Transfer Rumours V4

OK, but thats not why the move didnt happen. We didnt offer for him...untill that point you said about swapping for our Thiago, which was too late.

I suspect it became known that indeed Thiago Silva could be had, because PSG were in for him (obviously we didnt know how far in for him) and then tried...then your correct, it was too late.

However, there was time before then...when the entire world said he was untouchable. Which turned out to be untrue.

At that time, especially on here, everyone was saying, nope, Milan would never sell. That was untrue, as it turned out.


Whats so special about Mangala? I dont know...maybe he isnt that good, maybe Laporte isnt either. How does anyone truly know untill they play for the club?

Right now, Laporte is a much bigger guess though. Mangala plays for his NT, he has played in the CL, he has experience and it still young..so obviously, I know more about him, seen him more and like what I see.

Doesnt mean he is better than Laporte, but all transfers are part leap of faith and I have more at Mangala at this time.

Badstuber is not a leftback, he isnt the fastest guy in the world. Of course he was owned by Nani. We can disagree about his quality, thats fine...but if Bayern are signing a CB like you say, surely someone at Bayern is leaving?

I dont want Hummels or Badstuber by the way, but I am saying they are reasonable options. You are saying there are hardly any.

What is funny about N'Koulou and Höwedes?

Do they sound any more questionable than Koscienly (played in Ligue 2) and Mertersacker (slowest player on the planet who merely did ok for a meh German team)? Funny how those two all of a sudden are two of better defenders in the game now.

I have ALWAYS rated Mertesacker, although I can't prove it because I never posted something along those lines. But as a German I've seen the German defense with Mertesacker and without Mertesacker countless times. Good, solid, not so flashy, no-nonsense defender (would still not take him for Barca because Pique and Merte with Busquets infront of them against Di Maria, Ronaldo, Bale for example would be hilariously bad). I'm not against Höwedes because he is "unknown". I'm against him because he is not Barca quality. I know this for a fact. If you said Matthias Ginter - different story. Huge talent.

Badstuber will not leave Bayern, even if they sign someone. He is gomegrown. The board would veto that even if Pep asked them to sell him. They are trying hard to copy Barca right now. This includes their youth policy. They will even keep Mandzukic next season despite getting Lewa. Their board pretty much confirmed this. Sammer: "No one needs to inquire about Mandzukic." They are crazy, the Real Madrid of Germany. They stack talent for the sake of it. Keeping Badstuber is not a problem. Van Buyten would be the one to leave.

Mangala's CL experience is irrelevant for me. Laporte plays against Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid 6 times per season. 3 of the top 5 teams in the world. Mangala plays in the group stages against Zenit and Austria Wien before relegating into the Europa League. And his daily league is a joke. Laporte plays at a much higher level. I've seen him win pretty much every single duel against Messi in Camp Nou, including a last man tackle just 2 weeks ago. He is a huge talent for a 19 year old. Obviously he also makes mistakes but which 19 year old defender doesn't? Overall he is starting material for a CL team in La Liga. I don't see why Mangala has anything over him except more experience.

If we want to buy a talent then I'm fine with Laporte.

If we want proper experience Mangala isn't a valid alternative. Koscielny and Benatia would be.

I wont suggest you did not rate him, that really isnt my point. Some people are fans of players everyone seems to not rate, I get that. I have always like Carrick for example, whereas at the time, many said he was average and maybe still some people think he isnt good.

The point im trying to make though is that there are players who are somewhat obscure...and then all of a sudden they play for a big team and they are magically great. When really, they always was and they just didnt get the chance/wasnt seen.

Mangala also played against Benfica half a dozen times, PSG twice, Napoli twice, Sevilla, Atletico, Zenit, played in CL knock out games (Malaga) and Uruguay (France)..just the fact he has played in the CL, regardless of the opponent is a bonus..its the highest level, he been throw the nerves..he seen more, been in pressure situations...knows what it is like to have to win every game to win a league and played in games which losing means, your entire season is over. Laporte never done that...I think their experience isnt even close to being comparable.

