Transfer Rumors

I'm not so sure. People didn't expect Italy to do anything worth noting this Euro. When the expectation is there and the team fails it's usually the best player that gets criticized the most.

True enough.

But I think the lead up to the comp is important in that regard.

If Brazil suck in the lead up (like they have done, even with their elite players of the past) they wont have expectations even if its in Brazil.

So it depends how it goes before the tournament and how the qualify for it.

Barca are interested in a Newcastle United Argentina centreback. He is around 30 years old though I can't remember the name.

Apparently Agger didn't play in a friendly against Tottenham, and he wasn't injured.

El Mundo Deportivo says that "sources close to the player" claim that if he asked for a transfer they wouldn't hold it against him

http://www.mundodeportivo.com/20120729/fc-barcelona/barca-agger-liverpool-dinamarca-fichajes-javi-martinez_54330881330.html

BarrileteCosmico wrote:Apparently Agger didn't play in a friendly against Tottenham, and he wasn't injured.

El Mundo Deportivo says that "sources close to the player" claim that if he asked for a transfer they wouldn't hold it against him

http://www.mundodeportivo.com/20120729/fc-barcelona/barca-agger-liverpool-dinamarca-fichajes-javi-martinez_54330881330.html

He didn't play due to a combination of lack of fitness and a bug.

It was only near the end of June that he was quoted as saying

"It's no secret that I'm happy to be in Liverpool. Otherwise, I would not have been there for six years. I have not (discussed a new contract) but if they come with an offer I will surely sit down and talk with them. It's not something that is urgent, for I have contract until 2014, but if they ask I will listen.

I am looking forward to meeting the new coach. I've seen what he has done at Swansea, and it has been impressive."

Agger's a CB in his prime, happy at his current club, with two years on his current contract and who's open to discussing/signing a new one. It will take a fairly large bid (in excess of £20m, most likely) to even make the club consider selling, and City have been reported to have made a bid already.

Wonder whether he wants a move... Hope he does though its just a rumour. A player not starting and media has to consider a move... Hope he wants to move to Barca! Decent place to make your retirement...

Agger rumours still persist with local papers latching onto the mounting speculation over the weekend

Moutinho seems to be heading to barca, with a transfer fee of 18-20 mil and a salary of 1.8 mil a year it looks like a very apetising prospect for rossel according to portuguese sources.

He is a super mid, one of the best he should in the euros, i just dont see him getting the playing time a player of his calibre deserves

theaguia wrote:Moutinho seems to be heading to barca, with a transfer fee of 18-20 mil and a salary of 1.8 mil a year it looks like a very apetising prospect for rossel according to portuguese sources.

He is a super mid, one of the best he should in the euros, i just dont see him getting the playing time a player of his calibre deserves

Great someone that we clearly need... Another damn midfielder...

sounds like BS to me.
Moutinho is a great player, but spending 18m for a place where we have abundance of players seems illogical

the reports say he is the alternative to javi martinez

I don't think there is any truth in that rumour to be honest. Only a few days ago he was linked to Madrid and Spurs. He is a great player but not one whom Barcelona need.

theaguia wrote:the reports say he is the alternative to javi martinez

What? Will he be playing CB for us? Please no...

I'm actually now starting to write off the idea that we do need a new CB. I've never "ever" been high on Bartra but lately I'm starting to think that we should just throw him out there. That is if he won't be loaned out which I doubt.

Even though these B teamers may not get the go they deserve, I still feel we need a centreback. I really can't stand another season with concerns in our backline...

Seriously. It's completely inexcusable to go yet another season without addressing our biggest area of concern.

Every wonder, what if we play with 5 defenders? Alves and Alba could have all the freedom to run forward and attack and provide width, with Masch, Puyol, and either Pique or Abidal staying back to defend.


---------------Valdes
-----Masch-Puyol-Pique/Abidal
Alves---------------------------Alba
---------------Busi
-----Xavi---------------Iniesta
----------Messi
-------------------Villa

After we score, we go to a more typical Spain formation

------------Valdes
-Alves-Puyol-Pique/Abidal-Alba
------Masch----Busi
Alexis----Cesc------Pedro
----------Messi

Alexis for Xavi
Cesc for Villa
Pedro for Iniesta

Hate both of those formations.

First one has no width and teams can clog up the middle easily.

The second involved Mascheraano in the midfield so that automatically disqualfies it. Double pivot sucks.

^ Relying too much on Puyol and Abidal. These guys have been having ongoing fitness issues and should not be counted on.

Also while I do like 3-5-2 I don't think it will fit into Barcelona. My reason for it is considering the fact that majority of teams play a tight defensive line close to their goal and the formation doesn't provide enough width in the offensive third; I wouldn't count on Alba or Alves creating any sort of width that would drag a defender or two out of the packed defence. For me that is one of the reasons why Barcelona failed to do well last season, because they did not create the sort of width that the opposition felt potentially dangerous.

4-3-3... Its tried and tested... I think Tito will stick to this closely, at least in his first season. I believe he'll bring some innovations to it like Guardiola did (redefining the roles of RB, LB, DM, Messi, and wingers) and this will be exciting enough to examine.

barcastuff via sport: Neymar wants to join Barcelona this summer.

BarcaKizz wrote:4-3-3... Its tried and tested... I think Tito will stick to this closely, at least in his first season. I believe he'll bring some innovations to it like Guardiola did (redefining the roles of RB, LB, DM, Messi, and wingers) and this will be exciting enough to examine.

This.. just play the 4-3-3, this formation brought us 3 UCL in the last 7 years..
Rijkaard tried 3-4-3 & failed, Guardiola tried it and failed...

Why change a formation that won us everything?

Sport links Barcelona with Arsenal defensive midfielder Alex Song as a result of Keita's departure.

If Song had any sense of discipline, he would make for an excellent holding midfielder (not that we need one) and even centerback. As he is now...just no.

Yeah although he is a good tackler and technically sound in pretty much every department I am not too fond of his awareness and positioning - defensively speaking. Guy get booked almost every time I watch him play because of his defensive errors and then tries to mop it up with fouls. He kinda reminds me of Lass sometimes.

According to MD, Barca have quit their pursuit of Javi Martinez due to high price.

Also, Neymar is not an option for this transfer window, and will be a priority in summer. However, attempt on bringing Neymar could be made in January if Villa does not live up to the expectations.

So more and more rumors about SwAgger joining Barça huh? Could be a good buy. Player at his prime and good in the air (which, as we all know, we need desperately).

Song can stay at Arsenal. This whole search for a DM is BS anyway. We've got Busi who is rarely injured, Machete who is rarely injured and JDS coming through the ranks. We need a CB. End of.

With regards to the Nerman rumours, I really tend to take them with a pinch of salt. From what we heard at the beginning of the transferperiod we had around 40-45M for transfers. As we already bought Alba for 14M, we'd only have about 26M-31M left and he really won't leave for less than 40-45M.