Tommi Jones

🇫🇮 | Barça fan | Talking structure, context & long-term thinking.
No hot takes. Just football.
Daily Barça 26/27 Expectations💙❤️

[Tommi Jones @Tommijones_]

BARÇA 26/27 EXPECTATIONS — THE INDEX 🔵🔴

One player at a time, I’m going through what I expect from Barça’s squad this season.

Not predictions. Not hot takes. Just what I believe each player needs to deliver — and where they can still improve.

Every entry so far 👇

[Tommi Jones @Tommijones_]

Do Madrid players really have to dive in every attack? Is that somehow mandatory as a RM player??!?

[Tommi Jones @Tommijones_]

@NealGardner_ Kind of funny that a professional athlete isn't allowed to be disappointed in his own performance...

[Tommi Jones @Tommijones_]

Always nice to see Raphinha as the captain! Let’s go! 💙❤️

[Tommi Jones @Tommijones_]

@NealGardner_ If he’s sold, I’d expect a heavy PL tax in the fee…

[Tommi Jones @Tommijones_]

@BigFrman Already started after Rodri's transfer was official..

[Tommi Jones @Tommijones_]

@PHBarca We are all junkies whenever there's a new "mystery" in football going on..

[Tommi Jones @Tommijones_]

They will sign great players in the future still, but this whole saga has a lot of impact on their contract negotiations, release clauses etc. Promising talent is probably their main transfer policy from now on, but even in those negotiations the players will have more bargaining power than before

[Tommi Jones @Tommijones_]

@FabrizioRomano @David_Ornstein Finally a balanced transfer fee in the PL.. Great signing for them as well!

[Tommi Jones @Tommijones_]

@OneFootball Just a little bit more insight/speculation regarding this
https://t.co/yK1F6PcZCc

[Pascal Hecker @PHBarca]

Cant really sleep rn so I started going down a rabbit hole.

Theres this Galatasaray Twitter 'insider' who said back at the end of July that only Gala and Bayern know about Musialas condition

Its crazy looking back at this after what we've seen the past few days...

[Tommi Jones @Tommijones_]

@PHBarca @niederhaus17566 Yeah, most likely aftermath from that high speed crash.. Since it's dealing with his brain, how does that affect any heading activities whether in practice or in a match? No go or should be manageable with drugs?

[Tommi Jones @Tommijones_]

@niederhaus17566 @PHBarca Oh, so he drove 194 km/h near the crash? How the f did he manage to not injure the other parties or himself badly...

[Tommi Jones @Tommijones_]

@niederhaus17566 @PHBarca When did the car crash happen?

[Tommi Jones @Tommijones_]

@NealGardner_ Depends very much on his concentration level this season. Playing as a CB in Flick’s high line is a monumental task for anybody

[Tommi Jones @Tommijones_]

@ReshadRahman @FabrizioRomano So we can expect a lot of smoke screens up until the end of the transfer window. Really like the new operation style, just HWG's out of the blue, keeps the fans active and excited!

[Tommi Jones @Tommijones_]

@NealGardner_ Have we finally moved on from Julian? My mental health would appreciate that...

[Tommi Jones @Tommijones_]

#11 Rodri 🇪🇸
https://t.co/EkbBWTIePY

[Tommi Jones @Tommijones_]

BARÇA 26/27 EXPECTATIONS — #11 RODRI 🇪🇸

Rodri doesn't need to transform his own numbers.

He needs to transform Barça around him.

◉ Bring control when games become chaotic. Barça can already dominate teams. Rodri's biggest value should come in the moments when control starts to disappear — slowing games down, killing transitions and allowing us to dictate the rhythm again.

◉ Free Pedri. Pedri can drop deep and dictate possession, but he shouldn't always have to. Rodri taking responsibility for the first phase should allow Pedri to receive higher up the pitch, where he can hurt teams more.

◉ Make Cubarsí's job easier. Give him a constant outlet in possession and protection when Barça lose the ball. Rodri's positioning should mean fewer situations where Cubarsí is left defending huge spaces in transition.

