Martin Montoya

[darthvader7888]

He deserves playing time, but he hasn't been on form recently. Benching him isn't right if he has something to offer which we need, but right now he doesn't. Granted, we still can afford to play him for a decent number of games and I'd encourage that we do so he can improve. Montoya has at least been better than Adriano this season, so he deserves to be primary backup for either Alba or Alves in the case of injuries or resting games. Otherwise, there's not much to complain about in terms of giving him chances.

I really hope he doesn't leave but it's looking like it could happen. Nonetheless, it's not something to go into a meltdown over unless they replace him with someone worse. We have first option on Manquillo at Atletico who is a top 5 fullback prospect in the world in terms of potential, and I doubt he'd be THAT expensive. De Scigleo is also a massive player, but he'll be harder to pry from Milan unless Allegri is truly a jackass. Mallo has been pretty good since his injury return, but he doesn't offer much in attack (good complement to Alba though).

I believe Allegri isn't giving De Sciglio a lot of playing time. I don't think it would be THAT hard to get him from a mid table team that barely plays him... but yeah, Manquillo would probably be easier since we have a first option on him.

As for Montoya leaving, I agree with you, as much as I want him to stay. Him leaving definitely won't be as bad as Thiago leaving, for instance. Although with our management, I wouldn't be surprised if we do replace him with someone worse...

 

[khaled_a_d]

You say this as if transfers have gotten worse under 'Zubi'!

They have got better easily than they were in the 2/3 years before he and Rosell arrived.

No it isn't ,Zubi &Rosell might be good in making deals ,but whoever think they are good just look for the players they signed,the problem is more about the players they didn't
4 consecutive transfer markets with no CB signed ,overusing La Masia players for the depth to a fault ,no plan B for whatsoever ,decreasing coach freedom in players they are getting
failed every way in keeping players and you can name it,from Keita to Thiago to Valdes or youngsters like Sanabria ,not being able to sell players in a good way,Ibra to Milan deal was one of the worst,Villa wasn't the best either ,beaten in contract renewals from agents and giving such freak "minutes" condition for Both Thiago&Keita
Txiki and Laporta has took risks and some of those mistakesmakes them look bad ,but they were always fixing the teams problems and signs players we need,always get fresh players and new blood in the squad ,full support to the coach

I believe Allegri isn't giving De Sciglio a lot of playing time. I don't think it would be THAT hard to get him from a mid table team that barely plays him... but yeah, Manquillo would probably be easier since we have a first option on him.

As for Montoya leaving, I agree with you. Him leaving definitely won't be as bad as Thiago leaving, for instance. Although with our management, I wouldn't be surprised if we do replace him with someone worse (but the first option on Manquillo gives me hope)...

first option means a little tbh,It just means that IF Atl. decided to sell him and had an agreement with another club they have to ask us if we are ready to pay same money the other club is offering and buy him
We had 1st option for Cesc since 2003,we tried to lure him back for years and it didn't prevent Arsenal from keeping him until they got the offer they wanted and we needed him to push for the move too
So unless Atl. want to sell Manquillo then 1st option is useless

As for Montoya ,we need to start realizing how thin the market for defenders are ,I mean between all teams we haven't been able to sign a CB so we should know better . Most good full backs are either playing with teams that aren't gonna sell or more of attacking wings who are converted to defense ,enough of those already
Hate Montoya as you want ,but most options out there ain't better ,Alves will be 31 by the end of season ,that means we will need to replace him soon too,Adriano will be 30 too .we need to get younger
Montoya is good option and loyal to the club ,I hope we will be able to re-sign him soon

 

[JamDav1982]

No it isn't ,Zubi &Rosell might be good in making deals ,but whoever think they are good just look for the players they signed,the problem is more about the players they didn't
4 consecutive transfer markets with no CB signed ,overusing La Masia players for the depth to a fault ,no plan B for whatsoever ,decreasing coach freedom in players they are getting
failed every way in keeping players and you can name it,from Keita to Thiago to Valdes or youngsters like Sanabria ,not being able to sell players in a good way,Ibra to Milan deal was one of the worst,Villa wasn't the best either ,beaten in contract renewals from agents and giving such freak "minutes" condition for Both Thiago&Keita
Txiki and Laporta has took risks and some of those mistakesmakes them look bad ,but they were always fixing the teams problems and signs players we need,always get fresh players and new blood in the squad ,full support to the coach



first option means a little tbh,It just means that IF Atl. decided to sell him and had an agreement with another club they have to ask us if we are ready to pay same money the other club is offering and buy him
We had 1st option for Cesc since 2003,we tried to lure him back for years and it didn't prevent Arsenal from keeping him until they got the offer they wanted and we needed him to push for the move too
So unless Atl. want to sell Manquillo then 1st option is useless

