Barcelona Youth, who is the future worldclass star?

Barcelona's youth academy is no doubt the jewel of the club. And there is always a curious excitement to figure the following star emerging from La Masia. There are lots of factors to take in consideration while predicting the next big news. Quality and talent is just one factor of many. Fulfilling a promise, here we are initiating an attempt to predict future!

Youth development is unpredictable. It’s a Pedro/Busquets Vs Bojan/Giovani. That’s why it is almost impossible to make a guaranteed bet. The first squad demands is also a crucial factor that may offer an opportunity for one youth over the other regardless of quality and talent. A new Puyol will most probably have a better –earlier- opportunity to break through than a new Iniesta. New signings -like Afellay- leave an impact. Injuries both in the first team or the reserve change the promotion Queue all together (Víctor Vázquez?). 

Lately, contract conditions became another card that may put one youth ahead of the other on the promotion chain (Jonathan Vs Thiago). And no doubt, the youth natural position and how far it fits the system of the first team plays a role as well. It is more likely for a poacher to have a chance in the first team than a pure second striker who can’t play as a wing or as a nine (One of the reasons why Bojan struggled). Then the number of youth competing on a specific position is also a factor to take in consideration. At the end of the day, no matter how talented the youth are, the first team squad can’t embrace them all. The good ones will be sacrificed to free a room for the best.

That’s why, instead of the usual approach that scout the youth squads, I will start from the first team squad, scouting the needs and the opportunities. Then scouting how the needs concur with the available youth options.

Valdes will be the starter for the following few seasons unless if a youth showed an undefeatable quality. Pinto the free style keeper is the backup for this season. There are gossips that he will stay for another season, will he? How will that affect the youth keepers of the club?

Position: Goalkeeper

Date of birth: 18-01-1989

Height: 191 cm

Weight: 86 kg

I really like this keeper. He is far from being ready for the big theatre but he is showing the attributes needed to succeed at Barcelona. Good in one-on-one and with lot of courage to immigrate out of his goal and serve as a sweeper when needed (though he has to tune that a bit). Will he get the promotion card for next season? Is it better to use a younger keeper for copa matches for example?

At Barcelona B there are two more promising keepers in Oier and Masip. Oier was the first choice at Barca B for a while. I do think promoting Miño means more playing time for the other two. But then, how far promoting him to Barca’s first team bench helps his development? I think the best scenario is to differentiate between “The second Keeper” role and “Valdes Backup” role. Renew Pinto’s contract to be “Valdes Back up” so that in the matches where Valdes starts, it’s Pinto who sit on the bench, not Miño (who stays with Barca B to play). Yet, when Pep wants to use a keeper other than Valdes in the cup matches or noncritical matches, that’s the second keeper – Miño. Will Pinto agree on this arrangement? I think he will. This way Miño benefit most and develop most.

On the right back, the club will need a backup for Alves. But now that Adriano and Maxwell are both capable of serving there, I think this is not a need for next season. Martín Montoya’s performance for the rest of the season may give Pep a second thought though. He is no doubt a quality player but one can only wonder if he will get squeezed between Alves playing time (he rarely miss a match), Bartra’s Versatility and quality, and the emerging of Juvenil A fullback Albert Dalmau, who will most probably get his promotion ticket to Barca B by next season. 

In the center, I can see Milito leaving next summer. That leaves us with Pique, and an aging Puyol. Promoting a young center defender is a given, taking in consideration the number of quality defenders available at Barca B (too many for Luis Enrique to use). Yet, one Center back will not be enough unless if Abidal start playing more as a center back next season leaving the left back for Adriano and Maxwell. If Abidal keep being the first option as a left back, a forth Center back is needed. I wouldn’t recommend promoting an additional center back in this case as there will be a need for more reliable option to back Puyol. Meaning, the club may sign a center back if available. Though, we can’t completely exclude promoting one center back permanently and rotating the rest of the youth defenders on the other spot, testing them then promoting the most convincing on January 2012. 

On the left back, it is highly unlikely to promote any youth for next season, but for the season that follows a left back will be a must while either Adriano or Maxwell may leave.

Based on that, a young center back will definitely be the luckiest one. It is between Bartra and Fontas. And it is almost a given that it will be Fontas. First because he is a left footed defender who can compliment Pique or Puyol most. And secondly because he is calmer that Bartra who may have better potentials but he get caught out of position more often. If Maxwell or Adriano suffers an injury or Abidal start serving as a Center back more, Bartra will find more time in the first team squad. I see a Puyol career curve in Bartra, starting as a right back then moving to the center.

But make no mistake; there are many impressive options for the following two years. Carles Planas is a good bet for the left back. Abraham is another option there. Marc Muniesa is the fans’ favorite already and he can play as a center back or left back, which may give him an edge. 

Sergi Gómez in the other hand is -in my opinion- the future of Barcelona’s defense, though he will need two more years before he start sharing time with the first teamers.

Fontas is a candidate to be promoted after this x-mass break. It also worth noting that Barcelona can still resign Botia who is probably the most mature defender youth farm generated in the past two years. Bartra will know his faith during the following preseason, where a left back will also has a trial.

* In Juvenil A the likes of Vivaldi Bakoyock worth mentioning as well. Quality, But will need few years to show up at the Camp Nou.

Posted by Ramzi on 12:13. Filed under Barcelona, La Masia, youth . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0