Barcelona Thread

[George94]

I said this when Poch was linked with them, but this is an absolute nightmare of a job.

There is way too much player power at that club - apparently Koeman telling Suarez he's not in his plans and is going to sell him was the final straw for Messi.

I don't rate Koeman, he should never have been appointed in the first place, but he's completely right here. Suarez will be 34 this season - it's time to replace him.

I actually don't think Messi leaving would be the end of the world for Barca if they had a proper management and recruitment structure in place. But they've bought and sold terribly, have nobody ready to step up and apparently, no money to spend either .

So many players in that squad are now just demand a starting position in the team because of how good they used to be and Messi is backing them because he's their mate.

Total mess.

 

[Kingellesar]

You get the feeling this was always needed at Barcelona, a complete overhaul of the club and thats why Koeman was brought in. Because he is going to be the scapegoat for them to be able to clear the big stars out the club, get the wage bill down and begin the rebuild. Ready for Xavi to eventually come in as manager.

 

[agrdavidsfan]

They really are in a mess!

apparently there is rumours that it’s coming out today or tomorrow that they approached Roberto Martinez first before Koeman.

but if you look at their squad it’s a mess

Stegen (second best in the world)

sergi Roberto (a Centre midfielder who’s been converted to right back as they didn’t have any viable options).

Semedo (Aurier with pace)

Pique - getting on a bit and like Messi seems bored of the club.

Umtiti - thrown his toys out of the pram because lenglet replaced him in the team wants out

Lenglet - very good but rumours of a man city move

Alba - great player but again aging and declining

Busquets - great player but again declining when he’s not given a specific role

Pjanic - coming in but now the manager has gone out ??

Arthur - best prospect he’s leaving!

de Jong -started well but then lost his way and fans have started to turn on him

Rakitić - he wants out and has been told to leave.

Vidal - again aging and on the decline

Suarez - again been told to leave and on the decline

Messi - wants out

Ansu Fati - seen as the heir to the Messi throne is under intense rumors of a united move.

Dembele - like our dear Tanguy just can’t be arsed and wants to play PlayStation all day rather than train.

Antoine Griezmann - already been told he’s the starting striker centrally.

exciting prospects coming through

Puiq
Cuenca

They need a total rebuild they have lost their DNA and the Barcelona way they need to literally go back to square one!

it’s insanely poor management and I can see why their fans are rioting!

 

[DJS]

Do wonder why Arthur doesn’t get given more opportunities.

Seems bizarre first thing Koeman has done is go in and piss Messi off, unless Messi does have too much power and is contributing to the toxic atmosphere at the club?

I wouldn’t have been so quick to try and dot Suarez either as he’s still been banging the goals in.

I‘d look to maybe get another striker in and play him less although perhaps then he’d have a strop and go crying to Messi?

Who knows really, the top clubs in spain really do seem to be from another planet!

 

[cabinfever]

With Suarez and Messi going........... Depending how they are in the £££ department, I could see them putting in a big bid for Harry K.

That would not be good news!!

 

[Marty]

Do wonder why Arthur doesn’t get given more opportunities.

Arthur refused to return to Barcelona after the Juve move had been agreed so he's had all summer off.

 

[ajspurs]

With Suarez and Messi going........... Depending how they are in the £££ department, I could see them putting in a big bid for Harry K.

That would not be good news!!

Actually think that would be another stupid signing to add to their list funnily enough, considering what he would cost. They need to for once actually build smartly and not just spunk a fuck load of cash on one player.

 

[nailsy]

I said this when Poch was linked with them, but this is an absolute nightmare of a job.

There is way too much player power at that club - apparently Koeman telling Suarez he's not in his plans and is going to sell him was the final straw for Messi.

I don't rate Koeman, he should never have been appointed in the first place, but he's completely right here. Suarez will be 34 this season - it's time to replace him.

I actually don't think Messi leaving would be the end of the world for Barca if they had a proper management and recruitment structure in place. But they've bought and sold terribly, have nobody ready to step up and apparently, no money to spend either .

So many players in that squad are now just demand a starting position in the team because of how good they used to be and Messi is backing them because he's their mate.

Total mess.

I'm not sure it was deciding to get rid of Suarez that was the issue. I think it's more to do with what's going on in the background. Details of a private meeting with Messi were leaked to the press. The Suarez info leaked to the press before the player knew about it. Players have lost all faith in the boardroom.

 

[cabinfever]

Actually think that would be another stupid signing to add to their list funnily enough, considering what he would cost. They need to for once actually build smartly and not just spunk a fuck load of cash on one player.

Agree, but it's exactly like something an incoming President might promise!!

 

[DJS]

Arthur refused to return to Barcelona after the Juve move had been agreed so he's had all summer off.

But why would they even have looked to sell him?

I‘d have thought he’d have played an important role in bringing some youth into the tram?

 

[Marty]

But why would they even have looked to sell him?

