Barcelona formation change has purists questioning everything they believe in

They're one of us now.

Barcelona have always been a bit of a higher being when it comes to football. They see things differently. They win differently. Pep Guardiola and that golden generation of Barca stars reinvented the game. Their shape was fluid, positions were interchangeable and they didn't even need a striker at times even though they were the deadliest outfit on the planet. They were a joy to watch with total football, with freedom of expression, with the ability to pass teams into vertigo and walk the ball into the net as they pleased. That was the template for grassroots investigations the world over. Football in Britain was labelled archaic, simplistic, barbaric even. We were left behind as other nations and youth teams were becoming technically proficient and they were seeing possibilities that we couldn't. They were producing football that was alien to this part of the globe. Well, Barcelona have gone and changed everything again. As the rest of the planet scrambles to catch up on a decade ago and they trip over themselves like Bambi trying to master tiki-taka, Ernesto Valverde has brought the Catalan giants right back to basics. The new Barcelona manager has spread the greatest mind f**k since statisticians tried to count Xavi's passes. In what looks like, from a distance, a full U-turn from the trailblazing philosophy that set Barca apart, they've reverted back to the old-school shape. Barcelona - yes, Barcelona - are playing 4-4-2. Youth development coaches around the world, just stop for a second to see how this plays out. It might be one thing if they have the players perfectly-suited for that formation - it would still be considered blasphemy in some corners - but Valverde has seemingly shoe-horned personnel into this rigid style. They're top of the league at present - their draw with Valencia on Sunday night keeps them four points clear of the same opposition and eight ahead of the two Madrid outfits but, despite all that, some fans are growing anxious. You see, Barcelona are playing 4-4-2. https://twitter.com/MrScripto/status/934878081017360385 https://twitter.com/adahtony/status/934876506781880320 https://twitter.com/_C_W__/status/934871635701698560 Whilst Messi leads the way as La Liga's top scorer with 12 goals already - and, it must be repeated, Barcelona lead the way in the table - it doesn't seem to be suiting everyone. A proper look at some of their outfield options tells its own story. Nelson Semedo Had a torrid evening at right back against Valencia and was eventually brought off. There are complaints over the lack of help he was offered by this formation. https://twitter.com/BusquetsMO/status/934928592441573376 Thomas Vermaelen He's still playing for Barcelona?! Jordi Alba Good left backs like a 4-4-2. https://twitter.com/RaazRafa/status/935061786851729413 Ivan Rakitic Wasted on the wing. https://twitter.com/barca_lead/status/934904327268917255 Paulinho Maybe this whole thing is designed to get the best out of their big summer signing. https://twitter.com/ElMedianoFM/status/934878007461736448 Andres Iniesta Getting too old for this shit. https://twitter.com/Karriss/status/934871335309922305 https://twitter.com/OmVArvind/status/934892608874254342 Lionel Messi It doesn't really matter where you play him. https://twitter.com/JussiLeppalahti/status/934884453058531334 Luis Suarez At just 30 years of age, there are suggestions that his playing style and body type are catching up on him. https://twitter.com/kallol_joadder/status/934935309665669121 The term 4-4-2, whilst used as a purpose to describe a shape or a formation, gradually progressed to being used as an insult. If you followed better teams who played pure football, if you got the most out of technical midfielders or you were just a football hipster, 4-4-2 was a stick to beat everyone else with. You don't need to resort to that nonsense. But, now, Barcelona play 4-4-2.