Rumor: Let's talk about Cesc, baby... - The 2010 Summer Transfer (Rumors) Thread

An old vet striker good in the air would be good. Some guy like Kanoute.

 

That last part is key. Bojan has a bright future but I don't think it's wise to expect him to get this squad to a CL final if Villa gets injured.

This is my take: Keep Zlatan.

This squad, plus the possible addition of Cesc, will be LOADED for next season to an extent that has been rarely seen.

Two world-class CFs with Villa and Ibra, the best player since Maradona roaming the right wing in Messi, one of the best passing CM's in history in Xavi being paired with two top CMs in the world in Iniesta and possibly Cesc. Great defensive mid cover with Yaya, Busquets and Keita and a solid back-line (though a world-class left back addition wouldn't hurt my feelings...).

Not to mention the great players like 20+ goal Pedro and a wonder talent like Bojan.

This squad not only has an unheard of level of talent in it's starting XI, that talent level extends into the squad depth. Keep Zlatan, win every trophy imaginable again and cement this squad and these last few years as the greatest team in modern history.

(With regards to keeping a guy like Zlatan happy with playing time, at this point in his career I think he'd keep his mouth shut for a year if it meant winning a CL)

 

yea but we're in debt lol its not that easy

 

Great to see Villa wearing our colours..

That's also the new kit?

I like it. Only the yellow on the neck is too wide.. There was a rumour on shorts being red earlier around the internet, and what do you know - it seems they are. The away shirt looks really awesome.

EDIT (about new kits): http://www.fcbarcelona.cat/web/english/noticies/club/temporada09-10/05/21/n100521111134.html

 

I was originally against selling Zlatan prematurely, but I don't see how we can carry all these salaries and continue to develop our youth. It also just seems like he will be the odd man out, with almost all the other stars on the squad being Spanish or Latin American.

Yes, if we sell Ibra and get an injury to Messi or Villa, we might be in trouble. On the other hand, you might have thought the same thing last year with Henry, but Pedro stepped in to close the gap in production. I think we have to be willing to put Bojan through the same test if any of the starters get injured next year (same thing to a lesser extent with Jeffren). He responded well in 2007-2008 when Eto'o, Messi, and Henry were injured, and he's a better player now. Otherwise, what's the point of having this great youth system?

 

My question is, at what point do you stop bringing in these expensive stikers and start putting some extra weight on the shoulders of Bojan? Don't get me wrong, I love the Villa signing for you guys, but Bojan has more than proved he's ready for a bigger role in the team (one could argue he did that during Rijkaard's last season, though he was just 17). At what point does the "lets bring him along slowly" strategy turn into the "now we're just hindering his development"?

 

I agree 100%. Bojan is more than ready for a bigger role. I'd love to see what he could do out on loan playing a starting role.

 

Zlatan can hang out with Chiggyriynsky.

Every team runs the risk with injuries. You can't have the 2nd most expensive player in the world sitting around as a reserve.

 

News from the Arsenal boards... apparently we cannot afford Cesc due to our massive debt and will also have to sell Messi to pay it off!

 

the IRONIC thing about that is....

we have just signed this Chamakh guy, who apparently will help lead us to trophies.

you know, those things that players like cesc fabregas want to win.

the problem? we could've signed him 12 months ago for less than 10 million transfer fee , probably increased our chances if silverware, thus INCREASING the chances of fabregas resisting the lure of his boyhood club.

now where are we? wenger and the board saved a couple million, we won nothing, again, and we're on the cusp of losing cesc.

wonderful

 

maybe nike can move their sweatshops to downtown madrid and actually give LPB's cantera something to do?

 

But who would play for Getafe?

 

They can recycle the "Real Madrid Liga Champions 09/10" gear they had to have made, you know just in case Valladolid grabs a point or three from us...

 

so honestly, do you guys think cesc will go or stay?

he still has FOUR years left on his contract, so i have to believe that he'll stay.

somewhat reluctantly im sure, but he'll still give his all, wenger has signed chamakh and confirmed on the official arsenal site that he WILL sign 1-2 more players, hopefully more

I really think cesc stays another year.

barca don't seem willing to pay more than 30 million for what is essentially one of there homegrown boys who decided to leave the nest before signing professional terms...

arsenal don't technically even have to listen to offers from barca, and more importantly, the player is legally barred from speaking to barca unless the club sanction a transfer, which i find highly unlikely. thus, if barca do speak to cesc without proper approval, arsenal can grow some balls, report them to UEFA & FIFA and take it from there...