I‘d have thought he’d have played an important role in bringing some youth into the tram?

It's a very sketchy balance the books sort of deal that on paper benefits both Barca and Juve because of how the financials are structured at at time where both teams need to be creative with their money.

How Barcelona and Juventus will profit from the Arthur-Pjanic swap worth a combined €137m - Republic World

Barcelona and Juventus have agreed on a swap deal between Arthur Melo and Miralem Pjanic and both clubs will benefit from the sale of the two players.

www.republicworld.com

.

Swiss Ramble is always excellent on these things

 

[DJS]

The good thing in all this is that sky sports have finally taken Kane off the main transfer window pic and updated one now has Messi on it instead!

 

[WalkerboyUK]

I fully expect Messi to still play for Barca next season.
All about making power plays and big statements about change.
He's been there so long that a move to another country/league may not actually work for him.

 

[mr ashley]

How would we benefit aside from if we actually bought Messi? The rest of their squad is going so rapidly downhill I don't think any of the over 30s would cope in the PL. Maybe Suarez could be good for one season if he stays injury free.

The one player I would've liked us to seriously look at was Arthur and he's already gone to Juve. Semedo was a full back I was keen on but having seen him more recently in both LL and CL I don't think he'd do better than Aurier.

We could benefit from this mess if they do get rid of Messi (not to us of course) because they will be one of the only clubs who could afford Ndombeles wages, and have already expressed an interest in him this summer ( alongside sessegnon you may remember?)
I’m not saying that we could pick up some of their cast offs (although I do think there are some valuable winners in their squad who have been shown the door).
My point is that we are looking to get shot of Ndombele in a market with very few takers. Apart from inter, Barca might be our only other chance

 

[C0YS]

I fully expect Messi to still play for Barca next season.
All about making power plays and big statements about change.
He's been there so long that a move to another country/league may not actually work for him.

This might well be the case.

The board have created this crisis.

Laporta had an idea, more or less, he tried to implement a Cruyff template as much as possible. Since then, essentially they have tried to undo all the positive changes done during that time. Some people hold onto the idea Barca have been holding on to this identity and they need to let go. The thing is the complete opposite is true, La Masia, completely restructured, all the scouts and backroom supporters of Cruyff culled. As the board ignores scouting advice such as 'we should go for this canadian kid alphonso davies' because he's canadian, and canadians can't play football. Scoff.

Furthermore, the board is actively undermining the players, they hired a company to create bots to badmouth players and other critics and make the board look good. Leaked player contract negotiations to make them look bad and uncaring for covid, though the players insist they were going to take a paycut anyway. Blaming the sacking of the previous manager, and the complete choas of that situation, on the players, which then was outright denied by Messi has being untrue and unfair.

The club has 'too much player power' is the narrative being pushed by an incompetent board. It might even be true, but I will repeat in saying they are absolutely in the right to stand against the current senseless destructive direction Barca are heading. I have no love for Barca, but be it any traditional club, I hate seeing clubs be run to the ground.

 

[nailsy]

I fully expect Messi to still play for Barca next season.
All about making power plays and big statements about change.
He's been there so long that a move to another country/league may not actually work for him.

I'm not sure, it feels different this time.

 

[Wizzy77]

Just wandering, with Messi situation Barca screwed themselves with the appointment of Koeman instead of Poch

A fellow Argie, would probablyyyyy have a slightly better chance of selling his project to Messi...

 

[yawa]

Just wandering, with Messi situation Barca screwed themselves with the appointment of Koeman instead of Poch

A fellow Argie, would probablyyyyy have a slightly better chance of selling his project to Messi...

But I’m sure any manager coming in now knows they’ll probably last a season. You’ll then have the president election and whoever comes in will likely want Xavi. Messi will then be 34 and that’ll be the start of the rebuild which may take a few seasons.

I’m sure whoever comes in would have the same problem convincing him to stay as he’s potentially retiring before they‘re really challenging again.

 

[Johnny J]

I fully expect Messi to still play for Barca next season.
All about making power plays and big statements about change.
He's been there so long that a move to another country/league may not actually work for him.

I disagree, I think he genuinely wants out. He's 33 and he wants to win things in his last few years. Barca are a mess from top to bottom. Even today their sporting director said "we want to build the team around Messi". I mean, they've been doing this for years now already.

I don't think Messi has as much power there as people think. Apparently he didn't want Griezmann, who then signed. He wanted Neymar back, who didn't sign. And so on.

The club are spending 100m gross per year on his wages, they've signed a succession of very expensive flops like Dembele and Griezmann (who may come good), and their wage ratio is 70%. Perhaps now is the best time for both Barca and Messi to move on.

 

[King of Otters]

Just wandering, with Messi situation Barca screwed themselves with the appointment of Koeman instead of Poch

A fellow Argie, would probablyyyyy have a slightly better chance of selling his project to Messi...

I’m sure would have loved being told he’s got to do double training sessions and to start pressing defenders.