summer transfers

[Fresh Prince of Belle Val]

Not gona lie lads I dont want Lukaku,

*Very limited footballer who doesn't use his physical strength
*Is poor in the air for his hight, cannot play with his back to goal or hold the ball up
*First touch and tehnical ability is average at best
*The goals he scores are pretty average run of the mill goals what you would pretty much expect any striker to score (besides the Arsenal goal).

So if we take all those into account why the hell are we even consdering blowing the whole of a transfer budget on him?

I agree about his first touch. However I think his hold up play is pretty decent. Or perhaps I'm just comparing him to Jelavic too much.

 

[bluestevon]

I must have mixed him up with another free-scoring belgian.

But what I said still stand. I mean, It was a league that made Guidetti, Luuk de Jong, Jozy Altidore, Finnbogason, Graziano Pelle, many more who won't ring a bell, and one of our many namesakes looked like world beaters.

Unfair to lump Guidetti in with that lot mate, that Illness he had would have derailed any player - look at what happened to Fletcher's career for something similar.

Also Chadli hasn't really been given much chance at spurs, and he actually has looked okay in parts so far, just atm Erickson aside the entire spurs team looks a train wreck - Erickson another player who looked great in Holand btw who has definitely made the grade here.

None of the others you mentioned - in fact very rarely do i call out a player in the Dutch leagues just because the standards can be a bit poor (especially defensively), however some do stand out as being exceptional when you watch them rather than just look at stats they produce, Tadic is definitely in the same mould as Erickson and ability level is imo higher. He has also looked pretty decent on the international level as well, despite playing more often than not in the hole due to the other winger they have whose highly touted (he gave a very very good performance against are lads when they beat Ireland this year)

Just as a little additional bit though, I'd take Chadli in a heartbeat offa spurs, the same with 4-5 of their team atm who are either not looking that good or have been out of fabour, the management their and the mess that was their summer has made it hard for nearly anyone to stand out their.

Sigurdsson, Holtby, Chadli, Sandro, vertonghen and Ericksen i would take without much hesitancy

 

[al.exe]

Not gona lie lads I dont want Lukaku,

*Very limited footballer who doesn't use his physical strength
*Is poor in the air for his hight, cannot play with his back to goal or hold the ball up
*First touch and tehnical ability is average at best
*The goals he scores are pretty average run of the mill goals what you would pretty much expect any striker to score (besides the Arsenal goal).

So if we take all those into account why the hell are we even consdering blowing the whole of a transfer budget on him?

I agree, but for the right price he'd be worth it (although it's hard to say what "the right price" is).

His major selling point for me is that he's 20 - hopefully he'll grow into the "next Drogba" label that I've heard a few times.

 

[FCBarça]

Didn't answer the question though mate, how many of your starting best 11 came through the academy over the past 6 years?

Didn't read the response then mate, almost all of those mentioned are players from the past 6 years

As for best 11: Alba, Bartra, Piqué, Montoya, Busquets, Iniesta, Xavi, Messi, Pedro...Throw in a combo of Tello, Cesc & Cuenca and you could field a La Masia starting XI - which they've done before

the myth of the Barca youth system bringing a constant stream of players in is a thing of the past now, the players who came into through the academy are ageing or deemed not good enough for anything more than a backup or ten minute sub role in the younger lids cases.

Thiago, Deulofeu, Rafinha, Adama, Cuenca, Dongou, Montoya, Bartra, Grimaldo...That's only the last couple of seasons, the conveyor belt of talent continues, don't fret for Barcelona

If you think without a major shake up in the barcelona hierarchy that in 5 or 6 years time tops you will have more than 1 or 2 home grown barca academy players (probably close to 30yop by then) starting in that team your living in cloud cuckoo land. If you do they will be centre backs or a holding midfielder as well - positions barca actually doesn't give much thought too, the attacking players will all be imported into the team

Rosell has been an umitigated disaster, something many fans (Including myself) predicted would be just as poor as he has been...Pushing Pep out, losing Valdes, de-emphasizing the cantera (Reasons why we will lose Cuenca & Tello)...La Masia has been around for 4 decades and producing world class talent all along, that will continue...Most of you only learned of Deulofeu in the past year but fans have known about him for years and there are talents even as big as him in the 14-17 age category that are coming through...3 Champions League titles in the last 8 years so I'm not too worried but I'll feel relieved when a new board is brought in

La Masia will continue to thrive

 

[Blue Juice]

