FC Barcelona have modified their assault dramatically this summer time, however there’s one quantity that ought to forestall anybody from getting too snug: 54.
That’s what number of targets Robert Lewandowski, Ferran Torres and Marcus Rashford mixed to attain final season. All three are not on the membership.
It’s straightforward to have a look at every departure individually and perceive the logic.
Lewandowski was reaching the top of his cycle and his time on the prime, Ferran’s sale was a chunk of wonderful monetary enterprise and Rashford was solely on mortgage.
Collectively, although, by letting the trio go, Barça have eliminated an enormous a part of their manufacturing line from final season.
One striker can not change three goalscorers
That’s the reason the pending striker file issues as a lot because it does.
Julian Alvarez is clearly the dream resolution. If Barcelona someway get him, they’re signing far more than a No. 9.
He can rating, press, mix and create probabilities for himself. Nonetheless, even Alvarez shouldn’t arrive carrying the expectation that he alone replaces these 54 targets.
Extra importantly, it appears very unbelievable that Atletico Madrid promote the South American this summer time, particularly to Barça.
Anthony Gordon helps. He offers Flick tempo, directness and one other attacker able to reaching double figures.
Karim Adeyemi can contribute too, whether or not from extensive areas or centrally.
Nonetheless, Barça merely can not calculate this as Gordon plus Adeyemi plus a brand new striker equals drawback solved. Your entire assault wants to soak up the distinction.
Lamine’s subsequent step might be targets
The obvious candidate is Lamine Yamal.
Lamine is already Barcelona’s most harmful attacker, however there’s one other degree accessible if he turns into extra ruthless contained in the penalty space.
Flick’s plan to use him increasingly through central areas may speed up that course of.
We must always not demand 30 targets from him just because he’s the celebrity. Nonetheless, transferring from being primarily a creator in the direction of turning into an elite scorer as properly would rework Barça’s assault.
Dani Olmo is one other participant who must contribute extra persistently. If he stays match and spends extra time near purpose, double figures needs to be a sensible expectation.
Then there’s Raphinha. His means to assault house, arrive on the again publish and rating with out dominating possession stays extraordinarily priceless.
Sadly for the Brazilian, health abandoned him on the unsuitable instances final season, however he definitely appears to be like match and raring to go throughout pre-season.
Barça want targets from in all places
There’s additionally a midfield component to it.
Everybody is aware of by now that Fermin Lopez has targets in him, however each Pedri and Gavi can look to extend their numbers.
Set items needs to be handled as a viable goalscoring alternative and skilled accordingly, reasonably than being thought of an afterthought.
New arrival Rodri, particularly, may add lots of worth together with his heading means from corners and free-kicks and his long-range screamers.
Flick’s finest Barcelona can not change into depending on one striker scoring each weekend. That was a part of the issue with the late Lewandowski period.
Now that they appear set to start out the season with out a No. 9, everybody must take up the accountability.
Gordon plus a striker could be sufficient, however solely collectively
So, is Gordon plus one elite striker sufficient?
Most likely, however provided that Barcelona cease excited about changing 54 targets with one participant.
If the brand new No. 9 contributes 20 to 25, Gordon provides 10 to fifteen, and Lamine, Olmo, Raphinha and Fermin collectively improve their output, out of the blue these lacking targets don’t look unimaginable to get well.
If there’s one factor going for all these gamers, it’s that Flick’s system is designed to maximise goalscoring output.
Flick’s problem now’s to channel his new attacking sources and be sure that the system’s collective power makes them extra harmful.
It doesn’t essentially have to result in precisely 54 targets, however it stays to be seen who takes over the mantle as Barça’s major goalscorer this upcoming season.
