Robert Fernandez

[Devils]

Signing players on talent is also how you end up with Neymar, Suarez, Alves etc.

Don't assume that Barcelona has some brilliant scouting network, when it is probably the worst amongst the top teams in Europe. Nobody has had as many flops as we have had in recent years, maybe United, but that's not saying much.

 

[khaled_a_d]

Bernardo Silva is not comparable to Cesc, because unlike Ibra and Cesc, he's great in tight spaces, Zlatan is not bad either, but he slows down and want to be the Alpha, got great dribbling skill and is creative as well.

He's not a player who would slow down play, but rather link-up with others and pass the ball forward.

How long are we going to wait to see what the coach's system is going to be? When all the players who aren't a good fit for his system, and those who are, have signed for other teams?

Because someone who might fit into Valverde's 4-2-3-1 system like Fabinho seem to be signing for City soon too, and I don't find it likely that we'll sign Dembele this summer with Dortmund not ready to let him go yet.

Perhaps we'll sign Bellerin and Deulofeu and wait another summer for us to decide what system we should play. Unfortunately by then, we might face a similar situation to when we Thiago went to Bayern, Kroos and Modric to Madrid, Verratti and Marquinhos to PSG, etc.

Players that would be good for our system or systems, won't be available anymore, and we would be left with trying to sign someone like Roque Mesa instead. He's not a bad player at all, but if that's how low we're targeting, then it says it all, doesn't it?

I know you don't rate the press and what they say, but we keep hearing the same things all over again.

That our targets are

1. Bellerin
2. Verratti
3. Coutinho

One of them unavailable and the other probably available if we spend 90m+.

Ironically, Bernardo is a similar player to Coutinho in some aspects, but was just available for 30-40m less.

Far more likely that we'll keep the 4-3-3 than changing to a 4-2-3-1 or 3-4-3.

And low stamina,and not good defensively,again those could be important for our coach. Silva is far from a finished product or a can't miss player. And at the moment we aren't a team that need someone that force us to change the system for him,we already have that in Messi.
If we need a direct Iniesta replacement then players like Coutinho or Eriksen makes more sense,we don't need a guy like him in midfield to play beside Messi and new Rb that (considering every possible name in the market) won't be a defensive beast. Players like Lemar,Naby & even Seri Hererra could all makes more sense.
And if anything,the fact that media keep recycling those names doesn't necessary means they are sure about,could be they are just in the dark and have no clue.

 

[DonAK]

And low stamina,and not good defensively,again those could be important for our coach. Silva is far from a finished product or a can't miss player. And at the moment we aren't a team that need someone that force us to change the system for him,we already have that in Messi.
If we need a direct Iniesta replacement then players like Coutinho or Eriksen makes more sense,we don't need a guy like him in midfield to play beside Messi and new Rb that (considering every possible name in the market) won't be a defensive beast. Players like Lemar,Naby & even Seri Hererra could all makes more sense.
And if anything,the fact that media keep recycling those names doesn't necessary means they are sure about,could be they are just in the dark and have no clue.

Low stamina? Not great defensively? He's won the ball back and pressed more than most Ligue 1 players. He has played almost every single game this season. It's natural to be a bit tired towards the end of the season and even Fabinho, Bakayoko and others players have been so.

Not sure how this bad defensively, bad stamina thing even started. I've seen @gasgas say it a hundred times, and even he has been shot back by TornAndFrayed who has watched many Monaco games this season while gasgas likely only has seen 5 at most.

How does Lemar make more sense? Lemar is left-footed too and will likely go over to the right side next season with Bernardo having joined City! They're in many ways very similar, but I wonder if Monaco will really sell him after selling Bernardo. Monaco might be a selling club, but they are also owned by a billionaire, and can afford not to sell some players. They just signed Tielemans and will sign other players to replace those who leave, so I have doubts about whether they will allow too many of their current players to leave.

Seri has impressive stats and looks good on highlight vids, but we don't know if he's a one-season wonder or how his true level is. Most of us, including you I assume, haven't really seen him play.

I've seen Naby Keita though and agree he would be a great option, if Liverpool don't sign him before us as they seem to be negotiating for him

Herrera is a good player, but would honestly just give Roberto the shot instead of him.

