Xavi

10 million euros a year? Not bad. Good for him.

10 million??not bad at all :lol:

read somewhere the only club he would have played for if he ever leaves barca was united. or is that iniesta? imagine if this happened 3 or 4 years ago.
 
10 million??not bad at all :lol:

read somewhere the only club he would have played for if he ever leaves barca was united. or is that iniesta? imagine if this happened 3 or 4 years ago.
It was Xavi who said that. He loved United's double winning 93-94 side.
 
Xavi's father confirmed on Cadena Cope that his son is leaving Barca at the end of the season.

What a player he was at his prime. Probably the best midfielder I've ever seen.
 
Last edited:
Can't believe he'll be gone. And I can't imagine him really enjoying playing in Qatar for three years just for the money, having played with so many unique talents of the years, while the level over there is just so low.

This is the compilation of his first official match for Barcelona, our friend Louis being the manager of course. He immediately scored a great goal, which you can see at 1:10 minutes.

 
In a lot of teams he would've been average. In tiki-taka he was brilliant and won everything.
 
What? He would have suited any team in football because his range of passing was so good.[/Q

5 yard passing? Look, he has been great for Barca, no denying. I'm just saying that he could never carry a team on his own.
 
5 yard passing? Look, he has been great for Barca, no denying. I'm just saying that he could never carry a team on his own.

Well neither can Messi or Ronaldo. Has Messi carried Argentina to WC glory? Fail. Has Ronaldo carried Portugal to WC glory? Fail. Did Ronaldo carry us to victory over Barcelona? Fail.
 
You are getting the idea now. It isn't about a single player, like Messi, or Ronaldo or Xavi...it's about how the entire team plays together. *golfclap* Thanks for making my point so well.
 
your answer
it's time for a fundamental rethink, thinking of the collective, the team as a hole. Gerrard can have Roy of the Rovers moments, which you hardly see from Xavi, but no, that doesn't make Xavi an average player in many systems or any lesser than Gerrard. For all the Istanbul glory moments, it's actually because of the way Gerrard played that cost the Scousers the first half vs Milan, and Didi Hamann had to be thrown in to restore the balance as a defensive midfielder. When was Gerrard's peak? Having someone like Mascherano and Alonso do the silent job behind, for him to charge around the pitch in typical English style.

With Xavi in a team, 95% of matches will be in control from end to end, and not having to result to those Hollywood moments to decide the result.

"Carrying the team on his own", this phrase is really annoying, no wonder an elegant English guy playing for United has suffered all the years
 
Well neither can Messi or Ronaldo. Has Messi carried Argentina to WC glory? Fail. Has Ronaldo carried Portugal to WC glory? Fail. Did Ronaldo carry us to victory over Barcelona? Fail.

it's time for a fundamental rethink, thinking of the collective, the team as a hole. Gerrard can have Roy of the Rovers moments, which you hardly see from Xavi, but no, that doesn't make Xavi an average player in many systems or any lesser than Gerrard. For all the Istanbul glory moments, it's actually because of the way Gerrard played that cost the Scousers the first half vs Milan, and Didi Hamann had to be thrown in to restore the balance as a defensive midfielder. When was Gerrard's peak? Having someone like Mascherano and Alonso do the silent job behind, for him to charge around the pitch in typical English style.

With Xavi in a team, 95% of matches will be in control from end to end, and not having to result to those Hollywood moments to decide the result.

"Carrying the team on his own", this phrase is really annoying, no wonder an elegant English guy playing for United has suffered all the years

I just said that..so..thanks? Team. Yes. He is good with others around him, playing like him. Put him in QPR and he looks average.
 
I don't think we are speaking the same language so maybe this is futile?
yeah, just stop it here. there are types of players who win games on their own, but will make his team play better because he is a bridge to link his teammates together, that's all I want to say.
 

He controlled the games for Barcelona. You swap Xavi for another midfielder and they would lose control of those games. Even Fabregas could not replace him.

I never seen a midfield control so many big games in my lifetime as much as Xavi did.

Putting him at QPR he would look average? What kind of nonsense is that. Would you say that about Scholes or Alonso. You making out Xavi is Joe Allen, who just played 5 yard passes.
 
yeah, just stop it here. there are types of players who win games on their own, but will make his team play better because he is a bridge to link his teammates together, that's all I want to say.

Are we running circles? Yes, he was great. Won everything. But, tiki-taka only worked because the REST OF THE TEAM also played that style and did it as a group. Would not help QPR even one iota.
 
and actually Xavi did not play only tiki-taka, you watch his career from the time LvG handed him his debut, he has played different roles
 
Are we running circles? Yes, he was great. Won everything. But, tiki-taka only worked because the REST OF THE TEAM also played that style and did it as a group. Would not help QPR even one iota.
the disgraceful traditional long-ball English playing style exists because players like Xavi, Scholes or Carrick were not valued in the past. Players who move, offer, pass for a measured attack, not just some hopeful punts forward
 
For the last time, I have said over and over, he has been great. GREAT. I still hold the truth that a lot of the Barca team has been great because they all did a style TOGETHER and each and every one of them were committed and very able. It does not with certainty mean that a single player can influence as much on his own. Team sport and they won and are still winning.
 
