23 - Jules Kounde

[serghei]

If we can flip Garcia & Alonso, into another Kounde type CN who can also cover at one of the FB positions we're set.

Thing is, Kounde doesn't play like a top fullback in big games. I can see him not being comfortable there tbh. He looks good vs weaker sides, but don't think he's a good option vs top sides. But 3 top CBs are a must for any team aspiring high anyway. So, he will get plenty of time even as a CB and part-time RB.

Signing a top RB is gonna fix our defense in a great way I think.

And midfield doesn't need much if we plan on developing Gavi and Pedri as starters. Just another experienced midfielder like Gundogan who can contribute as squad player. From then on, all our investments should be on top class LW and 9, while Dembele and Raphinha secure the RW spot well.

So, to complete the squad, we need RB, CB, CM/AM, LW and 9. Around 4-5 players if we don't sell players like Kessie and Raphinha. Depends on the offers but Kessie shouldn't be sold for peanuts, and Raphinha shouldn't be sold for anything except signing a top LW.

 

[jamrock]

Thing is, Kounde doesn't play like a top fullback in big games. I can see him not being comfortable there tbh. He looks good vs weaker sides, but don't think he's a good option vs top sides. But 3 top CBs are a must for any team aspiring high anyway. So, he will get plenty of time even as a CB and part-time RB.

Signing a top RB is gonna fix our defense in a great way I think.

And midfield doesn't need much if we plan on developing Gavi and Pedri as starters. Just another experienced midfielder like Gundogan who can contribute as squad player. From then on, all our investments should be on top class LW and 9, while Dembele and Raphinha secure the RW spot well.

So, to complete the squad, we need RB, CB, CM/AM, LW and 9. Around 4-5 players if we don't sell players like Kessie and Raphinha. Depends on the offers but Kessie shouldn't be sold for peanuts, and Raphinha shouldn't be sold for anything except signing a top LW.

Yea I agree, we won't get 5 players in the summer though, unless we get a couple nice freebies, so we should focus on 3 this summer.

RB
DM
LF, someone like thuram who could cover both CF & LW would be perfect.

Next summer striker & another Midfielder.

 

[Givenchy]

Here we go again. What luxury? You need at least 3 top class CBs + a good 4th CB. Makeshift CB or crap options like Garcia don't belong at a top club.

Didn't we have a discussion about squad value importance? Kounde and Raphinha should be kept even if they won't be clear starters. Or else you're always gonna be an 3-4 injuries away of being extremely vulnerable.

Bayern have an 80m back up CB in De Ligt no?

This whole type of discussion of signing starters only and neglecting the rest of the players are gonna bring huge troubles. You need 15-16 players that can step in at any point vs a team like Bayern or United and deliver the good stuff. Not Bellerins, Alonsos and Garcias, freebies that nobody wants.

Do you realize we are broke? Bayern can afford to have an 80m back up CB, we cannot. You say don't sign freebies that nobody wants yet we struggled to register Gavi and Araujo.

So where is this money going to come from to improve the first team AND have players on the bench to step in vs Bayern?

 

[JohnN]

We must forget competing against the big boys for next season. We have no money to do that and except if the academy produces 4 Pedri level prospects until next season it's impossible.
We need first tem RB, DM, LW and backup for CF, CM, RW.
Shipping kessie, Ferran, raphinia and fati is a must.
Also, busquets and perhaps Alba if we can't lower his salaries.
Ofcourse bob needs to go at some point.
This would leave us with many holes to fill.

 

[Porque]

We took a huge risk to compete in Europe for the financial benefits and catastrophically failed four times (2 CL and 2 EL). Not Xavi fault for lack of experience, but that sort of sink or swim scenario should have been placed in a top proven manager.

Next season we are out of Camp Nou and that's another revenue drop.

Next season, no palancas, reduction of squad salary mass and limited room to manouever on signings. I got no idea what we can do. Other clubs have got around ffp with loans + obligation to buy (eg PSG with Mbappe) so maybe we can squeeze one world class arrival, salary cap pertaining.

BTW, then you have players emerging in LaLiga like Gabriel Veiga with 30-40m buyout clauses and we can not even afford that. What a terrible moment we are in.

 

[jamrock]

If we are linking that big Gamble to competing in Europe as if thats the only reason we did it, wouldn't it be failed once? Since we only did that in the summer?.

Bringing in auba, Torres, Adama, extending Dembele, was all done before we took that risk, first el & CL drop outs aren't linked to that risk, they were done with the clubs resources.

If we keeping everything factual.

 

[vuji_31]

He is talking about selling tv rights for bringing in Lewa, Rapinha and Kounde.

 

[jamrock]

He is talking about selling tv rights for bringing in Lewa, Rapinha and Kounde.

I know & we failed 1 CL 1 EL.

Not 2 CL, 2 EL

 

[Porque]

If we are linking that big Gamble to competing in Europe as if thats the only reason we did it, wouldn't it be failed once? Since we only did that in the summer?.

Bringing in auba, Torres, Adama, extending Dembele, was all done before we took that risk, first el & CL drop outs aren't linked to that risk, they were done with the clubs resources.

If we keeping everything factual.

I'm talking about after the Koeman sacking when we chose Xavi.

He blew it versus Benfica and Frankfurt at home. Both winnable games, and especially the latter with the boards signing such as Auba (remember Xavi didn't think he was Barca style and wanted us to go all out on Morata) and his signing of Ferran.

Hindsight and all that, but given the task at hand, may have been better with a coach of higher xp and handing them that 60m Ferran money.

And then of course, subsequent Palancalona.

 

[vuji_31]

I'm talking about after the Koeman sacking when we chose Xavi.

He blew it versus Benfica and Frankfurt at home. Both winnable games, and especially the latter with the boards signing such as Auba (remember Xavi didn't think he was Barca style and wanted us to go all out on Morata) and his signing of Ferran.

Hindsight and all that, but given the task at hand, may have been better with a coach of higher xp and handing them that 60m Ferran money.

And then of course, subsequent Palancalona.

Realisticly Xavi failed with all players we paid for.

Add to that didn't want Auba...

Failed against Benfica, Frankfurt and now against Inter and United.

 

[serghei]

Do you realize we are broke? Bayern can afford to have an 80m back up CB, we cannot. You say don't sign freebies that nobody wants yet we struggled to register Gavi and Araujo.

So where is this money going to come from to improve the first team AND have players on the bench to step in vs Bayern?

Why do you think I'm saying it's unreasonable to expect much in CL for the time being? In order to fight on all fronts you need a deep squad filled with quality players beyond your best 11. Which all the top teams have.

 

[ajnotkeith]

Why do you think I'm saying it's unreasonable to expect much in CL for the time being? In order to fight on all fronts you need a deep squad filled with quality players beyond your best 11. Which all the top teams have.

Madrid's depth is shit, their success relies on a striker who misses every other game because of a knock, and they are regularly putting guys like Nacho and Ceballos as starters even these days..

But they manage it.

Its not because of the squad.

 

[serghei]

Madrid's depth is shit, their success relies on a striker who misses every other game because of a knock, and they are regularly putting guys like Nacho and Ceballos as starters even these days..

But they manage it.

Its not because of the squad.

Better depth than ours, and experience is night and day. Half their squad are serial winners with multiple CLs under their belts. And not of the Busi and Alba kind. They had a much more serious and professional core than we did, hence why their decline is not nearly as visible compared to our oldies who fell from a cliff years ago.

 

[te amo barca]

Flawless game at CB today.

 

[vuji_31]

Great game.