2013-14 'Blue-Print'- Discussion of Transfers, Tactical Changes etc.

Ter Stegen/Caballero

Mangala/Sakho/Vertonghen

Essentially since we're not signing a LB I'd rather we sign a CB that can also play LB.

it should be a right back in the mold of Abi. It makes no sense long term as Alba will be the offensive full back.

Or we could just use Bartra as RB so there's really no need.

I completely forgot about the GK situation

Interesting solution Free never considered that, probably a good idea.

Struggling to think of many defensive minded RBs with quality enough to play for you though

I definitely think you need a defensive fullback of some kind though, Alba and another Alves type will never work long term IMO.

Centerback and a goalie who isnt Riena. Want a leftback witb defensively qualites as a ying to Alba's yang but I'm fully aware it wont happen.

I'll settle for the first two gladly.

BarrileteCosmico wrote:Ter Stegen/Caballero

Caballero is oooooold man, he'll be a short-term solution to a long-term problem.

BarrileteCosmico wrote:Mangala/Sakho/Vertonghen

Haven't watched Mangala much, if he's the left footed guy from Porto, he didn't catch my eyes. He's quick and certainly a better passer than Subotić though (if only Subotić was half decent with the ball).
Vertonghen is going to cost a lot. I don't see Levy letting him go for anything less than €35m to be honest.
Sakho seems to be a great option. He has his faults, but he can complement Piqué.

Willy is 31, and GKs retire in the late 30s, so I don't see the issue personally. He has 4 more years of top football in him.

Great Leader Sprucenuce wrote: i love Hummels and think some of the things said are OTT

mole, who out of Hummels and our very own Pique do you think is better in terms of current form and overall class?

BarrileteCosmico wrote:Ter Stegen/Caballero

Mangala/Sakho/Vertonghen

Essentially since we're not signing a LB I'd rather we sign a CB that can also play LB.

Nice choices but I would like two CBs. One specialist who will be a regular starter. The other a CB who can also play LB or an LB who can also play CB.

JD, I know what youe saying is the right way to go but the board have already said we are going to only buy three players this summer; a keeper, a centre and Neymar. We are unlikely to sell anyone...

As much as I wanna believe we are going to solve our CB problems this season, realistically we most likely wont.
We still have Mascherano, and Adriano who will take up unnecessary minutes.

In fairness, most centerback options won't be a significant improvement over Mascherano, except Silva or Kompany who both won't come. Mascherano makes a few errors here and there but not too many (after watching Hummels in a few high profile games in recent times I've realized that Mascherano actually ranks as a top defender in this era of defenders ). So the centerback Barca buy should be nearly flawless to be a significant improvement over him. There aren't many around who are good on the ball, fast and yet aggressive and athletic 1 on 1 warriors with leadership skills to organize a backline. Only Silva fits those criteria IMO.

I would buy Silva.

Don't really see the "forget about him" argument. We've fked around too long with this position. We shouldn't be looking at 2nd best option regardless of his age, and 28 isn't 'old'.

If we can convince the player to submit a transfer request I think he'd cost about 40m. I'd pay that over 25 for Hummels or Marquinhos any day.

The only guy I'd seriously consider changing my first choice for is Koscielny.

I don't think he's too old either. I mean Puyol was that old when this whole Pep era started. So Thiago can easily give 4 world class seasons and mark an era as well. It's the perfect age for a defender. But for the life of me, I don't see PSG selling even for € 40M. They themselves bought him for that amount of money so what's the point from their point of view?

I doubt they will, but we may as well try, because cash is not their concern. Their concern is actually keeping him. So if, somehow, we convince him to leave then I doubt they'd start haggling with us because they are loaded as it is. It would be because Thiago forces the sale.

Unlikely to happen though I guess...

All these guys like Hummels, Marquinhos, Inigo etc. I see as B-list and a downgrade on Puyol.

Yeah, not very hopeful. If PSG are playing hard-ball with Madrid because of Ancelotti who has only 1 year on his contract, they will surely not even talk about Thiago who is contracted until what? 2017?

One name:

VARANE!!!!!!! !!! !

The Sanchez wrote:JD, I know what youe saying is the right way to go but the board have already said we are going to only buy three players this summer; a keeper, a centre and Neymar. We are unlikely to sell anyone...

Thanks man. Yes that is what they are probably targeting but the transfer window is long and dynamic. Hence certain plans may not remain the same till its end. Still considering our apathy towards buying center backs, its unlikely we will even try to buy any more than the one planned. Let's hope we buy at least the one planned because I have even read on Twitter that if we don't get Thiago Silva we may end up buying no center back and play Adriano in that position. As for selling I think two names definitely leaving are Abidal and Villa. Valdes I think should be let go since that's what he wants and there's no point forcing a player to just play on for one year with his heart not longer with this team. Then there are the loan returns pretty much none of whom will be retained in our squad.

BarcaKizz wrote:I doubt they will, but we may as well try, because cash is not their concern. Their concern is actually keeping him. So if, somehow, we convince him to leave then I doubt they'd start haggling with us because they are loaded as it is. It would be because Thiago forces the sale.

