6 - Carles Alena

[tacticvarium]

I don't think it's crazy at all as long as he can play regularly in the first team. But realistically, we will have to get rid of at least Arda+Gomes+Rafinha to achieve that so it won't likely happen. I also expect a new signing in midfield since this board would feel the need to do something after Neymar left.
I honestly believe Aleñá can offer more than any of our back-up midfielders except the fact that he needs to work on his defensive parts.

 

[jamrock]

These are all friendlies so we shouldn't get carried away, but what one must look for in a young player, is does he raise his game, when he is around better players in a effort to match them or does he shrink and disappear, he is the former he will be ready sooner rather than later

 

[El Barcelona]

Juventus. Man United. Real Madrid.

Three games and Alena has slotted into the team and fit right in. Why the hell would we even consider sending such a player to the B team? When he gets the ball he even checks over his shoulder to see how much pressure he's under and he always, always picks out the proper pass. And he doesn't hesitate to take the shot if he sees he has space.

If this kid played like this against us we'd be begging the board to drop ridiculous money on him, but we already have him, for free. I don't care how many midfielders we have, Alena deserves a spot in the first team. He could be a full blown starter in a year or two.

Agree with everything you said. Let's see what's Valverde decision would be.

 

[Jallo]

Juventus. Man United. Real Madrid.

Three games and Alena has slotted into the team and fit right in. Why the hell would we even consider sending such a player to the B team? When he gets the ball he even checks over his shoulder to see how much pressure he's under and he always, always picks out the proper pass. And he doesn't hesitate to take the shot if he sees he has space.

If this kid played like this against us we'd be begging the board to drop ridiculous money on him, but we already have him, for free. I don't care how many midfielders we have, Alena deserves a spot in the first team. He could be a full blown starter in a year or two.

Amen to that brother

 

[khaled_a_d]

Alena performances in those friendlies was good and everything, but I think people are getting carried away here.
He looked he belong to the 1st team, smooth plays etc but he wasn't a difference maker either. he didn't display his playmaking skills or his ability to be threat on goal.
He has those qualities,which he will need to show with 1st team to be regular there.
Let him grow with B team, don't replicate the mistake we have made with many players promoting them too early.

 

[God Serena]

Alena performances in those friendlies was good and everything, but I think people are getting carried away here.
He looked he belong to the 1st team, smooth plays etc but he wasn't a difference maker either. he didn't display his playmaking skills or his ability to be threat on goal.
He has those qualities,which he will need to show with 1st team to be regular there.
Let him grow with B team, don't replicate the mistake we have made with many players promoting them too early.

The difference between Alena and other players is this particular kiddo might possibly be a genius. Him not being a difference maker is probably down to him, well, not being a first team player yet. Considering how at his age he's already meshing in well with the first team and is playing better than many of our midfielders it's very easy to see him show his other qualities given time. Keep in mind, he hasn't had the chance to play a full game yet. And also to be kept in mind, even if they are friendlies, he's still able to easily fit in and outplay three of Europe's biggest clubs. Sending him back to the B team makes no sense. Give Arda, Rafinha, or Gomes a lengthier spell on the bench than they'd like if we can't get rid of them, because Alena deserves minutes ahead of them.

 

[Jallo]

Alena performances in those friendlies was good and everything, but I think people are getting carried away here.
He looked he belong to the 1st team, smooth plays etc but he wasn't a difference maker either. he didn't display his playmaking skills or his ability to be threat on goal.
He has those qualities,which he will need to show with 1st team to be regular there.
Let him grow with B team, don't replicate the mistake we have made with many players promoting them too early.

Being a difference will come with age, the most important thing is that he looked like he belonged. That's important for young players, he was given a job and he did it. Displaying maturity by playing within himself, he wasn't rashed compared to when he played last season with the 1st team. I think we will see him playing mostly with the b team, but now we know when called upon he will be ready.

