Rafinha Alcantara

[Catorce]

The way I see it, Rafinha would easily match that energy and mobility. On top of that, he'd add a greater flair for assists, unpredictability, dribbling and perhaps a bit better goal scoring ability. We'd of course lose the stability and withdrawn conservative style of Sergi Roberto, but I think the cons of having Rafinha would outweigh that.
When that's said, I don't mind having Sergo Roberto around at all, but if it came down to a choice between those two, my pick would be easy.

The point where I don't really agree with Catorce is about the easy Tello/Deulofeu swap. With our attack being the most versatile and well functioning in a long time, coupled with the meager amount of minutes Tello has gotten (even with either Messi or Neymar having been injured more or less constantly), I don't see Deulofeu getting the required minutes he'd need to develop decently. We're not selling any of our 4 'starters' this summer, and there are no signs that Tata will give up his Fab as false 9 fetish, so unless his progress suddenly sky-rockets during the spring and summer, Deu would probably be 3rd pick for either wing. And if that's the case, I'd rather see him loaned for another season.

Well, maybe you are right about Deulofeu, that it would be better for his development to stay at Everton (or another decent midtable club in a big competition) for another year. But I think I said it more because I think he already is better than Tello. Not because Deulofeu is at a enormously high level already, it's more that I just don't like Tello atm. If it were up to me, he should realize Barcelona is not where his future lies, just as the likes of Cuenca and Afellay. I wouldn't mind selling either Pedro or Alexis at the end of next season and bringing Deulofeu back when that happens.

Rafinha, absolutely agree with you. I like Sergi Roberto, but Rafinha looks way better and offers just as much versatility. Roberto is a hard working lad that has decent technique. Rafinha can become a big player and I just don't see that kinda future for Roberto here, and since he already gets a lot of minutes I think it would be a safe bet to bring back Rafinha.

 

[NeyMesSis]

The way I see it, Rafinha would easily match that energy and mobility. On top of that, he'd add a greater flair for assists, unpredictability, dribbling and perhaps a bit better goal scoring ability. We'd of course lose the stability and withdrawn conservative style of Sergi Roberto, but I think the cons of having Rafinha would outweigh that.
When that's said, I don't mind having Sergo Roberto around at all, but if it came down to a choice between those two, my pick would be easy.

The point where I don't really agree with Catorce is about the easy Tello/Deulofeu swap. With our attack being the most versatile and well functioning in a long time, coupled with the meager amount of minutes Tello has gotten (even with either Messi or Neymar having been injured more or less constantly), I don't see Deulofeu getting the required minutes he'd need to develop decently. We're not selling any of our 4 'starters' this summer, and there are no signs that Tata will give up his Fab as false 9 fetish, so unless his progress suddenly sky-rockets during the spring and summer, Deu would probably be 3rd pick for either wing. And if that's the case, I'd rather see him loaned for another season.

If tello would have played better , I'm sure he woul have played much more.

no doubt deulo would become enough playing time.
But I think he should stay 1 season more.

Tello out in the summer.

I think tata wants affelay to stay because he wants him for the year till deulofeu comes back, and then he gets sold.

 

[Trickykid]

Well, maybe you are right about Deulofeu, that it would be better for his development to stay at Everton (or another decent midtable club in a big competition) for another year. But I think I said it more because I think he already is better than Tello. Not because Deulofeu is at a enormously high level already, it's more that I just don't like Tello atm. If it were up to me, he should realize Barcelona is not where his future lies, just as the likes of Cuenca and Afellay. I wouldn't mind selling either Pedro or Alexis at the end of next season and bringing Deulofeu back when that happens.

With the way both have been playing this season, I must admit I think it's absolute crazy-talk to even contemplate selling either to accomodate someone as unproven as Deulofeu. I suppose we must rate both three players vastly different.
Other than that, yeah, I would sell Tello too. I don't know if Deulofeu is better than him currently, but there's no doubt his ceiling is way higher.

 

[Trickykid]

If tello would have played better , I'm sure he woul have played much more.

no doubt deulo would become enough playing time.
But I think he should stay 1 season more.

Both Pedro and Alexis have played a healthy amount of minutes this season, and I really doubt limiting their playtime would make them perform any better. Quite the contrary actually. And keep in mind, as I said earlier, this is with either Messi or Neymar out of action more or less constantly. I really don't know how you can claim that Deulofeu would no doubt get enough minutes. Especially considering we haven't seen nearly enough of him this season to judge him fairly.

 

[NeyMesSis]

I say, if they bring him back this season, then he gets playing time!

Left wing: Neymar, Pedro
CF: Messi (or sometimes neymar, pedro, alexis)
Right wing: Sanchez, Deulofeu

I wouldnt see a problem

 

[Trickykid]

I say, if they bring him back this season, then he gets playing time!

Left wing: Neymar, Pedro
CF: Messi (or sometimes neymar, pedro, alexis)
Right wing: Sanchez, Deulofeu

I wouldnt see a problem

I'm assuming you mean next season and not this season.
Anyhow, as I said, I think Tello perfectly well illustrates the problem. Of course he himself is part of the problem, but Pedro and Alexis being in fantastic form is just as much a hinderance for Tello.

