Thiago Alcantara apparently really close to signing with Bayern, already spoke with Pep. Huge signing if true!
Just watching press conference with Pep. He said that he told the Bayern bosses he wants only one player: Thiago Alcantara. Nobody else. It's either Thiago or no additional player. Says Thiago can play 6, 8, 10, 11, 7. Says Javi can play 6 or 4. Says Basti can play 6 or 8 or 10. Says Holger Badstuber (in one year) can play 4 or 3. Shaq 7, 11, 3. Says even Mandzukic might play defense...good headers and aggressive :grin:. Sounds like Thiago is coming. Pep might have made him some promises about playing time.
That would be one way we could play, apparently the 4-1-4-1 Pep wants to try. First players off the bench: Boateng, Gustavo, Kroos, Shaqiri, Pizarro, Mandzukic
If Thiago does end up at Bayern, he didn't leave Barca due to playing time. He'll have a harder time breaking into Bayern's first XI then Barca's. Hasnt Javi Martinez also said in the past that he doesn't want to play CB? Moving Javi and Bastian out of their best positions doesn't seem like the best idea either.
Well, we can mix things up as we wish. But if a player like Thiago Alcantara can be had for 18 million, you have to do it .
It's up to them to fix this. Tito has blame here too. He didn't play him enough minutes to trigger the €80 million buyout. If they can't convince him to stay then Rosell can start packing his bags because Laporta will make it a point to run for president on this.
Seems to be stuck in the same form he was a year or so ago, but has lots of potential. Very selfish at times and makes wrong decisions in the field but I guess that comes with lack of experience.
Tell me about it, never really like Laporta because he used to bring mix in politics all the time but I much rather have him than Rosell.
Would you see Thiago in the center or on the wing? More defensive or more offensive? I don't even know if we could play him all that much, initially. In my opinion, Schweinsteiger, Ribery, Robben, Götze all definitely have to play, Martinez, too, although he could possibly play defender. Müller as well, I could see him in the forward spot, as long as we don't have Lewandowski. That leaves Kroos, Gustavo, Shaqiri and Thiago for the final midfield spot (which only even opens up if Müller and Martinez are moved to attack/defense). Tough choices.
I would like to see Suarez traded to Bayern for a few picks in return. I think he would really flourish there.
I hate Spanish managers and their new approach with having tall midfielders play in defense and midget midfielders play as strikers. Del Bosque had success with it, but it's excruciating to watch. The twilight of football
Think Thiago will play as an 8, integral to our offense and build-ups. Doesn't need to score a lot, as his mission is to keep ball possession, control the pace and play key passes. Like Barca wanted it: a young Xavi, brain of the team.
