Transfer Rumors

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.

What's up with everyone on this forum calling him Nerman?

Santos president Luis Alvaro promised Neymar last year he'll talk with Barcelona if the latter ask it. Barcelona already paid 14.5M. [md]

We are suddenly linked with Neymar yet Tito has reiterated that he is not interested in a striker more on a centre back who can also play as a holding mid. I have a feeling this Neymar deal will be a Rosell or club deal, not a Tito deal. Hope we do not give up on looking for a centre back because of Neymar rumours!

danyjr wrote:What's up with everyone on this forum calling him Nerman?

Actually it's not ONLY in this forum. It has spread that much that I've heard people call him like that here where I live

I'm not getting the "Song to Barcelona" rumours. Song is a poor mans Cesc. Great playmaker but is a liability in defense. I'm not sure Barcelona would want another Cesc who's not even as great as Cesc in playmaking. Not to mention that Song is not out of contract so he wont be cheap. Adding the fact that Barcelona is full of CM's and Arsenal don't need to sell, it just doesn't make sense.

You Arsenal say that though somehow, one of your stars end off shipping...

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urbaNRoots wrote:I'm not getting the "Song to Barcelona" rumours. Song is a poor mans Cesc. Great playmaker but is a liability in defense. I'm not sure Barcelona would want another Cesc who's not even as great as Cesc in playmaking. Not to mention that Song is not out of contract so he wont be cheap. Adding the fact that Barcelona is full of CM's and Arsenal don't need to sell, it just doesn't make sense.

The only sense it makes is we have a strange desire to convert holding mids into centerbacks.

Just like Martinez, Song has a brief history of playing centerback and holding midfield..despite the fact, both are really just centermidfielders who happen to be tall with physical tools.

The Franchise wrote:undefined

urbaNRoots wrote:I'm not getting the "Song to Barcelona" rumours. Song is a poor mans Cesc. Great playmaker but is a liability in defense. I'm not sure Barcelona would want another Cesc who's not even as great as Cesc in playmaking. Not to mention that Song is not out of contract so he wont be cheap. Adding the fact that Barcelona is full of CM's and Arsenal don't need to sell, it just doesn't make sense.

The only sense it makes is we have a strange desire to convert holding mids into centerbacks.

Just like Martinez, Song has a brief history of playing centerback and holding midfield..despite the fact, both are really just centermidfielders who happen to be tall with physical tools.

We probably won't get a centreback. Just a feeling... Hope Im wrong. Desperately need one!

The Franchise wrote:The only sense it makes is we have a strange desire to convert holding mids into centerbacks.

Just like Martinez, Song has a brief history of playing centerback and holding midfield..despite the fact, both are really just centermidfielders who happen to be tall with physical tools.

Ah didn't think it that way... actually when he plays CB and only wants to defend he's impressive, but he hates defending lol something like Yaya I think.

I'd rather go for Martinez if you need a holding midfielder that can play as a CB.

But he's way too expensive from what I've read

Too expensive indeed, better off with an actual cheap centreback...

Today in the rumor machine:

Song's signing could be completed in 48 hours
Liverpool thinks about not playing Agger in their next friendly as they away Barca's offer
Toulalan is an option Zubi is taking into account

The game is a Europa League game, and he's out with an injury concern.

BarrileteCosmico wrote:Today in the rumor machine:

Song's signing could be completed in 48 hours
Liverpool thinks about not playing Agger in their next friendly as they away Barca's offer
Toulalan is an option Zubi is taking into account

BC, how are we to get these two players if we only have 26m? Didn't also the vice-president say we wanted to confirm Neymar at the end of the Olympics? I really don't think the Song deal is true. I prefer if we trust in JDS or Roberto. Busquests is rarely injuried/fatigued so he/they may not get many games (such as games before CL games or average games...)
At least at the moment, we are rumoured heavily with a centreback...

Song?

He's technically quite good, but only in that way would he be good for Barca. He's pretty creative for a DM/holding mid but defensively he's far from convincing. I have a hard time thinking he could make it as a CB for Barca even if we tried to convert him. Really would just be a poor buy all around for Barca and for that reason I doubt it's true.

CBarca wrote:Song?

He's technically quite good, but only in that way would he be good for Barca. He's pretty creative for a DM/holding mid but defensively he's far from convincing. I have a hard time thinking he could make it as a CB for Barca even if we tried to convert him. Really would just be a poor buy all around for Barca and for that reason I doubt it's true.

imo, Arsenal really shouldn't sell him for less than 20m. Definately would be a bargain if any team bought him for 12.5m

For Barca personally, I would not pay 12.5 million for Song. Maybe a different team, not Barca though.

It's kind of like Cesc all over again, he doesn't really have a defined role in the team (other than cover for the never injured Busquets), and even in his role, he's not the best option we have available. Plus we already have 10 bajillion CM's.

Simply promoting JDS would suffice. While I am a huge supporter of buying some players for depth rather than going full out youth willy nilly, La Masia can handle the back up for Busquets if it's ever needed (not to mention our ability to already shift people around and have the position covered).

Beating a dead horse still but the CB area is where we need another person...

Toulalan? Are you kidding me lol

Small, slow, weak and not even physical enough for midfield, let alone CB.

The Franchise wrote:Toulalan? Are you kidding me lol

Small, slow, weak and not even physical enough for midfield, let alone CB.

lol, sounds like there is really no one who can fit our CB list. Only Agger and Dede do. At least we are heavily linked with Agger. One is better than no one I guess.

Given a choice of Martinez or Song I would choose Song everytime. He's a brilliant player, scores and creates alot of goals for a Dm, and can slot in a Cb when needed. Its obvious Tito and Co. see Bartra as our Cb, and they want an extra Cb/Dm player in case of injury to Buquets or Pique/Puyol/Machete.

Also, I may be wrong here but I'm sure Song was orignally bought as a Cb when he moved to Arsenal. It just turned out his technical skills were off the charts and would have been wasted back there and he was moved furthur up the pitch.

He's a Machete and Martinez in reverse. He's a far more natural Cb then those two thats for sure.

Song can play there, just like Yaya can play there, but it limited his natural game and I think Song is aware of it.

He doesnt want to be the holding midfielder Arsenal desperately need, I doubt he wants to go even further back into the defence.

The Franchise wrote:Toulalan? Are you kidding me lol

Small, slow, weak and not even physical enough for midfield, let alone CB.

Toulalon is a pretty good DM, I feel as though we should go for him and get rid of Lass , he's an intelligent player, much in the same fashion as Busquets.

Indeed, he relies on smarts and reading of the game...but at CB or even DM, when in 1 v 1 confrontations he looks about 60 years old.

No strength whatsoever and moves like a 18 wheeler.

Busquets can handle himself defensively because he has telescopic legs and an even greater feel for the game than Toulalan. But at CB, he gets exposed, Toulalon would be even worse.

He looks like he's 60 years old out in the street too to be fair lol.

In all seriousness, I agree to an extent, I like him for us though, Ramos and Pepe compensate considerably for that stuff.

For you he'd be a decent back up for Busquets should he get injured but nothing more.

I do admit though, with the ball, he is decent. Can get out of situations pretty well, that part of his game is Busquets like.

The Franchise wrote:I do admit though, with the ball, he is decent. Can get out of situations pretty well, that part of his game is Busquets like.

The main difference between him and Busquets is he fouls a bit more and he'll get a little tackle happy, other than that I'd call him a poor mans Busquets.