Aleix Vidal

[Nucky]

Vidal will probably remain a back up.. I agree with you RB should be signed but there isn't much world class RBs that we can get.. Bellerin is an option but too expensive.. Soo for now we have to stick with Roberto and Vidal.. Maybe next summer Bellerin will come..

 

[Messi983]

I have much more confidence in Roberto and Vidal being at least a decent combination at RB next season than I had in any of Mathieu, Adriano or Roberto (as LB) being a backup to Alba who's pretty injury prone and his level has also droped over the last few years. I think Digne will provide him a competition he didn't have until now and that (along with getting more rest) will also make Alba better.

 

[Stric]

I don't get it. We buy a more than decent backup for the LB spot where we have one of the best attacking LB's but we don't have a decent starting RB? Vidal is a kick and run winger without much tactical awareness or defending skills - it was a bad transfer and we should sell sell sell and buy at least a decent RB.

Yes it seems strange when you look at it that way, but we're not doing it because we're unaware that we need a decent RB. It's simply because we can't find/afford a decent RB. And we still need a LB backup for Alba. We shouldn't not buy other backups because we still haven't bought a RB, that's the way I see it. At least now we have the LB spot covered well, and we can focus on searching for other spots.

 

[BBZ8800]

Roberto was red hot for the first several months as RB, and then when moved to CM/RW/DM/etc. he was consistently one of our best players, ironically enough when he wasn't playing as RB. You say we have a tendency to only remember his peak performances, but I'd say you have a tendency to ignore all good performances except the dominant ones.

In Bob's 3 seasons in Ateam:
1. in the 1st season people cursed and asked why on Earth we kept this guy on our rooster at all?
2. in the 2nd season, the same. But in the 2nd half, he started to play good as a CDM at some home matches against poor teams where we were winning 6:0 with virtually any lineup (Pedro, Rafinha, Roberto, Bartra, Adriano)
3. in the 3rd season, he is hailed as a revelation, even though he played well in the 1st part of the season and returned to mediocrity in the 2nd part of the season.
So, out of 3 Seasons here, he had 3-4-5 good Months in autumn on 2015, and ironically, even then he didn't play majority of those matches as a RB but on some midfield positions when we had only Raki-Iniesta-Roberto (Arda unavailable, Rafinha seriously injured)

Now, let's look at the actual stats about Bob as a RB, and not urban myths and hype from Barcaforum.
Roberto 2015/16:
https://www.whoscored.com/Players/90782/Fixtures/Sergi-Roberto
Alves 2015/16:
https://www.whoscored.com/Players/5780/Fixtures/Dani-Alves

When Alves and Roberto are together on the field, it means that Roberto didn't play as a RB, but as a midfielder.
When Roberto is playing and Alves not, that usually meant that Roberto was a RB.
In 2016, we also have Vidal as a RB in lots of matches.
But you can also check a match centre for every match.

Roberto as a RB:
Bilbao:Barcelona 0:1 enters as a sub (Alves injured)
Barcelona:Malaga 1:0
At M:Barca 1:2
Barcelona:Valencia 1:2
Barcelona:Gijon 6:0

That's it.
Seriously, that's it (I looked only La liga matches. Maybe he played some matches as a starter in copa or in CL group stage).

Roberto was red hot for the first SEVERAL months as RB

But this is "my problem" with hype on this forum.
Just look at various topics and you'll see tons of posts with: don't worry for a RB, we have Bob. Bob is awesome. He was awesome last season. He proved that he can play awesome. Do you remember how he played at Santiago Bernabeu?
And posts like yours: he was red hot for SEVERAL Months? Ouch.
Like when? This is one of those myths created on this forum about a lot of players.

When we are talking about Bob as a RB, then, I don't get the optimism.

When you look at the stats, a guy played 4 La liga matches as a starter for Barca, and has a few minutes as a sub.
And those matches were 3 home matches at Camp Nou against Malaga, Valencia and Gijon.
And one tough match, against AM at Calderon.

So, for a RB position we have:
1. Vidal, for whom a majority of forum say that he is bad and not good for us
2. and Roberto, who played 4 and a half matches as a RB in La liga in his whole career
He was good in 2 matches and meh in other 2 matches.

So sorry if I don't share the optimism about some things like majority of guys here. (I won't even enter into a discussion of our midfield "quality" for the biggest matches outside Iniesta and Rakitic)

 

[FC B]

I don't get it. We buy a more than decent backup for the LB spot where we have one of the best attacking LB's but we don't have a decent starting RB? Vidal is a kick and run winger without much tactical awareness or defending skills - it was a bad transfer and we should sell sell sell and buy at least a decent RB.

Agreed but all clues point to the conclusion the board and coaches do think Barca is covered for the RB position which ofc is blatantly untrue.

Vidal will probably remain a back up.. I agree with you RB should be signed but there isn't much world class RBs that we can get.. Bellerin is an option but too expensive.. Soo for now we have to stick with Roberto and Vidal.. Maybe next summer Bellerin will come..

Barca can't stay/wait another season without signing a proven/young but good RB. It was obvious more than a year ago Alves cannot deliver anymore for Barca on a constant basis so the board/coaching staff had all the time in the world to bring a strong replacement for Alves, not Vidal or an improvisation like Bob.

 

[F4THi]

I'd trust Adriano/Montoya as RB for a clasico for example more than Vidal/Roberto tbh ! At least THEY ARE RBs

 

[F4THi]

Although I have no idea why we aren't signing a RB ! The remaining 23M are more than enough for Vietto ..
The money we'd get from selling Vermaelen, Tello, Douglas, Adriano, Song, Halilovic, Montoya can bring us Aurier or Bellerin easily !