Oh, and you might as well add Fabregas to your CF options, as Tata will keep on playing him there from time to time, meaning Alexis or Neymar won't move centrally and thus make room for other wide men such as Deulofeu.

 

[KingMessi]

I'm assuming you mean next season and not this season.
Anyhow, as I said, I think Tello perfectly well illustrates the problem. Of course he himself is part of the problem, but Pedro and Alexis being in fantastic form is just as much a hinderance for Tello.

Oh, and you might as well add Fabregas to your CF options, as Tata will keep on playing him there from time to time, meaning Alexis or Neymar won't move centrally and thus make room for other wide men such as Deulofeu.

I think Tello's problem is more so that he sucks at Right wing. Since he can only really play on the left wing, where he has two players ahead of him, his minutes have been cut. But with Deulofeu I don't think we'll have a problem since he can play both wings, especially since he was left winger until the club started playing him on the right wing because it was almost certain that Neymar would come soon.

 

[KingMessi]

Sergi has something very special, what we didnt see yet. give him time! evt. a loan

We should send him on loan. We still haven't seen the rampaging Sergi of preseason. To be honest, I think he's really really nervous that he might do something wrong.

 

[Alarcón]

We should send him on loan. We still haven't seen the rampaging Sergi of preseason. To be honest, I think he's really really nervous that he might do something wrong.

Preseason doesn't say much... we were playing the likes of Malaysia and Thailand... even against Bayern, the B team was better than the first team... does that mean that Sergi Gómez deserves to start over Piqué?

 

[KingMessi]

Preseason doesn't say much... we were playing the likes of Malaysia and Thailand... even against Bayern, the B team was better than the first team... does that mean that Sergi Gómez deserves to start over Piqué?

Wasn't Sergi playing in the second half? I can't remember. All I'm saying is that we should let him show us his talent. But I don't know if he can do that here because of his nerves.

 

[Flavia]

Preseason doesn't say much... we were playing the likes of Malaysia and Thailand... even against Bayern, the B team was better than the first team... does that mean that Sergi Gómez deserves to start over Piqué?

Pre-season ans thiago leaving created an illusion, I think. Also, I think sergi benefit a lot from JDS injury. I believe Tata rated him higher than sergi. He'd had probably left on loan this past winter, if jds wasn't injured.

 

[spark]

Pre-season ans thiago leaving created an illusion, I think. Also, I think sergi benefit a lot from JDS injury. I believe Tata rated him higher than sergi. He'd had probably left on loan this past winter, if jds wasn't injured.

Praise God for that tbf, Jona is awful.

 

[Catorce]

Both Pedro and Alexis have played a healthy amount of minutes this season, and I really doubt limiting their playtime would make them perform any better. Quite the contrary actually. And keep in mind, as I said earlier, this is with either Messi or Neymar out of action more or less constantly. I really don't know how you can claim that Deulofeu would no doubt get enough minutes. Especially considering we haven't seen nearly enough of him this season to judge him fairly.

It's not that we rate them differently, I think. But you have to think about the potential, and I think Deulofeu has vast amounts of potential. Honestly, I think Alexis has been overachieving this season and incredibly underachieving last seasons. Somewhat less than this season is his normal level, I believe. Pedro won't get any better, but gets the crowd's support because he is a hard working player. I'd rather sell Pedro than Alexis, but on the other hand having a hard working players like Pedro does come in handy from time to time. As said, I'm thinking about selling either one of them after next season, so in 1,5 years. Times change, I think at that point in time Deulofeu or Adama will be ready for a good amount of minutes in a season.

 

[Trickykid]

It's not that we rate them differently, I think. But you have to think about the potential, and I think Deulofeu has vast amounts of potential. Honestly, I think Alexis has been overachieving this season and incredibly underachieving last seasons. Somewhat less than this season is his normal level, I believe. Pedro won't get any better, but gets the crowd's support because he is a hard working player. I'd rather sell Pedro than Alexis, but on the other hand having a hard working players like Pedro does come in handy from time to time. As said, I'm thinking about selling either one of them after next season, so in 1,5 years. Times change, I think at that point in time Deulofeu or Adama will be ready for a good amount of minutes in a season.

Ah, my bad, I misread your post, and thought you wanted to sell either one after this season. Deulofeu and Adama perhaps could indeed be ready to step up by then, if they progress like we all hope.

 

[Catorce]

Ah, my bad, I misread your post, and thought you wanted to sell either one after this season. Deulofeu and Adama perhaps could indeed be ready to step up by then, if they progress like we all hope.

Nah absolutely not after this season! Unless of course a huge bid comes in, of course. We are one of the richest clubs out there, but on a financial level we can't compete with certain clubs. Those clubs can say no to every transfer amount they want, we can't. I'd say if a bid comes in around 35M or more, we can think about selling either of them (and as I said, I'd rather sell Pedro in that case).