CBarca wrote:Would like for us to buy Veratti tbh. Would take a fortune but I would like to see it happen if possible. I don't watch him enough to say such a strong statement yet but the guy looks to me like he has the talent to be the next Xavi for us.

You know whats funny, wasn't that long ago that people would bitch and complain (everyone except Barc fans) that we had WAY too many midfielders. We had prime Xavi, Iniesta, Busquets, also Cesc and Thiago. We also had Afellay and Mascherano would could play the midfield, and even had Keita for one full season with the rest of the guys I just mentioned.

Now we have an old Xavi, and running on tired legs Iniesta. We have Rakitic who's probably our best midfielder now, with Busquets and Mascherano taking turns as our pivot. Then you got the kids who aren't "there" yet, in Rafinha and Sergi. Our midfield could use some one extra...funny who would of ever thought this just 2 or so years ago. How quickly things change. But we will deff need to nab a midfielder as soon as the ban ends. Withought a question

Xavi will likely be gone or retired by then.
Iniesta will be 31 heading towards 32.
Rakitic will be in his prime
Busquets will be in his prime
Rafinha hopefully by this point reach his full potential, hard to tell if thats much better than his current game
Sergi is simply not good enough for us.

Halolivic, Samper hard to tell what level they will be at, doubt it will be top tier by this point and ready to start

That is not a very good midfield, so we will deff have to get at least one top player to compliment Rakitic and Busquets when the ban ends.

windkick wrote:
Our midfield could use some one extra...funny who would of ever thought this just 2 or so years ago.

Anyone with a rudimentary conception of squad development tbh

Why exactly did Thiago leave? I remember Pep saying Barca were desperate to get rid of him but he seems to be someone that would have solved a lot of your problems if you kept him.

playing time. He apparently had some clause in his contract that if he didnt play x amount of mins his release clause would be significantly less (like 20m vs 40m or something like that). He didnt get his playing time, and he accepted Bayerns offer and left. He's been injured every single season since as far back as I can remember, shame considering all the potential he has.

He's also never really been fully committed to Barca. He once said something along the lines he didnt care about being a Barca legend, but a legend in the sport. Meaning he didnt care if he became famous here or somewhere else. He wanted the glory and Bayern had just stomped us and signed Pep, so he went to what looked like the next big dominant club in Europe with our era coming to and end.

Ohhhh yes I remember that transfer.

A shame though how things turned out for him, such a promising player.

Looks like Real Madrid snapped up Danilo already, so the search for a right back continues.

http://www.espnfc.us/story/2340395/porto-defender-danilo-has-agreed-real-madrid-move-says-barcelona-transfer-advisor-charly-rexach

B... B... But Carvajal was the best RB in Germany :'(

Honestly this comes off as a cawk block move. Triple his wages when they have a starter in that position already?

Wont be a starter much longer, Carvajal is so average. They basically signed a slightly more skilled version of 2005 Arbeloa.

Danilo is a good player, would have been a good signing...but dont think he is worth 30m

We need to move for Verratti asap, hopefully once Laporta comes back and come summer of 2016. Love the kids passion, hunger and aggression.

Winter is Coming wrote:We need to move for Verratti asap, hopefully once Laporta comes back and come summer of 2016. Love the kids passion, hunger and aggression.

Agreed

Alves to PSG??? any idea. it suddenly appears all over in the media.

Verrati is good, but Pastore is better and is not regarded as so integral to PSG. Maybe they would sell him to us, while they'd never sell Verratti.

free_cat is Grimaldo still the next big thing from La Masia? People were claiming that he was the next best LB in Europe. What is your opinion?

jibers wrote:free_cat is Grimaldo still the next big thing from La Masia? People were claiming that he was the next best LB in Europe. What is your opinion?

Who claimed he was the next best LB in Europe?

He had a very bad injury and after he came back has been played a lot as CM by dumb Eusebio. He is certainly a nice prospect, with a great techique, shooting and passing for a FB, but he might have Bojan's problem with his lack of physique. I don't see him being better than Alba before 23-24, if ever.

How is Pastore better than Verratti?

The Franchise wrote:How is Pastore better than Verratti?

He isn't and its not even close. Besides they are two different players, Veratti is the closest thing to Xavi alive and Pastore is the Argentine version of Nasri.

Nasri Pastore is more accurately poor man's Iniesta. He is actually doing very well this year.

Anyways, Sport reporting that we have priced Pedro at 20m and are willing to sell to make space for a tall CF. Wonder if anyone will pay that, seems like a lot for someone that has had less than 10 good games in the past 2 years but it doesn't seem completely insane in this market.

i see arsenal likely to buy him?
maybe liverpool?

Can't see anyone paying that much for Pedro. 15 million I can see just based on the fact that he's had a great past and he's not old or anything. Still has a lot to give many teams IMO.

He's not a bad player either, he's just not Barcelona quality.

Also Arsenal to buy him would be hilarious, and we would have to get Diaby off of them just to make it up to them likely.

lollzzz..20 mil ?? Madrid can do that business, not us. we dont know how to sell players. we know how to waste money. Also Arsenal is calever enough not to spend on us. we are their permanent customer not them.
is it lucho's idea that we go for a striker?? our mid is disaster and we should spend every single penny to get a quality there. but reality says we need to cry for three seasons for it like we did for defenders and then end up like you know how.

We dont need a tall CF. It would just encourage our fullbacks to cross. Plus who is this player? I read Dzeko or Llorente...please no.

I would much rather a striker with some genuine speed and on top of that the ability to play wide (should Pedro finally be put out to pasture).

I would take all purchase rumors with a huge grain of salt because we can't purchase anyone and Bart is not going to win real election. But he can still sell, so that seems more credible to me.

were gonna buy a new rb..
i think that's a given.

a new midfield once sergi and xavi leave.

a new forward once pedro leaves.

apparently madrid have gotten danilo, the rb we have "heavily scouted" according to some papers.
guess no more carvajal for them.

Danilo to Madrid. Zubi