Why has this turned into a deep evaluation of all that is Barca rather than transfer rumours about Everton. Surely if you want to analyse the comings and goings at Barca there could be another thread for it

 

[bluestevon]

Didn't read the response then mate, almost all of those mentioned are players from the past 6 years

As for best 11: Alba, Bartra, Piqué, Montoya, Busquets, Iniesta, Xavi, Messi, Pedro...Throw in a combo of Tello, Cesc & Cuenca and you could field a La Masia starting XI - which they've done before



Thiago, Deulofeu, Rafinha, Adama, Cuenca, Dongou, Montoya, Bartra, Grimaldo...That's only the last couple of seasons, the conveyor belt of talent continues, don't fret for Barcelona




Rosell has been an umitigated disaster, something many fans (Including myself) predicted would be just as poor as he has been...Pushing Pep out, losing Valdes, de-emphasizing the cantera (Reasons why we will lose Cuenca & Tello)...La Masia has been around for 4 decades and producing world class talent all along, that will continue...Most of you only learned of Deulofeu in the past year but fans have known about him for years and there are talents even as big as him in the 14-17 age category that are coming through...3 Champions League titles in the last 8 years so I'm not too worried but I'll feel relieved when a new board is brought in

La Masia will continue to thrive

Fact is though mate of the players your listing Fabregas and Pique both left Barca at a very young age and got top level experience elsewhere before being bought back

Inesta Xavi and Messi came through over ten years ago mate

Busquets came through about 6 maybe 7 years ago only Bartra looks likely to become a starter due to Barcas habit of ignoring their centre defesne their unlikely to spend massively bringing in 2-3 their, but as of right now he's not a 1st choice either

None of the others are first choice starters for you - Pedro probably being used in a rotation as one fair enough but he's already 26 or so and is widely regarded as on his way out this season, the rest get 5-10 minutes here and their and none have made a big enough impact to stop Barca going and spending for the guaranteed level of player they want

 

[TheCount]

@FCBellend no one cares. You steal minutes out my days skipping thru your self righteous drivel you little worm. Glory hunting isn't so much fun when you get blasted by Bale? Go take your frustrations out elsewhere

 

[Michael Tsui]

Unfair to lump Guidetti in with that lot mate, that Illness he had would have derailed any player - look at what happened to Fletcher's career for something similar.

Also Chadli hasn't really been given much chance at spurs, and he actually has looked okay in parts so far, just atm Erickson aside the entire spurs team looks a train wreck - Erickson another player who looked great in Holand btw who has definitely made the grade here.

None of the others you mentioned - in fact very rarely do i call out a player in the Dutch leagues just because the standards can be a bit poor (especially defensively), however some do stand out as being exceptional when you watch them rather than just look at stats they produce, Tadic is definitely in the same mould as Erickson and ability level is imo higher. He has also looked pretty decent on the international level as well, despite playing more often than not in the hole due to the other winger they have whose highly touted (he gave a very very good performance against are lads when they beat Ireland this year)

Just as a little additional bit though, I'd take Chadli in a heartbeat offa spurs, the same with 4-5 of their team atm who are either not looking that good or have been out of fabour, the management their and the mess that was their summer has made it hard for nearly anyone to stand out their.

Sigurdsson, Holtby, Chadli, Sandro, vertonghen and Ericksen i would take without much hesitancy

Eriksen... tbf I didn't watch too much of spurs this season. But I think he will come good next season, and don't think Spurs will dump him.
While it would be a dream move for Holtby, He seemed to only shine under Margath. Maybe under Moyes in the future, but Holtby's hard-working physical style of football hides many of his weaknesses.
Gylfi will move on to greener pastures. Most probably the RS to reunite himself with Rodgers, not us.
Sandro need to rethink his future in England. He might seriously need to think about moving to Spain or Italy where the game is slower for him to really prosper as the Volante for the Selecao.
Vertonghen is fine. Who is going after him is another question, especially other teams will send their crouches upon him in a match.
and as for Chadli... well, I *might* take a chance on him, but probably with a loan to buy option. He's a capable player, but his first season is England is simply running like a headless chicken.

The only one who really stood out this season was a Romanian Defender, but he faded too.

 

[DualityNSNO]

I'd just like to point out that half of those players, if not more, are as much "products of La Masia" as John Stones is a product of our youth system.