I think it's very likely that we will play a 4-3-3 and I'd sign an AM and a CM, but that's just me. Would sell Gomes, Arda, Rafinha if we get a decent offer. Sure it's all relative, but that's how I see it.

 

[khaled_a_d]

Low stamina? Not great defensively? He's won the ball back and pressed more than most Ligue 1 players. He has played almost every single game this season. It's natural to be a bit tired towards the end of the season and even Fabinho, Bakayoko and others players have been so.

Not sure how this bad defensively, bad stamina thing even started. I've seen @gasgas say it a hundred times, and even he has been shot back by TornAndFrayed who has watched many Monaco games this season while gasgas likely only has seen 5 at most.

How does Lemar make more sense? Lemar is left-footed too and will likely go over to the right side next season with Bernardo having joined City! They're in many ways very similar, but I wonder if Monaco will really sell him after selling Bernardo. Monaco might be a selling club, but they are also owned by a billionaire, and can afford not to sell some players. They just signed Tielemans and will sign other players to replace those who leave, so I have doubts about whether they will allow too many of their current players to leave.

Seri has impressive stats and looks good on highlight vids, but we don't know if he's a one-season wonder or how his true level is. Most of us, including you I assume, haven't really seen him play.

I've seen Naby Keita though and agree he would be a great option, if Liverpool don't sign him before us as they seem to be negotiating for him

Herrera is a good player, but would honestly just give Roberto the shot instead of him.

I think it's very likely that we will play a 4-3-3 and I'd sign an AM and a CM, but that's just me. Would sell Gomes, Arda, Rafinha if we get a decent offer. Sure it's all relative, but that's how I see it.

Bad defensively for what we need beside Messi if he is in midfield or RW,we are most likely not getting a top notch RB in terms of defense and Messi is our worst defensive player atm,we need someone doing more in defense than Silva if he is going to be used on right side
Lemar is already playing on the left side at least,I don't remember Silva being used as much as him in that side
And point is: there is no player that would fit every system. specially when it comes to midfield attack,you could make such assumption on defense and GK as criteria for those won't change as much when it comes to new coach here. But for a midfielder a lot changes.
Right now we have no idea what it is,we are fooling ourselves if we think so. It is another case of people bitching for another team signing,we have done that after Renato and guess what? he has been a flop so far,we have done that with Hummels and we ended up with far superior deal with Umtiti,and fans did that with Danilo too and we dodged a bullet.
And we were proactive in signing someone like Gomes,and I've seen plenty of RM fans having same reaction you guys are giving right now,and here we go with everyone want him out.
There is no answer whether we truly missed B.Silva or not at the moment. Like it or not but you aren't gonna get such answer before half a year at least,in some cases it could actually takes seasons for that

 

[serghei]

Bad defensively for what we need beside Messi if he is in midfield or RW,we are most likely not getting a top notch RB in terms of defense and Messi is our worst defensive player atm,we need someone doing more in defense than Silva if he is going to be used on right side
Lemar is already playing on the left side at least,I don't remember Silva being used as much as him in that side
And point is: there is no player that would fit every system. specially when it comes to midfield attack,you could make such assumption on defense and GK as criteria for those won't change as much when it comes to new coach here. But for a midfielder a lot changes.
Right now we have no idea what it is,we are fooling ourselves if we think so. It is another case of people bitching for another team signing,we have done that after Renato and guess what? he has been a flop so far,we have done that with Hummels and we ended up with far superior deal with Umtiti,and fans did that with Danilo too and we dodged a bullet.
And we were proactive in signing someone like Gomes,and I've seen plenty of RM fans having same reaction you guys are giving right now,and here we go with everyone want him out.
There is no answer whether we truly missed B.Silva or not at the moment. Like it or not but you aren't gonna get such answer before half a year at least,in some cases it could actually takes seasons for that

Of course things go bad, Khaled, but we don't have a choice really. All you can do is see the talent on the market and act. Bernardo Silva, is easily, EASILY, one of the 3 best players on the market that we could have signed. I repeat, easily.

OK, you can sign Silva and he can fail. Sure, it can happen. What's the alternative?

You take what players you can get. Bernardo was one of the best you could get, and City got him really fast. Because they know they have to improve their team and were quick to act on it.

