Endless Summer Mercato 2016 (56 Viewers)

[Dominic]

Sure, but we would be out many times before the final if it weren't for Carlitos and Alvaro's timely goals.

yeah, all departments need to be in order.

 

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[Karim30]

If we would have signed Higuain regardless of Pogba does that mean we still have a massive transfer budget lol?

What do you make of Zidane's earlier comments on James?

 

[italiacalcio10]

What do you make of Zidane's earlier comments on James?

I can't imagine James would be cool with riding the bench. Coaches will talk. A few weeks ago Cuadrado was in Chelsea's plans, and now he isn't, so we will see what happens by the end of the window.

I think James gets sold or else his agent pretty much sucks (Mino would have him out by now). The question is where does he go. That is where my comments end before I start to get biased and "muppetty"

 

[campionesidd]

What do you make of Zidane's earlier comments on James?

Don't you get me started on James...

 

[Cerval]

Dominant midfields haven't won a Champion's League in years.

The last 4 CL winner, Bayern, Madrid, Barca, Madrid... have all won CL with dominant attacking play, and dominance out wide. Solid, but never dominant midfields.

And that's exactly what Beppe is setting up with attackers like Higuain, Dybala, Mandzu... and wingbacks+wide players like Evra, Sandro, Licht, Alves, Pjaca, Cuadrado. We are going to have a very solid, if not excellent midfield once Marchisio returns. Khedira-Marchisio-Pjanic is a world class trio, and we have excellent cover for them with Lemina and Asamoah. Not to mention getting another midfielder, +Sturaro who often plays well against top teams.

Our improvement in attack and on the flanks easily makes up for the decrease in quality in the midfield.

You're conceding that our team's midfield isn't 'dominant', but think we shouldn't improve even if we have the chance to do it

As always you also dismiss the question marks on Marchisio's injury (and Khedira's injury proneness).

 

[Post Ironic]

If Bayern, Barca and Madrid don't have a dominant midfield, I don't know who does.

Barca --- Rakitic-Busquets-Iniesta
Real Madrid --- Modric-Casemiro-Kroos
Bayern --- Thiago-Alonso-Vidal

They're all very good... But none of them are the strength of their team, nor are they the overpowering midfield that:

Marchisio-Pirlo-Pogba
---------Vidal

was... Nor even that Vidal-Marchisio-Pogba was when we played 3-5-2.

And our midfield right now, when healthy, of Khedira-Marchisio-Pjanic is on the level of any of those 3 midfields imo.

 

[Amer]

If we would have signed Higuain regardless of Pogba does that mean we still have a massive transfer budget lol?

Yup. We have at least 70 million more to spend.

 

[Post Ironic]

You're conceding that our team's midfield isn't 'dominant', but think we shouldn't improve even if we have the chance to do it

As always you also dismiss the question marks on Marchisio's injury (and Khedira's injury proneness).

What? I never said we shouldn't improve our midfield if there is a chance to. If there is a chance to improve our midfield, of course we should do it. What I'm saying is that we'll be fine even if a good opportunity doesn't present itself. If no one wants to sell a top midfielder to us right now, there's not a lot to be done about that.

I've said it before, but I'm betting Khedira has a fantastic year ahead of him (knock on wood). He jumped his minutes by +1300 last season from the one prior and should do so again this year. I'm guessing he plays in the 2500-3000 minute range this year.

Marchisio has an ACL injury. Should be back in October according to Allegri. Players recover from torn ACLs in 6-8 months all the time. I'm going to assume he will too. If he doesn't, we have the January window to find a replacement before the knockout phase.

 

[italiacalcio10]

Barca --- Rakitic-Busquets-Iniesta
Real Madrid --- Modric-Casemiro-Kroos
Bayern --- Thiago-Alonso-Vidal

They're all very good... But none of them are the strength of their team, nor are they the overpowering midfield that:

Marchisio-Pirlo-Pogba
---------Vidal

was... Nor even that Vidal-Marchisio-Pogba was when we played 3-5-2.

And our midfield right now, when healthy, of Khedira-Marchisio-Pjanic is on the level of any of those 3 midfields imo.

Key fact there.

Other thing is Asamoah could be like a new signing. Before he went down hurt, many of us complained that he was being pushed out-wide which wasn't his best position, and he was like 24-25 at the time, meaning he hadn't peaked. Maybe Asamoah can emerge as a real impact player as CM because he was quite good before.

 

[bukowski81]

Barca --- Rakitic-Busquets-Iniesta
Real Madrid --- Modric-Casemiro-Kroos
Bayern --- Thiago-Alonso-Vidal

They're all very good... But none of them are the strength of their team, nor are they the overpowering midfield that:

Marchisio-Pirlo-Pogba
---------Vidal

was... Nor even that Vidal-Marchisio-Pogba was when we played 3-5-2.

And our midfield right now, when healthy, of Khedira-Marchisio-Pjanic is on the level of any of those 3 midfields imo.

Khedira-Marchisio-Pjanic is really really good but is not on the level of the other 3. I doubt Khedira or Pjanic would be a starter in any of those teams, while all of their midfielders, with the exception of maybe Casemiro, would start here.

 

[italiacalcio10]

Yup. We have at least 70 million more to spend.

J...a..m........I had to stop myself.

- - - Updated - - -

Khedira-Marchisio-Pjanic is really really good but is not on the level of the other 3. I doubt Khedira or Pjanic would be a starter in any of those teams, while all of their midfielders, with the exception of maybe Casemiro, would start here.

Khedira was a starter on an amazing German team in 2014, and a very solid RM team. His issues are injuries.

IMO Pjanic is as good as Rakitic. Stick Pjanic with Iniesta and that front 3, and he'd look pretty damn good.

 

[Post Ironic]

Khedira-Marchisio-Pjanic is really really good but is not on the level of the other 3. I doubt Khedira or Pjanic would be a starter in any of those teams, while all of their midfielders, with the exception of maybe Casemiro, would start here.

The only midfielders listed there better than ours are Iniesta, Modric, Vidal. 1 mid from each team. But Kroos, Casemiro, Busquets, Rakitic, Thiago, Alonso don't just walk into a midfield of Khedira-Marchisio-Pjanic and displace them.

 

[Liviu]

Khedira - Marchiso - Pjanic doesn't exist. Stop saying that's our midfield. They won't start even 15 games out of 50. One of Khedira and Marchisio will be missing most of the time. On paper it looks great, but it's much too optimistic to think these 3 will start for us and that's why we need one great mid. idk what's the laters about Asamoah but he looked solid in preseason, he could be a great LCM if, again, if fit 'cause he has muscles, workrate and good shoot / pass.

 

[Afghan_juventus]

The only midfielders listed there better than ours are Iniesta, Modric, Vidal.

id say Marchisio is also at that level.

 

[italiacalcio10]

Well, we may want to thank Roma because they are ***tkicking Porto. Maybe we will be able to get Herrera at a reasonable price if they don't make UCL groups.

And when I say ****kicking I'm going by the gameplay since it is only 1-0, but is it in Portugal and Roma is making Porto look like Avellino.

 

[Karim30]

I have to say my unpopular opinion here..Busquets is the best midfielder in the world

 

[j0ker]

I have to say my unpopular opinion here..Busquets is the best midfielder in the world

LOOOOOL

 

[italiacalcio10]

I have to say my unpopular opinion here..Busquets is the best midfielder in the world

He's definitely one of the best in the world in his role.

 

[Siamak]

Beppe confirmed that we will sign a new CM?

when?!
season starts in 3 days and i don't see that we have a plan to spend big money elsewhere right.

 

[Dostoevsky]

Herrera looks average.