Thiago Motta

[Disconosebleed]

£3m-odd for a player like Motta would be a fantastic move, potentially the best buy we could make all summer. Motta is one of those players who goes about his business in an unfussy manner but is incredibly good at what he does. God knows we could do with a player like him who can actually retain possession. He's an excellent player, only hindered by the fact that Barca have arguably the best two midfielders in the world (Deco and Xavi), and two fantastic holding players in Marquez and Edmilson.

It should be noted also that Motta can and has played at centre half without looking out of place. Not that we're lacking in centre halves now, but versatility is always a nice trait to have in case of an emergency - a player like Motta in the side would mean we could always have two strikers on the bench.

 

[Bizness]

Motta and Gravesen, possibly the worst comparison since Maradona and Ben Thatcher.

 

[bubble07]

reading reports about him it seems clear he would have been one of the best defensive midfielders in europe (according to people who know about football) had it not been for a series of injuries. However if he never had a series of injuries there would be no chance in hell of us getting him

For central midfield we would then have

Motta, Zokora, Tainio, Huddlestone, Jenas. Not great but good enough

 

[The Apprentice]

Half Italian, half Brazilian. Nice combo, best of both worlds.

Can't see it happening.

 

[InOffMeLeftShin]

Motta and Gravesen, possibly the worst comparison since Maradona and Ben Thatcher.

Thought it was strange too. But are you saying Gravesen is as bad as Thatcher? Or just stating that they are completely different?

 

[brasil_spur]

Motta would be an awesome signing, especially for the prices being suggested here.

The only reason(s) we have a chance to sign him are the injuries he has sustained the last couple of seasons and that Barca are make loads of changes this summer after their poor season.

For player comparisons, perhaps Roy Keane would be a fair comparison, he is a tough tackling DM with great passing and ball retention, something we definitley missed last season.

My only concern would be his recent injury, but he seems to be over that now.

 

[brasil_spur]

Half Italian, half Brazilian. Nice combo, best of both worlds.

Can't see it happening.

I doubt he is half Italian. A lot of Brazilians in Sao Paulo (where Motta is from) have Italian members in their families and so apply for Italian citizenship, there was a large immigration of Italians to Brazil from 1910-1945.

I think Diego, Kaka and several others have this same thing, Brazilian, but with dual citizenship.

Why can't you see it happening?

 

[brasil_spur]

reading reports about him it seems clear he would have been one of the best defensive midfielders in europe (according to people who know about football) had it not been for a series of injuries. However if he never had a series of injuries there would be no chance in hell of us getting him

For central midfield we would then have

Motta, Zokora, Tainio, Huddlestone, Jenas. Not great but good enough

I reckon that Taarabt could be added to that list which looks pretty good to me. Perhaps not as much attacking flair as we would like, but then with Lennon (and hopefully another) on the wings and our strike force, it's not as if we are short on attacking players.

Look at Brazil in the Copa America right now for an example of how adding more defensively solid players can increase the attacking play of a team.

 

[Gambler]

Don't know if anybody else can remember but when Motta first wne to Barca I'm pretty sure he played on the left wing?

 

[Rocksuperstar]

Ere, Bizness - i'll say it:

Tribal Football is run by attention seeking children and under-developed men who are good at one of two things:

1) Trawling the net and papers for the slightest, vaguest possibility of a hint of a bit of news, then reproducing it as fact, embeleshed with some made up details, just to get attention from other web-crawlers.

2) Make this shit up in the hope that it will come true, but if it doesn't it don't matter, you can just say your "source" was bullshitting.

Tribal Football, Fans FC, Clubcall - all produce more arse-biscuit mix than Mr Kipling ever did in "Mr Kipling Does Dallas"

*this is my opinion and in no way related to the opinions this site, its mods or admin, but lets face it - they have eyes and a brain, so i doubt i'm the only one :up:

Lets all now drink! Drink and dance! Dance, like men! :dance:

 

[thetallaghttiger]

Acc to Sky, any deal for Motta is dependent on how Barca's attempts to sign Gabriel Milito go, ie do they meet his valuation or do they exchange a player + cash - the make weight being Motta

http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=475623&plid=11527&clid=178&cpid=23

 

[liamc23]

Acc to Sky, any deal for Motta is dependent on how Barca's attempts to sign Gabriel Milito go, ie do they meet his valuation or do they exchange a player + cash - the make weight being Motta

http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=475623&plid=11527&clid=178&cpid=23

That article also mentions Marquez being surplus to requirements i might be in dreamland but what a signing he would be.

 

[Rufio]

Please no, altho my contact says we have put in a bid for him.

 

[SpurSince57]

5 games in la liga

4 yellow cards

1 red card

thanks but no thanks...

Don't forget you can get a yellow for a dirty look in La Liga.

 

[InOffMeLeftShin]

I reckon that Taarabt could be added to that list which looks pretty good to me. Perhaps not as much attacking flair as we would like, but then with Lennon (and hopefully another) on the wings and our strike force, it's not as if we are short on attacking players.

Look at Brazil in the Copa America right now for an example of how adding more defensively solid players can increase the attacking play of a team.

A tope quality defensive midfielder who can win the ball back and pass/retain well, will undoubtedly improve us offensively too. The number of teams we failed to win a 50/50 last season which would have resulted in a break for us was incredible. A top DM would actually improve us going forward more than an attacking midfielder in my opinion. Otherwise it is like building a house without foundations, it all gets very messy. With a proper base to our play we would be much better.

I think comparing Motta to Roy Keane is building him up a little.

 

[Tickers]

Can we at least accept that tribalfootball was on the money?

Nope. Throw enough balls at enough coconuts, you win a goldfish.

If TribalFootball had even a 10 per cent accuracy rate, Spurs would have more players than fans by now.

 

[Adam]

Im sorry, but i'm a barca club member and do not miss a game and im telling you he is not good enough to play for us. He is not tough in the good sense-he is just reckless who has no problems going straight through someone whatever the repercussions are. For some reason, Rijkaard decided to play him in the champions league and he was completely shown up, especially in game 2 vs Chelsea-as soon as Edmilson came on he released Ronnie to set up Gudjohnson with a raking pass-one that Motta always tries but very rarely suceeds with. If he was a free transfer on very low wages then maybe but he is certainly no better than what we have in the first team, is maybe on a par with Tainio and would just be another Davids-a big name with a big reputation that commands a first team place that his ability doesnt warrant.

Football is obviously a game of opinion and im sure there will be those that dont agree but he is not a popular player in Barcelona and i think it would be a better deal for them than us, whether its on a free or with a fee.

 

[smashing]

thanks adam!

 

[SpurSince57]

Milito has signed a four-year contract with Barca. €17m.

http://www.lequipe.fr/Football/breves2007/20070712_005259Dev.html

Presumably this definitely makes Motty surplus to requirements.

 

[azlankicap]

Milito has signed a four-year contract with Barca. €17m.

http://www.lequipe.fr/Football/breves2007/20070712_005259Dev.html

Presumably this definitely makes Motty surplus to requirements.

Motta is a defensive midfielder. Milito is a CB who will be playing alongside coz supposedly Marquez was below par last season. Plus Puyol is also injured me thinks so thats why they are got Milito.
A few years ago Motta was supposed to be the next big thing in the Barca camp, some what taunted like Messi have been but never really shone partly coz Edmilson was the main man in the DM/holding midfielder for Barca.