Barca Transfers and Rumors

[fergus90]

Because that's not his game.
There are tons of useful articles online that explain what his game is. Read this for instance.

I'm aware of what his game is I just think it's not enough to be considered world class. To me that implies he starts in every midfield in world football which I don't think he does.

 

[behindbrowneyes]

Koeman needs a team that can challenge Bayern, Man City and Chelsea. We definitely need some physical presence and Ilaix will eventually be an important player but if we are talking about winning immediately, we need some reinforcements. The idea that physicality, intensity and work rate don't count and only technical skill matters is no longer true. We need some players with physical presence and the requisite technical skills. He also has good chemistry with Frenkie.

 

[Birdy]

Exactly.
Right now we lack most of Winaldum's qualities, while we have in abundance the technical qualities Busi has

 

[Bobo32]

Because that's not his game.
There are tons of useful articles online that explain what his game is. Read this for instance.

I don't think the way the team plays atm is far from the roots. High possession, pressing, and passing.

Busquets qualities can be used when needed, but his passing ability can be approximated to say the least by Frenkie and Pedri without all the liabilities that come with old Busi

I skimmed through that article, showing how he is scoring low in a lot of statistics, then trying to show why the statistics are not important partly by showing some gifs.
I will just say that in these gifs I see a lot of negative things. In the second gif, his pass looked sloppy, in another one where he passes to the keeper, a player like Busquets would turn around and start an attack, in a third he is juggling the ball right into the press, gaining a cheap free kick. Busquets wins free kicks in tight situations as well, but he wouldn't be running into the trap like that, but try to find the free man in the far half space.

From the conclusion of that article btw:

This is not to say that Wijnaldum is some hidden colossus in midfield. Explaining away a variety of statistical deficiencies based on role is fine, but asserting that he’s a world class player in spite of those deficiencies would be questionable at best

 

[fergus90]

His physical presence that averages less than one successful tackle and interception a game? That has lost more duels than he's won.

I mean yeah I agree that a player of that profile is needed but I think his defensive contributions and physical presence is vastly overstated. It's like when I kept hearing people say he was gonna play 4-2-3-1 with FDJ here like the Netherlands. Despite the fact he never played in the double pivot with him.

Unpopular opinion but his best season in the Premier League was at Newcastle playing as an 8.

 

[Bobo32]

Koeman needs a team that can challenge Bayern, Man City and Chelsea. We definitely need some physical presence and Ilaix will eventually be an important player but if we are talking about winning immediately, we need some reinforcements. The idea that physicality, intensity and work rate don't count and only technical skill matters is no longer true. We need some players with physical presence and the requisite technical skills. He also has good chemistry with Frenkie.

Barcelona would be better off believing in their style of play, the way that brought them most success.
Instead of buying players succeeding elsewhere, in totally different systems they should look for what they already have. If "physicality" is so important, then maybe Ilaix will be great, or Nico more likely.

Barcelona having high possession this year is largely because they got rid of players like Semedo, Rakitic, Vidal and Suarez. Good players but not really able to play the way Barcelona should.

 

[Joan]

His physical presence that averages less than one successful tackle and interception a game? That has lost more duels than he's won.

I mean yeah I agree that a player of that profile is needed but I think his defensive contributions and physical presence is vastly overstated. It's like when I kept hearing people say he was gonna play 4-2-3-1 with FDJ here like the Netherlands. Despite the fact he never played in the double pivot with him.

Unpopular opinion but his best season in the Premier League was at Newcastle playing as an 8.

I agree. The article defends him saying it's not his game. But one must be careful with these more complex data models as they sometimes hide more than they reveal.

He might have a role which works well for Liverpool, but that doesn't translate to Barca's team with Frenkie and Pedri by his sides.

Wouldn't mind him on fine terms, but shouldn't worry if we don't get him in the end.

 

[Joan]

Barcelona having high possession this year is largely because they got rid of players like Semedo, Rakitic, Vidal and Suarez. Good players but not really able to play the way Barcelona should.

You listed 3 old players and a bum. So yeah... Vidal was never here in his prime so I'll leave that out.

But the sooner you forgo the idea of 'Barca way' meaning 'Pep's way' the better. Suarez (world class striker, ingenious player) and Rakitic (very good midfielder) were crucial parts of one of the strongest Barca sides which won the treble. If any, that one should show the way focus on. Since it's a more usual and replicable setup which accepts different players.

 

[JamDav1982]

Barcelona would be better off believing in their style of play, the way that brought them most success.
Instead of buying players succeeding elsewhere, in totally different systems they should look for what they already have. If "physicality" is so important, then maybe Ilaix will be great, or Nico more likely.

