Rumor: Mission Impossible: Replacing Infinito ∞ | The 2018-19 Transfer Thread

The problem is that a versatile attacker is also just that, versatile, not a specialist. He'll be a so-so winger, a world class striker, and a fairly untested AM on club level. Not sure that's what we need atm as the only spot he's really world class in he probably won't be a starter.

 

Fair game, we can agree he has some douchiness in him. But it's not like every other footballer is the best dude there is.

Yeah, still think you underestimate him. True winger? Don't know if that's what we're after. He's too versatile to be analyzed as such. Agreed on Coutinho.

I follow Barca enough to know he isn't the most popular player. I just said if he acts normal/pro, fights for the club and plays well, people get behind him. He hasn't done anything to deserve long-term, unshakable hate, and I think people feel this.

 

If you translate versatility as mediocrity, then ok, but versatility doesn't mean that. Messi is versatile, Puyol was. Suarez is not, Pique is not. Versatility is a positive attribute, when we translate as ability to perform high level at multiple positions (2-3). Some players are like that, have grown and trained to be like that. Playing in different positions is different, but there are many position combos that have so much in common that a player might be able to play both, especially if the job of the positions are defined in relation with the player characteristics.

 

It depends. I'm just saying that in Griezmann's case in particular he won't be world class for us in all of the positions people think he will play in. The only position where he really is world class he won't be a starter. Also, Messi is the exception, not the norm. We can't go using Messi as the standard to compare other versatile players with. They will most likely always come up short, for now at least. I am also not a fan at all of traditional CB's being deployed as make-shift fullbacks.

I guess maybe it's just a subjective thing. You think I underestimate versatility and I think you overestimate it. Same thing with Roberto, he can play both in midfield and as a fullback, but he doesn't really shine in any of them. Useful? Sure. Ideal? Not so much. Same for Coutinho, his main problem has also been that he's been played out of his "preferred" position and never really got going bar an enthusiastic start. We paid 160M for him, so now we're risking another big splurge on a player who will most likely be played out of his preferred position too. Coutinho was also "versatile and world class"....

 

My primary opposition to Griezmann is that you are paying a premium for a player who is about hit the downside of his career in another couple of years. It is very difficult to believe in the current market that Barcelona once signed Thierry Henry for 24 million euros.

 

The Bale deal can’t be taken seriously given that Spurs pay relatively poor wages and Bale is reportedly on 700,000 per week !!

Also how does Coutinho move to Chelsea with their transfer ban ??

 

Why ?? That sounds unlikely imho

 

I’d agree ... sadly Valverde will still play Roberto at RB though ..

 

According to news reports, Chelsea are still fighting the timing the ban in the courts and could see it delayed until the winter window potentially. They are in the process of appealing to the Court of Arbitration from which they can gain a temporary suspension of the ban until a final outcome is reached. Chelsea are strongly opposing what FIFA have leveled at them. FIFA have actually charged the FA in this mess as well. Man City are being dragged into it now.

 

I didn't compare anyone with Messi, just used him and Puyol as familiar examples of a well-known phenomenon: some players can deliver at multiple positions, some can't. I believe Griezmann can. By which I don't necessarily mean we should sign him 100%, just that my understanding is that there is a very good chance it would work out, though of course like with any signing, nothing is guaranteed and every deal is a risk.

Yeah, I'm not a big fan of traditional CBs turned in FBs either, but some players are versatile and can play multiple spots, and for their teams, it's a positive thing. In those cases, I think the initial analysis ("a traditional CB" is inaccurate, in a sense that in fact the player's profile is something else) is often wrong, though.

You underestimate, I overestimate, depends on the view, yeah fair enough. I think it goes case by case. Sergi Roberto is a tricky case. To me, he's a great squad player to have around, but not the best starter RB we could have. Versatility makes him better, though. Coutinho, to me, is a completely different case: Sergi Roberto is a Masia graduate who has always been a jack-of-all-trades working for the team, not the biggest star, humble/boring/low-profile guy, whereas Coutinho is the most expensive signing Barca has ever made - while it's not his fault we paid so much, the price means if he doesn't deliver (big time) it's natural that people start asking if the money be better spent in another way. Like, him and S. Roberto, the other is a giant who plays like an average-sized dude, the other is an average-sized dude who performs above average but not giant (say, D. Alves level RB). The latter is ok to keep, the prior trickier.

Of course, with Griezmann, it's a risk. It's a risk with De Jong. It's a risk with not changing anything in attack. It's a risk signing Jovic (who is only playing the first good season in his life now). De Ligt is a risk. Who knows the future.

Dembele-Griezmann-Messi
Griezmann-Suarez-Messi
Dembele-Suarez-Messi
Dembele-Suarez-Griezmann
+ combos in 442 + depth from others in 433

If we want Liga and CL next year, we need quality depth in attack. I'd like having those options, with a monsterous sub.

 

Fair play, I disagree that Griezmann is THAT player for us for all of the reasons already mentioned but you seem convinced that he is so we hit a wall. I agree to disagree.

 

You pay premium, you get a bonafide world class attacker in prime age. Well, even premium is a vague term. 120M for a player like him, with years left in his contract, is not the highest price it could be.

Again, I'm not 100% sure I'd sign him, but just like there is sense in going another route, I see sense in this move.

 

I see Messi's later career years following a very similar path as what extended Totti's career with Roma. This was as a combination of a False 9 and classic enganche. In thinking of Barcelona's current and nearer term prospects, I have this strategic view of Barcelona in more of a 4-3-1-2/3-2-2-1-2 set up which allows Messi the freedom to do either help control a match in the midfield, or to surge forward for goals when he feels like it. With three midfielders behind him, plus fullbacks, in addition to two world class strikers in front of him, this would ease much of the burden he's been dealing with.

 

good point.

honestly, as long as Bartomeu is still in charge, I'm not sure it matters who the coach is.

 

Having just turned 28, he has 4-5 seasons left on the top, more or less. That's not very little. Agreed on the price, the lower the better. Tough to say where the line goes with him, between money well spent and money better spent elsewhere.

I see your point, but also think they can fit into the same team.

 

Griezmann's transfer is looking more and more likely. Both Marca and Sport's current lead stories are that he has communicated to Atletico that he won't be there next season.

Like I've said before, even though I have some serious reservations about him coming here, not because he's not a great player, but because I question the impact he'll have of being that same great player in other roles he hasn't played in for a long time or not often enough. At the end of the day though I'll support any player that plays for F.C. Barcelona, him included.

With this in mind it goes without saying that if he does end up coming I would LOVE nothing more than for him to prove me wrong about the impact he will have on the team and our ambitions. Only time will tell.

Edit:

Official:

.@AntoGriezmann: "Han sido cinco años increíbles; muchas gracias por todo, os llevo en el corazón". pic.twitter.com/9XorY05u1T

— Atlético de Madrid (@Atleti) May 14, 2019

 

Well, I suppose we don't have to just speculate whether Griezmann would fit Barca or not.

If he goes elsewhere, that's alright, if to Barca, welcome + the best of luck!

 

I really really really want to be wrong about Griezmann, especially since everyone in the Madrid thread basically echo my exact sentiments, though that's to be expected. Please be great for us, Griez.

 

Yeah that was dumb. Probably the first time a pro footballer has done something dumb off-the-pitch.