Any news today?
Thiago Alcantara | Signed for Bayern Munich
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Been no news for 200 pages.
Level of muppetry for a Barca reserve is unreal.
Does it show our desperation for a midfielder, or is our standards are on the decline?
Does it show our desperation for a midfielder, or is our standards are on the decline?
He really is quite good, you know.
Xavi used to be a Barca reserve at some point.
Okay, to jumpstart a discussion here how does the Spanish debacle yesterday affect Thiago's thinking? Does Del Bosque begin to question the supremacy of Iniesta and Xavi and if he does, does that in any way make it more likely Thiago will remain a Barcelona man?
IF Thiago is seriously considering a move to United it would be an extraordinary decision. As far as I can tell from the thousands of posts here, the only reason he's even considering leaving Barcelona is that he's playing "behind" three truly brilliant world class midfielders. But as we all know, an injury here and fortune there and suddenly all that can change. Apples and oranges I understand, but look at what happened with the San Francisco 49ers last season. Coach Harbaugh rolled the dice on a de facto rookie QB named Kaepernick over the veteran Smith and Kaepernick turned in incredible performances week after week and took the job from Smith, now long gone. Smith is no Iniesta, Xavi or Fabregas, but if Alcantara really is all that -- and I will stipulate he is -- then there's no reason to believe he can't steal a starting role from one of these legends.
And now that Spain has been found out by Brasil, who knows how this affects Thiago's thinking?
I invite baseless speculation...myh favorite kind!
IF Thiago is seriously considering a move to United it would be an extraordinary decision. As far as I can tell from the thousands of posts here, the only reason he's even considering leaving Barcelona is that he's playing "behind" three truly brilliant world class midfielders. But as we all know, an injury here and fortune there and suddenly all that can change. Apples and oranges I understand, but look at what happened with the San Francisco 49ers last season. Coach Harbaugh rolled the dice on a de facto rookie QB named Kaepernick over the veteran Smith and Kaepernick turned in incredible performances week after week and took the job from Smith, now long gone. Smith is no Iniesta, Xavi or Fabregas, but if Alcantara really is all that -- and I will stipulate he is -- then there's no reason to believe he can't steal a starting role from one of these legends.
And now that Spain has been found out by Brasil, who knows how this affects Thiago's thinking?
I invite baseless speculation...myh favorite kind!
That's generous..
It's more like Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers, and in this case, they have a better and more established QB before Rodgers(Fabregas).
Yeah I agree. The Favre-Rodgers comparison is relevant but as pointed out by ER Fabregas is ahead of Thiago, naturally.
For Thiago to be picked by Del Bosque, two things need to happen. Firstly, the team he eventually decides to play for will have one hell of a season and Thiago should be a major part of the success. Additionally, the players ahead of him must suffer a major setback (complete loss of form/injury) and even then I think he'll have a hard time breaking into the squad, let alone get games.
For Thiago to be picked by Del Bosque, two things need to happen. Firstly, the team he eventually decides to play for will have one hell of a season and Thiago should be a major part of the success. Additionally, the players ahead of him must suffer a major setback (complete loss of form/injury) and even then I think he'll have a hard time breaking into the squad, let alone get games.
Would it be funny or tragic if we announced we'd never been interested in him? 
Tragically funny.
I don't even care if we sign him or not anymore, I'm tired of the whole fecking thing.
Would it be funny or tragic if we announced we'd never been interested in him?
Well, that's kind of what Fergie did with Sneijder. Once the move fell through, he seemed to start talking about how it was all nonsense, despite speculation being rife for weeks prior.
Only, and I mean only, good thing that will come from us not signing him is that it does seem Moyes wants to be a midfielder. Dropping down to Fellaini would be a bit of a disappointment, not because I'm saying Fellaini is shit (he's not), but it's a bit of a drop in muppetness.
I still think this is on though.
I still think this is on though.
I agree with you and Everest -- Favre/Rodgers is a better comparison. The only thing I would say about Smith/Kaepernick is that Kaepernick Smith was finally becoming a great, or at least very good, QB and Kaepernick had no experience whatsoever; whereas Favre really was old and washed up by then, as we saw when he moved on to another club and just didn't have it. He should have stayed retired the first time.
