Complete Report Card for Barcelona in 2014
Barcelona have retained a core of personnel from last season but also experienced something of a regeneration owing to the transfer ban imposed by FIFA.
Gone are the likes of Carles Puyol and Victor Valdes, replaced by Jeremy Mathieu and Claudio Bravo respectively.
When we look through this list of players, it's remarkable to see just how much has changed.
Let's take a look at every player that donned Blaugrana in 2014...
Goalkeepers
1 of 9
Victor Valdes
Grade: A
Barca's No. 1 had let in just seven goals from the start of the year until El Clasico at the Santiago Bernabeu toward the end of March, where three more found the way into his net.
Looking to put that right in the following game against Celta Vigo just three days later, Valdes suffered the cruciate ligament injury that prematurely ended his Barcelona career, some two months before he was due to depart.
A horrible way to finish.
Jose Manuel Pinto
Grade: B-
As patient an understudy as there's possible to be, when Jose Manuel Pinto was thrust into the limelight because of Victor Valdes' injury, it's fair to say that nerves ruined his contributions in certain games.
Never sure what he was about to do next, one or two goals were directly attributable to his mistakes.
Affectionately remembered but never up to the task in hand.
Claudio Bravo
Grade: A
It took until mid-October and El Clasico before Claudio Bravo had to fish the ball out of his net, setting a new La Liga record from the start of the season in the process.
Since then, Bravo has conceded just seven goals, by far the best in the division.
The biggest compliment that can be paid to the 'keeper is that within just a few games, no one was still missing Valdes.
Commanding in the air, quick off his line, good with both feet and with excellent distribution, Bravo has it all.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen
Grade: A-
Kept as Barca's Champions League stopper in light of Bravo's excellence in the league, the young German recovered from a nervy outing in Paris.
Sharp with quick feet and in command of his area, Ter Stegen grew in stature as the competition progressed.
Right-Backs
2 of 9
Dani Alves
Grade: A-
If Dani Alves wants to leave Barca, he's going exactly the wrong way about it, providing a timely reminder to all as to exactly why he should be offered a new contract.
Although he can be found wanting in defence on occasion, there is simply no one better in the position for the way in which Barca play their football.
That Alves is the one, again, who has provided most assists for Lionel Messi speaks volumes.
Manchester United are, according to Joe Short of the Daily Express, willing to pull out all of the stops to sign Alves in January, and that would be a disaster for Barca.
Given the dearth of other options available at this time, the Brazilian simply must be retained.
Martin Montoya
Grade: C
Martin Montoya signed a new contract in the first part of the year and would have been forgiven for thinking that would lead to further appearances.
A change of manager has seen no change in his personal circumstances with literally a handful of performances to reflect upon across the year.
A move away suits all parties.
Douglas
Grade: D
Why was the Brazilian signed? It seems abundantly clear that he is never going to get anywhere near the first team unless all of the planets align correctly and Barca have a catastrophic run of injuries.
Frankly, at this juncture, a pathetic waste of money.
Left-Backs
3 of 9
Jordi Alba
Grade: B-
Jordi Alba has had an interesting year with his form varying from tepid at times to searingly brilliant at others.
It's a consistency issue in play that needs to be addressed. Quickly.
There's no finer sight for fans of the Blaugrana than seeing "The Squirrel" bombing down the left side and providing a wonderful outlet in attack, similar to Dani Alves on the opposite side.
However, we only need study his performance against PSG in Paris, when Lucas Moura gave him a torrid 90 minutes, to understand what improvements need to be made to his game.
Adriano Correia
Grade: C+
Adriano Correia has hardly featured this year but has still provided necessary excellence when called upon.
A sign of his professionalism is that, despite a lack of action, not once have you heard that the likeable Brazilian has tried to rock the boat. Happy to be involved, he will take his chances when they become available.
Did his job well when called upon in the Champions League and rounded off the year nicely with the sixth goal of eight against Huesca in the Copa Del Rey.