There is no CM on the market with the experience, the value and the skill required to be a sure starter at Barcelona. So we adapt and look for players who, even though don't play in CM specifically, have the qualities we need. It's all we can do and we can't even do that because we are run by idiots.

 

[khaled_a_d]

Of course things go bad, Khaled, but we don't have a choice really. All you can do is see the talent on the market and act. Bernardo Silva, is easily, EASILY, one of the 3 best players on the market that we could have signed. I repeat, easily.

OK, you can sign Silva and he can fail. Sure, it can happen. What's the alternative?

You take what players you can get. Bernardo was one of the best you could get, and City got him really fast. Because they know they have to improve their team and were quick to act on it.

There is no CM on the market with the experience, the value and the skill required to be a sure starter at Barcelona. So we adapt and look for players who, even though don't play in CM specifically, have the qualities we need. It's all we can do and we can't even do that because we are run by idiots.

Ibra was easily 2nd best player in the market(after Cr7) and Cesc was probably best player in the market too.
To fit teams and coach philosophy is more important than the level of players,Ibra was easily better player than Villa but Villa was far better fit. Back then everyone thought Ibra is perfect fit btw. even a football genius like Pep didn't realize the shortcoming of Ibra in his own system.
There is always choices,and it isn't always the fans favorite. Again:You don't make signing just based on talent. Never. team needs is almost as important if not more and so far we have no idea what is the team needs,we aren't even 100% sure who is the new coach
So please,let's not go into circles there,just because you like a player and rate him highly doesn't mean he is what we need. Roberto job is to work with the coach to get the players he need,not the ones who please the fans

 

[DonAK]

Ibra was easily 2nd best player in the market(after Cr7) and Cesc was probably best player in the market too.
To fit teams and coach philosophy is more important than the level of players,Ibra was easily better player than Villa but Villa was far better fit. Back then everyone thought Ibra is perfect fit btw. even a football genius like Pep didn't realize the shortcoming of Ibra in his own system.
There is always choices,and it isn't always the fans favorite. Again:You don't make signing just based on talent. Never. team needs is almost as important if not more and so far we have no idea what is the team needs,we aren't even 100% sure who is the new coach
So please,let's not go into circles there,just because you like a player and rate him highly doesn't mean he is what we need. Roberto job is to work with the coach to get the players he need,not the ones who please the fans

Unfortunately Arda, Gomes, no RB didn't turn out as great did it.....

I think you said it yourself. That coaches shouldn't get to take transfer decisions on players as they're not scouts.

 

[serghei]

Ibra was easily 2nd best player in the market(after Cr7) and Cesc was probably best player in the market too.
To fit teams and coach philosophy is more important than the level of players,Ibra was easily better player than Villa but Villa was far better fit. Back then everyone thought Ibra is perfect fit btw. even a football genius like Pep didn't realize the shortcoming of Ibra in his own system.
There is always choices,and it isn't always the fans favorite. Again:You don't make signing just based on talent. Never. team needs is almost as important if not more and so far we have no idea what is the team needs,we aren't even 100% sure who is the new coach
So please,let's not go into circles there,just because you like a player and rate him highly doesn't mean he is what we need. Roberto job is to work with the coach to get the players he need,not the ones who please the fans

There were signs about Ibrahimovic. He was extremely arrogant even before Barca, so for me it wasn't a big surprise that he didn't work. Wasn't on
this forum back then, but was a big fan of Eto'o, and hated the deal that was made in 2009.

Ibra failed because of his arrogant attitude, at a time when Barca was trying to build a hard working team that played as a whole, instead of a collection of stars.

Bernardo Silva would have been a very good fit imo. His talents happen to be in an area that is exposed at Barcelona.

Obviously talent is not the only thing, but if you see talented players on the market, and you need what they can offer (proven things, not speculations), you go for them. Was the case with Kroos, is the case with Bernardo and several other players as well.

We have certain needs in the team that need to be adressed, and yet when one possible solution is on the market, you don't even act interested. Can't understand that.

There is not a manager on the planet who can't use a player like Bernardo in his team, especialy not when you lack players who are comfortable on the ball in midfield.

