Barca Transfers and Rumors

[BBZ8800]

I don't think we would see Suarez, Griezmann, Messi, Dembele and Cou on the pitch at the same time very often. Even a manager that's not a scared little girl like Valverde wouldnt play that offensive.

I think it's more about playing 2 out of Griezmann, Suarez, Dembele next to Messi every game and have Cou on AM as an Iniesta replacement and only occasional in attack.

That also doesn't automatically mean one player doesn't start any (important)game ever. At least in theory because we still have Valverde as a coach after all.

If the coach can pull that off its almost perfect and the other players in attack can be la masia talents because we could always play with 3 world class attackers even when we rotate,/have injuries. Not gonna work forever but for 1-2 seasons it can work.

I think if we go for Grizmann it's not really because we need him now but about what's the next years, Suarez is already declining, Messi will too st one point and they probably don't want to be in a situation where we are forced to bring in a world class attacker and will get robbed again. Hell if the market continues like the last years we would end up paying like 200M for a world class striker in 1-2 years.
Considering how often we spent 30M here and 40M there for mediocre players then Griezmann for 100M is a great deal so i think we ho for it even without having a plan to play all of them.

It will be on Valverde, Dembele is still important for our future so we have to develop that kid even with Griezmann in. Hopefully a full pre season will help him there.

If we get Griezmann and get rid of Paco, Vidal (Deulofeu, possibly Munir) and then do the same with a new midfielder and Gomes, Denis the squad would look really good imo.

Good enough for La Liga and absolutely sterile in a CL.
Griezmann-Suarez-Messi
Griezmann-Messi-Dembele

No matter who will play, we will just pass the ball at the edge of the box to Messi where the opponents have 8 defenders and intercept every pass.

A team from your post would be exactly the same as a current team.
And tactics would be exactly the same as this season.

You can't add any tactical variations to a these set of players.
More or less as if we have 11 same players on a field which know how to play in only one, very predictable way.

In short: 5th CL title in 6 years for RM in May 2019'.

 

[Joan]

Good enough for La Liga and absolutely sterile in a CL.
Griezmann-Suarez-Messi
Griezmann-Messi-Dembele

No matter who will play, we will just pass the ball at the edge of the box to Messi where the opponents have 8 defenders and intercept every pass.

A team from your post would be exactly the same as a current team.
And tactics would be exactly the same as this season.

You can't add any tactical variations to a these set of players.
More or less as if we have 11 same players on a field which know how to play in only one, very predictable way.

In short: 5th CL title in 6 years for RM in May 2019'.

Didn't you want us to buy Griezmann?

When did that change?

Who would you go for in the summer?

 

[Messi983]

Let's assume that Griezmann will come and Dembouz will stay (which will both happen IMO) and do some math. We'll play 59 games this season and we can play maximum of 62 next season if we'll win the treble (or at least qualify for both CDR and CL finals). But for easier calculation I'll just use 60 games/season.

My speculations are still depending on other players we'll possibly get but I think EV will continue to mix with 4-4-2, 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 which I think could become our main formation. I don't see him using 3-4-3 or another formation with 3 at the back so I won't go into that.

Now this is my quess and a lot can change but until we'll actually sign a midfielder that will be a must start (and I don't see Arthur as one next season, especially coming most likely only in January) I don't think we'll play a classic 4-3-3 that people wants to see a lot. Let's say we'll play it around 25% of the time, so that's 15 games. When playing that formation I believe Coutinho would be mostly used as CM (he's quite injury prone and could be out for some time so let's say he'll start 12 games) so we'd have 4 players (Messi, Suarez, Griezmann, Dembele) for 3 positions upfront.

We would have 45 starts there (15 games x 3 positions) and I think we'll mostly use 4-3-3 in games when EV would like to rotate/rest Messi and/or Suarez. So let's say that Dembele (RW, LW) and Griezmann (LW, ST) would both start 12 games while Messi (as false 9 or AMC in 4-3-1-2 with Griezmann/Suarez upfront) and Suarez would get 10-11 starts.

Now to 4-4-2. Not popular I know but we'll see that in let's say 35% of the games. So here we have another 40 starts (20 games x 2 positions) for both wide midfielder positions and if healthy Coutinho will be a clear starter as LM so let's say he'll start 17 games there. On the right Dembele would start 6-7 games and Griezmann could also play there (though it's more likely he would move to the left and Coutinho to right if they'd both start) as I think EV would trust him more with tactical/defensive responsibilities than Dembele so let's say he'll get around 8 starts there with the remaining going to workhorses like Roberto and Paulinho when Valverde will try to setup a more defensive formation.

For both forward positions we again have 40 starts with 17 of them going to Messi and 11-12 to Griezmann and Suarez.

On to 4-2-3-1 which I think could be our primary formation, used in around 40% of games. So here we have let's say 100 starts (25 games x 4 positions) to distribute among 5 players. It's possible we'd start Coutinho as deep lying playmaker alongside Busquets and that's the only way I see to get all "big 5 ones" into the lineup but it would probably be too vulnerable defensively (we should still try that out in preseason and in easier home games) so I think at most 4 of them will start at the same time.