As for Montoya ,we need to start realizing how thin the market for defenders are ,I mean between all teams we haven't been able to sign a CB so we should know better . Most good full backs are either playing with teams that aren't gonna sell or more of attacking wings who are converted to defense ,enough of those already
Hate Montoya as you want ,but most options out there ain't better ,Alves will be 31 by the end of season ,that means we will need to replace him soon too,Adriano will be 30 too .we need to get younger
Montoya is good option and loyal to the club ,I hope we will be able to re-sign him soon

You are acting like they have refused to sign players even though the coach has asked for it. Which has never seen to be the case and each manager has chosen to work with the CB at the club rather than take a gamble if the players they want are not available.

The transfers under under Laporta in the last few years were by a and large terrible. Too many players that were nowhere near the required standard or massively over paying for players in their late 20s.

Even if you think transfers like Cesc, Song or Sanchez have been poor they have been bought at an age where money would be made on them at the least very little lost.

Losing Keita was probably the right choice in keeping the age of the squad down and Thiago or Cesc were always going to leave and Cesc is the better player even though Thiago did go cheaper than people would have liked.

I would argue that allowing Ronaldinho and Deco to decline so quickly were also faults of the previous regime and can you imagine if that happened now and sell him off to Milan was a failure as was selling Etoo so cheaply.

Young players like Sanabria at 17 were leaving before this regime and it will continue to happen after this regime is gone unless you like the idea of handing big contracts to 17 years olds. Which creates a whole lot of new issues.

While spending millions on uneeded young players from Brazil etc was a total waste.

There is no doubt the transfers have improved and less money is being wasted than before.

 

[Eetu]

You are acting like they have refused to sign players even though the coach has asked for it. Which has never seen to be the case and each manager has chosen to work with the CB at the club rather than take a gamble if the players they want are not available.

At the start of summer 2012 Tito even went public with the need for a CB, which seemed kind of weird and like it was done in order not to be dismissed. Zubi got him Song.

 

[JamDav1982]

At the start of summer 2012 Tito even went public with the need for a CB, which seemed kind of weird and like it was done in order not to be dismissed. Zubi got him Song.

Yeah I do think they fcked up there and thought that Song could play CB when that has never ever been the case.

I am sure they were still looking for a CB the whole time and thought they could get away with Song playing there if needed.

Not sure they ever refused to sign a CB that Tito asked for however I think Song was a panic option when no real options they wanted were available.

 

[Eetu]

Yeah I do think they fcked up there and thought that Song could play CB when that has never ever been the case.

I am sure they were still looking for a CB the whole time and thought they could get away with Song playing there if needed.

Not sure they ever refused to sign a CB that Tito asked for however I think Song was a panic option when no real options they wanted were available.

That's how I viewed it too. Felt just weird, that with them probably knowing what they had too from well before Tito's comments in the presser and several of the cited main options available in that time frame, it went the way it did.

 

[JamDav1982]

That's how viewed it too. Felt just weird, that with them probably knowing what they had too from well before Tito's comments in the presser and several of the cited main options available in that time frame, it went the way it did.

I think they only view a tiny handful of centre backs as having the profile to play CB for Barcelona and if they are to spend big it has to be on as near a 100% thing as you can get.

Not only technical ability but the character needed to play CB at Barca is difficult to find and they prefer to fall back on a midfielder already at the club who ticks some of the boxes rather than taking a risk from outside the club - it also seems that most of the managers have agreed with that.

It seemed to be the way Guardiola approached it also.

Clearly they wanted Thiago Silva but money talks and it was not worth giving him the money he was asking for.

Hopefully they find someone soon - I would think Hummels or Silva will be at Barcelona next summer.

 

[JamDav1982]

I think they only view a tiny handful of centre backs as having the profile to play CB for Barcelona and if they are to spend big it has to be on as near a 100% thing as you can get.

Not only technical ability but the character needed to play CB at Barca is difficult to find and they prefer to fall back on a midfielder already at the club who ticks some of the boxes rather than taking a risk from outside the club - it also seems that most of the managers have agreed with that.

It seemed to be the way Guardiola approached it also.

Clearly they wanted Thiago Silva but money talks and it was not worth giving him the money he was asking for.

Hopefully they find someone soon - I would think Hummels or Silva will be at Barcelona next summer.

Silva! I wish.

Meant Luiz.

 

[Eetu]

I think they only view a tiny handful of centre backs as having the profile to play CB for Barcelona and if they are to spend big it has to be on as near a 100% thing as you can get.

Not only technical ability but the character needed to play CB at Barca is difficult to find and they prefer to fall back on a midfielder already at the club who ticks some of the boxes rather than taking a risk from outside the club - it also seems that most of the managers have agreed with that.