A rare commodity in today's game and worth his weight in gold.
Centre-Backs
4 of 9
Carles Puyol
Grade: A
The curtain finally came down on the shaggy-haired war horse's Barca career during the first part of 2014.
In March, just two days after becoming second in the list of all-time Barcelona appearance holders, Puyol announced his retirement from the game.
As it happened, he stayed at Barca in another capacity, but his playing days were over. More's the pity.
No one in the team embodied the spirit, drive and desire of the Catalans better than Puyol.
A defender straight out of the old school. Sorely missed.
Gerard Pique
Grade: B+
Gerard Pique has endured another topsy-turvy year to add to a similar 2013.
Squarely at fault for goals that led to defeats or draws in the first part of 2014, Pique needed to up his game at the World Cup but failed dismally.
After a shaky start to the current campaign, there has been at least been a turnaround in Pique's form.
In the Champions League especially, Pique has shown the qualities that marked him out as one of European football's premier centre-backs.
Forming part of a back three against PSG in the final group game, Pique was excellent throughout, keeping the French side's attacking threat at bay.
Still some way to go to get back to his best on a regular basis, but the fruits of hard labour are there for all to see.
Jeremy Mathieu
Grade: B-
A summer capture from Valencia, Jeremy Mathieu has flattered to deceive on a number of occasions already this term.
A solid performer when given a run of games, the Frenchman certainly didn't look the part in the first match against PSG.
A below-par performance in the left-back role against Real Madrid, and a subsequent outburst that he didn't know why he was playing there, has probably gone some way to ensuring that Mathieu has not been a fixture throughout the campaign.
Marc Bartra
Grade: A
A breakthrough year in many respects, at last, for Marc Bartra.
His equalising goal in the Copa Del Rey final topped off a stunning individual performance, and the run of games he received at the back end of last season will have given the youngster the confidence that his time had come.
In the Champions League this season, particularly in Amsterdam against Ajax, Bartra showed the maturity required to ensure his continued residency at the heart of the defence.
Now needs Lucho to give him a longer run of games within which to further prove his worth to the team.
Defensive Midfielders
5 of 9
Alex Song
Grade: C
Never really given a chance because of a preference to use Sergio Busquets or Javier Mascherano in the position, Alex Song is proving once again what a great player he can be at West Ham United.
Was used sparingly in 2014 by Tata Martino, convincing the Cameroonian that his future lay elsewhere.
Javier Mascherano
Grade: A
What a year for Javier Mascherano.
One of the most capable players in the side, he continued to provide performances of the very highest quality throughout the year.
His performances at the World Cup should've seen him take the best player accolade, but no matter, he took the level at which he played in Brazil straight into games at club level.
A one-man brick wall at times, he has been a manager's dream and deservedly one of the first players on the team sheet.
Sergio Busquets
Grade: B
Sergio Busquets hasn't been at his best in the second half of the year.
Unlike Mascherano, Busi had a poor World Cup and hasn't recovered to any great degree as yet.
The winner in Valencia was as late as could be and it may well be a goal that is vital in the La Liga title race.
Needs to up his game again significantly, however. Too often beaten for pace presently, and a pass accuracy that has dropped to as low as it's ever been, per WhoScored.com.
An injury in the early part of the current season gave him the perfect time to recuperate. Needs to start 2015 on the front foot.
Sergi Samper
Grade: A+
Although he only appeared on two occasions, Sergi Samper deserves all of the plaudits that came his way.
No one in Barcelona's history has had as successful a debut as the youngster. Against APOEL, he had 116 touches and a 93 per cent pass accuracy, per WhoScored.com, which was far and away the best on the pitch.
The only player to traverse every Barca level from under-six to the senior side, Samper is likely to be a mainstay in the Barca midfield for years to come.
Central Midfielders
6 of 9
Jonathan Dos Santos
Grade: D
Just 17 minutes as a substitute over three games was how Jonathan Dos Santos' Barcelona career ended.
