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