Summer mercato thread 2017-18 (98 Viewers)

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Aug 26, 2014
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But it's spending 50-70million on a luxury player when instead we could use that money to shore up positions which need shoring up, like the midfield and the wings. Our CL loss wasn't down to our strikers, it was down to an overrun midfield and lack of creativity in the final third (and Real being damn good).

Schick shares very similar characteristics as Morata but is 4 times cheaper (and with big potential) so we can invest in big names in other areas.
I agree the midfield need quality additions but we can use Morata on the wing like we did with Mandzukic. We also need a strong bench if we want to achieve something in the CL.
 

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spurdo

Senior Member
Jun 4, 2016
1,917
I agree the midfield need quality additions but we can use Morata on the wing like we did with Mandzukic. We also need a strong bench if we want to achieve something in the CL.
So you are ready to spend 50-70 million on Morata so you can play him on the wing and bench?
 

The Quazis

Senior Member
Dec 21, 2012
5,575
It does make you wonder if there was a better investment of 100MM than Higuain...

Higuain was great in the league, but he is a big game choker. A player like Morata for 100MM would have been aggressive and he is inconsistent, but you HAVE to wonder whether for 100MM there were better options than Gonzalo.
-Benzema
-Cavani
-Griezmann
-Lacazette
-Falcao


Those would have been cheaper...and without the big game mental block.

I understand weakening a rival being important by grabbing him from Napoli, but I still always thought Higuain's mental softness in big games is a real problem.

Also realistically, without Higuain, Dybala would have played in a more advanced role.
Would Real sell Benzema for a reasonable price? No.
Cavani is good for Ligue 1. He showed how clutch he is against Barcelona. His PSG finished second in group behind Arsenal.
Why would be buy Griezmann if he's so similar to Dybala?
Lacazette. He's so good that his team finished behind freaking Nice with Balotelli as their main striker. They failed to eliminate Ajax in EL. They failed to qualify for CL in piss poor Ligue 1.
Falcao. Really? After so many years of failing. I wonder how would you describe our CL chances in the summer after Falcao purchase.

Higuain is easily the best STRIKER of all you mentioned and he confirmed that scoring over 30 goals this season. Neither of the strikers you mentioned would be a better choice price/quality wise.
 

CrimsonianKing

Count Mbangula
Jan 16, 2013
27,326
Griezmann isn't similar to Dybala. He, Dybala, hasn't got the pace nor the sprint over long distances to be a winger. Dybala is a poacher, or any offensive role closer to the goal. We made him a SS and it's fair to say he has his moments because he's naturally talented but we can get much more out of him with a real playmaker behind him, like at Palermo.
 

Xperd

Allegrophobic Infidel
Jun 1, 2012
35,085
I agree the midfield need quality additions but we can use Morata on the wing like we did with Mandzukic. We also need a strong bench if we want to achieve something in the CL.
No we don't. He was atrocious when played outwide.

I bet people would even accept Morata play as a CB just so they can see him in our shirt again :ratcafe:

Besides we are buying a top young talent in Schick that can come off the bench and make an impact. So there's zero necessity for the Spaniard.

Our midfield needs major fixing. It is the weakest area of our team and our entire mercato should be focused on getting a top midfield hardman.
 

thirteen

Reversed Hierophant
Feb 8, 2015
1,218
If he had 7 goals and 7 assists that doesn't have to mean he'd have poor numbers until he dies. He was also pretty young and he offered something to the team, his style was/is kinda unique and it was great having him here.

Dzeko did great this season while he was quite poor last year.

I'm not saying he's worth 60mln, though.
Make no mistake, I'd be happy if he comes. He's a great guy and you're right about his potential, he could improve his stats in the league (or not). But him coming here would most likely mean playing him on the wings, and I'm not sure if that's a good idea. The main problem though is the price. The price quoted in the media is just insane for someone who isn't a starter at his current club.
 

The Quazis

Senior Member
Dec 21, 2012
5,575
Griezmann isn't similar to Dybala. He, Dybala, hasn't got the pace nor the sprint over long distances to be a winger. Dybala is a poacher, or any offensive role closer to the goal. We made him a SS and it's fair to say he has his moments because he's naturally talented but we can get much more out of him with a real playmaker behind him, like at Palermo.
If I'm not mistaken the French has also been a main striker for Atleti. He'd be wasted on the wing.
 

spurdo

Senior Member
Jun 4, 2016
1,917
Griezmann isn't similar to Dybala. He, Dybala, hasn't got the pace nor the sprint over long distances to be a winger. Dybala is a poacher, or any offensive role closer to the goal. We made him a SS and it's fair to say he has his moments because he's naturally talented but we can get much more out of him with a real playmaker behind him, like at Palermo.
Dybala--Higuain
-----James-----
-Pjanic--Tolisso
----Marchisio--
:tuttosport:

Reasons for this:
-Allegri's favorite formation
-Our best campaign in recent years was with this formation
-James is available, world class AND we have the money
-It's a narrow formation, but Sandro and Alves are world class at creating width and crosses
 

Valerio.