That has to be it -- the chances of Thiago getting any serious first team action are very limited in 13/14. So, we shall see what he does. Media reports suggest he's been offered a massive contract by United. Does he turn down a huge wad of cash to stay with Barcelona and wait his turn or does he go for glory and gold now.
A shame I never had that kind of talent.
Today's scenes at the club might have scared him away.
I think we weren't that much into Oezil. It was a nailed on Madrid signing. Sneijder fell through, and the rest of our failed transfers are well documented.
I am happy with RVP and Kagawa, so no complaints.
Thiago to 'very weak' Manchester United midfield is practically done, according to 'Vox populi' in Barcelona
They are understandable, he turns 23 in April and probably feels his warrants a place in the Spanish squad for Brazil, his family is from the country and his father represented the Brazilian national team at USA '94, there's just so many reasons why Thiago will be desperate to make the plane.
The Catalan newspapers are largely moving away from their spiteful view of the potential transfer, the toys have already been chucked out of the pram and Sport say it's now known in Barcelona that the player is leaving. They say it's 'Vox populi', a Latin phrase which means the voice of the people but better translates to 'word on the street'.
Sport reckon Thiago won't change his mind and Andoni Zubizarreta has been unable or unwilling to change it for him, or prevent the player leaving for his transfer clause by other means, meaning the deal is on the verge of happening.
The only dig at Manchester United is calling the midfield 'very weak' and some fans of the club would agree with that. Even the 'weak' insult is explained by the loss of Paul Scholes and advancing years of Ryan Giggs, they're starting to sound a lot nicer in Spain about the situation.
The threats, pushed through the Catalan media, of making Thiago pay the fee personally and therefore being liable for income tax (read more here), have disappeared and Sport make a point of saying that even though he'll be paid far more, he's leaving for football reasons. It's another turn on a sixpence from them and could have something to do with reports in Spain at the weekend that Manchester United were willing to pay a little extra to help smooth the deal through.
The clause issue has already been picked up by many English websites and Sport explained in their newspaper today that Thiago wants to be allowed to leave next summer for a relatively low transfer fee if he isn't played a lot by the club. They explain that he's good friends with Giovani dos Santos, who all but disappeared at Tottenham Hotspur, and this has giving him a little concern.
Mundo Deportivo mention the Bayern Munich connection but that's again just down to them speculating regarding Pep Guardiola and they've been quite alone in banging that drum. They seem to have given up too and have a section explaining how well the player would do in the Premier League, saying he could follow in the footsteps of players like Michu, Arteta and Cazorla and make a quick and good impact. One of their journalists even says that choosing to move to Manchester United is a good idea and he'd be going at just the right time to boost a midfield which needs it.
However, it's Sport who explain how the deal is all but done and the word on the street in Barcelona is that Thiago is going to Manchester United, with much of the wrath directed at Andoni Zubizarreta.
Finally learned how to post article without images! I like Sport Witness articles. Careful and considered.
- Posted by SPORT WITNESS on July 1, 2013 at 18:12 in Sport Witness Football
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They are understandable, he turns 23 in April and probably feels his warrants a place in the Spanish squad for Brazil, his family is from the country and his father represented the Brazilian national team at USA '94, there's just so many reasons why Thiago will be desperate to make the plane.
The Catalan newspapers are largely moving away from their spiteful view of the potential transfer, the toys have already been chucked out of the pram and Sport say it's now known in Barcelona that the player is leaving. They say it's 'Vox populi', a Latin phrase which means the voice of the people but better translates to 'word on the street'.
Sport reckon Thiago won't change his mind and Andoni Zubizarreta has been unable or unwilling to change it for him, or prevent the player leaving for his transfer clause by other means, meaning the deal is on the verge of happening.
The only dig at Manchester United is calling the midfield 'very weak' and some fans of the club would agree with that. Even the 'weak' insult is explained by the loss of Paul Scholes and advancing years of Ryan Giggs, they're starting to sound a lot nicer in Spain about the situation.
