There's a popular saying that when the fish rots, it starts from the head.

The club's current situation is a symptom of terrible management. The level of incompetence is such that one has to view it as a systemic fault. It's likely a feature of the organizational culture, values, and ideology. Not just the current individuals at the helm.

But this article isn't about the myriad problems at the club's core and top-level leadership, it's about what solutions the club and manager can seek short term to extend the life support of a wheezing and gasping entity (if the number of management staff jumping ship is any indication).

First, Xavi and whoever is supervising his work has to accept that he's out of his depth. That his success is fundamentally down to two key attributes - a football ideology ingrained in the club, and a few dominant players shaping the success of the ideology (Pedri being the most dominant). Best solution here is to add top-level tactical analysts and advisors to his coaching staff to help him plan and adjust to games like a top-level coach would.

Second, the short-term approach to first team transfers has to be eliminated completely. The club has neither the funds nor the performance capital to make short-term decisions. A clear idea on PROFILES and LEVEL needed for each position has to be decided, and if they aren't available on the market, the club should save the money for potential players who are developing. The question which has no clear answer right now is "What is the sporting project?" "What type of team is the club looking to build?"

Finally, I think it's absolutely stupid to buy a 29-year-old that Bayern and City refuse to have on their roster. Especially given the club's financial situation. It's the worst type of gamble. One in which the baseline assumption is that the ideal situation will happen. In terms of wages, reported fees, and amortization, it's a desperate move at best, or an idiotic one if common sense is applied. Fresnada from what I've seen is a risk, but a much lower risk than Cancelo (only if it's a low fee loan move with no purchase option). In attack, Joao Felix is exactly the type of forward the club needs. Decisive, technical, creative, and assertive. Excels in the left half-space/false 9 role which is a perfect complement to Balde's predisposition to bombing into space. Downside is his consistency; however, it could be that there's been a fundamental clash between his football ideology and that of Simeone.

P.S. It's unbelievable that it has to be said or discussed that considering Ez Abde as a Barca level player is delusional at best. But this type of thinking is no surprise coming from a management that considered Adama Traore, Frank Kessie, Eric Garcia, Sergino Dest, Sergi Roberto, Aubameyang, and Marcos Alonso as Barca level players.