Unlikely to happen though I guess...

All these guys like Hummels, Marquinhos, Inigo etc. I see as B-list and a downgrade on Puyol.

kizz, I think we should try at least. Thiago Silva has hinted that he wants to leave. Ancelotti is leaving. PSG are in an uncertain state. We should express an interest before it is too late.

free_cat wrote:One name:

VARANE!!!!!!! !!! !

Just for my knowledge I am asking these questions. When was the last time Madrid went after a Barca player? When was the last time Barca went after a Madrid player? Is there not an unwritten understanding that we will not target each other's players?

messixaviesta wrote:

The Sanchez wrote:JD, I know what youe saying is the right way to go but the board have already said we are going to only buy three players this summer; a keeper, a centre and Neymar. We are unlikely to sell anyone...

Thanks man. Yes that is what they are probably targeting but the transfer window is long and dynamic. Hence certain plans may not remain the same till its end. Still considering our apathy towards buying center backs, its unlikely we will even try to buy any more than the one planned. Let's hope we buy at least the one planned because I have even read on Twitter that if we don't get Thiago Silva we may end up buying no center back and play Adriano in that position. As for selling I think two names definitely leaving are Abidal and Villa. Valdes I think should be let go since that's what he wants and there's no point forcing a player to just play on for one year with his heart not longer with this team. Then there are the loan returns pretty much none of whom will be retained in our squad.

Sorry when I mean selling I mean the ones people here are suggesting e.g. Adriano, Mascherano etc. Villa and Valdes will be the only ones that may leave.
We have already said that Valdes is leaving so thats why we are going to buy the keeper this market instead of the next. Just to clarify it to you
Tito last season something that we didn't need to buy anyone because we had so much backup; Pique, Puyol, Mascherano, Adriano, Song, Busquests, Bartra, Muniesa but hopefully he has a little common sense on who we actually need...

messixaviesta wrote:

free_cat wrote:One name:

VARANE!!!!!!! !!! !

Just for my knowledge I am asking these questions. When was the last time Madrid went after a Barca player? When was the last time Barca went after a Madrid player? Is there not an unwritten understanding that we will not target each other's players?

Madrid signed Saviola like 5 years ago. Before that, there was Celades, Figo, Laudrup...
Also, there was a Madrid presidential candidate who tried to sign Iniesta.

Last Madrid player I remember us signing was Luis Enrique.

I have no idea if there's such a "gentleman's agreement" but we shouldn't have it with that scum, they can't be trusted.

Villa plus cash for Vertonghen

Also lol @ Varane. Would you send Thiago the other way? There's your answer.

Yeah give up on saying Varane free. If the 0.1% chance that it could happen eventuated then it would be a nice surprise, but no point talking about it.

@JD: Yep, thats exactly why we should try to go for him. PSG has been shaken up somewhat... we just have to shake the cage some more until he drops out.

Also I doubt Vertonghen because last yr they had the option to sign for 12m and this year he'll be worth like 30-35m.

Anyway... like I said, fking window hasn't even opened yet. There are no really solid rumours yet that we can chew on.

It's more unlikely that we can get Thiago Silva than Varane.
To get Varane all we have to do is convince him and put 30 milion on the table.
To get Thiago Silva you have to convince him, convince PSG, and put an unnamed amount on the table.

Except convincing Varane to leave Madrid is harder, and Madrid can always just react and improve their offer. Considering he seems to be a surefire starter for a long time to come it'd be incredibly bizarre if he left.

Thiago Silva said he actually wanted to play for Barca...

On top of all this... there's not be a mention of Barca wanting Varane or him leaving.

The Sanchez wrote:

messixaviesta wrote:

The Sanchez wrote:JD, I know what youe saying is the right way to go but the board have already said we are going to only buy three players this summer; a keeper, a centre and Neymar. We are unlikely to sell anyone...

Thanks man. Yes that is what they are probably targeting but the transfer window is long and dynamic. Hence certain plans may not remain the same till its end. Still considering our apathy towards buying center backs, its unlikely we will even try to buy any more than the one planned. Let's hope we buy at least the one planned because I have even read on Twitter that if we don't get Thiago Silva we may end up buying no center back and play Adriano in that position. As for selling I think two names definitely leaving are Abidal and Villa. Valdes I think should be let go since that's what he wants and there's no point forcing a player to just play on for one year with his heart not longer with this team. Then there are the loan returns pretty much none of whom will be retained in our squad.

Sorry when I mean selling I mean the ones people here are suggesting e.g. Adriano, Mascherano etc. Villa and Valdes will be the only ones that may leave.
We have already said that Valdes is leaving so thats why we are going to buy the keeper this market instead of the next. Just to clarify it to you
Tito last season something that we didn't need to buy anyone because we had so much backup; Pique, Puyol, Mascherano, Adriano, Song, Busquests, Bartra, Muniesa but hopefully he has a little common sense on who we actually need...

Never mind man. That makes good sense.