Barça's Transfers and Rumors

[Kohe321]

Predictions based on what Barto said:

Marcos is the CB, Bravo the GK. Both deals have been agreed with on personal terms, just waiting for confirmation from clubs. The forward is someone like Soriano or Aguero (the former would be more realistic and not a bad choice by any means). Board fully respects Lucho and has handed decisions off to him and Zubi. Cesc isn't completely committed but hasn't approached about a departure. The full confidence about the targets being agreed upon already shows that CB negotiations are only for Marcos and other targets either won't happen or won't happen until later (by the time Benatia is either tied to Roma or going to City). They will approach a midfielder but if it's Koke (likely) they'll probably crash and burn.

All in all, I'd say our squad in terms of depth will be ok but we need more starter quality players to really go head to head with our strongest competitors. It's not a successful transfer window if our only two changing starters are 20 year old Marquinhos to save our defense and MAtS.

I think you're pretty spot on here. But don't we also need a new RB if Alves is included in the Marquinhos deal (and Marquinhos is brought in to fill the gap of Puyol leaving)? That would mean we have a CB that also double as a RB step-in. Not good, a few injuries and we're back with playing converted DMs as centerbacks again, or worse.

That said, if they get Stegen, a second GK, Marquinhos and Aguero + a rightback this summer then I think the transferwindow should be seen as a success. If they manage to get Koke as well, or another midfielder of similar quality, it would be a sensation.

 

[Barcilliant]

Kun would cost an arm and leg. We have enough small forwards. We need a proper physical 9.

 

[onzeXI]

i know, and i did it for the same members to notice how stupid it is to wish for certain players to play in positions THEY want them to see, as if it would solve our problems. my huge font wasn't directed at you, in fact i was just backing up your statement

I'd say you changed the mind of ... nobody. But maybe you relieved your frustration and made yourself feel better.

We have a lot of Zubis here lately. Admins should keep an eye on them.

Not enough eyes available. Time to recruit more admins?

Zubi's notes:

1. Benatia: our first choice target, unfortunately he'd cost way too much

2. Marquinhos: an alternative, although PSG don't really want to sell

3. PANIC

At first glance I thought #3 said Pjanic and wondered if Zubi had been overindulging the sangria.

 

[KING XAVI]

Man to monkey sex not only doesn't sell, it's illegal. I checked.

Some people have weird fetishes,they probably have lot of em In Madrid.

 

[KING XAVI]

If we are going to buy marcos and play him as a defensive right back,then laporte would be a better choice than benatia on the left side of the defense,benatia is not that quick,laporte is quick and left footed and has played as a left back before.he could probably cover for alba.

 

[Ursegor]

Another morning, another transfer day. Here we go. Let me check what MD and Sport are up to today. brb

 

[Ursegor]

Oh. lel

 

[Egert]

Bartomeu (president): "Cesc rumours? We don't want to sell any player, except if a player asks for it, but none has asked it." [oc]

Song will stay for another season. YEEY

 

[Kobe Bean Bryant]

Would Mandzukic fit?

 

[Richard.H]

Has MD and Sport rotated to their Agger rumors yet? It seems like they have a checklist of rumor lists they have to go through in a month.

 

[Lomar1o]

Bartomeu (president): "Cesc rumours? We don't want to sell any player, except if a player asks for it, but none has asked it." [oc]

this is so much bullshit. does he think people are stupid?

 

[BarçAjax8]

Sorry, I just don't like it when people talk about Kompany or TS or now Benetia like they're some sort of impenetrable walls when Messi/Neymar/Iniesta can all get past them with ease, probably even Deulofeu. Defending is more about Team work, positioning and Tactics more than anything, if all 4 defenders are disciplined and position themselves properly they can repel the majority of attacks. So the difference between TS at Barca and say Kompany is probably minute since no matter what alves would still leave them to cover the entire half of the field and they WILL get run over by the likes of Bale.

For Set pieces TS would be an improvement over Masch but Bartra would fix those problems too if they would just play him with Pique.

I only quoted you to make that jab at TS any post with him in it would've done.

