mjmooney Posted November 23, 2021 VT Supporter Share Posted November 23, 2021 Quote Discipline. Rules. Order. Sacrifice. These are probably not the words you would expect to hear repeatedly emphasised by new Barcelona coach Xavi upon his return to his former playing club with the aim of restoring lost glories. As one of the greatest creative ball-playing midfielders the world has seen, you might think Xavi would arrive with heady promises of free-flowing, exciting, attacking football. Instead, since replacing Ronald Koeman earlier this month he has been literally laying down the law by implementing a series of strict off-the-pitch rules, covering everything from everyday training ground routines to meal times and media appearances. Xavi's biggest challenge is making his team competitive in the physical sense of the word. And he knows that on-the-pitch discipline begins with off-the-pitch discipline, an element blatantly lacking in a player-centric dressing room over the last few years. BBC Former creative midfielder, only previous managerial experience in a lower-profile league, takes on underachieving club, starts with the above philosophy, and gets a win in his first game. Sound familiar? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharkyvilla Posted November 23, 2021 Share Posted November 23, 2021 Xavi > Gerrard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom13 Posted November 24, 2021 Share Posted November 24, 2021 Xavi was without doubt the better player, let's hope Gerrard can be the better manager 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vive_La_Villa Posted November 24, 2021 Share Posted November 24, 2021 1 hour ago, Tom13 said: Xavi was without doubt the better player, let's hope Gerrard can be the better manager Different players. I wouldn’t say better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zatman Posted November 24, 2021 Share Posted November 24, 2021 7 minutes ago, Vive_La_Villa said: Different players. I wouldn’t say better. Was miles better. Xavi is arguably the greatest midfielder of all time 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vive_La_Villa Posted November 24, 2021 Share Posted November 24, 2021 2 minutes ago, Zatman said: Was miles better. Xavi is arguably the greatest midfielder of all time Whether we like to admit it or not Gerrard was one of the best Premier league midfielders of all time. He was just at a shit club his whole career. Xavi is a legend though of course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zatman Posted November 24, 2021 Share Posted November 24, 2021 (edited) 3 minutes ago, Vive_La_Villa said: Whether we like to admit it or not Gerrard was one of the best Premier league midfielders of all time. He was just at a shit club his whole career. Xavi is a legend though of course. Yet he also played on a good England team that **** all. His team finished 2nd three times so they weren't duds. Fact is dont think Gerrard or Lampard get into a top 10 list of midfielders of there era Edited November 24, 2021 by Zatman 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vive_La_Villa Posted November 24, 2021 Share Posted November 24, 2021 6 minutes ago, Zatman said: Yet he also played on a good England team that **** all. His team finished 2nd three times so they weren't duds. Fact is dont think Gerrard or Lampard get into a top 10 list of midfielders of there era You just don't like Gerrard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bose Posted November 24, 2021 Share Posted November 24, 2021 (edited) 8 minutes ago, Zatman said: Yet he also played on a good England team that **** all. His team finished 2nd three times so they weren't duds. Fact is dont think Gerrard or Lampard get into a top 10 list of midfielders of there era No way. Sticking to Gerrard he’s easily a top ten midfielder of his era. He was world class whichever way you look at it. He’s a legend at (let’s face it) one of the biggest clubs and held in high regard in world football. Not better than Xavi but then few if any are. Edited November 24, 2021 by bose 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zatman Posted November 24, 2021 Share Posted November 24, 2021 2 minutes ago, bose said: No way. Sticking to Gerrard he’s easily a top ten midfielder of his era. He was world class whichever way you look at it. He’s a legend at (let’s face it) one of the biggest clubs and held in high regard in world football. Not better than Xavi but then few if any are. Off the top of my head Xavi, Iniesta, Pirlo, Busquets, Seedorf, Fabregas(he was incredible at the time) Alonso Thats 7 then you have Senna, Schweinsteiger, Modric, Mascherano. Lampard, Yaya, Scholes maybe Riquelme Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zatman Posted November 24, 2021 Share Posted November 24, 2021 7 minutes ago, Vive_La_Villa said: You just don't like Gerrard Said before was a very good player but not elite. Would have been swallowed up abroad 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom13 Posted November 24, 2021 Share Posted November 24, 2021 6 minutes ago, Zatman said: Said before was a very good player but not elite. Would have been swallowed up abroad I agree. He was fantastic and easy for fans to love because of his all action nature, but he did have weaknesses. He wasn't great in tight areas, and made the occasional big mistake. I remember Rafa bringing him off in the Merseyside derby, and Gerrard couldn't believe it, but they went on to win it. Think Rafa wanted someone who could keep the ball better as they were up against 10 men, brought on Lucas IIRC. Don't get me wrong, Gerrard was a great player but as Zatman said - not elite. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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