If QPR had someone like Xavi, their style would surely not be a complete clueless bunch like currently
 
For the last time, I have said over and over, he has been great. GREAT. I still hold the truth that a lot of the Barca team has been great because they all did a style TOGETHER and each and every one of them were committed and very able. It does not with certainty mean that a single player can influence as much on his own. Team sport and they won and are still winning.

You said he is average without tiki taka, which is complete and utter nonsense to be honest.

And were making out he's another Joe Allen or Tom Cleverley that just sits there doing 5 yard passes.

It's a testament to the guy that Barca have had to change their system in the last year because they no longer have him controlling matches. And quite frankly players like him do not come often.
 
Now you understand how important the entire team is and the internal chemistry, and dare I say it...philosophy.
 
Xavi at his peak was the best and most consistent cm i've seen. Put him in any team and he would have improved it. The team would have kept the ball better, created more chances and been more defensively said in midfield. He was that good. Those Barca and Spain team's suited him perfectly but Xavi could have improved any team.
 
it's time for a fundamental rethink, thinking of the collective, the team as a hole. Gerrard can have Roy of the Rovers moments, which you hardly see from Xavi, but no, that doesn't make Xavi an average player in many systems or any lesser than Gerrard. For all the Istanbul glory moments, it's actually because of the way Gerrard played that cost the Scousers the first half vs Milan, and Didi Hamann had to be thrown in to restore the balance as a defensive midfielder. When was Gerrard's peak? Having someone like Mascherano and Alonso do the silent job behind, for him to charge around the pitch in typical English style.

With Xavi in a team, 95% of matches will be in control from end to end, and not having to result to those Hollywood moments to decide the result.

"Carrying the team on his own", this phrase is really annoying, no wonder an elegant English guy playing for United has suffered all the years

What's with all the random digs at players like Gerrard?

I agree with your general point regarding Xavi. At his peak I place him a step or two behind Messi in terms of his importance to the Barcelona and Spain sides.
 
What's with all the random digs at players like Gerrard?

I agree with your general point regarding Xavi. At his peak I place him a step or two behind Messi in terms of his importance to the Barcelona and Spain sides.
you can see that this is definitely not to ridicule him, I take him as one of the most famous examples of a player who can carry on his own the other poster has said. Hope you don't misunderstand my idea
 
Xavi at his peak was the best and most consistent cm i've seen. Put him in any team and he would have improved it. The team would have kept the ball better, created more chances and been more defensively said in midfield. He was that good. Those Barca and Spain team's suited him perfectly but Xavi could have improved any team.
This exactly. The guy bossed the midfield in a silent but a very efficient way. Very fast thinking, perfect passing, smart when it comes to read the game both defensively and offensively, awesome technique, unbelievably consistent. He will be missed in Europe.
 
Let's bring him here, we need cm and he is still excellent player who can give us 25-30 games a season.
 
Are we running circles? Yes, he was great. Won everything. But, tiki-taka only worked because the REST OF THE TEAM also played that style and did it as a group. Would not help QPR even one iota.

A player like Xavi is essential to a team playing cohesive football, knitting things together through outstanding spatial awareness, great vision and flawless technique. That kind of player would be a huge asset in any team that tries to pass the ball...not any team that playa tiki-taka. QPR - like almost every other team in a top league - play through midfield plenty and Xavi would instantly be their best player.

I assume you only started watching football (or is it soccer?) relatively recently because Barca didn't always play tiki-taka. Far from it. He showed himself to be nowhere near as limited as you seem to think he is.
 
Last edited:
Let's bring him here, we need cm and he is still excellent player who can give us 25-30 games a season.

Love for him or Pirlo to join us, if just to see them in a United shirt. I think either can play a part as a squad player.
 
What the feck is going on in this thread?

Saying Xavi would be average in a side like QPR... :wenger: A player like Xavi is the type of player who instantly makes a team much, much better because of his ability to bring the whole team together by being the focal point in midfield. Of course he'll improve by being in a technical side capable of giving him the ball more often and passing it quicker and more accurately, but a player with Xavi's intelligence can control any game in the world.

Need proof? Look at what Scholes did for us or what Pirlo has been doing in and for Italy these past 10-15 years. They haven't played in tiki-taka sides, but that doesn't mean they haven't been absolutely awesome in every team they've played for. It's no coincidence that Italy have made the WC and Euro finals with Pirlo on the pitch, let me tell you that much. Liverpool had their most successful period of the last 25 years when they had Xabi Alonso doing his thing in midfield.

Oh, and has anyone noticed how we've turned to shit lately without Carrick on the pitch? That's because he does a lot of the same things when we're in possession, but Carrick isn't even half the player Xavi was at his peak.
 
Last edited: