Barcelona is in desperate need of a squad overhaul.
Barcelona’s 1-1 draw against Sevilla put on display all of the club’s deficiencies and put showed that they can no longer play the type of football they’re accustomed to playing.
The sheen from Pep Guardiola’s era has all but faded, replaced with a dull, meandering side all too dependent on the brilliance of Lionel Messi.
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In the starting line-up, seven of the players on the pitch for Barcelona were all over the age of 30, including the entire midfield. While they had a decent first-half, they dropped a lot in the second and even in their decent spell, created very little up front.
According to Sport, this was the Catalans’ twelfth stumble away from home. For a club aspiring to win the league, that’s nowhere near good enough.
When Ernesto Valverde was sacked, supporters were jubilant and felt that the side would massively improve under Quique Setien because he believed in the philosophy set out by Johan Cruyff.
So far in his tenure, there’s been very little improvement. Criticism against him has started to pile on and while it’s to be expected, it’s not completely warranted.
The fact of the matter is that right now Barcelona do not have the players to play the quick, attacking style of football they’ve long been associated with. As mentioned, their starting line-up against Sevilla was comprised of veterans who no longer have the legs they used to.
Barcelona are a club composed of players who are going to go down in the history books because of what they’ve accomplished during their time there but who can no longer do it and should have been moved on some time ago.
The midfield of VIdal-Busquets-Rakitic are 30-plus and not the most creative. This lack of creativity thus forces Messi to have to drop deep, pick up a pass and try to create goal-scoring opportunities. More often than not, he’s also had to be the one to finish off those chances.
That’s because Luis Suarez, for all that he’s contributed, is no longer the clinical striker Barcelona signed back in 2014. Coming off an injury, his lack of match fitness was apparent and it was a surprise to see he played the full 90.
He’s become a striker who now needs a couple of chances to score a goal. In tough games against the likes of Sevilla, chances are at a premium and considering how few opportunities they are able to create in the first place, it’s something they cannot afford.
An argument could be made that they are forced to play with older players because they give them the best chance to win. However, that argument has its holes.
When Setien was first appointed, one of the things he mentioned is that if they performed, he would have no problem playing La Masia players. Some have yet he’s opted for the veterans.
Ansu Fati, who saw less and less playing time once Martin Braithwaite was signed, scored against Leganes but was left on the bench against Sevilla. It was a game crying out for him as he could provide the movement and energy that the team sorely lacked.
Riqui Puig came in around the 85th minutes. Five minutes and change is nowhere near enough time for him to make an impact on a match. What’s worse is it might then be used against him as to why he isn’t playing more.
The thing is they do have players to be able to play vintage Barcelona football but they’re all on the younger side and with Valverde and now with Setien, they are reluctant to take a risk and play them.
Plenty has been said about their failings in the transfer window and the majority of it warranted. Against Sevilla, Antoine Griezmann did not come into the match until late in the second half. Not the best endorsement for a player who cost more than €100 million.
As it stands, Barcelona are a patchwork team with a manager who has a philosophy that should fit but does not have the right players to instill said philosophy. Given he signed a contract until 2022, it’s unlikely he’d be sacked even if they don’t win any silverware this season.
The time to judge him should be next season when he has a full transfer window and can bring in and get rid of players who don’t fit his system. It’s what Barcelona need. Whether the hierarchy get on board is another question entirely.