Of course you dont see what Mangala has over him, you never watch him. He has fantastic qualities..just because he applies them against Portugese opponants doesnt reduce his qualities. Especially not when the replicates it at CL level.

Its fault analysis. This is the kind of logic which says we shouldnt of signed Neymar..seeing as they only raped the Brazilian league..and you can go on and on down the line naming players and using this faulty logic to dismiss players.

Anyway, I am not selling Mangala on experience..he is 23...experience is not the selling point. Its his possible quality.

Read Alves may be going to PSG, that would be crazy for us, hope its just the usual bs the media conjures up.

Can someone tell me why the Barca press is going full retard with the Courtois rumours?





Isn't it pretty much confirmed that ter Stegen is coming? Pinto replacement?

Chelsea selling Courtois? No chance in hell.

Besides, despite his huge stature and reflexes which I like in goalkeepers, I think his decision making is still poor. Still 21 though so he can/will learn more. But he doesn't have that commanding instinct in his DNA like Buffon, Van der Sar or Kahn did.

It just dawned on me that Barca's defense next season could very well be:

Alba-Luiz-Pique-Cuadrado

Zubi the legend.

Cuadrado fullback? for me he 's absolutely a winger   

Robespierre wrote:Cuadrado fullback? for me he 's absolutely a winger   

Impossible is nothing with Zubi

Cuadrado was fullback to Lecce but he was raped by everyone in that role and so he was moved on .... and well, it was the positive change for his career. Absolutely dominant there . tbh I've read him as fullback also in past, for example in an Arsenal starting too, meh, totally wasted , I hope who wants him not for that role. infact Juve wants him as winger for abandoning the 3-5-2 crap in Europe

He could be called a wing back, like Dani and Marcelo. But cuadrado has been known to play SS ffs

yeah also as SS , although atypical not Lavezzi-esque, good for game with no point of references made by Montella . Winger or SS but definitely not fullback anyway. I hope Mundo Deportivo was wrong about it

Fußball wrote:It just dawned on me that Barca's defense next season could very well be:

Alba-Luiz-Pique-Cuadrado

Zubi the legend.

LOL jesus christ

I was hoping we get back to top of europe for 2015-16, but by the looks of it, it is probably may be at 2017-2018.

I Think We Should Sign Caballero or Keylor Navas as Second Choice Goalie . . . Both Would be Cheap and Would Accept a PLace on the Bench. Heard Navas' Contract Runs Out this Summer and He Might be headed to Atletico

Both are waaaaay to good and young to be sitting on the bench as reserve goalkeepers. If I were Keylor and had an offer from Atleti to start and Barca to sit on the bench, I know which option I'd prefer.

Our second gk should be masip. He is fantastic. Perhaps even competition competing for the first spot.

how well is his distribution? and against corners?

He is small, so he isnt great at dominating the box at set peices. He only comes for things he HAS to.

He is good enough with his feet. Better than someone like Pinto, who actually is decent technically but his decision making is awful. Masip (then again, who isnt) is much better with the decisions and is adept with his feet.

Jonathan Soriano (Salzburg): "I don't rule out that Luis Enrique might want to sign me. I'm good here, but who would say no to Barça?" [ser]

J.Soriano Stats with Salzburg this season (all comps):
46 goals in 39 games including 11 in 9 Europa League games.

Am I the only one against getting Enrique? At the point a TON of media reports are reporting he is as good as ours for next season. Apparently Zubi was even spotted at his house, allegidley going over transfer targets for next season.

I can imagine the list now

Thiago Silva
Luiz

Full summer ends, no one signed.

I am indifferent.

There are some positives and there are some negatives.

Lionel Messi's new contract demands are: Sign Sergio Aguero and renew Jose Manuel Pinto's contract

Fußball wrote:It just dawned on me that Barca's defense next season could very well be:

Alba-Luiz-Pique-Cuadrado

Zubi the legend.

Well if we do have that backline at least we know who can get the best out of our team.

http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2013/0202/soc_g_zdenek-zeman_mb_576.jpg

RealGunner wrote:Lionel Messi's new contract demands are: Sign Sergio Aguero and renew Jose Manuel Pinto's contract

Wat