I think cesc will leave in 2 years honestly....by then , with only 2 years left on his deal, barca and arsenal will agree a transfer fee similar to that of henry, maybe abit more, perhaps 20-25 million, which seems fair for both clubs considering that by then, this global spree to spend billions by madrid, city, and chelsea should finally be over.

 

I'm with you juanca and I hope that is the case. I really want Cesc, but not yet. Xavi is still in his prime and there is already enough quality in the midfield.

With the Villa signing, all I want now is for a backup right back to be purchased or promoted; Yaya to stay!!!!; and for a veteran striker to be brought in if Ibra is sold.

 

all I know is that, against Inter we badly missed Iniesta. if anything happens to either him or Xavi, we have NO replacement. Fabregas gives us another option for both those players. if we have 2 of those 3 players able to suit up for us on any given day, I'd back us against pretty much anyone. I really can't see how anyone would be opposed to Fabregas coming in at this time. the likes of Keita are perhaps good in-game subs, but we lose something major when we're having to rely on him to start 20+ games in a season

 

so you are willing your club to spend upwards of 50 million euros to get a "back up" for xavi or iniesta? more so, why would cesc want to be 2nd choice player when he can captain a good club like Arsenal, IMO anyway.

FM isn't real life.

 

If we go for Cesc he would not just be a back up. With Messi, Villa, Ibra, Xavi, Iniesta, and Cesc only one would have to be on the bench. There would definitely have to be some rotation but that does not mean it would always be Cesc who sits out, any forward could be dropped and Iniesta or Cesc could play an advanced role. It is a lot of depth and may be hard to keep everyone happy, it is a post world cup season and the players may welcome the ability to rest more.

I do not think we need Cesc now, especially with Dos Santos and Alcantara having another year and off season of experience, but it seems like a real possibility. Laporta desperately wants him, Cesc seems to want to move, the Barca players all want it, the only question mark is Pep. If he does come he will get plenty of playing time though. If one thing is clear from last season it is that Messi and Xavi needed some rest, each averaged ~82 minutes a game over 35 and 34 appearances.

Also, if it does happen I don't think the cash value would go over €40M. The transfer would likely be €30-40M plus players.

 

Iniesta has had injury problems for the past two seasons and Xavi missed some matches this season as well. He'll get plenty of playing time especially with rotation which Barca needs. Xavi needs to be rested more as does Messi.

What I don't understand are these Toure to Chelsea rumors? Does Barca really want to strengthen Chelsea even more???

 

Ah I'd love to see Villa, Torres, and Messi up front. Higuain is not bad either.

 

Unless you all want to go back to the old days of Iniesta at RW, then bringing in Cesc will have no affect on the minutes Messi plays.

To bring up Iniesta's injuries the past seasons, I bring up Messi's and then say he was healthy this year. We shouldn't expect Iniesta to be injured.

It is true that Xavi needs more breaks, but a healthy Iniesta can solve this. Keeping Yaya and playing him like he was played in the final game solves this. Giving Dos Santos more minutes solves this.

To say only 1 player out of Ibra, Messi, Villa, Cesc, Xavi, and Iniesta has to sit means you will severely hamper Bojan's and Pedro's and to a lesser extent Jeffren's development.

 

Well no, Pedro can play on the right, Iniesta on the left.

You can and should bring up Messi's. It was a risk playing him as much as he did this season.

We shouldn't but he's had injury problems for 2 seasons in a row now. You can never know for sure. This seaosn he had reocurring injuries and missed out a significant amount of matches.

Iniesta is not a similar player to Xavi. You don't simply replace one with the other in the formation that's why they work so well together. Yaya is not staying, he said recently he wants to go to Chelsea.

Dos Santos is inexperienced. I think the team should wait at least till next year to get Fabregas as well but at this point he already says he wants to leave Arsenal and go to Barca so it won't really make a difference.

Fabregas must be aware of the situation and how Barca plays and the fact that he might sacrifice some minutes. I imagine he has no problem with it considering how much he wants to play at Barca and for Pep.