Transfer Rumours V4

Was anyone else surprised by the performance of Vermaelen at leftback?

Robben didnt get much out of him at all, even in the 1 v 1.

Based on that performance, if cheap, I wouldnt complain if he was the "defensive leftback". Of course he can play CB too, but I wouldnt want him to be the only defensive signing.

Verm and Alba (LB) , Dani and Adriano (RB) and Pique, Bartra, new guy and Verm as 4th choice CB might be a decent set of defenders.

As a CB Vermaelen is beyond shit. Mascherano is better by a distance. Don't know about leftback. Don't think the club thinks leftback position needs investment anyway.

Franchise...I have to disagree. Vermaelen has flopped too many times when he's played LB for Arsenal. He is prone to losing concentration, letting runners run behind him without him noticing them. He isn't particularly fast either. For an Arsenal team that was playing deep he did ok (far from a great performance still) but when you press high up I suspect he will be caught in no man's land consistently.

I think the foremost concentration should be on signing a CB who can lead a backline. The type of player who can shout and has a bigger personality for him not to be forced into playing the nice Barcelona schoolboy like everyone who joins Barça.

I have rarely seen him play leftback for Arsenal, in fact the Bayern game may have been the only game. Which was why I asked really.

Sure Arsenal were fairly deep, but he was isolated with Robben quite often in the 1 v 1 and did a pretty good job I felt.

Get Kompany, what a defender he is. Good in every department. Fast, strong, great aerially, good tackler, excellent on the ball... he has everything. A pitty it's impossible.

Sucha pity.. he went for 8 milion to City!

On the frontpage of MD.

The Kroos situation is still not resolved.We should do everything we can to sign him.I am sure he can be enticed.Would be a great Xavi replacement and would somewhat lessen the pain of losing Thiago.

If we managed to get Benatia and Kroos this summer I would run with joy

Can we please start being linked to Koscielny again?

It Seems Song will Be Leaving this Summer; What Do ya'll Think about Yann M'vila? He'll make a More than Capable Replacement...... Or Victor Wanyama; Strong, a Good Tackler and a Good Passer; Barely Takes 3 Touches of The Ball

AnchorMan wrote:It Seems Song will Be Leaving this Summer; What Do ya'll Think about Yann M'vila? He'll make a More than Capable Replacement...... Or Victor Wanyama; Strong, a Good Tackler and a Good Passer; Barely Takes 3 Touches of The Ball

We don't need anyone to replace Song. Bartra, Sergi Roberto and Mascherano can cover Busquets for the very few games he won't play.

http://www.sport.es/es/noticias/barca/esta-lista-los-centrales-futuribles-3203530

Sport: barca will sign 2 centerbacks: an established player to pay along pique and a promising youth

Established players being considered: Thiago Silva (PSG), David Luiz (Chelsea), Hummels (Borussia Dortmund), Agger (Liverpool), Fazio (Sevilla), Vermaelen (PSV), Vertonghen (Tottenham) & Marquinhos (PSG).

Promising youth being considered: Mangala (Oporto) Iñigo Martínez (Real Sociedad), Balanta (River Plate), Musacchio (Villarreal), &Dragovic (Dinamo Kiev)

Hmm.. I would rather sign two centerbacks
one to challenge Pique and a regular starter that can compete with Bartra.

BarrileteCosmico wrote:http://www.sport.es/es/noticias/barca/esta-lista-los-centrales-futuribles-3203530

Sport: barca will sign 2 centerbacks: an established player to pay along pique and a promising youth

That would be great, but we would have to sell Mascherano. Which of course I am good with but I dont know if we will really do.

I hope Napoli really like him as much as they say.

Yeah I'm thinking if it's true then we're definitely selling Masche. Looking at Napoli's backline they could really use some grit so it might be likely. But I only wonder if Martino will be so willing to get rid of Masche.

From the supposed rumored list of Tata it seems he wanted felipe luis
a hint that we want to either sell Alba or Adriano?

If sport say that you will sign 2 CBs, that probably means that you will sign only one. the new guy to play with Pique, with Masch and Bartra as back ups

Donuts wrote:From the supposed rumored list of Tata it seems he wanted felipe luis
a hint that we want to either sell Alba or Adriano?

Should have signed him when he was at Depor lol.

Would be a great signing though.

He loves it at Atleti and they don't want to sell. Don't think he would come, nor do I think we would even try if we don't get rid of Adriano first.

It's encouraging to see that Tata wants to get rid of Alba though.

What was the rest of the names on this supposed list that Tata made?

Defenders :
Neven Subotic, Felipe Luis, Doria, and Santiago Vergini

Midfielders :
Arda Turan and Gundogan

Forwards :
Sergio Aguero, Miroslav Klose

granted these have not been confirmed and are just rumors but who knows.

windkick wrote:It's encouraging to see that Tata wants to get rid of Alba though.

What was the rest of the names on this supposed list that Tata made?

get rid of Alba? If anyone would leave, its Adriano...
Adriano is older and injury prone... So no, that won't happen! Although, Adriano is a very good squad player, I won't sell him. Would add another LCB/LB. More depth in squad and give Adriano some playing time on RB...

That list doesn't seem plausible. Why would he demand Arda? We are absolutely stacked in that position. What does Arda offer us that we don't already have?

Vergini is a scrub. Sunderland have him on loan (?) now. He looked completely out of his depth against Arsenal. If Tata wanted him, he would have gotten him very easily for peanuts during the summer or winter break. Don't believe that at all.

Klose is 36. That ship has sailed long time ago, even for an impact sub.

If we bought Agüero he would be a starter. Neymar, Messi, Agüero? That's a bit too much of the same. 3 ball hogs upfront, little movement. Agüero will also never be at his best on the right wing. He would also cost € 60M upwards and he's extremely injury prone. This only works in Fifa.

Doria looks very very slow.

Subotic. Meh.

Gündogan looks fecked for ever.

Felipe Luis would be a dream.

Filipe Luís should have been signed 4 seasons ago. He's almost 29, which is old for a fullback in my opinion, considering he won't be cheap either.

As for defenders avoid getting overrated and overpriced players like Hummels or David Luiz. One of Dedé or Éder Álvarez Balanta would be good back ups but you need a good established defender as a priority. I haven't watched Fazio enough to know how good he is, Mussachio is a good defender but not a good ball player. Stay away from Íñigo, Bartra is better than him. I really want to know how good Mangala is.

As for midfield I'd sign Rakitić. I think he is a super player who won't break the bank and can be a good alternative to Vidal who would cost €60+ million. Best Croatian midfielder right now

What's the issue with getting Benatia? Best getable centerback out there by far. Just splash € 40M on him, fss. He is worth it. Only 26 as well. Stud of a defender, better than Luiz, Hummels and everyone else.

danyjr wrote: I really want to know how good Mangala is.

He is good, but not 40m good. Relatively recently Porto have sold some very good centerbacks (Andrade, Carvalho, Pepe) for alot of money and they turned out to be pretty good. Mangala I think is of the same kind, but the question is do you want to pay for him. He will be more expensive than all of those guys but isnt better than them.

His biggest strength is the dominance in the air..both boxes he wins EVERYTHING. I dont think I am exaggerating to say he is one of the best in the air, both as a leaper or in terms of actually heading the ball.

I think he would be a much better foil for Pique than Fazio or any other big, slow, cumbersome defender.