A move to Villarreal was necessary for a player who had played just 14 times for Barca in five years.
Grade: B+
"You don't know what you've got until you lose it" is as perfect a saying to be applied to Cesc Fabregas and Barca as there's possible to be.
Current Premier League top assister, Cesc was under utilised by the Catalans, who never really seemed to get to grips with where best for him to operate.
A preference for Xavi and Andres Iniesta meant that Cesc filled in wherever necessary without actually making any position his own.
Three yellow cards and just one goal scored in 2014 isn't perhaps the way that the player would have wanted to bow out.
Andres Iniesta
Grade: A
Andres Iniesta's goal at the Santiago Bernabeu in March gave Barcelona the platform to go on and record another double over their fiercest rivals.
His importance to the team is never better evidenced than when he succumbs to injury, as he did back at the same venue when the Catalans lost 3-1 in this seasons edition.
Out for a month, Barca didn't look the same proposition moving forward and that says much about Iniesta's enviable skill set.
He was in superb form against PSG in Paris, and his assist for Lionel Messi in that game was simply exquisite.
Made captain during his 101st Champions League appearance against Ajax, his performance was befitting of the occasion.
A stunning goal against Huesca in the Copa Del Rey bookended his year nicely.
Xavi
Grade: A-
Since the change of manager, Xavi has seen his time on the pitch restricted further.
A proposed move to MLS, after he was constantly overlooked by Tata Martino, was shelved once Luis Enrique spoke with him.
However, if Xavi thought things might change, he was quite wrong, Enrique taking the same line as his predecessor and rotating Xavi as much as possible.
Still shows his class in each and every game in which he plays, and it's noticeable how much of Barca's play goes through him when he's on the pitch.
Presently the Champions League appearance record holder and still a class act.
Ivan Rakitic
Grade: B+
Ivan Rakitic has struggled with life at Barca thus far.
Whether that's down to fitting into a new style or different things are expected of him is a moot point.
The Croatian was brought in to beef up the midfield, and whilst he has run the show in some games, he has been completely anonymous in others.
Too easily dominated in Paris, he has just about done enough in his first half season to appease Barca's demanding supporters.
Sergi Roberto
Grade: D
Another player who has struggled to get minutes for the senior side.
Almost 80 minutes against APOEL is the most he's managed with a handful of substitute La Liga appearances under his belt.
He is beginning to stagnate, and a proposed move to Stoke City in January, per Ed Malyon of the Daily Mirror, might be best for all concerned.
Rafinha Alcantara
Grade: C
Injuries have meant that we haven't yet seen the best of Rafinha Alcantara.
A sending off in the Champions League against APOEL certainly didn't help his cause for further minutes either.
Has done well enough when called upon if unspectacular.
Wingers
7 of 9
Alexis Sanchez
Grade: A
The reasons for losing one of either Alexis or Pedro are blindingly obvious to everyone, but that said, the Chilean deserved his place in the team.
A consistent performer throughout the first half of the year, important and spectacular goals were his forte. Who can forget his final-day blockbuster against Atletico Madrid?
Arsenal have been the beneficiaries of the services of a player who works for every single penny of his remuneration, Barca definitely the losers on this occasion.
Ibrahim Afellay
Grade: D
Four minutes as a substitute divided over two games is as good as it got for injury-riddled Ibrahim Afellay, before a much-needed loan move to Olympiacos.
Doubtful he even touched the ball for Barca during those appearances.
Cristian Tello
Grade: D
Another winger who needed to move on to fulfil any potential.
A hat-trick in the cup against Levante at the beginning of the year was Tello's highlight before, as is his wont, he disappeared into the Barca shadows again, only sticking his head above the parapet infrequently.
Porto rescued the player during the summer, a move that suited all parties.
Neymar
Grade: A+
Alongside Lionel Messi, Neymar has been Barcelona's player of the year so far.
Even taking into account his injuries towards the business end of last season, the Brazilian was beginning to make an impression as he found his feet.
