The Return of Lucho the Legend: The 2014-15 Season Thread, Part I

Dunno if unpopular, but it seems rather straightforward that Suarez > Alexis.

That said, I have a high opinion of Alexis as well (and I'm more a fan of his than of Suarez's). I wonder if it would be possible to sign Suarez, and keep Alexis - use Pedro in the Suarez deal instead of Alexis?

 

Neymar?

It was a challenge for Messi some time ago to fit to Argentina's system, to get the best out of him to benefit the team, and eventually, he did that. For Neymar, the challenge is the opposite: make your club play match the NT play. Last season, he didn't do that. Hopefully this season he will.

 

i like alexis a lot, he really grew on me this season. he's a hard worker and a good creator with a good attitude, but he's a very unreliable finisher, even if he was our second highest scorer this season.

suarez is one of the best finishers out there, plus he's comfortable playing anywhere across the front line, he's got much more experience being under pressure than alexis did when he signed, and he's a team player who learned the ajax system and will fit in well at barca both on and off the field since he has family in barcelona.

i'm not happy to see alexis leave, but will be ok with it if barca is able to bring in someone better suited to their needs, and suarez is one of the very few that fits that bill.

 

there's a good profile of Barca's new GK, Claudio Bravo, on Goal.com.
Highlights his outstanding leadership qualities, something barca missed very badly at the back after Valdes went down injured. He's excellent with the ball at his feet, even managed to score from a free-kick once, although he can be guilty of over confidence at times.

Given his age, La Liga experience, and being a native Spanish speaker, I wouldn't be surprised to see him starting the season as the starting GK to take pressure off TerStegen and give the German some time to settle in and get used to his new surroundings. So Bravo could be our starter in the short term, with TerStegen expected to eventually take over and be the long term successor to Valdes.

 

A new sponsor on the shirt. I think it replace the TV3 badge, not sure, but it's big and ugly and makes the shirt worse, imo. Worth the money? Dunno. The design of the shirt itself is good this year though.

 

boo!
i suppose some sacrifices would have to be made considering how much they are planning on spending on new signings this summer. but still....

 

Bingo.

 

Ironically enough, I came back on the board tonight doing research on the "real age of Freddy Adu" and stumbled back in one of my favorite stomping grounds. Promise to be on more this season. Still a Cule but less of a forum poster.


BTW. I was indifferent or a bit worried about the appointment of Lucho...but given his approach to offensive tactics and fitness, I am interimly sold.

 

Forget Lucho. I want to know if you think the club will miss Valdes?

Irregardless, it's great to have you back!

 

LOL.... Love that! Valdes has grown on me since I was last in the building. With that said, there is definitely a particular goal-keeping style that thrives within the Barc system. Honestly, Bravo has a better shot at survival, unless Enrique plans on changing the defensive coverage, Ter Stegan will find it difficult to be as effective on the counter. Ter Stegan does fix the set play issue and overall shot stopping, but a majority of opportunities come from the counter, although most converted in set pieces, disproportionately.

 

I stopped reading after this.

 

Preliminary reports on Neymar's injury state that he is out for the rest of the World Cup with a broken vertebra. Seeing estimates of being out for 4-6 weeks.

 

Neymar with a broken vertebra. His World Cup is over. Out 4-6 weeks.

 

I hope the thug that did this gets hounded to his grave !!

 

Wish Zuniga or whatever his name is got banned for at least 6 months for what he did. It's a lot worse than what Suarez did IMO.

 

lol ok

yellow card worthy, nothing more
just maybe, maybe perhaps some could give a red

Very bad luck from Neymar though

 

So ... reports say Neymar might be out for 6-7 months , with him gone and Suarez with the suspension then we have to rely on pedro-messi-alexis until they are available , unless they are going to sell alexis as well ...

 

What reports say that?