Ronald koeman . New barca manager.

[FCBarça]

Thanks for the reply, appreciate it. Just curious, why aren't you as much of a fan of the player as others are?

Barring injuries or off pitch issues, he'll go on to be a decisive player for the next decade. I just wonder about fit for style of play. How long can he be a mobile big man with his size - I always feel these players lose their acceleration & speed quicker than shorter ones and then it'll be more about strength & technique. Those sort of players do not do well in Barca's system of play

I prefer mobile #9s that can win the ball back deep with regularity - I'd prefer a profile of Lautaro for example

It's a statement of intent, even if publicly it could look like a media play from Mino et al to raise the COVID era stakes for his prized asset. Laporta has to convince Messi of a sporting project for the next cycle and that will be predicated on at least 1 or 2 fundamental signings that can have an immediate impact - one of whom has to be a #9

 

[Bohemian Toffee]

Barring injuries or off pitch issues, he'll go on to be a decisive player for the next decade. I just wonder about fit for style of play. How long can he be a mobile big man with his size - I always feel these players lose their acceleration & speed quicker than shorter ones and then it'll be more about strength & technique. Those sort of players do not do well in Barca's system of play

I prefer mobile #9s that can win the ball back deep with regularity - I'd prefer a profile of Lautaro for example

It's a statement of intent, even if publicly it could look like a media play from Mino et al to raise the COVID era stakes for his prized asset. Laporta has to convince Messi of a sporting project for the next cycle and that will be predicated on at least 1 or 2 fundamental signings that can have an immediate impact - one of whom has to be a #9

I appreciate every part of this reply, quality stuff, thank you.

Lautaro is an excellent player and very much more in the Barcelona "mould". Raiola is all over the English media talking down Manchester United's chances of working with him again and his feud with Guardiola. Clearly the player is moving this summer.

 

[FCBarça]

I appreciate every part of this reply, quality stuff, thank you.

Lautaro is an excellent player and very much more in the Barcelona "mould". Raiola is all over the English media talking down Manchester United's chances of working with him again and his feud with Guardiola. Clearly the player is moving this summer.

Very true and Raiola has a well publicized track record of milking his deals for every penny combined with odd relationships with City, United & RM. So it's hard to predict how it will go plus I don't know much about the player & his family, perhaps his dad's shortened playing career means they go for the biggest package?

It'll probably come down to City vs Barca and there, ordinarily I'd say Txiki et al hold the best cards to win the hand but Laporta's charm & persistence cannot be underestimated

 

[Alan Whittle]

Interesting perspective, would also appreciate @PaulPowersTash and @Alan Whittle for his thoughts. How would Haaland fit in the Palace system?

It’s not something I’ve ever considered. Having a pacy, goal machine might help us I suppose but Roy would certainly be making sure he got back behind the ball when the Oppo has it. Which is most of the time tbh.
@PaulPowersTash will certainly be able to give a more illuminating answer I’m sure and I’d be interested to know what he thinks especially as a potential Aguero replacement.

 

[Bohemian Toffee]

It’s not something I’ve ever considered. Having a pacy, goal machine might help us I suppose but Roy would certainly be making sure he got back behind the ball when the Oppo has it. Which is most of the time tbh.

Yeah, I agree, can't really see him fitting in Roy's system.

 

[PaulPowersTash]

I could be completely off the mark here, but there seems to be a nervousness from some of the "elite" about Man City.

Footballers are concerned with legacy & there is still an air of players getting no credit for their achievements at city, because of the project and what it all entails. Pep, KDB and others have all referenced recently that City and their players never get the personal awards and achievements. Haaland, M'Bappe etc want to win the Balon D'or more than they do a title with whoever pays them the most cash.

As I said, just a hunch. City deserve more credit than the get - but I think it might be something that niggles with players & even prospects.

interested to get your thoughts @PaulPowersTash

The City players don't get the credit they deserve. A topical example being Aguero. During his peak he scored 28 goals in all competitions for 6 seasons in a row. However, he only ever made the Premier League team of the year once in 2018. Same with the mangers to be honest. Mancini won City's first title in 44 years in 2011 but guess who got PL Manager of The Year that year? Alan Pardew (I kid you not). Pellegrini did a PL & Carabou Cup double in his first season in the PL. Guess who got Manger of The Year that year? Tony Pullis (I kid you not) It's just the inherent bias against Manchester City as a club. David Silva never won the PL Player of The Year and he was truly a genius. Just think about the above and if those managers and players had been at Liverpool or United, would they have won those personal accolades? Of course they would we all know that.. However, I genuinely believe it is changing. KDB has won Player of the year recently and as City rack up the trophies it just become churlish not to acknowledge the players and the managers achievements. On the flip side very few top players leave City nowadays, the notable exception being Leroy Sane to go back to Bayern. But apart from that even the biggest clubs like Real or Barca or even PSG have never come in for a top City player and took him away. There is obviously good reasons for that and one of them is that players want to win medals and being with City recently and currently virtually guarantees you medals. If City win the title then Dias or Gundogan or even John Stones should win the player of the season award. But they won't. It will go to Bruno Fernandes of United. Again, we all know that. There is call for Moyes to win the Manager of the Year this year and maybe that has some credit. But again if Ole and United win the league who will be absolutely nailed on to get it? We all know the answer to that. I honestly don't think that Haaland will come to City next season. I think the transfer fee will be to high for the club and throw in the fact that his agent and Guardiola openly loath each other, I just can't see it happening. But we live in hope. Players don't join clubs just to win personal awards IMHO. That is by product of success of the team and the club. Yes - players like Neymar may have joined PSG with the hope he would win the big one, but lets be honest he and us both know he joined PSG because of the outrageous amount of money he could earn in the easiest possible fashion.