But my point about tactics was directed more at the general attitude of the forum from what I've read, not one or two specific posts. Everyone (Hopefully not the board) keeps on talking about 2 guys (Marquinhos and Benetia) when Pique-Bartra would probably work amazingly well if we dealt with the RB problem. Now I'm not saying don't buy 2 more CBs but it feels like we're falling into a trap set by our rivals to pay through the teeth for players we don't actually need all that bad, its what happened for the last 2 years and it seems like its happening again. Why aren't we linked with Subotic? or some other quality defender that would bring basically the same improvement as the ones we're talking about but isnt a flavour of the month 50-60 million dollar acquisition.

Edit: And not that I don't like Marquinhos but do you guys think he's better than Bartra? And I know none for you would buy Bartra for 35 million.

I like it...a lot
In today's football we have all these Cash Cow Clubs and Football Manager/Fifa games that lead us to believe we need to spend 100 Mil every summer otherwise we won't be able to compete. I myself am guilty of playing "fantasy football" but I try to stay as practical as possible. The truth is we didn't win 14 Trophies in 4 years because we spent 40m on a top CBs etc (yes I know we still spent a lot on Villa/Ibra). While size, speed, strength are important/necessary... we won with teamwork & tactics. After Pep left we lost a lot of balance within our team and soon after came size & strength.

Lucho's words about the direction he wants to take this team has made me very optimistic. As far as transfers we need to balance the team, add some height let Lucho run his tactics. If we get a tall/defensively sound RB, Pique-Bartra can be a successful partnership. I really don't want us spending a boatload for someone while Bartra rots on the bench. We could be better off going for an experienced (regular starter) CB like a Fazio(6'5), Inigo Martinez(5'11), Mathieu(6'3), Juan Jesus(6'1) who would be on the heels of Pique-Bartra and promoting a Masia CB for depth.

Would anyone really be disappointed by an Alba - Pique - Bartra - De Sciglio(6'0) backline? (assuming the rest of the team is set-up properly)

 

[Neymessi]

Bartomeu (president): "Marquinhos? With Puyol leaving, we have to sign a centre back this summer. We're holding talks on several players."

He did not reveal much but he definitely revealed that at most only 1 CB will arrive."Sign a centre back".So marco + benatia dreams are over.

 

[maxmss]

and some people can't understand that sometimes clubs are not wiling to sell their player or players themselves don't want to move or asking insane salaries. It's easy to blame the board is not buying this player or that, but nothing you can do if club doesn't want to sell. Like City will not sell Aguero unless you offer them stupid amount of money. But that's what Real Madrid is doing. If you like this player acquisition porn- switch to Mardid. Barca is never that club. Let's not forget that with "out of position Mascherano" we won UCL. Just remember Madrid's Galactico-s failure. Again, I like what I've seen so far: they appointed good coach, bought great goalies, closed the deal on Halilovich, brought back promising youngsters. I hope they will continue to do the right things and don't want to be cynical. And finally stop bashing Zubi- no one here has the skills or the knowledge to understand which player is right for Barca. Everyone screams about Benatia because he's hot now and the big clubs are after him. But Real paid under 10Mil for Varane and that guy is better than many world class player. No one even heard his name before.

 

[icemanbrfc]

best players for each position = Claudio Bravo

To be honest, Bravo as a back up keeper, is an instant upgrade over Pinto. I dont know what fans expect in terms of a back up keeper, esp one as experienced as Bravo. Sometimes, we just try and moan about everything, just because the club didnt sign who we wanted.

The only thing ill be disappointed with, is if Zubi only signs 1 CB, and here is where i feel the quality should be of an exceptional standard. We have seen the problems in that area, so if we sign a CB that is not up to it, then we will be in trouble if we have to play Masch again at CB.

Goalkeepers are an odd breed, im one and i know the feeling when a mistake is made, as you cant hide from a mistake like any outfield player. Cabalero and Navas are far to good to play back up, and they should have been signed as 1st choice had we not signed a very good keeper in Ter Stegen