Last week we promised you the second part of our ‘New’ Barça trilogy and so here it is. Although the title should leave little to the imagination, it must be specified that this article is completely centered around the three positions that make up our forward line. So whilst we agree that the best form of defence is attack, and we’re certainly not claiming that Xavi and his midfield movers and shakers do not constitue ‘attackers’ in the tactical sense, for the purpose of this article we will be focusing purely on our strikers and/or wingers. One and the same, did you say?

In preperation for this article, we have seen our ‘new’ Barça somewhat depleted, with not only Lionel Messi injured but David Villa losing his cool and costing himself (and the team) a ban that could prove costly when the points are tallied up come the end of the season. This is something we could all do without. For if this ‘new’ Barça squad is anything it is short – in both meanings of the word.

With a squad consisting of only 17 first-team outfield players, most Barça fans would have to recognise that any long term injury lay-off could be very costly indeed, even with the quality that can step up from the cantera. So although both Villa and Messi should only miss one and two games respectively, the thought of either missing any longer seems unthinkable, so crucial are they to this ‘new’ Barça attack.

Perhaps a good place to begin is by defining exactly what we mean by a ‘new’ Barça in reference to our attack. Although the only major personnel change to our attacking line-up is that of our swapping Zlatan Ibrahimovic for David Villa, it is through this one simple change that the entire dynamic of our attack has changed, arguably providing the fluidity that Pep has always wanted for his team.

To start with, we must make it clear that this will not be another of those Ibra vs Villa articles. We all know their respective strengths and weaknesses and what they add to the team. No, this article will examine how Villa’s inclusion has allowed the team to evolve into something far more dynamic than it was whilst Ibra was there.

It could be argued that Villa is the player Pep has always wanted, combining as he does the best qualities of Samuel Eto’o with seemingly none of the personality/mentality problems that the Cameroonian brought to the table. So while Villa may not lead the line or hold the ball up as well as Ibra, his intelligence and imagination allow the team to play off and around him in such a way that we didn’t see very much of last season with regards to the big Swede.

Villa is arguably more versatile and dynamic than either Samu or Ibra. He can play in any of our three attacking points, and as such gives Pep the ability to rotate his forward line as he sees fit – often even rotating players’ positions within a game. This seems to be something Pep has always wanted to do but up until now has been unable to get quite right – Ibra was far too slow and awkward to play on the wing; Eto’o, although fast and tricky enough to play out wide, would often go missing from games, unable to hold his position, inevitably having to go looking for the ball to get involved (just think back to Cameroon’s disastrous World Cup where Samu was so badly misused).

As well as being more deadly in front of goal, Villa is constantly more creative than either of his counterparts, so clever is he on and off the ball. This intelligence allows others to flourish. So while Pedro and Bojan have yet to truly find their feet playing alongside the Spanish international, the possibilities Villa’s quality offers us certainly make up for our current lack of strength in depth.

He is a Total Football forward if ever there was one – a striker, centre-forward, and wing-player combined – and already we are seeing the fruits of his labour, not just with his own goals but the space and freedom he allows those around him to go on and score.

This brings us nicely onto another point. That of the positioning and freedom that Leo Messi is being granted at the moment. Last season, Pep tried to allow Leo to play off of Ibra, the Argentine allowed to float around the big Swede in an attempt to create our own dynamic duo up-front. And whilst this worked on occasion, it also created its own problems. Most notably, it served to make our attack too narrow, as well as forcing Messi to drop too deep to try and find the ball (some would also say that Ibra was neither creative or generous enough to play his role but that may be a little harsh on the big man).

So far this season, Messi has been given that free role once again, Pep again asking him to look for the ball and make things happen, with the little Argentinian often dropping deeper into midfield to begin one of his trademark runs or even playing as the centre-point of the attack. This is the natural footballing evolution of Lionel Messi and as such it is what this ‘new’ Barça will be built around for a long long time to come.

The difference this term is that David Villa is smart enough to fill any spaces left by Leo, the Spaniard varying his place on the pitch depending on where Messi roams. Even this early in the season we can all recognise that a beautiful understanding is blooming between the pair with both already in the goals as well as assists.

There also seems to be a true friendship and generosity between the pair which is allowing both to fully express themselves and play to their full potential. So although it may take a little longer for both to feel completely at ease with the new arrangement, it certainly bodes better than what we saw between Messi and Ibra last season-a partnership that, although it created goals, always seemed uneasy to say the least.

Although Pep likes to stick to our traditional 4-3-3 formation, perhaps we may see Leo and Villa playing closer together as a front two in games where such changes are required, with Pedro and Iniesta playing as the ‘free’ wide men in what can only be called a mouth-watering prospect. This would serve not only to allow Messi and Villa to play higher up the pitch, but it would also keep opposition players and managers on their toes, causing unease in defences as defenders become unsure of just who is playing where (and for how long?).

Not so much to break the bus, more to get the opposition’s bus driver thinking about the next stop?

For this to work, we must look at the players around our superstars and ask just how they fit into the picture.

Neither Pedro nor Bojan have set the stadiums alight so far this season, but they have both showed glimpses of just why Pep didn’t feel the need for more reinforcements over the summer. Both have speed to burn, quick feet and understand the Barça way better than any signing ever could. As such, this season feels like they may be about to come of age within the team, no longer making up the numbers. They can now cement not only their place on the pitch but also their own personalities on their positions – Pedro the powerhouse, all gusto and speed, battling for every ball, offering natural width; Bojan the baby-faced assassin, intelligent, mobile and (with just that little bit more confidence) deadly in front of goal.

It seems this ‘new’ Barça has some old hands at the wheel but this season they can prove themselves irreplacable for many years to come. Playing alongside Messi and Villa, they will be given the chance to play across the entire front line and although both have a lot to learn, we all know the potential is there to be exploited. Leo and David can surely bring the best out of them.