If they didn't go for Bernardo, then maybe they will sign Verratti, or Coutinho, or some players that are better than him. Because not being interested in Silva is logical only if you are close to signing a better player than him. Otherwise, it's just irresponsible thinking.

 

[khaled_a_d]

Unfortunately Arda, Gomes, no RB didn't turn out as great did it.....

I think you said it yourself. That coaches shouldn't get to take transfer decisions on players as they're not scouts.

They shouldn't make transfers,but sporting director job is to talk to them and get them players that fit what they wants. Lucho didn't want Umtiti if papers to be believed and wanted Mustafi and Roberto got him a player that fit what he needs. Same for MATS. It is a two man job and I never said SD should ignore coach opinion of what a team need nor I suggested now coach should be making the signings. Neither would work

Bernardo Silva would have been a very good fit imo. His talents happen to be in an area that is exposed at Barcelona.

All respect to your opinion,it could prove to be right. But we don't know what is the coach opinion in terms of team need and style of play.
You from the start wanted someone like Silva to work with Messi on the right side and we had this discussion couple of days ago,but for all what we know we might be going for a coach that wants something totally different. Pep isn't managing the team and neither me or you.

 

[khaled_a_d]

Signing players on talent is also how you end up with Neymar, Suarez, Alves etc.

Don't assume that Barcelona has some brilliant scouting network, when it is probably the worst amongst the top teams in Europe. Nobody has had as many flops as we have had in recent years, maybe United, but that's not saying much.

All those players were great fit and of great need for the team. With the exception of Neymar all approved by the coach too. They weren't just signed based on talent.
Needless to say any player we sign/go for will be talented.

 

[serghei]

They shouldn't make transfers,but sporting director job is to talk to them and get them players that fit what they wants. Lucho didn't want Umtiti if papers to be believed and wanted Mustafi and Roberto got him a player that fit what he needs. Same for MATS. It is a two man job and I never said SD should ignore coach opinion of what a team need nor I suggested now coach should be making the signings. Neither would work



All respect to your opinion,it could prove to be right. But we don't know what is the coach opinion in terms of team need and style of play.
You from the start wanted someone like Silva to work with Messi on the right side and we had this discussion couple of days ago,but for all what we know we might be going for a coach that wants something totally different. Pep isn't managing the team and neither me or you.

Silva is good enough to adapt to different tactics.

We know he has several qualities that are required at Barca, regardless of who is in charge. We will always try to play with passes, to keep the ball, and to dominate the opponent and create chances. In this respect, Bernardo Silva is a player who has the tools required to play that brand of football. He can keep the ball, he can pass, he can dribble, shoot, provide assists.

Now, unless Valverde wants to turn us into a completely different team which is not interested in dominating the game, creating chaces, keeping possession, he would have been useful in my opinion.

 

[khaled_a_d]

Silva is good enough to adapt to different tactics.

We know he has several qualities that are required at Barca, regardless of who is in charge. We will always try to play with passes, to keep the ball, and to dominate the opponent and create chances. In this respect, Bernardo Silva is a player who has the tools required to play that brand of football. He can keep the ball, he can pass, he can dribble, shoot, provide assists.

Now, unless Valverde wants to turn us into a completely different team which is not interested in dominating the game, creating chaces, keeping possession, he would have been useful in my opinion.

Ok,you seem to know what Valverde need even more than himself. So yeah in such case we are wrong

 

[serghei]

Ok,you seem to know what Valverde need even more than himself. So yeah in such case we are wrong

Not about that at all. He is forced to play in a certain way at Barca. We are not Bilbao. You don't come at Barca and play exactly how you want. You have a certain culture to respect, and a certain way you have to play. If he doesn't respect that he will be gone very fast.

 

[jamrock]

I don't think anyone is saying we must 100% sign this player or that player, but certain players you need to be in the mix for, if the players rejects you after then such is life, you move on.

And don't slap in the face b team offer either, because these guys might go to players and tell them, they will only play in the copa del rey for their first year

 

[jamrock]

Not about that at all. He is forced to play in a certain way at Barca. We are not Bilbao. You don't come at Barca and play exactly how you want. You have a certain culture to respect, and a certain way you have to play. If he doesn't respect that he will be gone very fast.

I would agree with this once, but under these guys, he could probably buy 10cbs, and they will say they are respecting the transitions in others ways.