New goalkeeper?

Ter Stature

Active member
football journos
Bro, most of them don't even watch games, they just type something quick to have more time to get topped at down low clubs.
Emiliano Martinez
He's a great guy but too old for the money, like Stegen. Missed opportunity.

Valles looked decent but hasn't played in months, and goalkeepers in very bad teams generally get overrated.
I just hope they don't sign that Portuguese clown Costa, looked terrible in the Euro League, but maybe the goal is to lose against teams like Manure?
 

TheStig

Member
2. We still believe in MATS longer term but will keep around Szcz (depending on how he does this season and if he'll want to continue playing) or bring another veteran GK to compete with him while at the same time continue to scout younger GKs and maybe sign a cheapish talent or two and see how he/they (and possibly Kochen) will develop in a few years.

That will happen if Szczesny will have a good season and if he will want to continue for another season. Just hope Flick judge them fairly just on the level of play and not on MATS' status in the club, his longevity, his name... Szcz will bench him and hope MATS doesn't accept it and leaves in 2026 (even though I see him as someone who would prefer staying in sunny Barcelona and live the lifestyle even if he won't be first choice.)
 

khaled_a_d

Senior Member
Not many GKs in their early twenties will come here to warm the bench.

That isn't true though.
Take a look at Chelsea, they are on their way to have a dozen of GK and they keep scouting and getting more, loan some and keep others with no playing time. 4 GK in their squad and 7 on loans beside those who were bought for next year.

Joan Garcia gave his ok to Arsenal move when there was zero chance he will displace Raya.

It has proven time and time again that most players follow their agents, and agents follow the money above anything.

Suzuki was one of the few who didn't, respectful tbh as he would have had more spotlight and money in Manu than in Japan or Parma.

1. We fully commit to move on from MATS by 2026 at latest

2. We still believe in MATS longer term but will keep around Szcz

I don't think the plan is either option atm, we aren't phasing out MATS or committed to him.
We are aiming for bringing a competition and letting them sort it out later, sort like Bravo & MATS back in the day.
Whether it is a high potential GK (Backhaus, Garcia or Verbruggen) a cheaper veteran (Valles, Bulka) is to be seen.
 

TheStig

Member
I hope Szczesny can give us two seasons and that in that time we will find a longterm replacement and we loose the statue in the meantime.
 

Messi983

Senior Member
That isn't true though.
Take a look at Chelsea, they are on their way to have a dozen of GK and they keep scouting and getting more, loan some and keep others with no playing time. 4 GK in their squad and 7 on loans beside those who were bought for next year.

Joan Garcia gave his ok to Arsenal move when there was zero chance he will displace Raya.

It has proven time and time again that most players follow their agents, and agents follow the money above anything.

Suzuki was one of the few who didn't, respectful tbh as he would have had more spotlight and money in Manu than in Japan or Parma.



I don't think the plan is either option atm, we aren't phasing out MATS or committed to him.
We are aiming for bringing a competition and letting them sort it out later, sort like Bravo & MATS back in the day.
Whether it is a high potential GK (Backhaus, Garcia or Verbruggen) a cheaper veteran (Valles, Bulka) is to be seen.

I think long term a combination of both would be the best. Especially if we would take a punt on someone like Backhaus who could become very good but is still a long way off (but if he's cheap then he's worth a risk as much as anyone else) then we would clearly need a veteran who can perform immediately and compete with MATS/Szcz while Backhaus would develop in another club.

Alternatively, if we sign a younger GK to start then we will need a veteran who is willing to sit on the bench.

Not necessarily with the players you've mentioned but I agree we should repeat the scenario we did a decade ago when we eventually move on from MATS. Hopefully we'll have his replacement lined up and ready before he leaves but with how this club has worked for years that's unlikely.

If we spend big money on Garcia or Verbruggen (he's probably too expensive anyway as is Diogo Costa) then they are clearly coming to be starters within 12 months. De Zerbi rotated Verbruggen with Steele last season when he was adapting to Brighton so he would probably accept a bench for a season here too but then would want to get his fair chance. So if that's the way we'll go then we have to move on from MATS by 2026 as said.


Chelsea are a special case, no idea how they convince all these players to sign with them. Can't be just the money or agents.

Barca never worked like that though but to some extent we maybe should once finances are better. We don't use loans often or good enough. They are usually seen as "giving up on players" rather than helping their development. Hopefully Fermin's success will change some people opinions. And from club's perspective is important to loan players to the right club and at the right time. Timing was usually our problem in the past, we just kept talents to stagnate in Barca B for too long.

