Javi Martínez

[DonAndres]

Also, he's alright as a CB (better than Masch at least) but it's as stupid as putting Messi on the wing or deep in midfield, why wouldn't you want to use all the talents of the player to the best effect. Martinez is far better in the holding midfielder role and not only are Barca not going to be able to buy him, he wouldn't dare come if he were re-shackled to being a CB

 

[Andrew M]

He was better in midfield and it's not like it was just him that guided us to the finals. Bielsa's system was clicking at the time and all of the players were playing with heart, energy, and purpose. To say that it was because he was a CB is foolish.

He was clearly their best player. Did you not watch them in the Europa League? He was a colossus. Who else would someone pay 40 million for someone in their squad? He has even played CB for Spain.

 

[DonAndres]

Not unless Barca switch to a double pivot. He's not benching Busquets.

Can't think of any other midfield he wouldn't start in off the top of my head though, besides Spain's.

Based on this seasons form, yes he would but in the long run Busquets is definitely a better fit and has more potential.

 

[darthvader7888]

Based on this seasons form, yes he would but in the long run Busquets is definitely a better fit and has more potential.

Keep in mind that Busquets has been injured this season (apparently since January). He wouldn't bench a fully fit Busquets.

 

[DonAndres]

He was clearly their best player. Did you not watch them in the Europa League? He was a colossus. Who else would someone pay 40 million for someone in their squad? He has even played CB for Spain.

Yes I did watch them and even though he was a capable CB it's still limiting him. Bayern paid 40 million to have him as a MIDFIELDER not a center back. They were smart to use him for what he actually is unlike Barca who would just plop him down at CB and not get the best of his attacking abilities as well.

 

[Andrew M]

Also, he's alright as a CB (better than Masch at least) but it's as stupid as putting Messi on the wing or deep in midfield, why wouldn't you want to use all the talents of the player to the best effect. Martinez is far better in the holding midfielder role and not only are Barca not going to be able to buy him, he wouldn't dare come if he were re-shackled to being a CB

Using Messi as an example is such a false argument. He is arguably the greatest player in history and we are talking about a DM/CB. Many great players don't play in their best position and flourish. Abidal is better at CB yet played LB for us mostly.

Fact is that the system Athletic used last year had many similarities with ours. And guess what? Martinez was magisterial at CB

 

[Andrew M]

Yes I did watch them and even though he was a capable CB it's still limiting him. Bayern paid 40 million to have him as a MIDFIELDER not a center back. They were smart to use him for what he actually is unlike Barca who would just plop him down at CB and not get the best of his attacking abilities as well.

Bayern don't play our system. David Luiz has been played at DM because Chelsea are not comfortable with the ball. At Barca Luiz would flourish at CB.

German football is practically conservative and pragmatic by definition. They would never try different things.

 

[DonAndres]

Using Messi as an example is such a false argument. He is arguably the greatest player in history and we are talking about a DM/CB. Many great players don't play in their best position and flourish. Abidal is better at CB yet played LB for us mostly.

Fact is that the system Athletic used last year had many similarities with ours. And guess what? Martinez was magisterial at CB

Abidal has less pace and better positioning so playing at CB in a sweeper-style gets the best of his abilities unlike at LB. Martinez has the defensive strengths of a CB but his passing and attacking output is wasted in that role. You keep talking about how Athletic flourished with him there but he was no more influential to Athletic than he was to Bayern in the holding midfielder role and I can guarantee that he's been better at Bayern.

 

[Stric]

Martinez is an absolutely brilliant defensive midfielder. It's blasphemy to use him otherwise.

 

[Andrew M]

Abidal has less pace and better positioning so playing at CB in a sweeper-style gets the best of his abilities unlike at LB. Martinez has the defensive strengths of a CB but his passing and attacking output is wasted in that role. You keep talking about how Athletic flourished with him there but he was no more influential to Athletic than he was to Bayern in the holding midfielder role and I can guarantee that he's been better at Bayern.

Yes, Abidal is best at CB, but played for us mostly at LB and was a great success. Point being the you can flourish for a team without ideal position. I don't see how Martinez's passing is wasted in our system. Pique has such a huge influence on the ball and is as important as the midfield for how we operate.

I don't see how your argument is helped by saying Martinez has been more impressive at Bayern than Athletic; Bayern are a huge team with great players.....

Forget about having Martinez's best interests at heart. What do we need in a player? What our management though we got in Song last year. Someone who can play in the Busquets role and at CB. Well, we didn't go for Martinez as he was too expensive. It does not matter if his influence in attack is reduced. He would be perfect for us. Great on the ball; strong and fast; great in the air; plenty of experience at CB and DM; Spanish.

Perfect signing. Stupid error.

 

[DonAndres]

Yes, Abidal is best at CB, but played for us mostly at LB and was a great success. Point being the you can flourish for a team without ideal position. I don't see how Martinez's passing is wasted in our system. Pique has such a huge influence on the ball and is as important as the midfield for how we operate.

I don't see how your argument is helped by saying Martinez has been more impressive at Bayern than Athletic; Bayern are a huge team with great players.....

Forget about having Martinez's best interests at heart. What do we need in a player? What our management though we got in Song last year. Someone who can play in the Busquets role and at CB. Well, we didn't go for Martinez as he was too expensive. It does not matter if his influence in attack is reduced. He would be perfect for us. Great on the ball; strong and fast; great in the air; plenty of experience at CB and DM; Spanish.

Perfect signing. Stupid error.

You keep attributing Athletic's success last season to Martinez playing at CB and saying he was colossal for them there, but he's been even more colossal and impressive at Bayern having the same influence. It's a flawed comparison but not more flawed than you saying that they got to 2 finals because of Martinez being used at CB.

Martinez is wasted because he organizes the midfield into a defensive unit that covers the back line and greatly helps stop attacks at their roots and neutralizes creative players, at CB he'd just be making the final tackles which is a waste of his abilities when positioned in front of the defense. Plus while Pique does have influence in passing he is far from as influential as Martinez in the DM role because he links up and provides a base for players like Schweinsteiger and Ribery to push forward. Playing at CB he'd just be reduced to being a false sweeper that tries a bunch of hollywood long balls without much success.

Having his interests at heart is better than simply making him a pawn to fit our system. Getting a CB who can play as backup DM is better because

a) his primary attributes are used in his primary position
b) if needed he can fill in to the DM role as backup.

That way he gets his profile accounted for and gets the time he wants in the position he wants and can flourish at his best as opposed to being a DM forced to play CB and getting the occasional game in their native position.

 

[ammarfcb]

for his sake i'm glad we didn't buy him...too good a midfielder to be wasted in defense

 

[Andrew M]

Now's our chance. Sell Song and sign Martinez up. Can play CB and DM. Perfect.

 

[Behrox]

I hope we don't buy him to make him our new *CB*

 

[Andrew M]

Not a first choice CB, but as someone who can play there realistically, unlike Song who was ostensibly signed as an option for both positions.

A great Busquets alternative.