 

[FCBarca]

Yes it seems strange when you look at it that way, but we're not doing it because we're unaware that we need a decent RB. It's simply because we can't find/afford a decent RB. And we still need a LB backup for Alba. We shouldn't not buy other backups because we still haven't bought a RB, that's the way I see it. At least now we have the LB spot covered well, and we can focus on searching for other spots.

It's a poor excuse any way you slice it. At worst it's utter incompetence, at best it shows a lack of foresight if not altogether poor planning since we've known Dani was heading to the exit for a couple of seasons. This didn't come as a surprise or last minute, the board failed

That right side has been magical for 8 seasons, it's only natural that it would eventually have to change once he left but considering how vital that link up with Messi on the right it beggars belief that we haven't had a viable option to have in the squad. Not Sergi Roberto and Vidal

 

[khaled_a_d]

That right side has been magical for 8 seasons, it's only natural that it would eventually have to change once he left but considering how vital that link up with Messi on the right it beggars belief that we haven't had a viable option to have in the squad. Not Sergi Roberto and Vidal

tbh they thought Aleix is Alves heir when he was signed.The deal was almost done (not the official announcement) b4 we even decide to give Alves another offer to sign.
It will always happen that a club will assess a player better than he really is and obviously this board done it many times.
But I do really think they thought they have the position covered.And I actually believe they (along Lucho) rates Roberto & Vidal higher than most of us.
Also when it comes to this summer I think [MENTION=12202]Stric[/MENTION] point is valid.There isn't many options who look really as an upgrade that we can afford.signing a RB this year considering the candidates might turn into another Aleix or Arda.

 

[Flavia]

I don't get it. We buy a more than decent backup for the LB spot where we have one of the best attacking LB's but we don't have a decent starting RB? Vidal is a kick and run winger without much tactical awareness or defending skills - it was a bad transfer and we should sell sell sell and buy at least a decent RB.

It looks like that will happen next season, when they go for Bellerin. There isn't money to reinforce all positions now. I hope Bob will be good.

 

[ZenI]

It looks like that will happen next season, when they go for Bellerin. There isn't money to reinforce all positions now. I hope Bob will be good.

There would be money if we used our head in maybe half of our transfers, but we keep buying 29'ish year old backup players for 20, 30 or 40M that are not good enough or not a match for us. Maybe there would be some money if we got ride of the dead wood on the payroll and got at least half back of what we paid for them. Adriano needs to go, he should have left 2 seasons ago - Vidal should leave because he'll never even be a decent backup - Wtf is Vermaelen still doing here? I understand he will be difficult to sell because of all those injuries, but... - Montoya should have been sold and not loaned out, now we'll never get any money for him - Same thing with Tello and Song etc etc etc - and Douglas is a completely different chapter altogether lol.
And Bellerin? I've tried to watch some games and studied him closely, he isn't good enough to tie Alves shoes tbh.

 

[Flavia]

There would be money if we used our head in maybe half of our transfers, but we keep buying 29'ish year old backup players for 20, 30 or 40M that are not good enough or not a match for us. Maybe there would be some money if we got ride of the dead wood on the payroll and got at least half back of what we paid for them. Adriano needs to go, he should have left 2 seasons ago - Vidal should leave because he'll never even be a decent backup - Wtf is Vermaelen still doing here? I understand he will be difficult to sell because of all those injuries, but... - Montoya should have been sold and not loaned out, now we'll never get any money for him - Same thing with Tello and Song etc etc etc - and Douglas is a completely different chapter altogether lol.
And Bellerin? I've tried to watch some games and studied him closely, he isn't good enough to tie Alves shoes tbh.

No 29ish players were bought this summer. Zubi is gone, arda was an election signing, but Robert is doing things a bit differently.

 

[FCBarca]

tbh they thought Aleix is Alves heir when he was signed.The deal was almost done (not the official announcement) b4 we even decide to give Alves another offer to sign.
It will always happen that a club will assess a player better than he really is and obviously this board done it many times.
But I do really think they thought they have the position covered.And I actually believe they (along Lucho) rates Roberto & Vidal higher than most of us.
Also when it comes to this summer I think @Stric point is valid.There isn't many options who look really as an upgrade that we can afford.signing a RB this year considering the candidates might turn into another Aleix or Arda.

The crux of the issue is that the club/board failed to address a vital position in the squad knowing full well it was going to be weakened by Alves' departure. That's just simply poor planning any way you look at it, panic buys aside.

There is a disturbing pattern with the board's failure to anticipate or plan for the future and it's not limited to the RB position. Vidal was a band aid and made less sense since they tied Dani up before his signature.

A club like Barcelona can't be left with their pants down and not have planned properly for this weakness in the XI. It dramatically impacts the strength of that right side which has been the source of most of the club's goals for the past 8 seasons.

Personally, I would've gone for De Sciglio last year or this.

 

[Hamzah]

The crux of the issue is that the club/board failed to address a vital position in the squad knowing full well it was going to be weakened by Alves' departure. That's just simply poor planning any way you look at it, panic buys aside.

There is a disturbing pattern with the board's failure to anticipate or plan for the future and it's not limited to the RB position. Vidal was a band aid and made less sense since they tied Dani up before his signature.

A club like Barcelona can't be left with their pants down and not have planned properly for this weakness in the XI. It dramatically impacts the strength of that right side which has been the source of most of the club's goals for the past 8 seasons.

Personally, I would've gone for De Sciglio last year or this.

You liked the Vidal signing at the time, have you lost faith in him?

 

[FCBarca]

You liked the Vidal signing at the time, have you lost faith in him?

I like him as a backup, not as a first choice. He's just not a good enough defender