It seemed to be the way Guardiola approached it also.

Clearly they wanted Thiago Silva but money talks and it was not worth giving him the money he was asking for.

Hopefully they find someone soon - I would think Hummels or Silva will be at Barcelona next summer.

Hummels sounded open to the idea before renewing then, which of course might have just been a way to drive up the price. Silva on the other hand claimed that we only approached him after he had already struck the PSG deal. With a bit more determination and acting more rapidly, chances of different outcomes might have been quite different.

The earlier experiences surely helped the hopeful thinking though.

 

[khaled_a_d]

You are acting like they have refused to sign players even though the coach has asked for it. Which has never seen to be the case and each manager has chosen to work with the CB at the club rather than take a gamble if the players they want are not available.

The transfers under under Laporta in the last few years were by a and large terrible. Too many players that were nowhere near the required standard or massively over paying for players in their late 20s.

Even if you think transfers like Cesc, Song or Sanchez have been poor they have been bought at an age where money would be made on them at the least very little lost.

Losing Keita was probably the right choice in keeping the age of the squad down and Thiago or Cesc were always going to leave and Cesc is the better player even though Thiago did go cheaper than people would have liked.

I would argue that allowing Ronaldinho and Deco to decline so quickly were also faults of the previous regime and can you imagine if that happened now and sell him off to Milan was a failure as was selling Etoo so cheaply.

Young players like Sanabria at 17 were leaving before this regime and it will continue to happen after this regime is gone unless you like the idea of handing big contracts to 17 years olds. Which creates a whole lot of new issues.

While spending millions on uneeded young players from Brazil etc was a total waste.

There is no doubt the transfers have improved and less money is being wasted than before.

They are actually refusing to sign players with a very reserved approach in the transfer market,they are making it more of 2 players per year transfer policy ,this in't gonna cut it.all big teams are spending more now
And even if you want to save money ,then spend it on the team needs more than fancy moves like Cesc and Song when you have Thiago
More,a lot of reports said that the reason why Pep left was because he wanted to renew the whole team,selling many players like Pique and Alves and bringing new players to the team,i.e he wanted 2008 summer all over again,they refused and he didn't renew ,Tito came in public asking for a CB ,doubt that Tata came and didn't want to sign anyone
Kieta wasn't their decision ,they handed him the opportunity to leave for free,then tried to do everything to keep him and failed .so let's not act like they were trying to get the team younger ,they let the best U-24 years old player leave a year later
Again,under Laporta and Txiki we made stupid signings ,some was because of the managements(Henrique,Keirson) some was b/c of Pep (the croatian CB,Ibra,Caceras) ,but they always fixed the team problems every year,the squad never suffered from a weakness for so long as we are in the Cb position right now

 

[Cule4life]

Not only technical ability but the character needed to play CB at Barca is difficult to find and they prefer to fall back on a midfielder already at the club who ticks some of the boxes rather than taking a risk from outside the club - it also seems that most of the managers have agreed with that.

It seemed to be the way Guardiola approached it also.

It's exactly this kind of false pride that had led us to our downfall. Our slogan maybe mes que un club but most players today are hard workers and of good character. Who are we to judge their character when we ourselves have betrayed our ideals by associating ourselves with Qatar.
Seriously this technical ability BS had gone on too long. A defender needs to know how to defend first. If we only look for a fancy passer we will get more piques. I'm sure a high potential youngster like Balanta can learn how to pass.

 

[KingMessi]

Exactly.
As long as the centerback's technique is somewhat good and he is young, it should not be the deciding factor in our decision to pursue him.

 

[khaled_a_d]

It's exactly this kind of false pride that had led us to our downfall. Our slogan maybe mes que un club but most players today are hard workers and of good character. Who are we to judge their character when we ourselves have betrayed our ideals by associating ourselves with Qatar.
Seriously this technical ability BS had gone on too long. A defender needs to know how to defend first. If we only look for a fancy passer we will get more piques. I'm sure a high potential youngster like Balanta can learn how to pass.

Worst part that same thing was said about possible new GK,he has to pass . he should be able to play with his feet .I mean seriously ??!!

 

[The Observer]

Barca defenders have to be technically brilliant. Look no further than the recent Ajax match and what happens when you have Pinto in goal, Mascherano hoofing it under pressure and 2 fullbacks who aren't comfortable with the ball at their feet. You don't play Barca football with John Terry at the back. AVB tried.

 

[footyfan]

At the start of summer 2012 Tito even went public with the need for a CB, which seemed kind of weird and like it was done in order not to be dismissed. Zubi got him Song.

"We had the money to sign a center back last summer, but I told the club to save it"

-Tito Vilanova, Oct 2012