◉ Be available when it matters most. After the injuries of the last two seasons, I don't care about chasing a huge minutes total. Manage him properly and have the best version of Rodri available for the biggest games.

◉ Lead. This is an incredibly young Barça core. A Ballon d'Or winner arriving in his prime years should bring standards, calmness and experience that go far beyond his own performances.

My biggest expectation for Rodri won't show up in his own numbers. It should show up in everyone else's football.

If Pedri becomes freer, Cubarsí becomes safer and Barça become harder to knock out of control, Rodri will have done exactly what he was signed to do. 💙❤️

[Tommi Jones @Tommijones_]

BARÇA 26/27 EXPECTATIONS — THE INDEX 🔵🔴

One player at a time, I’m going through what I expect from Barça’s squad this season.

Not predictions. Not hot takes. Just what I believe each player needs to deliver — and where they can still improve.

Every entry so far 👇

[Tommi Jones @Tommijones_]

#10 Gavi 🇪🇸

https://t.co/g4QeHxJAW6

[Tommi Jones @Tommijones_]

BARÇA 26/27 EXPECTATIONS — #10 GAVI 🇪🇸

Rodri and Pedri should allow Gavi to be more Gavi.

After three disrupted seasons, the priority is simple: stay fit and build rhythm.

With Rodri providing control and Pedri dictating the game, Gavi doesn't need to become either of them. I want the intensity, aggression and pressing that make him unique — but with more control and better decision-making.

Competition for minutes will be brutal. His job is to make himself too valuable to leave out.

My expectations:
◉ Stay fit and build consistent rhythm
◉ Earn a meaningful role in this midfield
◉ Same fire, more control
◉ More impact in the final third
◉ 6–8 G/A in all competitions

Don't turn Gavi into something he's not.

Give him the platform to become the best version of what he already is. 🔵🔴

[Tommi Jones @Tommijones_]

BARÇA 26/27 EXPECTATIONS — #11 RODRI 🇪🇸

Rodri doesn't need to transform his own numbers.

He needs to transform Barça around him.

◉ Bring control when games become chaotic. Barça can already dominate teams. Rodri's biggest value should come in the moments when control starts to disappear — slowing games down, killing transitions and allowing us to dictate the rhythm again.

◉ Free Pedri. Pedri can drop deep and dictate possession, but he shouldn't always have to. Rodri taking responsibility for the first phase should allow Pedri to receive higher up the pitch, where he can hurt teams more.

◉ Make Cubarsí's job easier. Give him a constant outlet in possession and protection when Barça lose the ball. Rodri's positioning should mean fewer situations where Cubarsí is left defending huge spaces in transition.

◉ Be available when it matters most. After the injuries of the last two seasons, I don't care about chasing a huge minutes total. Manage him properly and have the best version of Rodri available for the biggest games.

◉ Lead. This is an incredibly young Barça core. A Ballon d'Or winner arriving in his prime years should bring standards, calmness and experience that go far beyond his own performances.

My biggest expectation for Rodri won't show up in his own numbers. It should show up in everyone else's football.

If Pedri becomes freer, Cubarsí becomes safer and Barça become harder to knock out of control, Rodri will have done exactly what he was signed to do. 💙❤️

[Tommi Jones @Tommijones_]

@nns_marion We'll reply with our results!

[Tommi Jones @Tommijones_]

Oh, this season will be full on gaslighting from the start until the end...

Nice to see nothing has changed regarding this club and their modus operandi of moving goal posts all the time.

[The Touchline | 𝐓 @TouchlineX]

🚨🗣️ José Mourinho: "Speaking to Rodri this summer? Yes, yes... A couple of times."

"Real Madrid made him an IMPORTANT OFFER. But Rodri had doubts, and his doubts created DOUBTS in ME."

[Tommi Jones @Tommijones_]

@nns_marion @PHBarca Agreed... Only time will tell

[Tommi Jones @Tommijones_]

@nns_marion @PHBarca Yeah, just found his message, but still have some doubts.. Extremely sad for a young dude overall, not to mention someone with his potential. Truly hope they will manage to get it under control