Joan Garcia is a transformative signing for FC Barcelona.

I have watched ALL 51 goals he conceded last season & his last 50 saves to judge his quality.

So what kind of a shot-stopper is he? Is Hansi Flick getting a difference-maker in goal? 🤔

|THREAD| Just like last time, I have used Hans Leitert's seven-principle framework (Picture 1, left) to analyse Garcia's shot-stopping & then Aidan Reagh's Shot Difficulty (Picture 2, right) to judge his performances.

Both principles are pictured below. 👇

Is FC Barcelona's goalkeeper problem overblown?

I analysed all 62 goals they conceded in La Liga and the Champions League to answer this question.

The results were intriguing. 🤔

|THREAD| We shouldn't expect goalkeepers to be gods but their influence is undeniable.

Games are often won or lost in moments in either box; even the tightest defences eventually concede a fluke chance.

With a good goalie, controlling those moments is easier. Not guaranteed. But easier.

Hugo Ekitike has been a name on everyone's lips, especially since Barcelona will soon need a replacement for Lewandowski.

With incredible physical/technical traits & some refinement, Ekitike can soon dine with the greats.

So who is this anomaly of a player? 🤔

|THREAD| 🧵 A quick player overview:

━ 190cm (6'3'') & 76kg (167lbs)
━ Lean/tall frame with long gangly legs
━ Surprisingly mobile & elastic
━ All-action striker
━ Insane technical floor
━ Positionally free at Eintracht Frankfurt

Fermin Lopez has been a hidden ace up Hansi Flick's sleeve.

'In times of need, break the Fermin glass.'

So why isn't he featuring more often? Well, because there's a catch.

Let's explore it.

|THREAD| 🧵 Hansi Flick ADORES Fermin.

But interestingly enough, he adores Fermin's profile more than he adores his actual ability.

Of course, it's not that Fermin is bad; no, he's quite good at what he does.

But he's also very situational. Why? 🤔

Ferran Torres has experienced a complete revival under Hansi Flick. 🔥

He's always been useful, yes, but now, not only is he a super-sub but some would even say he could start ahead of Robert Lewandowski.

So what's the secret behind his resurgence at Barcelona? 🤔

|THREAD| 🧵 Ferran is a utility player: a tool to enhance others, a dynamo for a static structure, an opportunistic poacher and a grateful, hard-working man.

But despite that, he's always been a fringe piece of the FC Barcelona jigsaw.

Forever useful but forever on the bench, too.

Ansu Fati and Ferran Torres have similar profiles.

Both bank on movement, great poaching skills & ball-striking. But the main difference between the two lies in their finishing ability.

Ferran is a system finisher.

Ansu is an instinctive finisher.

What's the difference? 🤔 Ferran is the type of player who thrives on repeatability and pre-planned actions.

This means he is at his best when the system gives him the comfort to perform.

In other words, he needs patterns. 🔁

After just 5 games at the helm of Barcelona, Hansi Flick is already starting a revolution at the club.

They feel rejuvenated, aggressive & with crystal-clear ideas—like a winning team. It may be early days & a new coach boost, but the football is brilliant.

So what changed? 🧵 Number 1: Clarity

Barcelona’s structure is well-defined and each zone has a clear task.

We can divide them into the progression or verticality zone, the possession zone, the inversion/playmaking zone and the distribution zone.

Each has a task of its own. 📝

Dani Olmo is the first major signing of Hansi Flick's era at Barcelona. 🔵🔴

But his arrival has been ridden with doubt & negativity in the Blaugrana fandom despite his obvious quality.

So what kind of a player is he & what can he offer to Barcelona?

|THREAD| 🧵 Body & mental profile:

━ 26, 179cm, 72kg
━ right-footed
━ stocky, compact (small-space engine)
━ elastic, low centre of gravity (agile, tricky)
━ tactical versatility (LW, RW, False 9, 10, 8) & high technicality
━ La Masia background

Jack of all trades? 🃏

Hansi Dieter Flick is replacing Xavi Hernandez as the new coach of FC Barcelona. 🔴🔵

But who is he and what can he bring to this faltering Catalan giant?

Here's an in-depth analysis of his history, players, tactics, management and MORE.

|THREAD| 🚨 Hansi Flick took charge of Bayern Munich in 86 games, winning 70, drawing 8 & losing 8.

In that period, he recorded 2.53 points per match, won 7 titles & took the team from an unstable collective to the best club in the world.

Off to a great start, then. 👍

Fermin Lopez could become the unexpected hero for Barça.

A year ago, his future at the club seemed distant at best. But Xavi saw something special in a kid others deemed ordinary. And when the boss speaks, we listen.

This is what he saw & what makes Fermin special. 🔥

|THREAD| Fermin's profile is unique and fairly complete, which makes him extremely valuable.

— technical quality
— excellent carrier
— dribbling
— ball-striking
— athleticism
— sense of positioning/movement/timing
— versatility of roles
— offensive instincts

Incredible package 💎

Pablo Gavi is a LaMasia anomaly.

He is loud, temperamental, passionate & unyielding. But he's also technical excellence personified; a player with pausa & patience.

And in 23/24, Xavi has unleashed him.

Gavi 2.0 🔥

|THREAD| Gavi is somewhat of a controversial figure in the world of football.

