I'm not sure that I would let him go just yet (unless he wants to leave). He doesn't have the technical ability to play in Bayern's midfield, but he is about the best back-up defensive all rounder you find.
Who's complaining about that, the hypocrites who were crying over Thiago joining because you had 'too much quality' already? I agree that they're good backups and that this criticism really leaves one dumbfounded to read upon, especially with what was said when the Thiago rumors came up. I'm assuming a suitable offer is in the 25-30M range? Not sure who'd be willing to pay that at this point. Maybe PSG, Chelsea, or Arsenal if Wenger starts spending some of this 'new found fortune' they speak of. That's about all I can think of. Don't see a reason to sell him unless the player really wants out because of it being a World Cup year.
It's not like we're putting him into the shopping window. However we know about the importance of the WC 2014 for our Brazilian players. Gustavo gave an interview after the ConfedCup and you could already see that he wasn't sure about his future. He said that he liked to stay but he said "we'll see" four times and that's never a good sign. Now with the Thiago Alcantara deal the situation worsened for him. Plus there are rumors stating that Guardiola sees him only as a CB in his system which would further limit his playing time. I think he wants to leave and the club is apparently willing to listen at € 20m and seriously considering at € 25m. We won't be sad should he decide to stay. He's a great squad player after all. I think he'll find a new top club after his convincing Confed-Cup performances no problem. Perhaps Chelsea, maybe PSG or even United (chuckle).
Gotta love a roster for which Gustavo is a 'great squad player'. No wonder the rest of the BL hates our guts.
Never thought in my wildest dreams we might get more money for Luíz than we paid to Hoffenheim in this ridiculously overpriced winter transfer. Well you never know. He's still a Bayern player and SportBild is not the most reliable source to say the least.
Never thought we'd beat Barca and BVB on route to a CL win and then buy both of their best young players
Thiago said Bayern showed interest at the end of last season. And he asked Pep to wait until after the Euro U21 to give them a reply
I hope he stays, he's our only cover for Martinez for the DM role in big games. He might not be on par with the other midfielders we have just yet, but he has shown a lot of improvement in the last season. He's only 26 and has lots of scope to improve; after all Pep is there to improve our players and who better to do so. I agree, he is the best back up defensive all rounder we could have. He'd be starting in some of the other top teams in Europe.
Lets sell our only destroyer, so we have more players that play exactly like the ones we already have. Brilliant Pep
Martinez will be playing CB, and Gustavo leaving now makes sense. Maybe Pep can bench Dante and put another midfielder there, everything should go swimmingly afterwards. The team will only be able to win titles IMO, if an attacking midfielder starts over Neuer at GK though.
Martinez is superior to Gustavo in every single facet of the game. Be it in midfield or defense Luiz is always going to be second choice.
Well yeah he's not only a destroyer because he can do everything Gustavo does and more. Whether he'll play CB or not is unknown. Sure it's a possibility but even so. Gustavo would have never played on the #6 under Guardiola anyway.
Sorry I forgot. Sell 2 defensive midfielders, and put your only other defensive midfielder at CB so a more attacking midfielder can play a defensive midfield position.
Everything is pointing to Pep doing his usual "a defensive midfielder is a great idea for a CB position" that he did at Barcelona. It's been hinted at interviews as well.
So in case we need a Defensive midfielder like Gustavo to close out games what do we do? Loan him for a couple of minutes? EVen the treble winning Barca had players like Yaya and Keita
So I take it, then, that you weren't part of the forum coalition that got a bad case of buttrash every time Heynckes would make a defensive sub right after we took the lead? Cos that was a regular feature of the game threads the last two seasons. Not saying it was you, but I suspect that there's some overlap between the two camps -- members of the 'grass is always greener' party, so to speak.
the only problem i have with selling Gustavo is let's say Martinez plays CB but i hope Pep plays with a proper DM against strong teams in the CL because with only Schweini in the middle who can actually atleast defend we are going to get facked on counters by Real,Dortmund and co.So if Martinez god forbid is injured without Gustavo we won't have a sub so we are going to have to play with a trio of Schweini,Kroos,Thiago(or something similar) in the CL which for me it defensively very weak and it will be exposed against strong teams similar to what happened to Barca
Still Gustavo would have never played in Guardiola's system on the #6 anyway. For closing out games he can just sub a CB and put Martínez on the #6 if he doesn't play there anyway. The general idea of possession football under Guardiola is to be so much in control over 90 minutes that you don't even need somebody like Gustavo for the last few minutes. But hey, Gustavo is not even sold yet so I'm pulling out of this discussion until he is (or not).
I can't remember many times - if any - that Pep didn't play with a DM though. Busquets occasionally played CB, but only when they were short on options, and it was another DM in Keita who would take his place in midfield. Martinez is the best fit for DM, so I don't see Pep dropping him to defense very often. If he plays a midfielder in defense, it will be Gustavo