Senior Member
Jul 5, 2014
5,766
Dybala--Higuain
-----James-----
-Pjanic--Tolisso
----Marchisio--
:tuttosport:

Reasons for this:
-Allegri's favorite formation
-Our best campaign in recent years was with this formation
-James is available, world class AND we have the money
-It's a narrow formation, but Sandro and Alves are world class at creating width and crosses
Who are the subs of Marchisio,Pjanic and Tolisso? Just the frail Khedira?
We need another CM that could be also a Starter
 

MikeM

Footballing Hipster celebrating 4th place with Tuz
Sep 21, 2008
12,850
Griezmann isn't similar to Dybala. He, Dybala, hasn't got the pace nor the sprint over long distances to be a winger. Dybala is a poacher, or any offensive role closer to the goal. We made him a SS and it's fair to say he has his moments because he's naturally talented but we can get much more out of him with a real playmaker behind him, like at Palermo.
I agree Dybala is a #9. But I also think he can play as an inside forward like David Villa did all those years. It would take quite a team setup to let him thrive there but I think that's his second best position. #10 or traditional #11/#7 doesn't suit him.

Dybala has trouble controlling and breaking defensive lines like you want from a #10 or a true winger. He is better finding space without the ball either behind their back line or just in front. I find that he struggles to break the midfield with the ball.

This is why him and Higuain are a weird fit right now.
 

Dostoevsky

Tzu
Administrator
May 27, 2007
89,023
I agree Dybala is a #9. But I also think he can play as an inside forward like David Villa did all those years. It would take quite a team setup to let him thrive there but I think that's his second best position. #10 or traditional #11/#7 doesn't suit him.

Dybala has trouble controlling and breaking defensive lines like you want from a #10 or a true winger. He is better finding space without the ball either behind their back line or just in front. I find that he struggles to break the midfield with the ball.

This is why him and Higuain are a weird fit right now.
Would you sell Dybala and buy Griezmann?

Pipita - Griezmann upfront.
 

italiacalcio10

Senior Member
Mar 3, 2014
3,866
Would Real sell Benzema for a reasonable price? No.
Cavani is good for Ligue 1. He showed how clutch he is against Barcelona. His PSG finished second in group behind Arsenal.
Why would be buy Griezmann if he's so similar to Dybala?
Lacazette. He's so good that his team finished behind freaking Nice with Balotelli as their main striker. They failed to eliminate Ajax in EL. They failed to qualify for CL in piss poor Ligue 1.
Falcao. Really? After so many years of failing. I wonder how would you describe our CL chances in the summer after Falcao purchase.

First of all, other than Griezmann, the others wouldn't cost 100 million.

Higuain is easily the best STRIKER of all you mentioned and he confirmed that scoring over 30 goals this season. Neither of the strikers you mentioned would be a better choice price/quality wise.
He obviously is the best striker possible - in the league, but also is he worth 100MM or are there better options? But the guy has proven time and time again that he struggles in big games. His UCL record: 5 goals in 12 games. That is unacceptable for a 100MM striker.

Cavani good for Ligue 1? The guy is Serie A proven. Anyways: there is only one stat you need:
He had 8 goals in 8 champions league games. He put in 2 goals over 2 legs in Barcelona.

Lacazette? I think that argument is weak. The supporting cast on Juventus is dramatically superior to that in Lyon and more, it isn't logical to pin a disappointing year on one player. That being said: he isn't proven for a big team, but also he wouldn't cost 100MM.

Benzema? For 100MM I think Real would sell him last year. He isn't a pure striker, but he put in similar UCL numbers as Higuain in a support role.

Griezmann? Not sure how they are so similar. Griezmann is a direct, quick, technical winger/striker. Dybala, a creative technically gifted trequartista/ secondary striker. It would not be redundant to have both since Griezmann would play higher up the pitch. He certainly wouldn't be as involved in the build up. Just comparing heat maps shows this.

Falcao? Last summer he would have been cheap. Sure it would have been a gamble, and it's definitely hindsight being 20/20, but he would have been inexpensive.

My point is I think there were better ways to invest 100MM. Higuain is a great striker, but his propensity to choke in big games is quite documented. I'd rather have seen less money invested in a younger player.

Also, coming to camp out of shape definitely put a bad taste in my mouth after such a huge transfer fee.

Was he a bad signing? no.
Would Morata have been better at the same price? no.
But were there better uses? Or better deals? I think probably.
 
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