Transfer discussion thread

[SM]

Finally signed a CB.

 

[go you pups]

While i do find our youf and loaning system a bit ridiculous its not hurting anyone and makes the club money so i cant really complain about it.

These kids are happy to do it and the club is happy to sell them if they want to be sold. Everyone wins.

The kids or their agents?

 

[Magma]

monaco vp rules out selling fabinho and lemar.

 

[typeclub]

I hope we buy Mbappe for as much money as possible. Personal terms already agreed

 

[ossie_21]

Barkley has rejected a contract extension & told Koeman he is wanting a new challenge. Source - Ronald Koeman.

 

[jod23]

They've been after him for the last 2 years. They only found out Neymar was leaving recently which has probably hardened their resolve to get him but my take is that they wanted him regardless as Iniesta's successor, not Neymar's.

One theory I've heard is that it's a bid to appease Neymar - "if you stay we promise we'll sign Coutinho and you get to play with your best mate every week."

Could have some truth to it, sounds a very Barça/Real thing to do.

If Neymar is so desperate to play with his best mate Coutinho, why doesnt he just sign for Liverpool.

 

[go you pups]

Complains about big clubs spending too much money on players, but fleeces his own players to said clubs for twice their value. STFU Daniel, don't complain if you are also happy to take advantage of it and pocket the cash.

Elmeltymeltry on the case again

Are you and Gosha related?

 

[jod23]

So how about them transfers guys? #5pagesofdrivel

 

[Established1870]

Apparently we're closing up a deal for Jason Steele from Blackburn. Mooch thoughts? Also being linked with Ross The Boss from Villa.

Seeing us sign those two has dampened the blow of Lewis Grabban somewhat.

 

[go you pups]

As I suggested to Magma the other day, clubs do have alternatives to splashing 30-50m on players.

Yep, as per Levy/Poch's model, build from within and spend money developing youf in a mould to what the club wants them to play like, similar to what Ajax/Barca have pioneered imo.

 

[Latro]

monaco vp rules out selling fabinho and lemar.

But th sun said Lemar was close to joining Arsenal.

 

[moomba]

Yep, as per Levy/Poch's model, build from within and spend money developing youf in a mould to what the club wants them to play like, similar to what Ajax/Barca have pioneered imo.

It's an alternative but can it eventually lead to silverware and a sustained period of competing for league/champions league?

 

[go you pups]

It's an alternative but can it eventually lead to silverware and a sustained period of competing for league/champions league?

For Barcelona, yes definitely

You don't have to build your entire squad using this model, but imo it's easier nurturing and developing midfielders and defenders than it is for attackers and goalkeepers. We were lucky we hit the jackpot on Kane.

 

[moomba]

For Barcelona, yes definitely

You don't have to build your entire squad using this model, but imo it's easier nurturing and developing midfielders and defenders than it is for attackers and goalkeepers. We were lucky we hit the jackpot on Kane.

Barca's success came from an incredible academy, the odd high priced recruit, and a game plan that maximised the players they had. It's something they havent been able to sustain and they're not really different from anyone else nowadays.

I think you've got the game plan but not the first or second (Kane us a fair plus mark for your academy but most of your squad is bought).

To be honest I expected you to drop off last season after an incredible 15/16. You didnt, and fair play to you. But despite that I expect you to drop off next season.

Who knows, you might prove me wrong again. But I've been watching the game for over 25 years now and it's always been the case that a club that doesnt invest in it's playing squad eventually drops away.

 

[TheKanga]

City will get the Sanchez deal done soon.

 

[go you pups]

Barca's success came from an incredible academy, the odd high priced recruit, and a game plan that maximised the players they had. It's something they havent been able to sustain and they're not really different from anyone else nowadays.

Yes they have an incredible academy.
Yes they buy the odd high priced recruit to fill a void.

