15 - Andreas Christensen

[KingLeo10]

We don't have the finances to shore up BOTH the defense and attack this summer, in terms of buying top talent.

For Barca and our philosophy of play, defense only ever needs to be serviceable/good (and not a glaring weakness). I think that midfield and attack combination is good enough to contend with the current top European teams. It's relative. Would I trust this 11 against the Barca/RM/Bayern teams of 09/11/15, 14/17, or 13? No. This 11'd be beaten handily most likely. Squad wise, I don't see the likes of City or Bayern having that much superior XIs. Liverpool is arguable but their midfield is always more industrious than talented. For Liverpool and City, their strength is in coaching, so a lot would depend on Xavi's development as well.

 

[FinBarcelonafan]

Exactly. We need to bargain bin defense next off-season especially if we sign Haaland/other big transfer. Those guys are still top buys from a recent CL winner. Way better than what we have now anyway.

 

[malvolio]

Eh Azpi is fine but not at RB at 32. At least not vs top-tier teams who'd just expose him hard. Like Modrić vs La Liga he'd be fine in his regular position, but not vs elite athletes.

Christensen I don't really rate, but I think he can do well in a back 3. For both Chelsea and Denmark.

exactly my thoughts, azpilicueta is no attacking fullback/wingback, even less at 32.

and christensen is bench option at best. we don't even play with a back 3

 

[malvolio]

We don't have the finances to shore up BOTH the defense and attack this summer, in terms of buying top talent.

For Barca and our philosophy of play, defense only ever needs to be serviceable/good (and not a glaring weakness). I think that midfield and attack combination is good enough to contend with the current top European teams. It's relative. Would I trust this 11 against the Barca/RM/Bayern teams of 09/11/15, 14/17, or 13? No. This 11'd be beaten handily most likely. Squad wise, I don't see the likes of City or Bayern having that much superior XIs. Liverpool is arguable but their midfield is always more industrious than talented. For Liverpool and City, their strength is in coaching, so a lot would depend on Xavi's development as well.

we getting into the land of mythology with this story about barca not giving a fuck about defense or it being serviceable.

after all, our defenders over the best period we had as club were all worldclass - puyol, pique, mascherano, even umtiti(pre-injury).

 

[FinBarcelonafan]

Azpi https://www.whoscored.com/Players/25931/Show/César-Azpilicueta

Good in multiple positions. Basically we are trying to find new old Roberto.

Very versatile player.

 

[El Gato]

exactly my thoughts, azpilicueta is no attacking fullback/wingback, even less at 32.

and christensen is bench option at best. we don't even play with a back 3

He was a very good RB and very dependable. Not some mad dribbler and always lost to Carvajal in NT, because of how unimpressive he was in comparison, but he's reliable.
A Spanish Piszczek

I agree with KingLeo though because you can't afford luxuries, but do need depth.
Azpi is a good acquisition on a free. I just don't think that lineup works. If spending the entire bank on Haaland then have to either buy Azpi to play CB in a back 4 and play Dest/Alves RB for a time, or buy both Azpi and Christensen and move to back 3 somehow. I don't think back 4 works there.

 

[KingLeo10]

we getting into the land of mythology with this story about barca not giving a fuck about defense or it being serviceable.

after all, our defenders over the best period we had as club were all worldclass - puyol, pique, mascherano, even umtiti(pre-injury).

My argument is that we're not not trying to recreate the best period Barcelona (and probably any club in football history) ever had. Everything needs to come together for that - legendary talent + legendary coaching + finances.

I'm just saying that given the state of other European top teams and their weaknesses, we can become CL contenders by relying more on the midfield (main strength) and attack (secondary strength), with the defense being a non-disaster (i.e. not including Lenglet, one knee Umtiti, Eric Garica etc.).

 

[soul24rage]

Azpi https://www.whoscored.com/Players/25931/Show/César-Azpilicueta

Good in multiple positions. Basically we are trying to find new old Roberto.

Very versatile player.

+ he is a real leader. Need more of his character in the squad.

 

[malvolio]

My argument is that we're not not trying to recreate the best period Barcelona (and probably any club in football history) ever had. Everything needs to come together for that - legendary talent + legendary coaching + finances.

I'm just saying that given the state of other European top teams and their weaknesses, we can become CL contenders by relying more on the midfield (main strength) and attack (secondary strength), with the defense being a non-disaster (i.e. not including Lenglet, one knee Umtiti, Eric Garica etc.).

i say no successful team has been successful without a great leader in defense. maybe araujo will become that, i don't know.

 

[FinBarcelonafan]

+ he is a real leader. Need more of his character in the squad.

True that's a big bonus.

 

[El Gato]

I've no idea how Barca fans feel about Araujo, but strikes me as a Varane type guy. If he weren't Uruguayan I'd say he's doomed to be a good-to-great #2 at best, but because of the NT he plays for there might be a shot. His ceiling IMO, is an inch below between Varane's and Pepe's whereas Militao is right there with both. Tough to say if he'll ever reach it considering he can't stay fit.

 

[Luftstalag14]

I've no idea how Barca fans feel about Araujo, but strikes me as a Varane type guy. If he weren't Uruguayan I'd say he's doomed to be a good-to-great #2 at best, but because of the NT he plays for there might be a shot. His ceiling IMO, is an inch below between Varane's and Pepe's whereas Militao is right there with both. Tough to say if he'll ever reach it considering he can't stay fit.

Perhaps, but he is the best that we have got right now. No money for top CBs and there aren't that many available right now.

Anybody heard of the Brazilian guy Gleison Bremer? Is he good?

 

[Birdy]

I've no idea how Barca fans feel about Araujo, but strikes me as a Varane type guy. If he weren't Uruguayan I'd say he's doomed to be a good-to-great #2 at best, but because of the NT he plays for there might be a shot. His ceiling IMO, is an inch below between Varane's and Pepe's whereas Militao is right there with both. Tough to say if he'll ever reach it considering he can't stay fit.

Better defender than all of the ones you mention.
Where he is a bit below them is ability on the ball, especially compared to Varane.
But we get that from our other defenders.
Any top team would kill for Araujo's defending skillset.

As for Azpli, it's even worse than what you write. He can only decline from now on.
I don't get at all his trasfer (neither Christensen's or Kessie's). Mazraoui is also free, and Dest has shown lately that he can own the RB position

 

[Andresito]

I've no idea how Barca fans feel about Araujo, but strikes me as a Varane type guy. If he weren't Uruguayan I'd say he's doomed to be a good-to-great #2 at best, but because of the NT he plays for there might be a shot. His ceiling IMO, is an inch below between Varane's and Pepe's whereas Militao is right there with both. Tough to say if he'll ever reach it considering he can't stay fit.

Araujo is much closer to Puyol, Ramos, Masche and Pepe when it comes to personality compared to likes of Pique and Varane.

 

[TheStig]

Araujo should be our Captian today, not those spineless Catalans.