On episode 452, Dan and Levon discuss where Messi would fit back in and if Eric Garcia could play the pivot. They talk about the moving parts needed to get Messi back, Gavi’s Spain stuff, the Femení moving on to the semis, and much more!
0:00 Messi’s Fit?
24:55 Eric as a pivot
35:36 Gavi’s Non-Story
40:00 Femení beat Roma
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32 Comments
Would be interesting to see but thb i think it very unlikely. The pressure you get as a cb and a cdm is so different. Idk if he has the composure to play that cdm position
I'm confused. How can la liga say that they dont believe that you are paying this amount ? Are they supposed to go with the contract signed by the player and the club? The contract states what Is being payed , so to me la liga cannot say they dont believe .
People do not understand the intricacies of football . Messi now at this age will not carry us forward. This team has evolved and has a high work rate which made us defensively better. Everyone has to defend in this modern day football . There is to much restructuring to keep messi on the field. We love messi and he's the goat but we have to understand he is 36yrs now . If messi was coming to be a bit part player then fine but this is messi and he won't accept that .
For some context they kept asking Xavi about Messi despite him visibly not wanting to talk about it. Xavi said I don't understand the media because they have been saying Barca isn't winning trophies and now that we are about to you ask of next season players.
He also used the term post Messi and pointing out that we are going to have success for the first time post Messi.
Chelsea wasn't all that against Lyon. I think Barca are in the final. Arsenal vs Wolfsburg can go either way. Both are great.
This man barsalev criticises Messi on twitter. And here he says, "oh he has given us so much memories". Stop it hypocrite.
Regarding the team, yes Messi cannot fit into our team , both in possession and without possession. That's why we have to use him as an impact player. It would be better for messi to slowly get accustomed to the reality of modern football, where system is more important than talented individual. I hope Xavi convinces him tho.
Eric Garcia is a bad defender, if he’s so good at defense why can’t he bench our starting 3 CB’s including Alonso?
Eric Garcia as DM why not? But what about Christensen? He has played as DM quite a bit in his career.
Then Kounde-Araujo as CB, maybe bring back Grimaldo for free as LB and put Balde as RB.
Low cost options to keep a very competitive team.
In (free transfers)
Messi ?
Grimaldo
Inigo
Abde
Gundo ?
Sale/salary savings (approx)
Ansu 35-45m
Dembele 50m – need a big sale, injury prone and contract expiring soon
Kessie 15-20m
Eric 10-15m
Lenglet 14m
Dest 10m
Busi 0
Alba 0
Bringing Messi back is not a sporting decision. I doubt he improves our chances to win CL. We have proven we can win LaLiga without Messi. For Messi to arrive, we have to shed salaries and sell dead weights. Two of Ansu, Ousmane, Rafinia and Ferran must be sold. We keep Ousmane who can play right, left and #9. Rafinia is definitely gone for $60+ mil. Ferran will need minutes this season to raise his worth. Kessie will be sold. FDJ sale will be back on the table. Lenglet and Umtiti must be sold. Pablo/Nico/Gundogan will take his spot. Eric Garcia as pivot could give us a defensive closer for Busquet who should no longer play more than 60 minutes per game.
FCB has thought about selling Christensen to raise money. This is interesting model, as they sign guys for free, raise their value then sell them back to the EPL (Aubameyang).
I saw this formation somewhere, Messi, Pedri, De Jong, Busquets make a square midfield with Balde and Raphinha as wide wingers. 4-3-3 is just how we form in build up but this is how the team looks like most of the time. Pressing will be a big issue though
Lewandowski
Pedri Messi
Balde Raphinha
De Jong Busquets
Christensen Araujo Kounde
MATS
Bruh, i got a bad feeling this is gonna be like ronaldo back at man united. I dont think this gonna end well. We gonna see xavi act like ten hag did maybe play messi as a super sub and the whole barca fan going to be outrage. I hope barca fans are rational not like ronaldo blind fanboys.
