4 - Ronald Araújo

FC433

FC433

New member
Devils said:
I like him. A lot.

There's no BS when it comes to this guy. He's a proper athletic and strong CB with no nonsense to his game. Seems to have leadership attributes and is vocal on the pitch too.

Him and Mingueza looked very good together for a first time pairing in the first team.

Both performing miles ahead of Lenglet.
Click to expand...

They have been playing together for a while for Barca B.
 
P

Porque

Senior Member
It's funny. I recall watching Mingueza a few seasons back in the UCL and recalling how good he was and thinking he should get more opportunities in the B team. But Cuenca really stepped up last season leaving Chumi and Mingueza with few opportunities.

Araujo-Cuenca was a ridiculously good B team partnership last year with Araujo leading the pair. It just so happened that everytime Cuenca got one of his (few) opportunities in the A team, he shit his bed and played like a Tercera player. A bit like Miranda although Cuenca is more talented.

Seems Cuenca is bossing it at Almeria though this year and Villarreal got a great future prospect for peanuts.

Mentality wise though Mingueza seems to have 10x the mental edge to make it here, even if it is as a squad option.

Our other former defender from Uruguay Santiago Bueno is also starting for Girona now. Took a while to establish himself in Spanish football.

So overall our defensive scouting for the past few seasons and LaMasia training methods has been quite successful. It is just that in recruitment we were too focused on the typical ballplaying CB model when we should have recruited more physical defensive first talents like Ronald Araujo and development their ballplaying instincts.

Sorry to go off topic guys, just I find it quite interesting.
 
Messi983

Messi983

Senior Member
Good post.

Yeah, we've done quite well with those cheap gambles. Todibo is here as well. He'll probably never make it but was still worth a risk for 1m.

AFAIK we have a buy-back option on Cuenca. Will be interesting to see how he'll develop but I wouldn't be surprised if he'd be a starter for Villarreal next season. Pau Torres could be sold and Albiol is old. And then if he does well for them we could bring him back in 2022 or 2023.

So we shouldn't have too much problems having backup/squad CBs in future. What we absolutely should find is a starting quality young CB who could be a leader of the defense for years to come. Then pair him with Araujo or Lenglet (I still like him despite his recent bad form), keep one of them as a 3rd CB and Pique as a 4th CB (if he won't retire) next season. I don't think we should make too many changes in defense in one summer that's why I'd keep Geri. Neither he nor Lenglet should be unquestionable starters if they stay though.

Sell/loan Umtiti, sell Todibo (maybe with a buy-back though I don't think he'll ever be good enough to come back) and send Mingueza on loan to play regularly and bring him back in 2022 to replace Pique as a 4th CB. If he'll develop really well possibly make him a 3rd CB and sell Lenglet if Araujo and a new CB (hopefully Upamecano; I don't know if they would work well together but at least they're both fast) will start to form a good CB parthership. Promote Mingo/Comas or bring back Cuenca as a 4th CB in that case.
 
Andresito

Andresito

Senior Member
Staff member
Messi983 said:
Good post.

Yeah, we've done quite well with those cheap gambles. Todibo is here as well. He'll probably never make it but was still worth a risk for 1m.

AFAIK we have a buy-back option on Cuenca. Will be interesting to see how he'll develop but I wouldn't be surprised if he'd be a starter for Villarreal next season. Pau Torres could be sold and Albiol is old. And then if he does well for them we could bring him back in 2022 or 2023.

So we shouldn't have too much problems having backup/squad CBs in future. What we absolutely should find is a starting quality young CB who could be a leader of the defense for years to come. Then pair him with Araujo or Lenglet (I still like him despite his recent bad form), keep one of them as a 3rd CB and Pique as a 4th CB (if he won't retire) next season. I don't think we should make too many changes in defense in one summer that's why I'd keep Geri. Neither he nor Lenglet should be unquestionable starters if they stay though.

Sell/loan Umtiti, sell Todibo (maybe with a buy-back though I don't think he'll ever be good enough to come back) and send Mingueza on loan to play regularly and bring him back in 2022 to replace Pique as a 4th CB. If he'll develop really well possibly make him a 3rd CB and sell Lenglet if Araujo and a new CB (hopefully Upamecano; I don't know if they would work well together but at least they're both fast) will start to form a good CB parthership. Promote Mingo/Comas or bring back Cuenca as a 4th CB in that case.
Click to expand...

Cuenca was sold for 2.5+4 in variables. 20% on future transfer and a buyback option of an undisclosed amount. I'm guessing it's close to 10m.
He's always expressed that he wants to succeed at Barca, so shouldn't be too hard to get if he continues his good form. Although I haven't watched since the playoffs where he was horrible. Hearing lots of positives now though.

Garcia and Araujo could be a good pairing. Both of them have a great mentality with Garcia providing leadership and smart defending and Araujo providing the raw power.
 
C

cro-man

Active member
Not a bad game but he was lucky that the ref had a good day otherwise it could have been a pen and maybe a red card.

This is how a good game can turn into a bad one.
 
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