Who should Barça sell?

The title is a question a friend gave me yesterday. After the question we ended up talking about it for hours. Now I'll share my thoughts on the matter.

There are a few players that are more logical to sell than others. Alexis is one of them. He is a great player but never really found his spot in the regular starting XI.

There are a few clubs who have shown their interest in the dribbler from Chile. Also with the arrival of Neymar his playtime will be limited.

David Villa is another player that is a logical sale. He's in the last years of the career and would like to play more than Barça let him. Again with Tello moving up the ranks and Neymar joining there's a line building for the spots as forward - and Villa is not 1st or 2nd pick for Tito.

Cesc is another player I think we could do without. I was never the big supporter of his transfer in the first place. We have players with great skills and talent who I think will be of better use in the long run.

Then there's Song. Why did we buy him? Good player for the Premier League but too slow in his play for a team like Barça. Also we have Mascherano and Busquets or even Adriano to play the defensive midfield.

Many of the youngsters could also be potential sales but I think most of them will go on loan at first. Some players are returning from loans and might be sold - like Cuenca and Bojan. Not sure what will happen with Afellay yet but he might be sold too.

2013/2014 XI

With the transfer marked still open it's hard to say who might leave or join the club. Any number of things can change the squad in a matter of days.

Still I'll try to look at the starting eleven as the squad is now - and keep in mind this is just the way I'd like them to see them line up.

Goal
We still have Valdes, and I hope he'll stay for the final year as our first choice between the posts. Then we have Pinto as a solid backup but we should still look for the next #1.

Defence
This is the area where we still need some work. Puyol can't last forever (actually maybe he can!) so we need to get a new one in here. As it is now I see Alves, Piqué, Puyol and Alba as the ideal chain. Montoya, Adriano and Mascherano is the backup players. With more play time Bartra will also be of good use is he stays.
- I'd like to see David Luiz or Marquinhos join the squad as the next main center defender.

Midfield
This is pretty easy. We have two of the best players in the world here, so no reason not to have them on the field; Xavi and Iniesta. Then it's a matter of the last spot where I do think Busquets are the best choice. Thiago is a super player too and should be more than just a backup, so to perfect it maybe some sort of rotation in order to keep Xavi and Iniesta as their best for the bigger games.

Attack
This is actually where I run into the most trouble. Messi should, in my mind, play on the right side again but as we have no real strikers that's not really an option at the moment. So putting him in the center where he is now is the best. Then we signed Neymar, and it's hard to say he can't start, so I'll put him on the left side. Pedro and Tello fight for the last spot - in my mind there's no doubt Tello should get it. he can play both sides and has become more than just another youngster this year. He's lethal with the ball and quick as f***! Pedro on the other hand didn't have the best season.

My starting XI
Valdes, Alves, Piqué, Puyol, Alba, Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta, Tello, Messi, Neymar

U21 players

Looking at the stats from yesterday's U21 match of Spain it's clear that Montoya and Tello more than deserve playtime for FC Barcelona.

I always loved those two but not until I saw them play against Denmark in my hometown did I have any chance to understand their true skill and potential.

Montoya is in need of first team time and Tello needs more than he gets if he is to grow to the level of greatness he can be.

If Tito decides to loan them out I'm more than a little disappointed. None of them should have to leave to get to play - they fit in and definitely have the potential to become a natural starter for FCB.

With the signing of Neymar there might be less time for Tello. And with Alves still going strong Montoya is 2nd string at best.

But please give them their chances.

Have them play all Copa del Rey games and minor league games as a minimum.

Summer transfers

So far this summer we've set Abidal free and signed Neymar.

To be honest that's a total of two things that bother me.

I'd rather we take use of our own players like Tello and Gerard D. than sign a new player priced at 57 million euro.

This signing could mean we'll have to say goodbye to two of our best offensive talents for years.

- the 57 million should have been used to sign what we need; defender(s) and maybe a keeper in case Valdes should leave before 2014. 

The farewell to Abidal bugs me due to the reason. How can we cut a player and keep the coach when the situation is the same?

- it's very un-Barca to act this way.

On a personal note I had hoped for David Luiz and Marquinho to join and not Neymar.

But let it be known that it's not that I don't like Neymar - he's just not what Barcelona needs the most right now.