FCB SUPPORTERS

2 consecutive defeats in a row. Its not against whom or by what margin, but the manner in which we have lost that is of great concern.

Let me start by saying that this Barcelona is still only at the beginning of its transition. We have literally 9 players who are new to this side (counting B players, loan returns & purchases of course) and need to be integrated into the Barca system which is really up to the Coach/ Manager who himself is new and needs to adjust to all the demands.

It is tough on Lucho, however the criticism thrust towards him is justified simply because of 2 points:

A) He isnt willing to try new tactics/ go back to the old Barca/ possession type of play. Its very evident that Lucho has a direct method of play, a very vertical one so to speak and he depends on his full-backs to continually attack the opposition. This, however, leaves the midfield stranded, there is no pressure or creativity whatsoever from the Midfield. From what I have seen from the start of this season, I can sumamrize Barca's games in 2 points only: 1. Full-backs constantly and needlessly keep attacking and 2. Messi drops to Mid-field and creates chances for someone (usually Neymar) to score. Thats all. Nothing else from the Barca system. I really hope Lucho doesnt think that Alba and Alves are better creators than Iniesta and Xavi or even Rafinha and Rakitic otherwise we really have a big problem. The mid-fielders are basically doing clean-up jobs, pressing and retreiving balls.

B) He is afraid to bench players out of form. At the start of the season, Lucho said that "everyone needs to earn their spot in the starting 11" but Lucho has failed to live up to his commitment. He continously plays Iniesta who is terribly out of form, Alves who well does nothing offensively and defensively, Pedro, who apart from his renowned work-rate looks like he is the assistant referee on the pitch, Pique who constantly loses focus and makes forced or even unforced errors and Busquets, who is also consistently out of form.

Now to conclude, I believe that our Mid-fielders are failing to shine either 1. because they are coincidentally out of form or 2. because the current system just doesnt suit them. I strongly blame the system. There is a reason why Busquets shone in the Pep era and was widely regarded as one of the best CDM's in the entire world. Xavi, Iniesta and Busquets were the most feared "Midfield Trinity" and his best achievement, in my opinion, was the fact that he could integrate the "entire team" to near perfection and that was the highlight of Pep, not so much all the numerous trophies he won. During Tata's short tenure, he tried to make the team a little less dependent on Messi and now Lucho's system focuses on full backs and the front 3 and vertical movement of the team. I feel that until Lucho manages to fully integrate the entire team together to near perfection, we will keep having issues, Attack, Midfield, Defense, it doesnt matter. And he can do that by making changes in tactics, even looking back at Pep's system and modify them to his own standards, there is really no shame in doing that. If he is unwilling to learn and be his cocky self, it will not bode too well for us in the long run.