 

[PaulPowersTash]

Interesting perspective, would also appreciate @PaulPowersTash and @Alan Whittle for his thoughts. How would Haaland fit in the Palace system?

Please see my post above in reply to @number4.

 

[number4.]

The City players don't get the credit they deserve. A topical example being Aguero. During his peak he scored 28 goals in all competitions for 6 seasons in a row. However, he only ever made the Premier League team of the year once in 2018. Same with the mangers to be honest. Mancini won City's first title in 44 years in 2011 but guess who got PL Manager of The Year that year? Alan Pardew (I kid you not). Pellegrini did a PL & Carabou Cup double in his first season in the PL. Guess who got Manger of The Year that year? Tony Pullis (I kid you not) It's just the inherent bias against Manchester City as a club. David Silva never won the PL Player of The Year and he was truly a genius. Just think about the above and if those managers and players had been at Liverpool or United, would they have won those personal accolades? Of course they would we all know that.. However, I genuinely believe it is changing. KDB has won Player of the year recently and as City rack up the trophies it just become churlish not to acknowledge the players and the managers achievements. On the flip side very few top players leave City nowadays, the notable exception being Leroy Sane to go back to Bayern. But apart from that even the biggest clubs like Real or Barca or even PSG have never come in for a top City player and took him away. There is obviously good reasons for that and one of them is that players want to win medals and being with City recently and currently virtually guarantees you medals. If City win the title then Dias or Gundogan or even John Stones should win the player of the season award. But they won't. It will go to Bruno Fernandes of United. Again, we all know that. There is call for Moyes to win the Manager of the Year this year and maybe that has some credit. But again if Ole and United win the league who will be absolutely nailed on to get it? We all know the answer to that. I honestly don't think that Haaland will come to City next season. I think the transfer fee will be to high for the club and throw in the fact that his agent and Guardiola openly loath each other, I just can't see it happening. But we live in hope. Players don't join clubs just to win personal awards IMHO. That is by product of success of the team and the club. Yes - players like Neymar may have joined PSG with the hope he would win the big one, but lets be honest he and us both know he joined PSG because of the outrageous amount of money he could earn in the easiest possible fashion.

Yeah, I think you are dead right, they don't get the credit the football deserves and if you think of the impact of Dias relative to van dijk, he should be rights in the balon d'or discussions.

I suppose what we dont know is the motivstion of the players, which will vary somewhat by individual. The carrorts being cash, trophies and individual awards. I would think the heirarchy of needs, will be different player by player & if it is individual awards (Ronaldo wants the Balon D'or more than the CL for example) city might not be the fit yet.

 

[Lapeno77]

4-0 winners in the Copa del Rey final against Bilbao

 

[zukai12_]

hate to see the Amstel Allardyce succeed

 

[Jimishorts]

 

[NathDogg]

Has he taken all the credit for himself yet, the turnip headed clog knocker.

 

[Martin Alvito]

Has he taken all the credit for himself yet, the turnip headed clog knocker.

Dunno where else you'd put it. I mean, he joined a club in free fall with an unsettled star whose early form was about what you'd expect, and he's brought home a Copa and a fighting chance at the league. They'd need to negotiate the Atletico fixture and get a little help from Real, but Zidane's men may be a little distracted.

 

[NathDogg]

Dunno where else you'd put it. I mean, he joined a club in free fall with an unsettled star whose early form was about what you'd expect, and he's brought home a Copa and a fighting chance at the league. They'd need to negotiate the Atletico fixture and get a little help from Real, but Zidane's men may be a little distracted.

Not having it, I think he caused some of the turmoil at the beginning of his tenure (and there will be more to come if history shows us anything about moonhead), but if the people are happy, then who am I to judge.

The recent upturn is I think it's More to do with having a world class player and some exceptional players, than the Amsterdam allardyce.

 

[deipnosophist]

Haaland moving to Crystal Palace is a surprise to many... but logical. He would improve Palace, no doubt, but under Roy's tutelage and stewardship, he will become a different type of player...and that has to be good for people who like to see that sort of thing...*


*i.e. ...misanthropes