Now, after a season to acclimatise, we are beginning to see the true face of Neymar.
Goals aplenty and an evident maturity have seen his importance to the side grow immeasurably.
His star continues to rise.
Pedro Rodriguez
Grade: B
Pedro showed with a hat-trick against Huesca and two more against Espanyol and Cordoba that he still has an assassin's eye for goal when given a run of games.
Rotated with Alexis Sanchez last season as Neymar began to make his mark but has found regular employment hard to come by this term, since Luis Suarez joined the party.
Despite a lack of minutes, the Canary Islander is still prepared to stay and fight for his place, despite the attentions of various clubs looking to cash in on his situation.
Centre-Forwards
8 of 9
Lionel Messi
Grade: A+
Most goals ever in La Liga. Most goals ever in the Champions League.
For someone who had a quiet first part of the year by his own standards, Lionel Messi continues to set the standard.
Whilst many continue to laud the achievements of Cristiano Ronaldo and his best-ever return of 61 goals in a calendar year, it's worth noting that Messi still finished on 58 in a "bad" year.
Back-to-back hat-tricks to beat the all-time marks is so typical of the theatre that Messi brings to the football pitch.
You cannot fail to be impressed by his contribution.
Luis Suarez
Grade: B+
Given his extended absence from football duties, it was always going to take Luis Suarez a while to settle at Barcelona.
Even he must have been disappointed that it took until December and the game against Cordoba before he opened his La Liga account, even though he had two from the Champions League including a delicious finish against APOEL.
Made an instant impact on debut, setting up Neymar for Barca's only goal in the first El Clasico of the season, and has continued to supply the bullets for others throughout his tenure.
Just needs to be firing a few more himself now...
Munir El Haddadi
Grade: B
After making the grandest of entrances and scoring on debut, Munir El Haddadi's star has burnt a little less brightly.
Barcelona are managing him well rather than allowing too much to happen too quickly; however, we may see the 19-year-old making a January loan move to the Premier League in order to get some more minutes under his belt.
Hitting the post against PSG in Paris was the closest he came to opening his Champions League account, and despite working hard, he wasn't able to influence games in quite the way he did at the very beginning of the season.
One for the future.
Sandro Ramirez
Grade: B
Another who needs time to bed in to the first team, Sandro Ramirez might feel hard done by after bursting onto the scene in the early part of the current campaign.
Showed enough in his appearances for supporters of the club to be excited about a future first-team partnership with Munir.
Managers
9 of 9
Tata Martino
Grade: B
Unfortunately Tata Martino was fighting a losing battle the minute he stepped into the Barca hot seat.
An outsider was always going to be judged unfairly, and despite a stunning start to his only campaign as manager, things began to unravel for him in 2014.
To put things in some perspective, Tata finished with an almost identical record to Pep Guardiola in his first season.
However, five draws and four losses in 2014 were never going to be enough to assuage the doubters, despite another El Clasico double, including a real backs-against-the-wall performance at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Too many remained unconvinced at his change of style. Long balls were preferred to the short, sharp passing game that became Barca's hallmark.
Even before Atletico Madrid denied Barca the title on the final day of the season, the writing was on the wall for Martino.
Luis Enrique
Grade: B
It was obvious that Barcelona would employ an ex-player to take the reins after Martino's departure, and so it was that Luis Enrique was procured from Celta Vigo during the summer.
His appointment was met with a mixed reaction. Reasonably, but not overly, successful at Celta, Lucho's time at AS Roma was an abject failure.
Over the course of his first few months back home in Catalonia, the results haven't always been what you might have expected.
Some stunning wins, particularly the home game against PSG, have kept Lucho in the supporters' good books after some insipid draws and losses.
Losing at home to his previous employers for the first time since 1977, and only the third time in La Liga history, is a particularly hard one for Barca's band of supporters to accept.
Using 24 different starting line-ups in 24 successive games has also left many scratching their heads.
Must do better.
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