Thiago is the definition of a clueless midfielder with a brilliant technique and is also a injury prone. Cant believe we are thinking about to spend 70+ for him. He is so much rated here an dont know why. Never been a fan of him since his first days for us. Its not enough to just keep the ball and play it safe back and sidewards but thats what we are getting here. A rakitic with a better technique but who cant defend.
I would say yes to him only if his price would be reasonable. If bayern is intending to sell him they will play it hard just to cash really hard on us because they know our board is easily to trick....
I watched more videos today of him and Xavi, and I have the same feeling about this "clueless part".
I will pull an IQ card again and say that Thiago seems as if he doesn't know what he is doing.
A controller should be a brain of a team, and Thiago is not that guy.
Xavi was the master.
He was the brain.
He was TikiTaka for me.
Without Xavi, Iniesta's and Busi's game wouldn't make too much sense, imo.
Xavi's brain and vision turned Pep's Barca and Spain into an absolute dominating class.
I have already said, I see midfielders as leaders and supporters.
Further, both Xavi and Thiago are controllers.
But Xavi controlled the game in a logical and active way.
While with Thiago, I don't think that he has too much ideas what will happen in any action.
He is way more passive, without such a vision and he needs a lot of support from other creators.
Now, try to look what I am trying to say:
Whenever Xavi gets the ball, he stops, looks at his teammates and all opponents.
And his brain has 3-4 solutions and he is trying to pick the best one which will create a 1 vs 1 chance for his team in the end.
For example, "a natural" Xavi from 2004 (aged 23-24), way before Pep:
Look at how he is always looking for attacking options.
He rarely makes backpasses to a CB.
And even his sideway passes are still forward-sideway passes.
And now, for example Thiago:
He is afraid. He is not a leader in midfield. He is afraid to ask for the ball and DO something with it in every single action.
He "needs" someone else around him who will help him and he can't carry a burden of creation alone on his shoulders.
Also, look how many shit backpasses he has, or how many times he asks for the ball, ONLY to pass it back to the same player with a first touch pass.
Wtf? What is the point of that?
He is asking the ball only for the sake of touching the ball and not doing anything with it.
Then guys, remember how Xavi looked for options, teammates. How he was dribbling, shielding the ball, playing forward whenever possible, even as a deep lying playmaker.
So, in some things Thiago resembles of Xavi.
But in some ways, he looks like a dumb Jordi Alba as a CM.
Good technique, passes, somewhat fast. But his decisions and overall visions are quite meh and nowhere near the level of Xavi.
I would dare to say that Rakitic has way better IQ.
But his technique sucks though.
Thiago is technically gifted, but not too bright controller.
Again, it doesn't mean that he can't make some good things here and there.
But if you guys are expecting some sort of Xavi's heir from him, well.
Xavi WAS TikiTaka.
Thiago is just a random flashy footballer, without world class vision and decisions.
** To some extent, I can understand why Hoeness and Matheus are letting him go.
Also, guys, Bayern's reject is supposed to be our midfield savior. Ouch.
Something is "off" in this story.
Either Bayern is dumb and wrong in letting him go.
Or our fans are way overrating Thiago.