Messi gets 22 starts as AMC while Cou starts 20 games as LW/RW and can also be used as AMC when Messi will rest. For now I think Suarez will stay the main striker in 4-2-3-1 formation and he's the least versatile so it's the only position he can play while others can be used in multiple positions (though I don't see Messi as a winger) so get him 17 starts. Griezmann starts 8 games as forward and another 10-12 at winger positions or possibly AMC. Dembele starts around 10-12 games at any of RW/LW/AMC positions.

So in general Messi (he has started 47 this season and came off the bench 5 times so him again getting 50 starts makes sense though in a season after World Cup it would be good if we could even reduce the number of games he'll play; and if we can do that without risking the results then I'm all for that) and Griezmann would get around 50 starts, Coutinho 45 (as said above I think he'll miss some time due to injuries) so I don't really see any complaints from them about playing time. Suarez would start around 40 and Dembele 30 games. Personally I'm a bit sceptical that Suarez would really get 10 games less than this season but I think we should do that to keep him fresh. And he'd the first option off the bench anyway in most games he wouldn't start. I would be ok with Dembele starting around half of the games. It seems a lot at first but I think he should start every CDR game and probably all group stage games of the CL as well so we're already half way to those 30 starts. Even 25 starts would be good if he would be the first offensive option of the bench in other games. But first he needs to stay healthy and take his opportunities the best he can to get Valverde's confidence.

 

[Devils]

What about taking a shot on Rabiot?

Proven young European midfielder, lots of potential and on the last year of his contract. Yes, it would involve dealing with PSG, but they aren't in any position of power to deny him a move unless they want to lose him for free next year.

 

[MTL_Barca]

Good enough for La Liga and absolutely sterile in a CL.
Griezmann-Suarez-Messi
Griezmann-Messi-Dembele

No matter who will play, we will just pass the ball at the edge of the box to Messi where the opponents have 8 defenders and intercept every pass.

A team from your post would be exactly the same as a current team.
And tactics would be exactly the same as this season.

You can't add any tactical variations to a these set of players.
More or less as if we have 11 same players on a field which know how to play in only one, very predictable way.

In short: 5th CL title in 6 years for RM in May 2019'.

We could also buy some tall strong guys so you're finally happy when we lose with them too but it doesn't look like we will do that.

 

[Givenchy]

Good enough for La Liga and absolutely sterile in a CL.
Griezmann-Suarez-Messi
Griezmann-Messi-Dembele

No matter who will play, we will just pass the ball at the edge of the box to Messi where the opponents have 8 defenders and intercept every pass.

A team from your post would be exactly the same as a current team.
And tactics would be exactly the same as this season.

You can't add any tactical variations to a these set of players.
More or less as if we have 11 same players on a field which know how to play in only one, very predictable way.

In short: 5th CL title in 6 years for RM in May 2019'.

not saying this in a sarcastic way, genuinely interested, WHO would you buy out of the available players?

I'd like a pure #9 but I dont know who we could go for right now, maybe the World cup will unearth a gem

 

[TitoTata]

Linked with Herrera ?

Transfer Rater: Ander Herrera to Barcelona, Robert Lewandowski to Manchester United - ESPN (blog)

 

[raki]

What about taking a shot on Rabiot?

Proven young European midfielder, lots of potential and on the last year of his contract. Yes, it would involve dealing with PSG, but they aren't in any position of power to deny him a move unless they want to lose him for free next year.

That could be exploited

 

[Givenchy]

Linked with Herrera ?

Transfer Rater: Ander Herrera to Barcelona, Robert Lewandowski to Manchester United - ESPN (blog)

firstly, Herrera is not Barca quality and hes a red card waiting to happen in a clasico, hopefully this is a bs rumour but with EV he worked with him at Bilbao so who knows, maybe he wants to make us a midtable team for next season.

secondly, why would any attacking player (let alone Lewa) want to join United with Moureen throwing his players under the bus? spending almost as much as City and still playing shithouse football is an immense step down from Bayern

btw not shooting the messenger but those type of rumours are madness

 

[gatsu]

Overall agree with bbz, as once Messi retire we will go back at what we were before. That said Barça has always attracted great players being best in the world or not. Prestige still play an important role in players choice.

 

[DAMNit]

That could be exploited

Lol, not if they sell him + cash to Man utd in exchange for Pogba.

 

[Ritchie]

As things stand now, I would actually spend that 100 million on Eriksen and leave Griezmann at Atletico. Our midfield desperately needs renovation. Keep Coutinho, Rakitić, Busquets and Paulinho. Sell anyone else. Get in Eriksen and Arthur. With that, we would actually have a lot of different types of midfielders and variety.

With the remaining money, get a target man (age doesn't matter, the only thing that is important is that he is tall, strong, a box predator, good in the air, doesn't mind doing defensive duties and has a decent technique). We need that as a plan B. Sell Paco, promote Alena as Dembele backup.

Defence-wise, we are good right now. Ask Vermaelen, if he wants to stay another season. If not, sign a cb for 20-30 million. In 2019, we need to look for our LB options, but I think as things stand now, we can survive another year with Alba/Digne.

Barca should have got Giroud

 

[FCBfan22]

Barca should have got Giroud

I really wouln't mind Giroud as the plan B striker.

 

[Joan]

Džeko in, Džeko in

 

[raki]

Barca should have got Giroud

Giroud would accept to be in the bench most games?