Barcelona have one of the weakest defensive back lines in world football. Even going back to the record breaking team of 2010, Barça have never been truly blessed with defensive players compared to their attacking counterparts and it looks like they will be heading into the new season with yet another soft defence. With Carlos Puyol retired, Gerard Pique has still not proved himself as a world class leader while youth prospects Marc Bartra and Martín Montoya have not yet fulfilled their potential. Mascherano was one of the stand out performers at the World Cup operating in a deep lying defensive role but he is not a centre half and Barça will continue to struggle if they force that position on him. It clearly evident that Barcelona need a top class defender and while the transfer of Jérémy Mathieu from Sevilla will paper some cracks, Barca also need a right back as Dani Alves is a shadow of the player he once was for the club. Jordi Alba also offers very little defensively too even if he is an extremely potent attacking threat. A back four of Alves, Pique, Mathieu and Alba hardly screams impenetrable for opposing teams and this flaw alone could destroy their whole season.
Barry O' Halloran has been a whatculture writer for the last two years and having recently graduated, now plans on writing about games & movies until his hands fall off. Follow him on twitter!
