THE GRADUAL ASCENDANCY OF SETIEN'S BARCA: FIRST TERM REPORT CARD

THE 

GRADUAL 

ASCENDANCY 

OF

SETIEN'S BARCA:

FIRST TERM REPORT CARD 

By
LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN

                 After nearly three weeks under the leadership of our new manager Quique Setien, Barcelona are frightening their reams of bandwagon fans:
               These unfaithful fairweathers felt entitled to victory for so long under the umbrella of Messi's greatness, but while the collective performances, the drive, and the soul of our team ground to a halt under Valverde, it meant nothing to them.
                In 2020, many who claim Soci membership are still fixated on results, concerned with highlights, big names, advertising spectacles, and tons of trending hashtags: from their eyes, "Mes Que Un Club" could just be some type of internet trend or bizarre typo.
                Due to their mass boredom with success, many Socis voted for Bartomeu to continue unchecked as club president, in the process awarding Valverde a strong vote of confidence, right as the slapstick "manager" continued his assault upon everything Barca stood for.
                In 3 years of profligacy, Ernie only came under the harsh interrogation from the media or these "social media fans" in the wake of Roma or Anfield...then, once those two debacles stopped trending, these Social media Cules stopped caring.
                Now, these "fans", who were ready to give Ernie Valverde another 29 years, their left arm, and their oldest daughter have quickly grown impatient, angry, frustrated and increasingly demanding of Quique Setien, displaying the disgraceful traits of an entitled mob rather than their weak cynicism during the Valverde-era:

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               Why haven't Barca stormed their way through every opponent since Setien arrived?
           How could he allow the 2-0 loss at the Mestalla?
           If you're such a "genius football coach", then where's the results?
                After a week of listening to this idiocy in the aftermath of the tepid Valencia defeat, the author of this piece must instinctively point out that:
              A: Most football fans would actually run and hide if a football rolled towards their feet...
             and
             B: Have no idea what it takes to be a successful professional footballer, let alone how to become a successful professional football team.
                 As a former competitive player, and current weekend warrior, I can tell you this:
                For Quique Setien to come in and scrap all the dismal lethargy in our passing, for him to do away with our core veterans' fiendish egos (which have been slavishly serviced for a decade plus), or replace the boring cowardice of Ernesto Valverde's second half tactics and archaic substitution philosophy, he was always going to need another month of training sessions before we witnessed his methodology take root.
                 The former Betis master needs at least as much support and patience as Valverde received, though he's already revamped so much of the ineptitude and weariness at Camp Nou in lieu of any respect, patience or faith from the outside (remember, Pep Guardiola and Luis Enrique weren't respected at first either) and has openly mocked the idea of being coddled by Barca's infantile board or the fans:
                 "All I'm concerned with is the performances of my players, everything else you can write about, I don't care," Setien responded in a swaggering defiance towards a reporter at a press conference this week....and possessing a mentality such as his, Quique seems to be forging ahead into the fog of the abyss, machete at hand to slice through the brush and blaze his own trail at Barcelona, both on and off the pitch...with a cup of tea in the other hand.
                  While simultaneously ousting the entire "Iron Man" non-rotation policy, which benefited players like Gerard Pique and Ivan Rakitic over the collective, Setien also continues to deal with a myriad of injuries and issues arising in result of the continuing fallout from Valverde's disastrous decisions.
                    In the weeks leading up to Ernie's final departure (aka money-covered hell), this manager and "our" board made horrifying deals to loan out important depth in our team: Center back Jean-Claire Todibo went to Germany, versatile midfielder Carles Alena went to Setien's former club of Betis, and now a permanent sale of forward Carles Perez to Roma took place in the last few weeks, Perez being finished off in the first weeks of the Setien era.
                   Somehow, these necessary, world class squad members were all deemed surplus to Valverde's one requirement: they weren't Rakitic.
                   Regardless of the big names that were in front of Alena, Todibo and Perez in the pecking order, this loss of depth will undoubtedly have significant repercussions on our already-gassed veterans come April and May.
                   Following these ludicrous loans, Valverde made the unforgivable selection in the most unnecessary match of all, and this recklessly stupid choice was Lionel Messi's last straw with his Don Knotts-licking "manager":
                Ernie started an already injury-hampered Luis Suarez, alongside regular starters Lionel Messi, Frenkie De Jong and a whole host of others in the exhibition match vs Atletico Madrid. On the day, Suarez dished his 11th assist of the campaign, but tore his meniscus in the process....now, Barca's #9 won't be back until the UCL semifinals....if he returns at all.
                   Before this injury to the mercurial Suarez, the Uruguayan amassed 29 direct goal contributions, hit the post three times, and registered 6 goals & 10 assists in 9 of his last 10 matches.
                  Such was the unstoppable rate El Pistolero was creating and scoring goals, it's no question Barcelona will be hit hard in the goals department without him....however:

                 In lieu of "Jaws", Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann's potential blockbuster tandem will be put to the ultimate test....and after the 5-0 demolition of Leganes in the Copa Del Rey, Setien's Barca are growing in confidence.
                   The pace of our passing decisions and the tempo of our play have increased mightily the second Setien took charge, but we're still missing the cutthroat, penetrating passes following the build-up from the back, while our midfielders and front men remain static in the press.
                    Although the team is more poised, precise and productive since vacating Valverde's illegitimacy, we're still failing to run the extra yards to close down space and win back possession, or taking far too long to close down shooting opportunities in and around the edge of Ter Stegen's box.
                   The main problems with Setien's Barca surround the lack of depth the new manager has at his disposal, especially concerning the injuries to Suarez and Ousmane Dembele (which have been damaging to the cohesion and chemistry of our forward line).
                    Another key obstacle is whether Setien will forge ahead in his radical installation of a back three at Barca (his preferred formation) or if the Spaniard will stick with the tried and true 4-3-3 he deployed to glittering degree in the 5-0 vs Leganes.
                    In reality, Setien must abandon the back three unless he's ready and willing to force our entire squad to be dictated by its limits and open gaps for the whole season: it's either one or the other.
                     Among our personnel, we could definitely see matches where Umtiti, Lenglet and Pique make up a defensive trio, but I would caution Quique on using our only three available center backs all in one match. I'd also warn him about getting rid of the 4-3-3 completely or tinkering with the structure of an already-struggling defense:
                   Although Setien can try to push the traditional Barca back four into a new-look back three, he needs to realize the squad isn't built for a 3-4-3 system.
                 Valverde refused to adapt to his personnel, instead forcing our squad's best players to run into his tactical brick wall over and over with neither player, manager nor fan ever feeling anywhere near remote satisfaction.
                   For all his positivity and light, Setien must avoid these same pitfalls and adapt a system around this dream squad, and we have the perfect idea.
                  In the aftermath of the first four Setien matches, we've found many things we love, some that we like and can see evolving into aspects of the Setien-era Barca DNA, and other strategies, formations or personnel groupings that tried, but simply weren't right for this team:
                   We love the tempo of the ball, we love our territorial advantages now (our players parked in the opposition half rather than stuck, pinned in our own), we love the way our players form triangles once again, we love the way Busquets drops deep in between the center halves (as he used to) and dictates the game (allowing the fullbacks to push higher); we're obsessed with the skip in Messi's step every time he's on the ball, and after Valverde gave up the ghost, we feel the team has finally crossed a rubicon mentally;
                    But due to Suarez being out for 4 months and with no new replacement on the market that could push for a starting striker spot, it's about time a Barca manager starts Griezmann through the middle.
                   Stationing the Frenchman out wide prohibits Griezmann from naturally affecting the game and leaves Lionel Messi isolated from any combination play with the World Cup winner...in totality, Griezmann on the left unbalances the forward line.
                    This next month will finally show the world just what kind of Barcelona team this really is, and we expect a subtle crash of lightning breaking out of a bottle to usher in the new era:
                    This won't be a 6-0, 7-0 Barca squad thrashing opponents to the wayside, though it also won't be a lukewarm 1-1, 2-1 losing squad like Valverde's was. Under Ernie, it didn't matter if we had a 4-0 lead in the first half, by the time the 80th minute came around, Ter Stegen's goal would be under constant siege, peppered by opposition shots as we were continually pressed into our own halves.
                     Under Setien, we've already seen improvements, progressions and throwbacks in the basic tenets of our play, but it's about time Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann started together in the center, and when joined by a fully fit Ousmane Dembele on the right (a player Setien already deemed "amazing"), and a left leaning midfield supporting Jordi Alba's left wing with runs in behind, this could be an impossible team to stop, Suarez or no Suarez.
                  When the Uruguayan returns, Setien will simply have to rotate Griezmann or Suarez to join Messi and Dembele, given the match-up...the Frenchman's pace out wide is far too explosive and under this manager, we will see the real Ousmane Dembele stand up and Lionel Messi, Antoine Griezmann and everyone watching this trio, being the ultimate benefactors. However, for Setien to be a success, width in the final third is a must.
                   For that reason alone, I can't see Setien ever starting the MSG trio: it's far too narrow for the manner in which we must play and poses too many obstacles for the wider, highest pressing dual fullback setup Setien deploys.
                    With an established / Gala XI of: Ter Stegen, Semedo's box to box pace down the right, Pique and Umtiti rekindling their dynamic partnership at center back, Jordi Alba operating as a wing-back on the left anchored by Sergi Busquets dropping deep in between the defenders to pick passes away from pressure, while Frenkie De Jong and Arthur Melo commit heinous Blaugrana artistry ahead of him, and up top, Antoine Griezmann, Ousmane Dembele and Lionel Messi lead the front in a devastating, interchangeable front attack...2020 could be Barcelona's rebirth.
                    That is the XI which gives us the Champions League in 2020...that is the XI in which we'll see the best of Setien's Barcelona. On the bench, the former midfielder has fantastic options in teenage phenoms Riqui Puig and prodigious winger Ansu Fati, the carnal brutality and runs in behind of Arturo Vidal, Ivan Rakitic's blunt finesse, superb defender Clement Lenglet, the width and pace of Junior Firpo, and the versatile, creative steambreathing Sergi Roberto (who I still admire in many roles)...while the squad may be light, at least we know La Masia is always an option for Setien should we need it.
                  My hope is for Barcelona to become more expansive, energetic and straight up combative in their pressing, and more penetrative in the build-up:
                 If this team should have a problem regarding goals, it's the amount we allow, never how few we score.
                This squad should've been a juggernaut under Valverde...we can only imagine just how good it could be with an actual manager.
                  As Ousmane Dembele returns to full capacity, Frenkie De Jong's suspension ends, Arturo Vidal adding end product to his blistering final third runs, and Arthur Melo resurfacing in his STD-free role in the midfield three, Barcelona are finally finding their footing as a team...
                  Now they must evolve and progress within the Setien / Eder Sarabia revolution and reach the levels we know they can hit.

FIRST TERM: B-
MVP(s): SERGI BUSQUETS
               and SAMUEL UMTITI
BEST PERFORMANCE:
               5-0 VS LEGANES / 1-0 GRANADA

MES QUE UN CLUB
by 
LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN
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