Arturo Vidal

[Jombi]

Sometimes we get too caught up on age. You can buy a player at 25, he’s mediocre for 6 years. But buy a 31 year old and he’s top class for 2 or 3. It varies from player to player.
Plus a player at 31 in modern football still has a few good years at the top level. A lot of sportsman are playing well into their late 30s now.

I agree it does vary from player to player, but there is a reason why hardly anyone who is 31 or 32 goes for any type of money. Only a tiny share of 31+ or 32+ year olds go for any type of money, its usually just a free transfer.

 

[JamDav1982]

I agree it does vary from player to player, but there is a reason why hardly anyone who is 31 or 32 goes for any type of money. Only a tiny share of 31+ or 32+ year olds go for any type of money, its usually just a free transfer.

Clubs dont look at the number 31. Vidal has just turned 31 and cant compare that to other players at 31 that would get virtually a season less from.

Can have two seasons here and still be 32.

 

[MagIX]

Welcome !!!
I hope he stay fit, huge quality addition in our midfield.

 

[Vilarrubi]

Only a tiny share of 31+ or 32+ year olds go for any type of money, its usually just a free transfer.

Only a tiny share of 31+ or 32+ year olds like Vidal start in the first eleven of a top 5 team in Europe.

Isn't it getting boring now complaining about price/age etc... we've bought him. Wish him well, see how he does.. THEN complain if it doesn't work out. So much negativity it's boring

 

[Jombi]

Only a tiny share of 31+ or 32+ year olds like Vidal start in the first eleven of a top 5 team in Europe.

Isn't it getting boring now complaining about price/age etc... we've bought him. Wish him well, see how he does.. THEN complain if it doesn't work out. So much negativity it's boring

Yes, but far fewer 31 or 32+ year olds actually are sold for any meaningful fee. He started 17 games in the league and 6 in the CL last season. Whether he starts more often for us remains to be seen, but its pretty obvious why Bayern wanted to get rid. I wish him well and will of course support him regardless, I dont even mind him signing. I simply point out that there is absolutely nothing suspicious about this fee at all. Its high for a player of that age with a year left on his contract as the list of record fees show.

 

[Vilarrubi]

Yes, but far fewer 31 or 32+ year olds actually are sold for any meaningful fee. He started 17 games in the league and 6 in the CL last season. Whether he starts more often for us remains to be seen, but its pretty obvious why Bayern wanted to get rid. I wish him well and will of course support him regardless, I dont even mind him signing. I simply point out that there is absolutely nothing suspicious about this fee at all. Its high for a player of that age with a year left on his contract as the list of record fees show.

That's the whole point though, most 31/32 year olds which don't play for a top 5 european team won't have much value, that's common sense. Also the lack of games was because of injury not rotation or lack of quality, a fully fit Vidal was a starter for Bayern and that's the important part.

 

[Devils]

*sigh*

Age isn't much of a factor if the profile of the player that the club wants to sign includes being a senior player who is highly experienced at top level football.

It's amazing that some people use age to discredit this signing when maybe an older player is EXCTLY what the club was looking for.

You aren't going to find senior or experienced top level players in 19 year old super talents in France/Germany/Netherlands etc..

 

[Jombi]

That's the whole point though, most 31/32 year olds which don't play for a top 5 european team won't have much value, that's common sense. Also the lack of games was because of injury not rotation or lack of quality, a fully fit Vidal was a starter for Bayern and that's the important part.

I'd say there are plenty of 30 year olds who play for a top team. But once they reach 31 and beyond that number falls sharply. He got injured in April and has yet to play since April. By that time, he had started 17 games in the league and 6 in the CL. There was definitely rotation going on and I suspect that Bayern sees the injury and his age as just too much of a risk. Lets see if he has fully recovered from that knee injury and can keep on going well into 31 and 32. We must hope so. Inter was supposed to get him on loan with an option to buy and it would make quite a bit of sense.

 

[Jombi]

*sigh*

Age isn't much of a factor if the profile of the player that the club wants to sign includes being a senior player who is highly experienced at top level football.

It's amazing that some people use age to discredit this signing when maybe an older player is EXCTLY what the club was looking for.

You aren't going to find senior or experienced top level players in 19 year old super talents in France/Germany/Netherlands etc..

Our entire starting eleven if Vidal starts will have turned 30 next season except Roberto, Umtiti and Coutinho though. Thats a lot of experience with 7 out of 10 outfield players having turned 30. I disagree that a very old player is needed. I do agree that someone with his traits can be useful though, like say 25 year old Brozovic from Inter just as an example which someone mentioned.

 

[El Gato]

People bitching and whining about his age and injury potency are the same people who would push the age bar down to 15 if the market norm asked them to do so. You gotta do what you gotta do to maintain the squad balance. Age is irrelevant.

 

[Jombi]

People bitching and whining about his age and injury potency are the same people who would push the age bar down to 15 if the market norm asked them to do so. You gotta do what you gotta do to maintain the squad balance. Age is irrelevant.

The age balance is on the high end for us I'd say or at least its certainly not a bunch of 20 year olds we're playing. The spine is Messi, Suarez, Raki, Busi and Pique, all having turned 30. Realistically, some of those should be expected to decline sharply in the upcoming season. Age is far from irrelevant. I havent seen anyone urging us to sign 15 year olds either.

 

[El Gato]

The age balance is on the high end for us I'd say. The spine is Messi, Suarez, Raki, Busi and Pique, all having turned 30. Realistically, some of those should be expected to decline sharply in the upcoming season. Age is far from irrelevant. I havent seen anyone urging us to sign 15 year olds either.

So what? He isn’t here to replace any of them. He is here for the next 2 years to help bridge the gap between the dickheads in your team, the meek captains and the younger and newer guys who won’t stand up to the seniors without somebody having their back. He is a variety signing that is meant to make both groups less comfortable within one another because he’s the 30 year old that isn’t a Cule and someone who wasn’t born after 1993. Blend together a bit.

 

[Devils]

Our entire starting eleven if Vidal starts will have turned 30 next season except Roberto, Umtiti and Coutinho though. I disagree that a very old player is needed. I do agree that someone with his traits can be useful though, like say 25 year old Brozovic from Inter just as an example which someone mentioned.

But what about budgeting?

If you want senior, experience players at top level who are still 'relatively young' isn't easy or cheap. Player profiles who might fit the Vidal mould might be the likes of Pogba or Kante who would be stupid expensive. Brozovic is a good shout but he's never played at the very top or has had any experience in the CL and still could be over our budget.

Look at it this way, over the past year Barcelona has lost Neymar (who falls in the same category as Pogba), Mascherano, Iniesta and Paulinho (if you count him based on his Brazil career). We've added Arthur, Coutinho (who is world class but again has very little CL experience or football experience at the very top level), Dembele, Arthur, Malcom, Lenglet, Alena and might possibly sign FDJ too.

That's a lot of top-level experience to lose and that's a lot of top-level inexperience added.

The Vidal signing makes sense, short term, especially for our midfield.

 

[Falcao]

[tw]1025716821603885056?s=21[/tw]

 

[Kohe321]

So what? He isn’t here to replace any of them. He is here for the next 2 years to help bridge the gap between the dickheads in your team, the meek captains and the younger and newer guys who won’t stand up to the seniors without somebody having their back. He is a variety signing that is meant to make both groups less comfortable within one another because he’s the 30 year old that isn’t a Cule and someone who wasn’t born after 1993. Blend together a bit.

Love the salt.