 

[Nothanks]

It's less of a risk to give him one season in the second division, rather than rushing him into limited minutes in the first squad.
slow and steady will benefit him much better.

 

[tacticvarium]

I agree that he is probably ready to be a first option back-up but I doubt Valverde will give him such regular playing time in the first team so it wouldn't also be the worst idea to let him spend this season in Segunda A as long as he can be promoted to the first team next year. That was why B team needed this promotion anyways to make Aleñá, Cucu, etc. stay while they're also given higher level of competition.

When Aleñá first played for the B team, he focused more on distribution and build-up play just like he did in those friendlies. It was when he got used to the B team and felt comfortable at that level that he started to show his abilities as a crack. So it will also take a while for him to show his true character as an attack-minded midfielder in la liga and UCL level.

 

[khaled_a_d]

The difference between Alena and other players is this particular kiddo might possibly be a genius. Him not being a difference maker is probably down to him, well, not being a first team player yet. Considering how at his age he's already meshing in well with the first team and is playing better than many of our midfielders it's very easy to see him show his other qualities given time. Keep in mind, he hasn't had the chance to play a full game yet. And also to be kept in mind, even if they are friendlies, he's still able to easily fit in and outplay three of Europe's biggest clubs. Sending him back to the B team makes no sense. Give Arda, Rafinha, or Gomes a lengthier spell on the bench than they'd like if we can't get rid of them, because Alena deserves minutes ahead of them.

What makes zero sense is to promote him when every talent we had who was promoted at that age or developing phase have failed except Messi, who himself suffered health consequences of not being physically ready and spend his 1st 3 years with many injuries,
And please, Alena is good and potential world class, but have you seen Thiago or Busquets at same age? Iniesta? they were better than him and still remained in B team, only one of them had B team in 2nd division btw and the other two had it in 3rd and 4th division.
I really don't get why people want to take such huge risk of his development to fulfill their La Masia fantasies.
Throwing him in 1st team at this stage of his career could be career destroyer, sending him 1 more year in b team holds way less risk.
All what you say right now was said on Munir who showed even more promise, and tbh only very few thinks he belong to big clubs anymore.

 

[Barcaman]

Busi skipped from 3rd division to first team and so did Xavi and co. Playing in Segunda for developing is overrated.

 

[DonAndres]

We also have a garbage midfield at the moment. If we don't land Coutinho and end up with this existing squad + Paulinho, then we seriously have to consider bringing up Aleña out of necessity. The facts are that we lack quality personnel in midfield. Gomes, Denis, Arda, etc. do NOT cut it and none of our midfielders bar an aging and less consistent Iniesta offer what Aleña can offer which is what we need.

He's certainly at least at the level of an average La Liga player, showing that through the preseason against big teams fielding competitive players or even full sides. He's also consistently impressive whenever he plays with the first team for more than 10 mins. He doesn't ever look out of step and he is already producing better performances than Gomes/Arda for sure, let alone the several other players in la liga that he's already better than. If we can afford to let him develop more patiently between the B team and 1st team, it's not a bad option. However, if this donkey board keeps screwing us left and right then calling up Aleña may be a matter of need and the refusal to do so is NOT because he isn't at the level required to play in la liga yet, which is almost surely false.

 

[tacticvarium]

It is arguable whether promoting a 19 yo player to the first team is right choice (regardless of our current midfield situation) since every case is different however, Iniesta (though he was regarded as super talent by many at that time) still had many flaws when he first played for the first team just like Aleñá and I disagree that 19-yo-Thiago was better than current Aleñá. I am certain he is the best midfielder talent since Iniesta and he will go further than what Cesc and Thiago could reach.

 

[PhilS]

I see no problem with him playing with both the first team and the segunda team this season. This will be his transition year, lots of playing time with Barca B combined with some play at the top level. He could always be promoted during the season.

 

[Nothanks]

isn't there a dumb rule that if he plays certain amount of first team games that he cannot go back to barca b??