Now or Never | The 2017-18 Transfer Thread

Can we collectively restart the “Isco to Barça” rumors please? Lol

Would be solid if Iniesta, knowing he’s leaving for that China $, spends his time with La Roja convincing Isco to come play with his idol, Messi!

One can dream!

 

Agent Patrick back at it again.

 

Coutinho is Iniesta’s replacement though. This ain’t FIFA career mode, mate.

 

A bit harsh on Umtiti. He’s just looking for what he’s more than owed. Perhaps his (own) goal celebration the other day showed where his heart lies... hopefully.

But yeah, agree about Gomes, Iniesta and Denis.

 

Only things Barca had going for them was being considered a underdog at the beginning of the season when Neymar debacle happened followed by a bitch slap in supercopa against LPB. Barça was calculated and then they put on a great performance by Messi and Paulinho, MATS, Rakitic, Umtiti and Pique in Liga, cause they were considered underdogs. Opposite happened to LPB. Bartomeu position again miraculously saved.

Along came the 160M€ mistake of Coutinho in January and suddenly Barca was considered as the best of the best with formidable team and complacency started to take over and even with that depth, fatigue. Shitmes gets more playing time, team really not rested and voila back to what they were a mediocre team who are now basically on top of la liga cause of their run during first half of the campaign.

Same mistakes happen over and over and over again by management and coach.

Just look how a underdog and calculated team like Roma could pull off. Give them Coutinho and they're ********ed!

 

De Ligt to replace Umtiti please

 

I agree a couple of solid moves are needed (like always). I don't see a need for a major overhaul. I would...

Bring in an key midfielder, Arthur.
Wave goodbye to Iniesta. True legend.

Bring in Griezmann.
Sell Paco.

Sell Gomes.
Promote the best Masia midfielder.

Pay Umtiti to stay.
He's worth it.

Make the squad do more/better mental training/preparation for CL away matches. Football is football, same rules, if they want European success, they can't rely on Camp Nou performances only, and this is a mental issue. For what it's worth, I don't think Valverde is without blame here, but it's not like he chokes where others always deliver, to me it's mysteriously common how even the biggest clubs vary their level so much home/away at CL.

 

You forgot, sack Valverde.

 

Nah, I wouldn't run a club that poorly.

 

Double would have sufficed, Liga and CL.

 

That is straight-up not understanding the reality of what a club can achieve. Like a normal-but-not-notably-great performance would always see Barca win everything that matters, like there are no other clubs. It's not demanding the highest level of performance, it's delusion.

With all the respect.

 

I'm realistic, I know what the club can do but can't do and what to demand, expect or hope for. The CL exits/displays past three years are NOT what I or many expect from a team like Barca. If you think a thrashing by PSG, Juventus and Roma are normal then with all respect you have no idea what you are talking about. Lucho and EV repeatedly make same stupid and unnecessary mistakes in crucial and decisive moments in CL and that for me is unacceptable.

It's obvious the team for some reason don't show up at all for some games. All 11 players are on vacation getting taken to the cleaners. If it's not the coach then who? Messi fault?

 

I agree that past three CL campaigns have been disappointments. I'm interested in maximizing short-term and long-term success: that doesn't come from being trigger-happy with coaches, that comes from cohesion and cumulation. You do good job continuously, and you don't overreact to obstacles (just like you don't become blind to weaknesses even when points are coming). Although to be fair, we didn't talk if big losses are cool or not, we talked whether Liga+CL title is the line between doing ok or not. It's an unrealistical line.

I agree, it's obvious. I never said it's not on the coach, but it's not on him alone. It's on players as well (obviously - or are we saying they did their part in, for example, those CL trashings?). Messi's fault as well. It's a team sport.

 

Mundo Deportivo with the transfer headlines...

The already signed Arthur (with the newly induced panic, do we bring him in summer now?). The “reliable” Griezmann signing. And of course, de Ligt. I’m good with all of these.

They also mention De Jong from Ajax. YEEEESSSS!!!

We need more skillful, ball rententive, midfielders. He’s easily one of the best at it in Europe. Match him with Busi, Arthur, and occasionally Coutinho and we’re back to playing “the Barça way”.

Get it done, Bartomeu! Or get out!

 

Yeah, Pep has won 4 of his last 19 CL knockout away matches. Granted non-wins in CL away matches can sometimes still be good results, but among those 15 non-wins include opponents like Stuttgart, Porto, Lyon, Shakhtar, Basel and the worst Man Utd team of the last two decades!

 

Clément Lenglet is linked with Barca. So Barca might send Mina on loan probably next season.

 

The obvious thing is to swap Suarez , Dembele and Valverde for Salah , Firmino and Klopp !!

Sorted

 

Yerry mina to go on a loan, lengelet in to give pique a break. Vermaelen will stay one last year, his quality is not there in the market anymore.

Arthur in the summer, hopefully one midfielder in. Julian weigl or Pjanic.

 

......

 

You're sadly out of touch ... They could easily win the CL and come second to a rampant City ...whilst being fabulous to watch .... that's with a team including Henderson and Milner ...