Ibrahim Afellay

[Barcafan 2304]

Agreed. Afelley will get games no doubt

 

[PhilS]

We'll be very thin up front without him. We bought Alexis cause we needed more depth, kinda defeats the purpose if we go ahead and sell three forwards (already having sold Jeffren and Bojan)

Right. The team has to carry at least 5 forwards. Afellay can also play midfield, versatility is a big plus on this small squad.

The reasons for Afellay to go would be if Pep losses trust in him, or he gets too gloomy about not playing enough, or someone needs to get promoted from Barca B. Pep was very positive in his evaluation of Afellay at the end of last season. Afellay says spot minutes with Barca is better than starting for a lessor team. The team is not high on Soriano, and it's hard to see that any other forward at Barca B has outgrown that level.

Afellay might not get more than spot minutes, unless a forward ahead of him gets hurt, which would put him right into the regular rotation.

The great thing about this year's bench is that any of them (except Pinto?) could be trusted with regular playing time.

 

[ZenI]

If he cannot make an immediate impression, perhaps a loan for a season might be the way to go. Hate to see us cut ties with him because he has a bright future.

We'll be very thin up front without him. We bought Alexis cause we needed more depth, kinda defeats the purpose if we go ahead and sell three forwards (already having sold Jeffren and Bojan)

Maybe we should have loaned him out for a season anyway, or just sold him. I have nothing against him, he is a very good player with (it seems anyway) a great attitude. But with Sanchez we now have 5 forwards - and even if we knew that Thiago is a great talent nobody would guess he would be SUCH a great talent and show his qualities so soon. Now with Cesc and Thiago we have 5 cm's/am's and we have to integrate them all and give them playing time. The only solution would be to play Iniesta or Thiago as forwards to give Fabregas playing time, and even than one of our forwards will suffer.
The 3-4-3 lineup we used against Villareal was just because we had 4 defenders injured and Alves was banned. So we can't really count on that lineup to give our cm's more field time. So Affelay is really a surplus - we should also make way for our cantera players to try their wings, because now there is no possibility for the likes of Deulofeu to play if Affelay is our 5'th choice or with Iniesta playing as forward to make room for Cesc. Sad really, but if he wants to play and continue to develop he should move on.

 

[T.I.]

So many experts here i see. Give him time and we will see how it turns out.

 

[soarq]

He will get his games but Deulofeu is knocking on the door. My wild guess is two more years for Afellay and farewell.

 

[dalitis8]

Not good enough for Barca. Just runs like crazy.

I want him sold.

 

[Aryagorn]

What has happened to the forum man!!

I wish we didn't sign Cesc, so there would have been quality posts still happening... instead of people gloating around as if they were Pep & Zubi and have pulled a trick out of their own hat when we signed Fabregas

 

[barcelonista]

We'll be very thin up front without him.

I don't think so. Now that Fabregas is back we have so many options. Players who can play up front: Messi, Villa, Pedro, Alexis, Iniesta and Fabregas. Watch the Villarreal game again, Cesc often played even further up the pitch than Messi. He's also the second best player in our squad to play the false 9 role after Messi. It's no coincidence he scored 2 goals and got himself an assist already in less than 90 minutes playing time without any pre-season preparation (his last Arsenal game was in April!) against strong opponents like Porto and Villarreal. That's, by the way, the same statistics Afellay got after 28 games for us! If needed, even Adriano and Alves can play on the wings with ease. Let's assume the worst: Messi AND Villa AND Xavi get injured at the same time. How would we line-up then? Probably still without Afellay:

Pedro--------Alexis
-------Cesc-------
-------------------
-Iniesta----Thiago-
-----Busquets-----

If Afellay is happy with his role as a sub to rest the main players: keep him, he cost us only € 3 million. But is he actually needed? I don't think so.

 

[Tezemery]

Give the guy some time he has been here half a season and already done alot of good stuff.
He has had a few injury problems and we will see what a good player he is this season

 

[Barcaman]

Our forward-line is still somewhat thin and I can see Ibi getting his chances.
It would be a nonsense to sell him after completing only a half-season.

 

[Myrmecophile]

Just say si to Ibi

 

[dalitis8]

What has happened to the forum man!!

I wish we didn't sign Cesc, so there would have been quality posts still happening... instead of people gloating around as if they were Pep & Zubi and have pulled a trick out of their own hat when we signed Fabregas

That is how much you understand the game.

 

[dalitis8]

Our forward-line is still somewhat thin and I can see Ibi getting his chances.
It would be a nonsense to sell him after completing only a half-season.

If our forward line is thin, then Ibi is not the man to make it thicker. We should have sold him, and gotten somebody else.

 

[LaMessiah]

If our forward line is thin, then Ibi is not the man to make it thicker. We should have sold him, and gotten somebody else.

Sold him for less than 10M and get who exactly? He's a versatile player who can play in about 5 positions, you want that kind of guy on the team. Plus he's proven he can spend 75 minutes on the bench and come in and have a positive affect on the team.

 

[dalitis8]

Sold him for less than 10M and get who exactly? He's a versatile player who can play in about 5 positions, you want that kind of guy on the team. Plus he's proven he can spend 75 minutes on the bench and come in and have a positive affect on the team.

That is why you have scouters...

He did one good thing in half a season. Not something to pin your hopes on...