Quique Setién is learning, in a brutal and very public fashion, the harsh truth that ideas, in of themselves, aren't worth very much, and that their value is derived in how they are executed and your ability to convince others in the merits of doing so.

It's clear from his words and the teams that he's managed, that Setién perceives football in a Cruyffian manner. On paper, that's a perfect fit for Barça and I don't doubt that that he joined the club with the best of intentions and grand ideas on how they could - should - play.

But management isn't just about tactical intelligence, which I still believe Setién has in abundance, but also emotional intelligence, which is where he's really struggled. If tactics aren't understood by the people who implement them, they're just scribbles on pieces of paper.

The impression I have of Setién is increasingly becoming one of a boss who, despite his professional expertise and wealth of knowledge, just cannot issue a coherent set of instructions. So even if what he's saying is brilliant, or could be brilliant, it's functionally useless.

Think about the best teacher you ever had. Why were they so important to you? It probably wasn't just because they were the smartest person in the room, but because they were able to form a connection with you that made the material you had to learn accessible and/or personal.

This is where the difference between theory and practicality comes in. Setién had an idea, several ideas probably, but they just haven't clicked and the more he desperately cycles through set-ups and systems to find one that does, the less intelligible it all becomes to the squad

If what you're saying is unclear, and you're saying it without conviction or without an existing connection to someone, it's hard to convince them or earn their trust. That's why I don't think it's as black and white as "oh the club de amigos have too much power and hate Setién".

It's even harder if the people you're trying to convince are serial winners. You might not have a glittering CV, or a legendary reputation, or an aura about you which will make them go to war for you, but you have to somehow convince them to have faith in your process.

I often think about when Pep was winless after his two games at Barça and was feeling the heat and Iniesta came into his office told him not to worry, that the team was enjoying training, felt that they were on the right path, not change a thing and "vamos de puta madre". Also:

This is where you have to question the timing of the decision to sack Valverde, who the players seemed to really like, with somebody who has fallen out with his former clubs and who wants to implement big changes in a short amount of time and without a pre-season

It's near-impossible to substantially overhaul 2 years' worth of glaring issues in 6 months. I don't blame Setién for joining Barça - anyone in his situation would - but I wonder if he asked the Barça hierarchy this question before signing:

It's fundamental that there be clarity on this point and I don't think there was. If you want someone to keep the seat warm for Xavi, Setién isn't that man. He wants a project, and projects take time to realize, and you have to tell the players that that's the idea.

Anyways, could go on and on about all of this, but there's no point. The only bottomline is that very frank discussions between the club hierarchy, its management and its players need to happen. This summer needs decisive action and there isn't a lot of time in which to do so.