1 - Marc-Andre ter Ansplant

[khaled_a_d]

Casillas declined sharply as soon as he hit 30 so this idea that goalies play until 40 no problem is not something we can count on.

We aren't counting on it ,we have a young GK who is ready and played plenty of games .if Bravo declined like Casillas the transition will be done with ease
And Casillas decline is sort of an exception than a rule .never mind Casillas was sort of an early bloomer and those usually declines faster than late bloomers like Bravo

 

[Jamie Cal]

MAtS is a bigger hit with the ladies and will sell more shirts.

more of a :florentino: way of looking at it, me thinks.

 

[Jombi]

Declining at 30 might be the exception, but not at 33. Dida and Julio Cesar both were gone at that age.

We'll see if Ter Stegen will accept another season not playing league games. We have to make hard choices.

 

[CuleLife4Life]

Declining at 30 might be the exception, but not at 33. Dida and Julio Cesar both were gone at that age.

We'll see if Ter Stegen will accept another season not playing league games. We have to make hard choices.

Julio Ceasar is having an incredible career resurgence at age 36 in Portugal.

 

[Jamie Cal]

Nice touch from Marc.

 

[Alarcón]

So being younger directly equals a better team, got'cha.

No but our team is definitely too old.

Basing a guy's position on age when his age is statistically when goalkeepers peak, got'cha.

33 is when goalkeepers peak? Are you high?

 

[Jamie Cal]

No but our team is definitely too old.



33 is when goalkeepers peak? Are you high?

So 33 is too old for a goalkeeper?

ok m8

 

[Barcilliant]

He will probably be first choice next season if he stays.

If he doesn't then Courtois would be welcome here.

 

[God Serena]

So 33 is too old for a goalkeeper?

ok m8

There's a difference between being in your peak, and being too old. It doesn't matter what you're doing, you're not in better shape at 33 than 24.

 

[Total-Football]

He will probably be first choice next season if he stays.

If he doesn't then Courtois would be welcome here.

i dont see courtois at the camp nou.. just like cetch, brilliant keeping but sloppy with feet.. we need to keep both keepers and manage the egos somehow.its not easy i reckon

 

[Aryagorn]

Nice touch from Marc.

I know right? Hope this pic would end up being as much of a cherishing memory as the following has

 

[BBZ8800]

MaTS 24
Roberto 24
Marquinhos/Laporte/Stones 21
Pogba 23

Looks much better, doesnt it? Incredible young players that you can build upon for years to come.

It looks better...
But only on paper.

They are:
1. younger
2. and it will only work if those players will reach their potential

That's a lot of ifs considering how many "ifs" in our team failed in the last 10 years.
If you think that changing Roberto for Iniesta or Raki will improve our current team, then oh well, enjoy in that idea, mate.

 

[Ritchie]

That's exactly my point. I'm fine with the 'we need to start buying some younger guys', and i'm fine with wanting MATS in goal, but the reasoning has to be better than age.

Mats could be our number 1 for a decade and is perfect for Barca with his style. We can't afford to lose him IMO, otherwise we'll be paying a fortune for a keeper a couple of years down the line when we need to replace other players in an ageing squad while financing a new stadium.

It's the recent policy of buying a load of late 20s/early 30s players that has hurt us (Arda, Mathieu, Vermalen) as it's added to a problem rather than solved it.

 

[Ritchie]

It looks better...
But only on paper.

They are:
1. younger
2. and it will only work if those players will reach their potential

That's a lot of ifs considering how many "ifs" in our team failed in the last 10 years.
If you think that changing Roberto for Iniesta or Raki will improve our current team, then oh well, enjoy in that idea, mate.

The money wasted on Arda should have gone on a younger midfielder.

 

[BBZ8800]

The money wasted on Arda should have gone on a younger midfielder.

I agree with you and with the first poster whom I quoted.
This team is full of older players and most importantly, players who have won too many trophies (on a club and NT level) and they lack a motivation to some extent (Messi, Iniesta, Busquets, Alves, Alba, Pique, Mascherano etc).

So, we will surely need some fresh blood and motivation.
But the options are:
1. either young and extremely good players (like Pogba, Gundogan and similar)
2. or players aged 25-26-27 who haven't won too much (like Rakitic)
3. and 2-3 very good local youngsters to give some fresh blood, motivation and devotion for a club

But for example, relying suddenly (or even in the future) on Roberto, Rafinha, Halilovic, Samper and similar players to become starters=also won't work.
Roberto and Rafinha can offer some fresh, young blood and some motivation as squad players.
But kicking Iniesta or Raki our for Roberto or Rafinha, well, that won't end well for us in terms of trophies surely...

I want to say: smart planning and bringing fresh blood through good, young and semi proven players is good.
(But we don't need 5 or 10 younger players suddenly. 2-3-4 guys will bring enough of fresh blood and energy).
On the other hand, throwing youngsters in just for the sake of making some changes (like mentioned above: Roberto, Rafinha, Samper and similar) won't help either.
It fact, it would weaken our (already somewhat questionable) team significantly.