| o;s always the right time to write about this topic, | | | | holding midfield department than strength. With |
| right? Now that Barcelona games are only available | | | | Busquets improving on weekly bases, a pure |
| for weekends, we have lot of days to wait and lot | | | | defensive midfielder who can create an extremely |
| of time to kill. Nothing is better than some transfer | | | | different option for Pep is reasonable. When you |
| temptations. We will have to live with all kind of | | | | want a more dynamic midfield you get a Busquets. |
| rumors till the end of the season. Being a season of | | | | When you want a more static defensive midfielder |
| elections won’t make is better, pouring oil on | | | | covering behind the offense troops as a vacuum |
| the fire. | | | | cleaner you use the alternative Holding midfielder |
| So let’s go straight to the market! | | | | (Yaya or Mascherano). Yaya -in the right mood and |
| Goalkeepers: | | | | form- is better than Mascherano when it come to |
| Alright, for once I doubt there will be any voices | | | | playmaking contribution. Busquets is better than them |
| questioning Valdes as a first notch keeper. We need | | | | both. As a pure defensive midfielder, Mascherano |
| to buy a backup keeper. Pinto, for all his good (and | | | | heads the list. Added to the rumor that Mascherano |
| bad) is aging. Barcelona Athletic keepers still untested | | | | is yet to renew his contract with Liverpool, it means |
| and need at least three years to prove themselves | | | | that he will be more attainable next summer than he |
| for being reliable. The keeper we are seeking must | | | | was last summer. But that will only happen if Yaya |
| not be a first class keeper who demands playing | | | | left. Buying Cesc means no more installments in the |
| time, but still good enough to cover Valdes absence | | | | midfield if no one left. |
| and with enough quality to keep Valdes alert to avoid | | | | Offense: |
| competition threats. Claudio Bravo of Real Sociedad | | | | First of all we need to sort out what we have. At |
| was mentioned for being the main target. I still think | | | | the moment, we have Messi, Ibra, and Henry added |
| he is too good to be true. Twenty six years old | | | | to Pedro, Jeffren and Bojan with Iniesta being used |
| Chilean international who will defend his nation in the | | | | when needed. I am not sure what the future plans |
| following world cup may not find it a tempting | | | | of Henry are, but I will welcome keeping him. There |
| opportunity to warm up Barcelona bench for the rest | | | | are doubts if Henry can prove being useful for the |
| of his career. That’s ten years from now | | | | club next season, which is valid. Yet, for a player who |
| considering the Goal keepers football career. It will be | | | | is already in your squad, the most important question |
| an absolute craziness if it happens, in an absolutely | | | | is: how to benefit from his presence the longest |
| fantastic way, for Barcelona. | | | | period possible? As a key player and for the contract |
| On my short list —which has nothing to do | | | | conditions he has now, it is not a very profitable |
| with Barcelona targets- there is Daniel Fernandes for | | | | situation for the club (If we are only evaluating next |
| being one of the most realistic options. One older | | | | seasons’ costs Vs benefits, which is unfair as |
| reliable —and may be cheap- option is Morgan | | | | the contract worth must be evaluated by comparing |
| De Sanctis who can serve for couple of | | | | the cost vs. the players’ contribution |
| years.Cédric Carrasso is a less realistic option, | | | | throughout the contract duration). |
| though not an impossible one. Federico Marchetti is an | | | | If Henry wants to stay till his contract run out, then |
| interesting option to scout, while Joe Hart is | | | | he is more than welcomed. If he wants to move |
| impossible to get though I want to list him here just | | | | somewhere else, then I hope the club will release him |
| to wonder why —OH WHY the hell!- did | | | | for free so he can negotiate with any team he |
| Manchester City loaned out such a quality talented | | | | wants seeking his own interest. That’s the |
| youth and bought an aging Given? | | | | least we can do. |
| Defense: | | | | Yet, if he is willing to consider a new contract, I |
| I will make it short. I don’t want us to sign | | | | believe it’s for the best of the team to |
| any defender this summer. I know the club is looking | | | | extend Henry contract for two additional years |
| for a backup for Alves. But the same as I mentioned | | | | (Yea!!) while decreasing his annual earnings, and |
| last summer, there is no better backup for Alves | | | | making it clear that he will be used more as a game |
| than Puyol. Yet, if we need more assurance, bring | | | | changer than a key starter during his new contract |
| back Caceres, Henrique, or promote a Cantera. I am | | | | duration. There is no better player Barcelona can sign |
