Loan Arrangement
"If the first goal is scored by relying on personal ability, the second goal is achieved by his playmaking skills to connect the team's frontcourt offense and ultimately accomplish the objective.
"This goal should not have been conceded!"
On the sidelines, while applauding the substitute team, members of the coaching staff also expressed a slight dissatisfaction with the main team's conceded goal.
"The passing and control tactics are excellent, but the demands placed on the players are too high!"
"Yes, the first team has Xavi, Iniesta, Busquets who are exceptional midfielders they are one of the best midfield trio. An outstanding defensive midfielder like Mascherano is being forced to play out of position as a defender."
"On the other hand, in the youth team, apart from Lucas, the strength of our midfielders is almost negligible. We lack a strong central midfielder, and there is no forward with individual abilities as dangerous as Messi. Hence, it's normal not to replicate the pass control effectiveness of the first team. It's not that the main team didn't create opportunities; in fact, when they relentlessly attacked the substitute team, they managed three shots, two of which were on target."
"Unfortunately, the forwards of the youth team fall significantly short in terms of personal ability compared to Messi. Their shots failed to find the back of the net and were either blocked or saved by the goalkeeper."
Consequently, despite the main team dominating possession, they were unable to score.
This situation involuntarily reminds the youth team coaches the Spanish national team's struggles.
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Spain's international footballers has a star-studded lineup, and their midfield maestros alone could easily form a formidable team. Players like Xavi, Iniesta, Busquets, Fabregas, Alonso, David Silva, Mata, Cazorla, Jesus Navas, and many others have established themselves as the backbone of their respective clubs.
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"Such a strong midfield lineup allows the Spaniard to exert easy control over the game's midfield. However, it is embarrassing to note that Spain lacks a superstar striker, a lethal finisher and dribbler like Messi. Consequently, the Spanish team often emerges victorious without scoring goals, finding it challenging to break through the opposition's defense, especially against formidable opponents.
In the previous World Cup held in South Africa two years ago, Spain managed to score just one goal per game when facing strong teams such as Portugal, Paraguay, Germany, and the Netherlands in the knockout rounds and championship matches, While their playing style may seem economical and affordable, their weakness becomes fully exposed on such occasions.
Although the midfield maestros possess goal-scoring abilities, their shooting skills are not top-notch and pale in comparison to genuine strikers. Consequently, they frequently squander excellent goal-scoring opportunities on the field.
If Messi had chosen to join the Spanish national team, it would have been a tailor-made match with the team built around Barcelona's style. Imagining the sheer terror such a Spanish team would inflict on the global stage is mind-boggling. However, it's regrettable that Messi, being the unique talent he is, opted to join the Argentine national team.
"There's no easy solution. With such a strong midfield, it can still be challenging to score goals. Our problem is similar to that of the national team, but the difference in player strength makes it even more difficult for us to find the net."
Coaches become worried about the youth team which is currently facing a problem. The potential retirement of the first team's midfield masters and the current squad's midfielders' skill levels may pose a challenge when it comes to succession planning.
In such a scenario, can Barcelona continue to implement their current possession-based tactics? This crisis is, in fact, more significant than the current problems faced by the youth team, as the first team's performance directly affects the entire club's fate.
Fortunately, there is a promising talent within their grasp—Lucas.
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Lucas's skills are already impressive, and his performance in this game garnered unanimous approval from the coaching staff. Although his position in today's game seemed a bit unconventional, not quite resembling a defensive midfielder but rather a forward midfielder, his standout performance made the coaches instinctively overlook this issue.
Moreover, the positions of young players on the field are not fixed. Team training sessions serve the purpose of determining the most suitable positions for them, enabling their full potential to flourish."
Therefore, not only did the coaches refrain from criticizing Lucas, but they also instructed the main team's defensive players to be cautious in their tackles and avoid causing him harm.
This young talent from the youth training team is highly valued and must be well-protected to ensure his development without any setbacks.
The midfield position at Barcelona eagerly awaits his future contributions!
Meanwhile, in the office of the youth team's head coach, Enrique retrieved a stack of loan application forms from a drawer, searching for a suitable loan destination.
Barcelona is currently one of the most prominent football clubs, and its La Masia youth training camp is renowned for nurturing talented players.
Consequently, numerous teams, especially those with financial constraints, often seek to acquire loaned players from Barcelona.
Spanish players are recognized for their technical finesse, particularly in midfield positions.
Fortunately, Barcelona possesses a surplus of midfield talent, with several young players unable to secure a place in the first team and therefore needing loan spells to gain experience.
If these players are still unable to find a suitable role within Barcelona after their loan spells end, it's highly likely they will opt for permanent transfers elsewhere.
In such cases, the team they were loaned to becomes their primary choice, given their familiarity with the team's tactics and integration into their system.
Joining a new team would require a lengthy adaptation and integration process.
As for young players, if they fail to impress during their limited playing time, they risk losing the trust of the head coach and being sidelined.
The professional football world can be merciless, favoring those who seize opportunities while marginalizing mediocrity.
Enrique's plan is to loan Lucas to a team of respectable league standing, one that struggles and is in need of tangible results.
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Such a team doesn't typically have much patience with young players. If he doesn't perform well in the game, it's likely that the opposing head coach will lose patience with him after just two or three games.
In that case, he would spend a year on the bench for that team, and even if Lucas possesses some talent, it might go to waste.
Furthermore, he hasn't showcased any outstanding performances this year, giving Barcelona enough reasons to reject his contract extension.
By accomplishing this, Chairman Rosell's assigned task was fulfilled.
As per his request, teams outside the five major leagues were eliminated from consideration.
The league strength of those teams is relatively weak, making it entirely possible for players from Barcelona's youth team to secure starting positions.
The level of competition in the five major leagues is significantly higher. Even if he was born in La Masia youth training camp, it would be highly unlikely for him to become a regular starter at his age.
Among the five major leagues, La Liga teams are evidently the ones that submit the most loan applications to Barcelona.
However, Enrique doesn't plan to loan Lucas to other teams in La Liga because they have to face Barcelona at least twice a year.
When these teams go up against Barcelona, the media will naturally mention the loaned players from Barcelona in the opposing team. This would further emphasize Lucas's presence in the hearts of Barcelona fans, which is not conducive to diminishing his significance.
Thus, he ruled out La Liga as an option.
Premier League teams are already of high quality, with fierce physical confrontations.
However, young players, especially those from Spain, often have an inexplicable reluctance to play in England.
The cold weather in the British Isles, aggressive physical challenges, rough fouls, and lenient refereeing are all unfavorable factors for technically gifted Spanish players.
Therefore, Lucas would definitely refuse a loan move to the Premier League.
After careful consideration, Enrique found the league he deemed most suitable, where players would be unlikely to refuse—the Bundesliga!
And conveniently, there was a team in the Bundesliga that had submitted an application—Werder Bremen!
(End of this chapter)