Messi is the greatest of all time. However I think Barcelona should move on
Nico is better than Garcia
Sporting wise it makes absolutely no sense messi comes back
My idea would be to keep the box midfield. Frenkie as pivot and play Pedri as double Pivot. He sees the gíme perfectly, he has the control, interceptions, and he has the vision. Gavi could play the same position like now, and Messi is the right interior, or kind of like a free position. Lewa still as a 9 and Dembele as our right winger. Balde could build a great partnership with Messi, just like Alba did. We overload the left side, and keep Dembele free on the right. I was amazed about Messis physical performance on the world cup, I think many of us underrate his physical state. He don't run at PSG, becasue they don't ask him. Xavi probably would make sure that Messi is pressing as much as he can. He do not have to play all the games, for sure we can manage him for 2 more years.
Say what you want on …. These people destroy Barca you fucking idiot.
Excuse me, Chelsea pay for a non-, Ukrainian boy 100 million
Guys am not hung up on Messi returning. I feel its going to be disruptive. His time of playing for Barca is over and that door should be closed.
we are over the moon
we have a new player
amazing backup midfielders ahead
Wirtz. Amrabat. Torre staying.
possibly Garcia.
will there be more ?
i want the serious scouting of JayScott and–tried preferably at club
and eyeing of majer
you just understand why xavi is doing what he is doing
he gives minute to his first team players. they come first
even if xavi wants to already give chances to them super talented youth against the ceiling
I’m sure whoever xavi does not want to leave those remain there and patient
and how it works is the moment for example roberto leaves which is soon to come
then another favoured by xavi can finally be the signed first-team barca player be our backup and helper
it’s for now to hang on and you will be made added [on] to the line pushed up
the battle of the—backup
this is the perfect scenario
j-araujo and frimpong both in the club and for a good while is what i FAVOUR
because we’ll be having two talents not one. and the coaches see whether both deserve to stay Or one lacked off and then get’s rejected officially… if they stay one of them also could go to leftback as-backup which means barça desires another rightback monster upcoming
[if frimpong wins this battle i still think
he might be the backup
for his position for the club of barcelona
this is what it’s meant. club of giants]
so what i see as opportunity is to swap Dest with Frimpong asap
10–22 mil offered along as max if must
oh i’m feeling this #MakesSense
already give ez-abde to napoli
loan option-to-buy for a season
& it’s up to us how to approach the next part
IF we can fit kvaratskhelia finally to the club so it’s worked on
then it’s the next winter-window that the entire thing made happen or could it be the summer-window after [and ez-abde shall remain there permanent] 💯
saka is tooo goood to not be at barcelona
around the corner 🙏
Pedrola Lewa Dembele
AnsuFati Alarcon Raphinha
NoaLang Roque MoSalah
1000%
feelings wise
🐸 mbappe will enter barcelona
he’ll decide such at end of his contract.
AND we have to summon
when he comes lewa is slowly leaving
🤨 cancelo doesn’t want mancity in a way so pep doesn’t want him why wouldn’t it be easy to make that one happen ?
i would give 20 million hoping that they be generous and in good moods and it’ll happen
: nor do i mind to give kessie Or casado with that❗️
as the arguably best jamaican player is a free player now… i would 1000% give him chance
RAVEL 🦅 MORRISON #SignedBarcaB
the matured powerhouse
the seasoned the revived
I'd given you guys a break and came back to check if you learnt anything in the meantime… unfortunately not.
Starting with the femeni:
What are you talking about… 'favourites' Arsenal…?
Are you talking about who the English and US media will be talking about most?
Is that how 'favourites' are determined?
Didn't Barca beat Arsenal 8-1 over two legs last year?
FYI Barca femeni don't need Alexia to beat anyone in women's football.
Then there's La Liga telling Barca we don't believe you when you say you're paying Messi x amount.
If the paper work shows what Barca is paying Messi how does this not end with a 'slam-dunk' law suite?
Lewy
Gavi Messi Dembele
Frenkie Pedri
Balde Christensen Araujo Kounde
The finance analysis was good. The play analysis was terrible. Messi+Lewi will produce a ton of goals. Fati has a lot to prove and ponytail guy thinks Fati is the answer to everything. Based on what. He has lost his touch in front of goal and his general passing/control has gotten worse in the last years. Messi, will need to play on the interior right midfield, with Dembele providing the width. Gavi shifts to right pivot holding mid (DeJong on the left) and helps Messi press on the right side. Gavi is will be the glue that makes the system work because he will need to run 12 miles a game.
Love your show. Thank u