FC Barcelona - Campeones de España!

exactly, i think the cesc project will be put off for a 1/2, but i think they have bought Affelay to mainly play as part of the front 3.

But with thiago looking better by the minute and keita re newing plus Affelay our midfield is pretty much set


Masch,Busiquets
Xavi,Kieta
Iniesta,Thiago

We will need to focus on the defense this off season

shazlx wrote:With the signings of Mascherano and now Affelay surely there is no scope for Barcelona to try for Cesc again for at least a couple of seasons? Especially when you include the obstacle of the hige debt.

Nah there is no limit to the ego or ambitions for Rosell. He will try again.

Bit of a joke really isn't it how the big two in La Liga can constantly sign all these brilliant players despite being in debt. I mean how long is it before Rooney and Torres decide they want a piece of that action as well?

Luis wrote:Bit of a joke really isn't it how the big two in La Liga can constantly sign all these brilliant players despite being in debt. I mean how long is it before Rooney and Torres decide they want a piece of that action as well?

Next summer of course.

Jaime wrote:

Luis wrote:Bit of a joke really isn't it how the big two in La Liga can constantly sign all these brilliant players despite being in debt. I mean how long is it before Rooney and Torres decide they want a piece of that action as well?

Next summer of course.

I don't see the problem with signing Afellay, it's a brilliant deal IMO. I've only seen him in two games - the Netherlands friendly against Ghana (IIRC) before the World Cup, and their recent game against Sweden. In both he was just spectacular...I instantly thought "this guy can play in Barça", even before the rumours were strong.



- He's 25, which is the perfect age. Not too young to block our kids, and not too old...so he can still grow into his peak while he's here.



- Versatile: AM, passing DM, left winger. Adds great depth to our squad.



- A creative "spark" off the bench...just look at the bench against Villarreal yesterday and imagine if we needed a goal Wouldn't trust Bojan to get it



- 3m euros!!! Practically zero risk, even if he turns out to be a shit player. And another example of the kind of "clever" signings that were a hallmark of Rosell's initial spell at the club. Hell, we already know he'll be a decent player because it's not Guardiola's choice



- @Luis: It's just 3m euros for a player out of contract. Hardly a massive debt burden. If Liverpool improved their scouting then maybe you could have signed Afellay instead of Jovanovic or Maxi or Poulsen. As for Torres, I don't think he has any options in Spain - can never go to Madrid, and not suited to Barça. Rooney won't move in the near future anyway.



- @shazlx: I don't think this means anything for the Cesc transfer. With Guardiola being increasingly fluid regarding his team selections and who he defines as an attacker or a midfielder (even the fullback vs. midfielder boundary is getting blurred), Cesc is still a possibility to come into the midfield, esp. given Xavi's injury.

And as we've said before, although Rosell claims he'll follow this policy of 'austerity', you can bet he'll ignore it for at least one big signing next summer. Thiago's emergence could be a factor though. And of course, how keen Cesc is to move...Barça will ensure that it's him who forces his way out, and the fee will not rise above 30-35m euros, no matter what.



- @Ricardo: For me those are some very good attributes for Barça. Nothing better than a player who can hold the ball under pressure. And if his attitude is a "nice" guy, even better, because he will fit well with Guardiola (see what happened with Etoo and Ibrahimovic).

He has enough technical quality so I think the one touch passing is something he can learn quickly, at least to start playing as the "free" AM. If he is to play deeper, then the positional discipline will have to be learnt.

Just a bit of iniesta V Villarreal

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Kas you said you never really watched Pastore play.. Try to download Palermo Catania.. Pastore has been excellent during the first half. He does something magical every 5 mins or so.. He would fit right in. He seems to be able to play the Xavi role and also as a striker if necessary. Beautiful passing, great dribbles and has scored a great header.. I would love us to sign him. To be honest I would rather have him than Cesc, especially considering his height of 187cms

Yeah, i would rather him than cesc as well and he genuinely seems to want to play for the club, the thing he and messi could do together would just blow peoples mind.

The one young midfielder that i would buy at the risk of losing most midfielders coming through that his purchase would block.

Kids pure class

Hat trick for pastore!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, sign him up zubi, please

Will definitely catch the highlights

Messiah wrote:Yeah, i would rather him than cesc as well and he genuinely seems to want to play for the club, the thing he and messi could do together would just blow peoples mind.

The one young midfielder that i would buy at the risk of losing most midfielders coming through that his purchase would block.

