Exciting season to come!
I can't wait for next season to become. We have been right up there with Real Madrid since Xavi's arrival. Except the knockout from Europa , Xavi has been magnificent. Even the knock out was a shocking defeat , and fans had a major role in it. The players expected a good presence at home but the club and the fans let them down. We have reasons to get excited about the new season.
1) Improvement in the squad:
What Alemany and Loparta did during the January transfer window was just unbelievable. If they can significantly reinforce the squad in mid-season , they can do better in summer, when the clubs will be more flexible with negotiations. I hope Alemany will come up with many surprises, I have no doubts in the abilities of this board. We can trust them unlike the previous board.
Dembele's renewal should be a priority now, and Dembele shouldn't be lures by money, he needs to realize having a successful player at Barca and Real Madrid counts much more than being successful at any other club. Their are many good player in football , and may be even better than those at Barca and Real , but they just don't get the limelight because they ain't at these two elite clubs. Dembele has been injured for most of the time at Barca , but whenever he was available he was a difference maker. Barca's medical staff has done a tremendous job by keeping Dembele injury free during the last half of the season and Dembele shouldn't waste a chance to work with this wonderful team.
2) Unity:
For the first time in many years the club is looking like a single unit , right from the president to the fans. Loparta , Alemany and Xavi had created a perfect harmony between the squad and the board members. We can achieve big things with unity.
3) Clear ideas:
The best thing Loparta and Alemany has done is that everything is crystal clear. The philosophy is clear, the names of players who are leaving and staying are clear, the positions that need to be reinforced are well sorted. The board has made the interest of club will be the first priority , all decisions will be guided by the interest of the club, no matter how harsh decisions they have to take.
4) Expected squad for next season:
Position that need to be reinforced:
1) RB:
This should be a priority , Alves can't defend well and so is Dear, who is expected to be to be moving out next season. Christensen looks a good temporary option ,but even if he arrives ,Barca should think about a long term solution after next season. We have truly mediocre players in that position since many years. This shouldn't be acceptable anymore. The right backs we have are mediocre in both offence and defence.
2) Striker:
The arrival of Aubameyang has partially made for the lack of goals. If Ansu stays fit we won't have big issues in scoring goals , but his fitness is still doubtful. We need another player who can score goals consistently. There hasn't been a better person at scoring goals than Lewandowski over last 2 seasons.His arrival will guarantee goals and goals and goals , he knows nothing else other than goals. There is a strong interest of both Levandowski and the club to sign for Barca, but Oliver Kahn ( Bayern's President) seems to be an obstacle. Letting a player of his calibre leave is never easy, but I expect Alemany to strike a good deal for around 35 million.
3) Left Back:
We need to find solutions to rest Alba next season. I personally think that Alejandro Balde is good enough to be a back-up LB. Xavi didn't give him enough chances last reason, but he is really good. I've watched him closely, he is an excellent defender, it isn't easy to beat him with pace , he has good sense of positioning, he never hesitates to drive forward when he finds spaces. We have seen him taking on the defenders even during the limited minutes he got with the first team. I believe he is one for the future , an amazing player.
I posted a few articles mentioning Grimaldo, Theo Hernandez and Gaya , but before going out Xavi had to give Balde a run of few games to prove his worth. He has the ability to step up.
4) Winger:
I was always a fan of Ferran Torres right from his Valencia days, I expected Barca to make a move for him when he was at Valencia, but Bartomeu always made things complicated. He is an intelligent player who knows how to make good movement, with and without the ball. He frequently found himself into scoring positions this season and got a few assists a well, but he lacked the finishing touch, which will surely improve with time.
Rafinha has everything agreed with Barca and he is just one game away from being a Barca player. He seems to be coming regardless of the renewal of Dembele. Fati, Memphis, Torres , Aubameyang , Rafinha, Jutgla will form a good attacking force if Fati stays fit, otherwise Lewandowski will be a much-needed signing.
5) CB:
Pique has been carrying and injury for years now, but he always looks good whenever he is on the pitch. He is showing signs of aging now. Christensen is a good 3rd choice CB and he is quite reliable as well. Christensen, Pique, Araujo and Garcia would be the 4 CBs for next season.
Mika Marmol and Arnau Comas should be the CB pairing during the pre-season. They are at the right ages to take the leap. Marmol is more versatile and can play at LB as well. Moreover he is left-footer ,so he can be the solution at left CB position.
6) Pre-season matches:
The main goal of the pre-season should be finding solutions within the club. The players to watch out for would be:
Pablo Torre
Raphinha
Mika Marmol
Fabio Blanco
Alejandro Balde
Ferran Torres
Txus Alba( one of the best attacking midfielders at La Masia)
Ferran Jutgla
Inaki Pena
Alpha Diounkou ( Barca B Right Back)
Following players should get regular minutes
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