A Little Retail Therapy: The 2014 Summer Transfer Thread

well our annual sale begins...

Anyway, hope he works out for you and for him although he won't be able to play for 6 months.

 

What do you think about him playing for Barça as a RB? My understanding is that he played a mix of RB and winger with Sevilla.

 

well this was his first season as an RB really. He did ok but if this is a permanent move to the RB position, there will be a learning curve for him. But Jordi Alba was a winger at first as well so it can be done for sure. I think he'll do fine, at least better than Montoya for you. Is he Dani Alves? of course not but I don't think you'll find another Alves.

 

Not sure it means anything re Dani. If we broke the bank and signed a Danilo or Cuadrado maybe (how'd the latter work out Chelski?). But Vidal signing may change nothing. We still want Dani, just being stubborn about not over paying.

I haven't read much since the CL win but I know that we planned to sign another RB whether or not Dani re-signed and Vidal is the kind of low budget and young RB who would work out fine even if Dani re-signed. IF Dani re-signed then we would likely sell either Montoya or Adriano (both can back up both RB and LB though Adriano is better at LB and also less expendable as more proven squad player) plus Douglas (never should have been signed). IF Dani leaves then just get rid of Douglas and we can let Adriano and Montoya battle for RB against each other and possibly Bartra and/or Pedro till January.

 

Alves's speech hints that he is leaving without being definitive: http://www.sport-english.com/en/new...-emotional-goodybe-barca-treble-party-4255424

 

Arturo is not a wing back

 

Official: Alves stays. 2+1 years.

Big news, good news. FWIW, I don't think he's gonna play for us three more years, but at the very least the forthcoming season it's great he stays.

 

Then why the hell did they sign Vidal ?!?!?!? now montoya , vidal and douglas are all subs and for one position only ?

 

So that Alves can be given the Pique treatment if he starts sucking again. Plus with Alves renewing Montoya's probably gone and we can't play Lord Douglas because that'd be unfair for everyone else.

 

I am very happy with this signing and i think every Barca fans should be as well.
Alves not only gives us the experience but also a great team environment, which should not be underestimated. We have finally strengthen our defence after years, we have atleast two great options in every part of the defence.

RB: Alves, Vidal (sell/loan Montoya, Douglas and Adriano)
CB: Pique, Mascherano, Bartra, Mathieu, Vermaelen (in this order)
LB: Alba, Mathieu

Now we need to buy one midfielder with energy and speed then we are set for another great season.

 

Douglas is from 99 to 100% chance to leave, sold or loan. Dunno exactly what's the case with Montoya's future. But Vidal is a good player regardless, and being 25, will win doubters over I reckon.

 

I dont think Lucho ever rate Montoya to be honest. Vidal will probably gets more minutes.

 

I agree, Lucho even played Adriano instead of giving minutes to Montoya which says a lot. Now that we have got Vidal, I think its best for everyone that Montoya is sold.

 

Yeah, I'd expect the list of leaving players be rather short this summer, but it can include Douglas and Montoya. Not too many others, though. Masip maybe, and of course Xavi, but that should be it regarding the players who spent the majority of their season with the first team.

New guys in should read Vidal, a new third choice keeper (from Barca B) if Masip leaves, and a high-level midfielder (though I reckon there's a chance that the midfielder does not join in January, but after the next season, even if we'd sign him this summer - fwiw, I think this would be very risky from us, we need depth in spring).

 

^^ I hope the midfielder is bought and can play from January. I know I am greedy, but i really hope this team wins back to back CL next year. If we get one quality midfielder and MSN are injury free after february, it is a real possibility. Pedro also needs to get more playing time next year so that we have MSN fresh and healthy.

 

Well I think Alves and his agent / ex wife kind of forced Barca's hand. They would not commit, wanted a better offer, Barca insisted its last offer was the best. So signing Vidal showed they were serious about improving at RB with or without Alves. I think that helped him sign. And I think Vidal should be an improvement over Montoya and Adriano and Douglas. So short term you dump Douglas and one of Adriano or Montoya, probably Montoya. Need to keep one of Montoya or Adriano to provide LB cover to Alba (beyond Mathieu), and to provide RB cover to Alves till Vidal can play. If Vidal looks great in practice and Mathieu is OK backing up LB then you can sell the other of Adriano/Montoya in January or next June.

 

Masip could do with some PT for sure, a loan out would seem best to a club where he might start in La Liga if possible. Just make sure we have rights to bring him back for a year or two (whether loaned or sold). As I could see Bravo having high value and wanting to start somewhere if he loses Liga to MAtS and only plays Copa. That's where Masip with a year or two of exp. could step in as back up. Not sure we need a third keeper on the first team, just move up the Barca B keeper in case of injury to MAtS or Bravo.

 

Normally, I favor La Liga over Europe.
But when the opportunity presents itself to become the first to successfully defend Europe during the Champions League era, I'm willing to adjust priorities.

2016 final is in Milan, btw.

 

He signed a new contract?

Edit: Looks like he did. Awesome.

 

So I'm very excited Dani is staying. Glad we signed Aleix Vidal too, a 25 y.o. RB/RW/attacking mid for not too much money. His versatility is impressive in terms of positions played and I hope it works out (and we can let a couple other RBs go), he is our RB of the future, and perhaps can even spell Rakitic or Messi/Pedro in a pinch. But the figures I'm seeing have ranged from great job Barca to Barca got hosed. Sevilla signed him just a year ago from Almeria for 3M Euros, transfermkt had his value at 6M, initial reports suggested we got him for 10M (great job) but now I'm seeing as high as 17-18M Euros discussed plus up to 4M in add ons.

Look I'm glad we signed someone whom I trust Lucho and Braida both like, and I'm glad we did it early and it perhaps motivated Dani to re-sign and may even help keep Dani sharp (both competition wise, and also by being able to rest him at times without a drop off), but if we paid the upper end of what's rumored why not just pay Dani a bit more and avoid the whole drama about whether he'd re-sign or not.

 

Talk about campaigning, now he just needs to kiss some babies.

 

I remember reading that Lucho wants three keepers on the team. Maybe it's better for practice sessions, maybe in case the third keeper plays it's good he knows the team daily (as opposed to just quickly called from B).

I like Masip, but don't see it as critical to have a buy back clause in case he leaves, as I think he is good but not special, and I don't anyway see Ter Stegen or Bravo leave this season (or the next). And if one of them does, there are zillion keepers good to be our 2nd choice.

It's gonna interesting to see what's the GK playing policy next season. Perhaps swap their roles: Bravo in cups, Mats in Liga?