| not sure who is under the scouting radars at the | | | | as a game changer than Henry. I labeled him as the |
| moment, but I will be so surprised if the targets have | | | | new Larsson once, and I am still hopeful that this |
| the quality of Caceres or Henrique. I watched them | | | | wishful thinking will come true. |
| close this season, and I am more certain than before | | | | I have only two options to select from, if we |
| they can serve the team well. | | | | decided to sign a new player: Silva, and Villa. All the |
| Besides, there is a decision to be made regarding | | | | other options are far behind. |
| Botia who is having a very good season on loan. | | | | If Henry leaves, then we need to sign a new player |
| There is a decision to be made regarding Muniesa, | | | | without any question: |
| Fontàs, Bartra and the rest of defenders we have | | | | 1) If we sign Silva, the offense line will look like this: |
| at Barca Athletic who are looking forward to see the | | | | Silva-Ibra-Messi as starters and Pedro- Bojan -Jeffren |
| light out of the tunnel toward the first team. The | | | | as backups. Not a bad structure, yet there is a huge |
| decision may not be promoting them all next season, | | | | defect in it, we’ll only have one striker |
| but at least sending a clear message that they are in | | | | —Ibra- to count on as an offense reference |
| our plans and will have a chance and space with time. | | | | (9), considering that Bojan is still not ready for a key |
| Midfield: | | | | role. Imagine Ibra getting injured for few games, we |
| My opinion about signing Cesc Fabregas is still the | | | | will definitely be in a big trouble. |
| same. What sounded as an odd argument once, is a | | | | 2) If we sign Villa, the offense line will look like this: |
| belief for a decent sector of Barcelona fans now. | | | | Villa-Ibra-Messi as starters and Pedro- Bojan -Jeffren |
| It’s not right to pay the amount of cash | | | | as backups. That’s my favorite structure. Villa |
| needed to get Cesc back home, he found a new | | | | is a goal scoring forward who will be converted to a |
| home for himself once, and he can find another | | | | flank forward role (Henry), which will guarantee more |
| home if he wanted. But the guy is most likely a | | | | goal scoring qualities than getting a pure wing. He is |
| Barcelona player next season. When he wears the | | | | more compatable to Ibra and Messi style of play than |
| Barcelona shirt, he is our kid again, and will get all the | | | | any other option and he fits perfectly our tactical |
| support required. | | | | structure that is a mix of 4-3-3 and 4-4-2 diamond. |
| For fifty millions of cash you can buy Silva who can | | | | Even for the youth, it’s better that the first |
| do everything Cesc does and more, and you will still | | | | team sign a 28 years old player than a 22 years old |
| have enough money to make an agreement with a | | | | wing. Keeping in mind that so far we don’t |
| hairdresser to take care of Iniesta’s hair for | | | | really have a young striker whom we can put our |
| the rest of his career. It’s smarter to invest | | | | bet on for the future (in the following 5 years), while |
| that amount of money on Silva and Iniesta's hair than | | | | on the flanks we have lot of Pedros and Jeffrens. |
| on Cesc, no offense. | | | | Even Bojan is at the moment closer to a flanked |
| But the guy is coming. If we succeeded to keep | | | | forward/second striker than a nine. |
| either Jonathan Dos Santos or Thiago Alcantara, fine! | | | | If Henry stays: |
| Hope they will still feel motivated enough to challenge | | | | It means having Pedro-Ibra-Messi as starters and |
| for a future in the club. I think JDS will be the victim | | | | Bojan-Henry-Jeffren as backups. Not a bad structure |
| of signing Cesc as he plays almost an identical role, | | | | but we can improve it much more: |
| while Thiago has some other features that makes | | | | New signing- Ibra-Messi with Pedro-Henry-Jeffren |
| him a different kind of players than Cesc. | | | | Bojan as back up. Meaning, we need to decide if we |
| If Yaya stayed, then that’s all the changes to | | | | will keep Bojan or Jeffren. Keeping them both is so |
| expect in the midfield. We will have an impossible | | | | unpractical as they will eat each others’ playing |
| challenge to find playing time for everyone anyway. | | | | time or the better will dominate the less qualified. At |
| So we won’t add more complications. If Yaya | | | | least a loan decision should be made in this case. |
| decided to leave, we will give it a second try to get | | | | Even with Henry staying, I still favor Villa over Silva, |
| Mascherano, who is closer to Barcelona than some | | | | especially if we signed Cesc. Silva is a great talent |
| may think. If I am reading Pep well (who does?), it | | | | that any team would like to sign, but I can’t |
| seems he wants more agility and stamina in the | | | | find anything Silva can do that Iniesta cant. |