Barcelona is now a former shadow of its glorious past

It is about time La Masia is brought back into reckoning or else Barca will keep losing ground in world football.

For a significantly large part of the past decade, FC Barcelona have been the best team in the world without a shadow of doubt. However, from the start of this summer, things have been anything but smooth for the Catalans. 

Suffering defeats in consecutive El Clasicos at the hands of arch rivals Real Madrid at the beginning of a fresh season highlighted what might be a tough season ahead.

A transfer window to forget

It has been an atrocious transfer window for Barcelona so far and it’s hard to see what they can achieve in the last few days before the window closes.

Neymar’s world record move to Paris Saint Germain (PSG) has dealt a heavy blow to the Spanish giants with the side no longer able to boast about its attacking trident of MSN (Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar). It is embarrassing for the club to lose a player of Neymar’s quality.

Barcelona have also signed Brazilian and former Spurs midfielder Paulinho in a bid to strengthen the depleted midfield but it will be difficult for him to fit into the Barcelona system and adapt to their style of play. I wonder what’s wrong with Barcelona’s scouting because there were numerous other players who would have been a better fit at Barcelona, especially when you are willing to pay €40 million.

The never ending rumours regarding the possible signing of Dormund’s Ousmane Dembele and Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho has put the fans and the club in a precarious situation. It is quite a sorry episode for a club which knew that Neymar was leaving beforehand. That proves that they should have been looking for a replacement sooner to make up for this loss.

Photo: Getty

La Masia losing impact

The former president of the Catalans, Joan Laporta, laid emphasis on developing and bringing up players to the first team from Barcelona’s youth academy, La Masia. However, the trend has slowly but gradually disappeared since his departure in 2010.

La Masia produced players such as the likes of Messi, Xavi, Andrés Iniesta, Sergio Busquets and many more but not many players have come through the ranks in recent times. Rather than retaining and working with the youth, players were sold and some decided to leave in search for better opportunities.

Barcelona’s youth academy has been an integral reason behind its dominance over the past decade but with players moving past their peak years and no adequate replacements, the affects can clearly be felt now.

It is about time La Masia is brought back into reckoning or else Barcelona will keep losing ground in world football because it’s not possible to go out and buy any player you need.

Photo: Getty

Start of La Liga and Barcelona’s growing midfield problems

With Barcelona already in shambles, they suffered yet another setback when their striker Suarez got injured and is now out for an entire month. What made it worse was that his injury fell days before the beginning of the Spanish league, La Liga, which put even more pressure on the maestro Messi. Thus, he will have to carry the burden alone and make things tick for his side.

Barcelona’s midfield was one of the best in the world due to Xavi and Iniesta’s presence but since Xavi exited and with Iniesta’s knees wearing out, they have lost their midfield edge.

During MSN’s presence, some of the flaws in the centre of the field were covered by the offensive trio, but since Neymar’s departure, the midfield has clearly been exposed. A team needs its playmaker to stay on the field for the entire game but that is no longer the case with Iniesta and Barcelona are yet to find a replacement for him.

Midfield plays a key role in maintaining fluidity and creates chances as well, which is why unless Barcelona sign couple of good players in the remaining few days, it will be difficult for them to stay competitive in Spain and Europe.

Photo: AFP

What to expect from Ernesto Valverde?

Valverde became Barcelona’s first coach to lose two consecutive Clásicos since Frank Rijkaard’s last two in 2007/08. Not the brightest of starts? Yes. But keeping in mind he was up against one of the best Madrid sides of all time, you can’t really do much.

Although Valverde did well at Athletic Bilbao, coaching Barcelona is an entirely different challenge altogether. He is usually good with tactics but it was difficult to grasp what he tried to achieve with a 3-5-2 formation, against Madrid in Super Copa’s second leg. Especially bearing in mind the fact that Barcelona are not familiar with this style of play, which was evident from the players’ flustered approach.

Nelson Semedo was hardly used in the pre-season or in the new season curtain raiser Super Copa, despite the fact that Barcelona had lacked the services of a proper right back since the departure of Dani Alves. It would have been in the interest of the team if Semedo was given more chance to adjust before the season began.

Valverde’s stint at Barcelona is off to a stiff start and it remains to be seen as to what he can achieve at this club over the next few months. But it safe to say that he has got his work cut out.

Athletic Bilbao’s coach Ernesto Valverde applauds at the end of the Spanish Copa del Rey (King’s Cup) final football match. Photo: AFP

The future?

Barcelona have been one of the best teams for quite a while but that will no longer be the case if things keep progressing as they are. Unless they get their house in order and appease the disgruntled fans with a couple of major signings, I won’t be surprised if they don’t lift any trophies this season.