The threats, pushed through the Catalan media, of making Thiago pay the fee personally and therefore being liable for income tax (read more here), have disappeared and Sport make a point of saying that even though he'll be paid far more, he's leaving for football reasons. It's another turn on a sixpence from them and could have something to do with reports in Spain at the weekend that Manchester United were willing to pay a little extra to help smooth the deal through.
The clause issue has already been picked up by many English websites and Sport explained in their newspaper today that Thiago wants to be allowed to leave next summer for a relatively low transfer fee if he isn't played a lot by the club. They explain that he's good friends with Giovani dos Santos, who all but disappeared at Tottenham Hotspur, and this has giving him a little concern.
Mundo Deportivo mention the Bayern Munich connection but that's again just down to them speculating regarding Pep Guardiola and they've been quite alone in banging that drum. They seem to have given up too and have a section explaining how well the player would do in the Premier League, saying he could follow in the footsteps of players like Michu, Arteta and Cazorla and make a quick and good impact. One of their journalists even says that choosing to move to Manchester United is a good idea and he'd be going at just the right time to boost a midfield which needs it.
However, it's Sport who explain how the deal is all but done and the word on the street in Barcelona is that Thiago is going to Manchester United, with much of the wrath directed at Andoni Zubizarreta.
Finally learned how to post article without images! I like Sport Witness articles. Careful and considered.
bla bla bla waffle waffle. More recycled news.
What twats. Calling our midfield weak. Only we can call our midfield weak! WE DON'T NEED YOUR HANDOUT THIAGO.
Let's prove them wrong lads! Carrick, Cleverley, Anderson, Giggs and Jones. LETSGOOOOOO!
Let's prove them wrong lads! Carrick, Cleverley, Anderson, Giggs and Jones. LETSGOOOOOO!
I'm not too bothered with the clause from a footballing point of view. If he doesn't manage too many starts in our midfield, then he obviously wouldn't be missed.
If we sign him, I'm sure you won't be tired.
Jaysus Christ help us
Yeah he's close to signing, then by later tonight or tomorrow, it'll be that he hasn't even agreed to the clause yet.
I ran the headline through Bing Translator a few times. Here's its final form: "Manchester United are vulnerable, "traffic light" according to Midfielder Diego"
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How dare they call our midfield weak...don't they know Ando weighs 16 stones, that is certainly not weak!
The thought had passed through my head as I watched the game. Funnily enough I thought Iniesta still looked impressive but Xavi was invisible last night. I'd put that down more to tiredness than any loss of ability though. With the Spanish NT and Barca these lads have been playing for a few years straight with very little breaks and the game against Italy will have fecked them over too.
It's conceivable, even likely that Thiago will play more for Barca next season than last, but it's much more likely that he would play almost every game for United. IMO not much has changed for better or for worse.
I'd give him that clause in a heartbeat.
I agree about Sport Witness. The shocking thing is how much they stand out from the rest. "Careful and considered" are not words generally associated with football journalism.
Agreed. I appreciate the perspective and summary they provided for the general reactions in Barcelona
So I was in the pub with my Spanish mate last night who is a Barca nut job and I said to him, "Well whats the story cunto, are you selling us Thiago or not?" and he said according to a Spanish source at barca its almost all done. Therefor I declare this ThiagON again!
He'll be more convinced than ever that there's a chance of making the squad, and even the team.
However he will also know that can only happen if he's playing, he's visible and he's offering something special that makes Del Bosque think he's worth the change. United offer playing time, visibility and the possibility of becoming a key player in a new team, rather than the not-clone when Xavi is being rested in his current one.
He's 22 it's time for him to leave the nest
What are the main Barcelona newspapers chaps? I know there's Sport, but any others?
Something made me google this and I can't even watch it properly because I can't stop laughing!
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Edit: finally got through it and its way more disturbing than I anticipated.
El Mundo Deportivo.
The vox populi girl is gone! Some killjoy mod must have removed it. She was so attractive.
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