Barca Transfers and Rumors

[FCBfan22]

Raki looked a liability in most of the matches he played a sole DM for us. His ball retention, jukes and fakes just aren't good enough for that position, and him trying to mimic Busi just looked awkward. I have nightmares of him playing coy on the edge of our penalty area, Busi style.
He would probably work perfectly in a dual DM setup, though.

Yeah, but that is a minus for Busi. It seems that one gains in 4-4-2 and the other in 4-3-3. But with Ernie buying a winger and Arthur showing great potential, I expect quite a lot of 4-3-3 this season. I would still play Rakitić as a DM in lower-tier Liga games, tho. We need to rest Busi and against lower teams, Rakitić would do just fine.

 

[defyqa]

The example given is like rotating Paco with Messi !
Guess it was YOU that missed the point

Why are you not Zincubus anymore?

 

[Ascom]

Plus Samper, Denis and Rafinha. Maybe sell one of these 3. Although i see Rafinha has a LW/RW.
If Valverde sees Coutinho as the Iniesta replacement the above theory is ok.

Messi, Rafinha, Suarez, Munir, Dembélé and Malcolm is the attack.

I also see Rafinha as a RW but on that position we already have Messi, Dembelé and Malcom. Very difficult for him to suceed there. It's actually a good question because Rafinha seems like a good player and despite of serious injures last season he is at a great level.

I don't think there is just a Iniesta replacement. It will depend on the games i think. The more difficult ones Coutinho will play at RW, the easy ones Coutinho will play as an advanced midfielder. btw, when Iniesta left and was asked about his replacement he told three names: Denis Suarez, Aleña and Coutinho. I really think he is right about it.

 

[FCBfan22]

I also see Rafinha as a RW but on that position we already have Messi, Dembelé and Malcom. Very difficult for him to suceed there. It's actually a good question because Rafinha seems like a good player and despite of serious injures last season he is at a great level.

I don't think there is just a Iniesta replacement. It will depend on the games i think. The more difficult ones Coutinho will play at RW, the easy ones Coutinho will play as an advanced midfielder. btw, when Iniesta left and was asked about his replacement he told three names: Denis Suarez, Aleña and Coutinho. I really think he is right about it.

Eh?

You gotta be trolling.

 

[Ascom]

Eh?

You gotta be trolling.

Why, Valverde gives a lot of importance to balance. I don't see him playing with messi-Suarez-Dembelé/Malcom against Real Madrid or a tough CL opponent, at least in the beggining. I just don't see it. I believe Coutinho will play on that position in that 4-3-3 that can also be a 4-4-2, depending on how the game is going.

 

[Andrew M]

Why, Valverde gives a lot of importance to balance. I don't see him playing with messi-Suarez-Dembelé/Malcom against Real Madrid or a tough CL opponent, at least in the beggining. I just don't see it. I believe Coutinho will play on that position in that 4-3-3 that can also be a 4-4-2, depending on how the game is going.

Coutinho can play LW but not RW

 

[Ascom]

Sorry, I clearly mistake RW for LW.

 

[Joan]

Rakitić is a great CM, one of the best in the world right now. As shown this WC. Might not be a proper Barca CM, but that could change with true wingers we'll have now. If Malcom and Dembele are open to recieve the ball the way Rebić and Perišič were, his offense will look way better.

 

[FCBfan22]

Why, Valverde gives a lot of importance to balance. I don't see him playing with messi-Suarez-Dembelé/Malcom against Real Madrid or a tough CL opponent, at least in the beggining. I just don't see it. I believe Coutinho will play on that position in that 4-3-3 that can also be a 4-4-2, depending on how the game is going.

Messi won't play on the wing anymore.

 

[Ascom]

Messi won't play on the wing anymore.

So where will he play? this year there will be obviously a 4-3-3. Suarez will continue to be on the line-up for sure and i don't see messi going back, at least for this season.

 

[Andrew M]

Rakitić is a great CM, one of the best in the world right now. As shown this WC. Might not be a proper Barca CM, but that could change with true wingers we'll have now. If Malcom and Dembele are open to recieve the ball the way Rebić and Perišič were, his offense will look way better.

Yes I agree with you.

 

[FCBfan22]

So where will he play? this year there will be obviously a 4-3-3. Suarez will continue to be on the line-up for sure and i don't see messi going back, at least for this season.

Suarez will play like a LST/left inside forward. We played like this last year. You don't need to look more back that the last Girona match.

 

[FC433]

I would only buy an attacking CM if we were to get one. Coutinho should be enough, but if he gets injured we are going to struggle a bit. We cannot rely on Alena only.

Dembele/ D. Suarez Suarez/ Paco Messi" on paper, personally I would play him as false 9"/ Malcom

Coutinho/ Alena Busuqets/ Samper Rakitic/ Arthur

Alba/ Cucu Umtiti/ Verm Pique/ Lenglet Semedo/ Roberto

Stegen/ Cillessen

I would loan Munir and Marlon unless we receive offers for Verm and Paco. I would loan Gomes too and keep Rafinha if we do not get any decent offer.

Vidal, Lucas, Arnáiz, Mina and Palencia should get us about 65m to 75m.

At this point, I would rule out Pjanic and focus on Thiago or any quality attacking CM. Who do you think we should target? I definitely would not go for anyone who is younger than 27 especially if we are planning on getting De Jong.

I personally like Forsberg, but I have to say that I only watched him in the WC. He is a LW, but I think he could play as an attacking CM. The way he runs reminds me of Kaka. And there is also Fekir, but he is a bit too good to have as a backup and he is an actual number 10 and plays better in 4231 as a CAM. Not sure if he can play as a CM in 433. Juan Mata is a good option, but I am not sure if we can get him for 25m or less. However, I prefer Rafinha if cannot sell him. He has all the needed qualities to play as an attacking CM, but the board seems to be interested in getting one.

Thoughts?

 

[Joan]

^ Why would we need an attacking CM if we don't get a good offer for Rafinha? Alena, Rafina seems good depth to me.

 

[FC433]

^I agree, but the board is getting one anyway. I have said that we do not need anymore CMs a while ago and I still believe that we can survive without signing anyone because we have got to understand that Roberto will not except to sit on the bench. And also D. Suarez can play as an attacking CM when needed.

I would just secure De Jong and De Ligt, but our board and Valverde want an additional CM. Who do you think we should get if we have to get one?