And we rarely sign a player and leave him to develop at his current club or loan him elsewhere. Pedri is the only example I can remember and it worked great both for him and the club. We surely also missed out on many players because we wanted them to start in BA rather than loan them to continue developing on a higher level.

Not saying we should go crazy like Chelsea trying to sign all wonderkids but when you know you have an aging starter (not talking exclusively about GKs here) that is still good enough for now but will need to be replaced in two years then why not sign a player and let him get experience in Betis/Las Palmas (or potentially even a better club if he's already good enough) for a season or two before you bring him to the club? Other clubs are doing this successfully, why couldn't we?

For longterm GK that's probably how we should do it. Like Chelsea (again) for years were loaning out Courtouis to Atleti until he was ready. Identify and sign a GK and then let him develop on loan.

Not exactly the same case but Liverpool did a great job with Mamardashvili. AFAIK it's a future transfer not a loan because he prefered to stay at Valencia rather than going on loan to Southampton (IIRC). But they guaranteed their future GK while they still have Alisson.

I agree some young GKs will accept warming the bench to sign for a top club. Ofc you never know when a starter gets injured and you will get a chance but as you've mentioned the Joan Garcia example in his place I would never go to Arsenal to sit behind Raya.

GK is not like other positions, there are rarely rotations and if you are behind an established goalie in his prime years then it's very unlikely you will play unless you are "lucky" he gets seriously injured. And tbf with the amount of long term injuries increasing, also for GKs that's probably something that players/agents count on too.
 

khaled_a_d

Senior Member
I think long term a combination of both would be the best. Especially if we would take a punt on someone like Backhaus who could become very good but is still a long way off (but if he's cheap then he's worth a risk as much as anyone else) then we would clearly need a veteran who can perform immediately and compete with MATS/Szcz while Backhaus would develop in another club.

Alternatively, if we sign a younger GK to start then we will need a veteran who is willing to sit on the bench.

That is the point, I think we are losing faith in Ter Stegen staying healthy or coming back from 100%. Not that we are phasing him out but the club realized they can't go for a Pena as backup anymore, and it is also clearer that there isn't a homegrown GK that they have 100% faith in. Maybe Kochen will be if they don't mess up his development.

I doubt we will bring someone to loan him, and honestly I think Backhaus won't be a real option. He is backup GK for Bremen and while there starter is doing well, he isn't even capped with Germany.

Again, I think it is more simpler than that for the club (What I think they are doing, not what I think they should do):
They are bringing a real competition to MATS, and not necessarily a replacement. If that competition succeed, he will replace him, but that will be something to decide by 2026 or 2027 not now.
Whether that guy will be 20 or 28, I think they don't care that much
 

TheStig

Member
For longterm GK that's probably how we should do it. Like Chelsea (again) for years were loaning out Courtouis to Atleti until he was ready. Identify and sign a GK and then let him develop on loan.

Not exactly the same case but Liverpool did a great job with Mamardashvili. AFAIK it's a future transfer not a loan because he prefered to stay at Valencia rather than going on loan to Southampton (IIRC). But they guaranteed their future GK while they still have Alisson.

Why would we loan the potential young GK if we need him now? Liverpool has Alisson, Chelsea had Cech when they loaned Courtios/Mamardasvhili, we will have MATS who was bad before the horrible injury and probably 35 year old Szczesny. A good young GK can become a starter in no time if judged fairly.

The key is to offload MATS and buy a young GK with great potential and play him while having Szczesny as backup. He already said he's willing to help from the bench. Knowing our club there is 99% chance that we will go into next season with MATS/Szczesny combo with MATS walking back into the starting lineup. We never learn...
 

malvolio

Senior Member
This sudden worshiping of Szczesny is worrying to say the least. The guy was a mediocre GK all of his career. An OK stop-gap instead of Pena for this season.

Club will probably go the same route as Bravo - Stegen. Get a promising GK as backup for Stegen and hope the rookie is good enough to take over. Only solution basically, as Barca don't suddenly go into the market and pay 100M for a GK.
 

TheStig

Member
This sudden worshiping of Szczesny is worrying to say the least. The guy was a mediocre GK all of his career. An OK stop-gap instead of Pena for this season.

Club will probably go the same route as Bravo - Stegen. Get a promising GK as backup for Stegen and hope the rookie is good enough to take over. Only solution basically, as Barca don't suddenly go into the market and pay 100M for a GK.

No one worships Szczesny, we just hope and expect him to be better than what we had in previous years which shouldn't be that hard.
 

Gnidrologist

Senior Member
Didn't know that. Then he's unknown. Ter is a confirmed and guaranteed loser though. He's only way to euro title is, when his team is nigh untouchable and he doesn't need to make decisive saves.
 

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