Completely disagree on the rest

For a long period of time Barca has built their team around academy products and that has delivered them 4 UCLs, and shitloads of La Liga titles and Copa Del Reys since 2006, how is that not sustainable? All I see is sustained success and they've frequently made managerial changes over that period too. Real Madrid might have the wood on them in Europe currently, but it took RM 5 years to triumph in La Liga over them again and it was only on H2H IIRC that they beat them to the title with this year, H2H......and everyone considers it a poor year for Barca. Just shows how good they are and have been. Even when Atletico won the 2014 La Liga it came down to the last Matchday and Barca played Atletico at the Nou Camp and Barca had to beat them to win the title, Atletico held on for a draw which was enough for them, another poor year by Barca's standards and it came down to the final kick of the season for them to be beaten...... Unsustainable

Yes their great academy players are ageing like Iniesta, Messi, Busquets, Pique etc (he was Barca academy before his Man Utd move) or have moved on/retired like Puyol, Xavi, Pedro and Valdes and they do need a quality academy kid or two to come on from somewhere that will make everyone's heads turn, but no matter what they will always be up there. They are the benchmark club imo.

I think you've got the game plan but not the first or second (Kane us a fair plus mark for your academy but most of your squad is bought).

Yes most of our squad was bought, but our home grown lot were bought young (U21) and we hope they stick together and form a core to build around for many years. Walker was at Spurs for 8 years and he was our starting RB for 6 of them (his first two years he was loaned out). Danny Rose was bought from Leeds when he was only 16-17 in 2007 I think, so after a few loan spells he's delivered. Before this window they were the last two players left from the Redknapp era really (Kane was given a debut by Redknapp in EL, but he didn't play much), so the new wave of players who have delivered under Poch like Alli, Dier, Kane etc are who we need to build around.

Kane has been our greatest academy player since King probably, hopefully some of these kids coming through can make it like Winks (he's our 4th best CM now), Onomah, Walker-Peters, Edwards, Carter-Vickers. Worst comes to worst we make some money off them like selling the likes of Alex Pritchard, Tom Carroll, Ryan Mason etc.

Our Ajax contingent in Vertonghen, Eriksen and Alderweireld have been great value for us too.

To be honest I expected you to drop off last season after an incredible 15/16. You didnt, and fair play to you. But despite that I expect you to drop off next season.

Who knows, you might prove me wrong again. But I've been watching the game for over 25 years now and it's always been the case that a club that doesnt invest in it's playing squad eventually drops away.

Everyone predicts us to "fall off", but yep we hang on...... Even when we are truly #gash like 2013-14 we still pick 69 points up and finish 6th.

 

[moomba]

Been a long time since Barca bought kids through. And as the old guard leave they're not going to be replaced by kids. They'll be replaced by signings.

It was a great era for them but they're a different club now.

Rossell was/is a disaster for them.

 

[typeclub]

For Barcelona, yes definitely

You don't have to build your entire squad using this model, but imo it's easier nurturing and developing midfielders and defenders than it is for attackers and goalkeepers. We were lucky we hit the jackpot on Kane.

Which Barca players do you like that they've brought through lately? A good laugh would be nice, feed me.

 

[DBAH0]

Palace bid 3M for Adrian, we want 7M for him at least.

We've also apparently accepted a 7M bid from Boro for Ashley Fletcher.

 

[Bradesmaen]

Barca don't buy kids, they poached them from smaller clubs like English clubs tried to do.

 

[chef]

The kids or their agents?

The kids and their families.

 

[SM]

We're close to buying Michael Hector apparently.

 

[chef]

We're close to buying Michael Hector apparently.

He had a pretty good season in Germany apparently.

 

[Hawkforce]

I suppose if I supported a club bankrolled by people engaging in modern-day slave trade I'd be in denial about it too.

But I'd hope I'd still feel a little bit ashamed inside...

 

[WealstoneRaider]

I suppose if I supported a club bankrolled by people engaging in modern-day slave trade I'd be in denial about it too.

But I'd hope I'd still feel a little bit ashamed inside...

Same here. I never understood what's so hard for the City and Chelsea fans on here to hold their hands up and say "fair play, we are lucky bastards - it sucks and isn't fair but that's how it goes". If and when Spurs get bought out by a Mansour kind of character I wouldn't try to make some BS excuse for our spending at every turn. Everyone knows exactly what it is and it only makes you look slightly deluded when you try to defend it constantly.