To some, the Golden Boy is just that; a tremendously talented LaMasia gem whose future in the sport is brighter than most. ⭐

To others, he is just passion, running and arrogance. 🔊

So, which one is it?

With €3.4M spent and several elite players signed, Barcelona emerged victorious from the summer transfer window.

Even when undeniably broke, they managed to assemble a super squad. Incredible.

Is the tide finally shifting? Are we witnessing XaviBall 2.0?

Analysis 🔎

|THREAD| Barcelona's squad is oozing with quality.

When you compare the very best on the planet to Xavi's squad, there's not much separating them.

Barça's technical levels are off the charts, the youth have sky-shattering potential & there is a healthy mix of talent & experience. 🤝

João Félix is a special player; a player of immense untapped potential.

And ever since Benfica, many have tried to unchain him & only got a shadow of what he could be.

But Barça are different. Barça are his dream club.

Can they turn the idea of Félix into reality? 🤔

|THREAD| Here is a short overview of his profile:

— Versatile forward: LW, False 9, Second-striker
— Incredible technical level
— Creator/disruptor via dribbling, carrying & passing
— Goal threat via excellent ball-striking
— Outlet via press-resistance, carrying & distribution
— Roamer

Joao Cancelo is Xavi's weapon to take Barcelona to a new level.

There are no doubts about it, it's a transformative signing which will give them another dimension in attack.

Cancelo is creative, technical & versatile but how will he fit the team?

Let's analyse it 🔎

|THREAD| Some quick details about his profile:

— Elite technical quality ⚽
— Can play both RB and LB ⏪⏩
— Devastating going forward; Highly creative & progressive 🎯
— great ball-striking 👟
— Handles volume/a ball-dominant role ✅
— Inverts/overlaps 🔀
— Full-back/interior type 🎩

Barça need a right-back this summer. No, Barça need a special right-back this summer.

And this kid? Well... He's special.

Between Arnau, Cancelo or even Foyth, he's the one Xavi can't allow to slip away.

I give you Iván Fresneda—the All Purpose Specialist. 💎

|THREAD| But what is the Barcelona right-back anyway? 🤔

Somewhat unwillingly, Jules Koundé made the position his own, moulding it in the process.

The role, therefore, mirrors him as a player; inverting, often passive function which aids build-up, distributes & provides protection. 🛡

Barcelona finally have a fully complementary double pivot.

Oriol Romeu is the necessary horizontal for a highly vertical Frenkie de Jong; a calm for his chaos & positional discipline for his positional freedom. He enables Frenkie to be Frenkie.

Let's analyse it. 🔎

|THREAD|

As predicted, Frenkie was deployed as the left pivot while Romeu was on the right.

This suits them well as these are their preferred positions; it allows Frenkie to be the 1st/2nd phase roamer in his favourite left half-space and Oriol to sweep & support on the right.

Ideal. 👌

Ilkay Gundogan is a midfielder made in a lab.

He does everything & plays everywhere. But he won't do it all at once & in every role. It's up to Xavi to harness his unique traits to help Barcelona reach new peaks.

So what's the perfect role for the perfect midfielder?

|THREAD| We know Gündoğan’s profile is vast. 🙌

He’s complete in almost every technical category from control, passing, shooting and awareness all the way to the more niche aspects like box-crashing, movement from deep and goal-scoring.

However, a profile is not the same as a role. 🤔

Tomorrow, Atlético Madrid play host to Barcelona in a huge clash for Diego Simeone & Xavi.

Both teams are in a heavy transitional period & both suffer from identity issues, albeit in somewhat different ways.

Here's a tactical preview of the clash. 🔥

│MEGA THREAD│ Barcelona are top of LaLiga and their hosts are trailing by 11 points, having also scored 11 goals fewer & conceded 8 more.

The table may not suggest it, but this is a big test for both sides: Barça have Real breathing down their neck & Atléti Top 4 to lose.

It's crunch time.

Barcelona were taken by surprise by Intercity but still salvaged a 4:3 victory.

It's fair to criticise Xavi, he should be pressed about this. But not all was bad.

As ever, the truth is somewhere down the middle. So here are some quick thoughts on yesterday's display.

👇 ⚽ Cup games often require more context than most.

On one side you have a team that sometimes seems like going through the motions while on the other, you have a third-division host who's playing the game of their career.

The psychology is vastly different.

This matters. A lot.

Going into 2023, keep an eye on Albert Riera, Olimpija Ljubljana's new coach.

A student of Mikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola, @11RIERA11 uses an entertaining positional system and has so far completely dominated the Slovenian Prva Liga.

Below are some of his core principles. 👇 @11RIERA11 Six months in, Riera has taken Ljubljana to new heights, placing a stranglehold on the league & leaving the second-place team 13 points behind them, securing 48/60 points with 39 goals scored & only 16 conceded.

Olimpija Ljubljana are one of the most exciting teams in Prva Liga.

Jandro Orellana is a Busquets regen, that much I'm very certain of.

Sadly, due to injuries his progress was stalled & he's not on the level he was supposed to be.

But at 21, he needs first-team football - badly. Either loan him or Xavi gives him a chance.

Just don't sell. Even though his level is lower than projected, he's still great when fit.

Boasting traits of both a pivot & an interior, Jandro is a LaMasia prospect through & through.

With added muscle mass & maturity, he's ready for a bigger stage.

Would be a shame if it wasn't at Barça.