Barcelona having high possession this year is largely because they got rid of players like Semedo, Rakitic, Vidal and Suarez. Good players but not really able to play the way Barcelona should.

Not one of those players that left were replaced by Barca youngsters.

Club always need to buy and need different types of players to avoid being left behind.

Players with physical profile have been in all Barca squads in past anyway has never been all about technique only.

 

[Bobo32]

You listed 3 old players and a bum. So yeah... Vidal was never here in his prime so I'll leave that out.

But the sooner you forgo the idea of 'Barca way' meaning 'Pep's way' the better. Suarez (world class striker, ingenious player) and Rakitic (very good midfielder) were crucial parts of one of the strongest Barca sides which won the treble. If any, that one should show the way focus on. Since it's a more usual and replicable setup which accepts different players.

They were of similar class and type to the players you are so eager to bring in.
It is not usual or replicable to get the GOAT attacking trio, the GOAT midfield (albeit not playing because of LE foolishy neglecting Xavi), maybe the GOAT LB and RB at the same time. That squad is much less replicable than the squad of 2009 or 2011. 2011 was the best team, despite having less "world class players" than both the other teams.

 

[Bobo32]

Not one of those players that left were replaced by Barca youngsters.

Club always need to buy and need different types of players to avoid being left behind.

Players with physical profile have been in all Barca squads in past anyway has never been all about technique only.

Rakitic and Vidal were replaced by Frenkie and Pedri. They are not optimal, but they are closer to what I want. They are good buys and better players than the two before them, neither is good enough to play at the Barcelona midfield I'd like to see, at least not at the same time.
Semedo was replaced by Dest, not optimal but also closer to the Barcelona style than Semedo.
Suarez has been replaced in many different ways, you can argue that Mingueza has been his replacement in some of the last games, with the system change.

I don't care if they are from Barcelona, I care about them being able to play as I want. Maxwell, Adriano, Villa, Alves, and a lot more transfers have been great.
Wijnaldum, Depay and Alaba would be transfers of the Vidal, Semedo, Griezmann, Rakitic style I believe. They can play well, and just like these players they will have their supporters. I don't think they will be good for Barcelona in the long run.

 

[JamDav1982]

Rakitic and Vidal were replaced by Frenkie and Pedri. They are not optimal, but they are closer to what I want. They are good buys and better players than the two before them, neither is good enough to play at the Barcelona midfield I'd like to see, at least not at the same time.
Semedo was replaced by Dest, not optimal but also closer to the Barcelona style than Semedo.
Suarez has been replaced in many different ways, you can argue that Mingueza has been his replacement in some of the last games, with the system change.

I don't care if they are from Barcelona, I care about them being able to play as I want. Maxwell, Adriano, Villa, Alves, and a lot more transfers have been great.
Wijnaldum, Depay and Alaba would be transfers of the Vidal, Semedo, Griezmann, Rakitic style I believe. They can play well, and just like these players they will have their supporters. I don't think they will be good for Barcelona in the long run.

Barca always had physical players that have added to squad in their best teams.

 

[Joan]

They were of similar class and type to the players you are so eager to bring in.
It is not usual or replicable to get the GOAT attacking trio, the GOAT midfield (albeit not playing because of LE foolishy neglecting Xavi), maybe the GOAT LB and RB at the same time. That squad is much less replicable than the squad of 2009 or 2011. 2011 was the best team, despite having less "world class players" than both the other teams.

Who am I eager to bring in?

2011 team was the one which deployed a game plan highly dependent on the midfield trio in question. Of course, no team with Messi, Iniesta, and Alves is replicable, but I had style in mind.

Different profiles of players are much needed in Barca.

 

[Bobo32]

Barca always had physical players that have added to squad in their best teams.

A strange argument, needing definitions.
Maybe you mean that Keita, Milito and Puyol were 'physical players' in 2011. Milito barely played and Keita was a useful player already there for a few seasons. I doubt anyone would say they were crucial.
Physical is good, but the most important thing is decisions, vision, timing, technique, style.

 

[JamDav1982]

A strange argument, needing definitions.
Maybe you mean that Keita, Milito and Puyol were 'physical players' in 2011. Milito barely played and Keita was a useful player already there for a few seasons. I doubt anyone would say they were crucial.
Physical is good, but the most important thing is decisions, vision, timing, technique, style.

Many more than them.

The most important thing is right mix in squad and no player will ever be signed by Barca purely for physicality anyway.

There is a reason why every top club would take Wijnaldum ahead of Puig.