"In my opinion, La Masia is really good in making future midfielders but our forward department is lacking lustre in comparison. Why do you think this is the case?" our user Hitesh Ramesh is asking.
Are there any strikers at all?
Yes. They're not youngsters at all, though.
24-year-old Rey Manaj (ex-Inter Milan player, by the way) signed for Barca B from Albacete in 2020.
Joaquin Zeballos (don't confuse with Ceballos from Real Madrid) is a Girona loanee.
Are they any good?
Manaj is the team's first-choice striker. He has bagged 12 goals this season but he scores from the spot quite often.
Zeballos barely gets any game time at Barca B. It's quite unlikely that Barca will keep him for longer than a season.
What about La Masia graduates?
We may only single out Peque (Gerard Fernandez). Practice has shown, however, that the 18-year-old is a better winger than a striker. This term, he has scored just 3 goals in 19 appearances.
So what's the problem with young strikers?
Seems like Barca's youth teams (at least the one headed by Garcia Pimienta) don't really need plenty of strikers available.
Instead of looking for goals using 'classic' formations, Pimienta often goes for systems with a double 9 or false 9 – something we often see at Pep Guardiola's Manchester City these days.
In this case, players like Hiroki Abe or Peque may act as shadow strikers while there's also one clear-cut centre-forward Rey Manaj.
Conclusion
Overall, it's worth a mention that La Masia often focuses on turning their attackers into very versatile players – just like Ansu Fati who seems to be amazing both as a left winger and as a centre-forward.
Barca don't just look for players who could score packs of goals – it's more about creating chances and converting them too.
RELATED NEWS
Pimienta: 'There are players who have Barca DNA but aren't given chances'
"Riqui Puig was made to play for Barcelona," Barca B boss Garcia Pimienta has told Beteve.
"Barca must always be prepared to look for the best talents, as long as it improves what they have at the academy [La Masia]. Sometimes, a lot of players have problems adapting to the way we play.
"There are also cases, like Ronald Araujo's, who have shown they can play in the first team. Maybe we made a mistake with some signings, but there are players who have the profile [to play for Barca] and aren't given chances.
"What is true is that the home players have an advantage over those foreigners because they [foreigners] find it very difficult to adapt," Pimienta concluded.
Pimienta possibly takes a jibe at Ronald Koeman here. As we all know, the Dutchman has given few chances to Riqui Puig, opting for either Pedri or Ilaix Moriba instead.
On Saturday, Pimienta declared his desire to be in charge of the first team one day.
Barca B boss Pimienta: 'I was and I am ready to coach the first team'
"I was and I am ready to coach the [Barca] first team. It would not be realistic if I'm not prepared and work daily during matches and training in case the first team needs me one day. It's my intention and enthusiasm, although I consider it very difficult," Barcelona B coach Garcia Pimienta has told Beteve.
Pimienta has been part of La Masia since 2006. One of his latest achievements is leading Barca B to Segunda Division B play-offs. This season, his side could potentially secure a Segunda spot.