Kids pure class

He is the new Kaka...

i think he is going to be better than kaka, has his games isn't as reliant on pace

Ibra: "Pep cree que ha inventado el fútbol del Barça, pero yo podría ser
el entrenador de lo buenos que son"

Jaime wrote:Ibra: "Pep cree que ha inventado el fútbol del Barça, pero yo podría ser
el entrenador de lo buenos que son"

Translation please?

Ibra: Pep thinks he invented Barças football but they are that good that even I could be coach

Ricardo Wetzel wrote:Afellay can be used in several positions. You can use him very well as a defensive midfielder. That would work perfect for Barcelona. He also can be used as an attacking midfielder. You can put him on the wings....He is very versitile and I guess he is capable to learn the ticqui taca very quickly...

In the Netherlands team he played most of the times as a winger. Not his position and sometimes it was a hit but than it was a miss.. But then his latest game for Oranje against Sweden (4-1) was absolutely breath taken. He was by far the best player on the pitch. he was really good. And not to mention, he is able to improve a lot.

At PSV he is used most of the time as the AMF

Good signing.

Only "if" i have is... He is a player who likes to have the ball. He is one of the better players (together with VdV) who can hold up the ball under very high pressure. that's why he is a "modern" DFM. At Barcelona, however, you must know where to pass the ball before you got it. He really must learn that.

Another problem is, he is most of the times too friendly which can be a problem if you want to reach the top.

Afellay is a decent player, but not Barca level. Holds the ball way too long and hardly ever scores. Not sure if he can play their Tik-Tak football. Besides its a bad move for him, why not go to a lesser club where he wont be on the bench all the time.

Barca can get him for free within 6 months now I know he is only 3 million but if one has such a hugh debt....

Banner at the Milan derby yesterday

So it is official... I am not quite sure about this guy. Hopefully he will prove me wrong..


http://www.psv.nl/Nieuws/Nieuwspagina/Akkoord-PSV-en-FC-Barcelona-over-Afellay.htm

Murray wrote:Banner at the Milan derby yesterday

Jaime wrote:

Murray wrote:Banner at the Milan derby yesterday

Pique hasnt been the same since that fateful spring

Sport has being running articles the past two days, saying pep wants to sign rossi of villarreal next season.

i would how true of a story this is and if its true do you guys think he would be a good signing?.
i'm not sure what to make of it

To be honest, I want height in the team.. dont want more small clones of existing players. I think Bojan is as good as Rossi, he just doesnt get the same amount of playing time (feel free to laugh and ridicule).

For next season I would want Pastore and a striker (big one, like Llorente) and that is it.. We dont need fullbacks, centrebacks, DMs, wingers or small strikers.. what we need is a viable backup/rotation player for Xavi and Iniesta, and an alternative for the 9, that offers something different from what we already have.

Yeah I don't see the point of him. Any new signings should be 6ft or more. But perhaps there could be some kind of swap with Villarreal for him and Bojan (plus cash of course) ?

------------------------

@Messiah: I think this is the Iniesta video you tried to post: https://www.youtube.com/v/l9VWXULjtyM&hl

Superb bits of skill indeed...but even his overall performance in the Villarreal game, and indeed this season, has been phenomenal. The Villarreal game was the first time I understood why some people say he's better than Xavi and Messi and is the actual best player in Barça.

I think the arrival of Afellay has ruled out the arrival of pastore of a couple of seasons at least, as he will be the back up for xavi,iniesta,pedro/messi. has he is said to be that versatile.

I just hope that when we are ready to go in for pastore he is still available.

Re: iniesta, he has indeed by boss this season, makes me wonder very time i see him play, what would have been in the inter game last season.

I'm especially happy that pep seems to finally be understanding that a midfield of him and xavi, is almost unbeatable and with the arrival of affellay, i think we will be seeing him in the midfield permanently.

Jaime wrote:Ibra: "Pep cree que ha inventado el fútbol del Barça, pero yo podría ser
el entrenador de lo buenos que son"

And now it's the turn of the lunatic agent again:

"Deberían irse a un hospital mental juntos, callarse y sentarse a jugar a las cartas"

Translaton: [Pep and Cruyff] "should go to a mental hospital together, shut up, and sit down to play cards"

Messiah wrote:I think the arrival of Afellay has ruled out the arrival of pastore of a couple of seasons at least, as he will be the back up for xavi,iniesta,pedro/messi. has he is said to be that versatile.

I just hope that when we are ready to go in for pastore he is still available.

That is exactly why I am not over the moon about this..

I read that the club didn't agree a new deal with Alves and app he is leaving.
Any story about that?

I'm not sure if he is leaving, but he did reject the club's "final" offer.

so...he's leaving right? AC Milan will be perfect for him