The major strength for all of these players is their versatility and work-rate, with all four willing and able to play anywhere across the trio of positions up front. All four are quick, intelligent and tactically aware (as any Barça player must be). They are all capable of plenty of goals, and more than that plenty of assists, as well as helping out their defence when required (Pedro gets a special mention for this point). This is something Pep has always wanted and finally it seems he has the personnel to bring it to fruition.

The main downside with these minature maestros is that none of them really offer that ‘other’ option that Ibra did last season – target man, quick escape, battering ram. While many applauded the Ibra experiment, some weren’t so sure, but it still seems like having a forward of this ilk within our ranks would certainly offer us that plan B that is always made so much of by Barça’s critics.

This season our attacking line’s average height is just under 5′ 6″, with only David Villa and Jeffren Suarez breaking the 5′ 7″ barrier. Yes this allows for a great low centre of gravity with all the neat and tidy control this brings, but it still leaves us short (pardon the pun) of that something else that Ibra offered us and that we will certainly need if we are to  complete the image of this ‘new’ Barça.

Whilst it would be nice to see Ruben Rochina promoted from Barça B to provide this role in the future, it may be that the signing of an experienced forward like Dani Guiza, Vincenzo Iaquinta or Luca Toni could prove the final piece of this ‘new’ Barça puzzle next summer, if only to stop the unlikely dream of Fernando Llorente setting in too deep. One thing is certain - having the odd big gun to accentuate the pocket rockets is no bad thing. Ibra at least taught us that much.

But back to the players we have at our disposal here and how.

It seems this new Barça has one player who may be licking his lips at the small squad numbers this season. A player who although promising much has so far failed to set his critics right so far. Of course we’re talking about Jeffren Suarez, a player who, if he can stay fit, may just take his oppurtunity this season and really nail his flag to the Barça mast.

Like his fellow canteras Bojan and Pedro, he understands the Barça style and can offer us that most desired of footballing qualities – absolutely blistering pace. But for him to truly succeed, he must get his head up more, look for the easy pass and use the ball better – his apparent desperation to prove himself often finding an outlet in selfishness and blind alley running.

After testing the Venezualan in different positions last season, most of which proved rather fruitless, maybe this term Pep will allow the young winger the chance to prove himself in the role where he can really blossom – the left-wing. With a natural left foot, quick feet and (have we mentioned this before?!) blistering pace, surely Jeffren could play a pivotal part for the team this season? Whilst he may not be able to play as the striker of the three, he surely has the versatility to work on either channel and provide real danger to opposition defences. If he can take his chance we may not need to have that same old tired left wing debate come next summer, something we would all surely be thankful for.

Now for the final piece of our attacking puzzle and what a piece to end on.

At the start of this article, we said we were going to focus entirely on our strikers and wingers, players whose job it is to get into the final third and create and score chances. While this is true of our final figure, he is by no means an out-and-out winger, nor is he a striker. For that matter, he is not a ball-player like Xavi, a box-to-box midfielder or a speed demon running through the gaps. He is, of course, Andres Iniesta. The humble genius and all round Spanish hero whose style of play defies all categorisation, Iniesta adds something to our attack that cannot be found anywhere else.

While Leo is evolving to become the great playmaker forward, Andres is already there. So easily does he slip between the two roles of midfield maestro and winger that we fans sometimes find ourselves arguing over just where he should play.

Having said that, many fans feel his strongest position is slap-bang next to his footballing soulmate Xavi, and although this may well be true it must be said that over the last 12 months the man from Fuentealbilla has become far more accomplished at playing further up the field than he once was. His quick feet allow him to bedazzle defenders into chasing shadows while his quick mind creates opportunuties for other players that seem to spring from nowhere.

The major critique of his forward play is that he does not get amongst the goals anywhere near enough but this minor failing is something we can all turn a blind eye to surely, what with the moments of absolute joy and wonder he has given us over the years. It could also be the case that if, as is expected by many fans, Andres spends most of this season playing as part of the front three, then he may well get his name on the score sheet more often as he gets more confident and comfortable in and around the box.

But perhaps the major point to be made about Iniesta and his place within this team is exactly what makes this a ‘new’ Barça. While his talent was never doubted, Iniesta’s place on the field was somehow never certain under previous managers. Under Pep the team is built around his talents as well as that of Xavi and Messi – versatile, creative cantera prodigies who have Barça in their blood. And from this trio the philosphy has worked its way outwards, running through the squad with the likes of Pedro, Bojan, Jeffren and now even Nolito being regarded as worthy of first-team inclusion.

Pep has followed this mentality ever since he took over in the Barça hotseat, but now it seems finally he has the talent and support of all involved to truly put his philosophy into practise with this ‘new’ Barça. Yes, this means less marquee signings and a reduced squad full of hard-working versatile players, but when this is backed by a togetherness and work ethic as the one to be found in this crop of players, then it seems understandable.

This ‘new’ Barça is not just aware of the Cantera, it is born and bred from within it. This is something we should all be proud of.

So while it may be easy to throw our hands in the air when one of our young forwards spurns an oppurtunity, with critics calling for superstar signings next summer, we have to be grateful for what we have at this moment in time-a manager with enough faith in his young players to truly give them a chance to show us what they can do. They may not be the finished article just yet, but with time on their side and bags of potential they may still yet be regarded as true Barça greats in years to come.

For now is it not enough to know that Pep is doing what we’re always asking of him and giving the youth a chance. For that youth to succeed in the long run, perhaps it is time we took a look at ourselves and ask if we really are being as supportive of them as we could be?

Surely this ‘new’ Barça has proved it deserves that.