Dismal yes, but how to salvage now

 

The coach and the entire team looked few levels inferior to a team which is itself not the brightest spark in Europe currently. And the ghosts are back again.

RK - He hasn't got a real hold of its seat yet, that's quite clear. He won't cut it, even if he gets the players he's asking for. He needs to forge a system and a group of players who play together enough to become a somewhat capable team. Every game he keeps changing his core and personnel. And it's difficult to comprehend his reasoning for so. MB had proven that we needed a focal point. He should have started again today. Unless, we could have a false nine Messi who used to run and convert, flanked by world's leading forwards. Youngsters have shown again and again that they are performing better. However, they are still not being started and the old lazy guards booted out. Most of the youngsters are still getting call ins because the old guard is out with injury. By now, RK should have set up a system at least. Yes, we might have still lost such games, but it would have been because the team failed to play by the system. Right now, it is chaotic game after game. Even when we win, our system is not clear. The players also don't seem to have got an inkling. Also, at the core of the midfield, too much juggling has meant that players such as FDJ and Pjanic are failing to combine effectively many times.

Defence - There is a reason, teams don't rotate their central defenders much over season. In this regard, Barcelona is really unfortunate because of its long injury lists and that has meant none of the defenders have had enough time to really own the position. Also, as much as one may want to tarnish Lenglet, it is one of those really unlucky ones, which many great defenders might end up meeting with a flailing hand. On top, our B teamers have made number of mistakes. Araujo's penalty was more clearly a personal fault of his than Lenglet's one. And he did same again much later, which went unpunished for him. Neither of them are pardonable. Similarly, other day Oscar's header in to own net was a bigger mistake than Lenglet's inability to control a very poor throw. Any professional or amateur league player would tell you the same. And sorry, but Pique won't have done much better. Only slight cautious take away today was Sam looked quite good. While Barto's tenure ensured that we never got that reinforcement in defence, our existing defenders are all shaky. The team simply can not rely on any of the defenders to be world beater

Midfield - Pjanic was the biggest disappointment today. Have always thought he should replace Busi for good. But today, Pjanic was very poor. Of course, Busi still should not be close to starting any important matches, even less so than Pjanic. And Pjanic will always carry the threat of long range shot, while defenders don't even have to worry about Busi with that, making it easier to defend against a Barca with Busi. FDJ actually did play very well today through the match. He was everywhere. Carried the ball forward, did lot of defending and hardly took a wrong touch. Pedri is good, and he tried to assert himself quite a few times, but overall he couldn't really make much of an impact as Juve contained him much better today. But, Pedri wasn't the reason we lost today. Puig looked really good. So far, what I have seen of him, he does not look like he has the ability to break apart defences, but he has a better chance of doing so than Busi any day. 

Forward - This has been our biggest frustration. RK has himself failed to come up with a defined position for any of our forwards. Every second game, Griezz and Messi seem to be fielded in different positions. Almost like a weekend futsal game. RK has to 'now' finalise and put his weight behind a forward system with decided players. Messi also has to play in his position. Gone are the days when he could carry the ball from mid, and then finish the move with a goal. We don't have the players to do that anymore, including his apparent decline. He has to be close to the goal line. Him going back, also takes away some of the range of pass from our midfield. They inevitably nudge it to him, and the opposition also knows where the ball is going to be, taking away the element of surprise and also restricting fluidity and spontaneity. Also, what impressed me most about Ronaldo today were not his goals, his run to win the penalty, but the fact that he accepted his substitution. His job was done, and hattrick was not important for team's cause. I don't know when will a coach grow some balls and Messi be ok to do same. Can't take Messi's efforts today though. He did try today, but to be honest none of his shoots looked like they would be a threat to any decent goal keeper, even if we want to overrate Gigi's positioning. Also, that mazy run he had today is something no one else can do. Trincao today well and truly proved he is not ready yet. He can definitely come good, but now is not his time yet to be a game changer in big games. As such, it is actually quite difficult to solve the frontline puzzle of Barca. I believe the best players have to be fielded as long as they are here. So, we have to come with a system which can field Messi, Griezz and Cout till we have Dembele and Fati back. Also, RK has to decide if 4-2-3-1 is the way to go forward. 

While, we all will have lot to complain about, more I think about it, its a failure of the system. While pieces like RK are probably making it worse, the team itself has got players acquired, retained over a period of time with no clear planning. This team does not look like they would win a game against any decent team, if their lives were on the stake. 

We are currently in a very delicate position. In La Liga, we truly run the risk of losing out on CL position and even Europa League (although that might be far fetched). In UCL, we are basically facing similar situation as last season going in to Bayern game. Only difference is, we have further regressed. And as such, we go as the underdogs to most of the potential teams in the round of 16. Given our injury issues, highly priced out of position players, what can RK do to reverse our fortune, or at least mitigate. The best scenario, for now is to definitely get a top 4 finish in La Liga. In UCL, anything beyond round of 16 looks like a bonus at the moment.

I personally think, this is what RK should do

Give 433 a chance. Start with MB, Messi needs to use MB like Suarez. MB needs to start playing like Suarez but with less goals and more running. Left wing to Pedri till Demb/ Fati return. Griez becomes a Messi substitute. Give Iniesta role to Cout backed up by Pedri, Puig. Our CM has to be either Pjanic or FDJ, backed by Alena, not sure who. If FDJ can confidently take that position, then we can start Pedri, Puig with Alena as backup in the right side. Effectively, making Pjanic as first choice and Busi as second choice sub. Alba and Dest as starters on their sides with rotation whenever possible. Lenglet and Araujo till we get any defensive reinforcements, if we do. Really hope Sam can regain his old self. But players such as Garcia do not look a big upgrade to me honestly. This way, we would at least establish a template for next season, and I am sure do well enough to finish top 4. UCL honestly, looks like we have taken a turn in to cul-de-sac.