ball.

Xavi was made the coach at a very difficult time. Ideally a more experienced coach should have been brought to guide the team during this transitional period. You can see the lack of proper coaching in the team in recent games. They have a lot to improve.

The new system fits Ferran so well. I think he will be vital this season

As a barca fan i can i say, its been more and more frustrating to watch this squad play, and as I'd love for you to be mistaken, yoy nailed this video and the tactical problems barce will face. Cheers to a great analysis

A lot of learning from this video!!!