 

[Michael Tsui]

Fact is though mate of the players your listing Fabregas and Pique both left Barca at a very young age and got top level experience elsewhere before being bought back

Inesta Xavi and Messi came through over ten years ago mate

Busquets came through about 6 maybe 7 years ago only Bartra looks likely to become a starter due to Barcas habit of ignoring their centre defesne their unlikely to spend massively bringing in 2-3 their, but as of right now he's not a 1st choice either

None of the others are first choice starters for you - Pedro probably being used in a rotation as one fair enough but he's already 26 or so and is widely regarded as on his way out this season, the rest get 5-10 minutes here and their and none have made a big enough impact to stop Barca going and spending for the guaranteed level of player they want

Once again, if Pedro isn't starting every game (or at least every big game) he should have every right to move. How come the Camp Nou hierarchy continue to put blind faith in Neymar, Alexis, Cesc (as a false 9), and even Messi out wide is a big question mark.

Back to everton: I'll drool all over if all we could sign is Pedro in this summer. He is the reason why Spain and Barca got all the silverware along with Busquets.

 

[RaleighBlue]

Eriksen... tbf I didn't watch too much of spurs this season. But I think he will come good next season, and don't think Spurs will dump him.

Eriksen has come good this season. He's been fantastic. Best buy of the summer by them.

 

[Blue Juice]

Eriksen has come good this season. He's been fantastic. Best buy of the summer by them.

True, although to be fair if you spunk millions on all the available midfielders in the world chances are at least one of them is going to be good

 

[bluestevon]

Eriksen... tbf I didn't watch too much of spurs this season. But I think he will come good next season, and don't think Spurs will dump him.
While it would be a dream move for Holtby, He seemed to only shine under Margath. Maybe under Moyes in the future, but Holtby's hard-working physical style of football hides many of his weaknesses.
Gylfi will move on to greener pastures. Most probably the RS to reunite himself with Rodgers, not us.
Sandro need to rethink his future in England. He might seriously need to think about moving to Spain or Italy where the game is slower for him to really prosper as the Volante for the Selecao.
Vertonghen is fine. Who is going after him is another question, especially other teams will send their crouches upon him in a match.
and as for Chadli... well, I *might* take a chance on him, but probably with a loan to buy option. He's a capable player, but his first season is England is simply running like a headless chicken.

The only one who really stood out this season was a Romanian Defender, but he faded too.

Wouldn't argue with the assessment on any of them mate tbh, pretty fair evaluation, Holtby i'd like purely as a upgrade over the Osman type in the squad, a bit like a Naismith type if that makes sense - hard running and committed but with a bit of skill too

Ericksons been brilliant for spurs - especially the past month or so, basically the only player really trying most games lol

 

[FCBarça]

Fact is though mate of the players your listing Fabregas and Pique both left Barca at a very young age and got top level experience elsewhere before being bought back

Both were poached after having spent their formative years at La Masia, Piqué at 17 after having spent 7 years at Barcelona and only 1 season at United while Cesc at 16 after he had won the Golden Ball at the U17 World Championship and having developed at Barcelona for 6 seasons...That particular generation of La Masia was the '87 generation (Including Messi) that ravaged youth leagues in Spain which is legendary among coaches, fans & clubs - they were outscoring opponents in record style...It's not as if Fergie & Wenger got lucky, they poached elite talent

Iniesta, Xavi and Messi came through over ten years ago mate

Beauty of promoting players like that from your cantera at 18, 18 & 16 years of age...There aren't players better than those 3 on the planet so who else is going to take their place in the lineup?

Busquets came through about 6 maybe 7 years ago only Bartra looks likely to become a starter due to Barcas habit of ignoring their centre defesne their unlikely to spend massively bringing in 2-3 their, but as of right now he's not a 1st choice either

6 which is what you asked, quit while you're behind...Bartra, Piqué, Alba & Montoya are the future - you're still backtracking

None of the others are first choice starters for you - Pedro probably being used in a rotation as one fair enough but he's already 26 or so and is widely regarded as on his way out this season, the rest get 5-10 minutes here and their and none have made a big enough impact to stop Barca going and spending for the guaranteed level of player they want

They have played with an all Masia XI on many occasions, you're still backtracking...And as I have already said, no club in Europe produces more first team players in European football than Barcelona

They will sign a goalkeeper and at least 1 CB this summer but even without another CB, they will remain among the elite clubs battling for every trophy...Not sure what your point is ultimately

 

[RaleighBlue]

Jesus.

How did an Everton summer transfer thread become about Barcelona's youth strategy? I mean...sure Del-boy, whatever, but the in depth treatise on the future of La Masia is not what I expect to read when I'm perusing jarg Everton transfer rumors.

Unless...Are we buying La Masia?!? Martinez can do no wrong!