Daves not even back from holiday and the plank is fecking up our transfer! Sack Dave, hire Pearce.
Thiago Alcantara | Signed for Bayern Munich
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Almost can't handle how good this would be -
Carrick Thiago
Kagawa
- for a club that has become used to having a questionable central midfield.
I mean, Fergie said repeatedly that Kagawa will be taking the league by storm next season, and I think we can all see why. Now that he's taken control of his preferred position, and seems to have settled into our football, I think we're going to see something really special from him. And Carrick's step up has been a revelation, he's got a decent claim to being the best in the world in his specific position at the moment (perhaps pipped by someone at Bayern, but still). Even if we add nothing, I think our central unit is going to really step it up a notch next season. But add a player of Thiago's quality and potential to that trio (in place of the very competent but perhaps not quite 'world class' Cleverley), and you have a trio that could put in a good show against any midfield in the world.
Make that midfield happen, Moyes, and you'll have won the unconditional support which I have already disingenuously promised. 
Almost can't handle how good this would be -
Carrick ThiagoKagawa- for a club that has become used to having a questionable central midfield.
I mean, Fergie said repeatedly that Kagawa will be taking the league by storm next season, and I think we can all see why. Now that he's taken control of his preferred position, and seems to have settled into our football, I think we're going to see something really special from him. And Carrick's step up has been a revelation, he's got a decent claim to being the best in the world in his specific position at the moment (perhaps pipped by someone at Bayern, but still). Even if we add nothing, I think our central unit is going to really step it up a notch next season. But add a player of Thiago's quality and potential to that trio (in place of the very competent but perhaps not quite 'world class' Cleverley), and you have a trio that could put in a good show against any midfield in the world.
Make that midfield happen, Moyes, and you'll have won the unconditional support which I have already disingenuously promised.
It would be an unbalanced side which risks of upsetting our balance
----Carrick-----Cleverley/Strootman/Marchisio/Felliani
---------Alcantara/Kagawa----------------
will do the trick
And our midfield with Cleverley or Giggs isn't an unbalanced side? Thiago is a much better central midfielder than either, and he does his fair share of defensive work too. There's nothing to suggest Cleverley is better defensively as well. He definitely doesn't keep possession as well. He's not a pure attacking mid, in fact he is primarily a central midfielder who can also play in attacking mid, not the other way around. People assume he's an attacking midfielder and wouldn't fit in next to Carrick because he is a flashy Spanish midfielder with great dribbling, but in reality if you actually watch him you see that he has good tackling in addition to all his other skills.
Don't think so. For the hundredth time, Alcantara plays where I've put him, not where you've put him. He's a CM. And as far as 'upsetting our balance', the most successful midfield partner we had for Carrick last season was Cleverley, and Thiago has at least as much as him defensively. If anything, he's less lightweight, less easily brushed off.
Thiago is a CM, not an AM.
I think it has to do with the stereotype of spanish midfielders who have great technique and have very good dribbling, that people assume they are attacking midfielders right away and if they play deeper then they are being played out of position and are shite defensively. I'll admit that a while ago before I properly started to watch him I thought the same thing. You would just think that someone with those skills and a name like that, that he would be a #10 type player, who isn't very good defensively
Thiago can actually play both AM and CM quite adeptly. Very gifted player. Playing as a CM will work better for him as he can spray the ball wide, utlitising his passing range while threading passes through the middle. Teams in the EPL like to constrict the space in the middle to reduce the influence of a CAM. If he signs and considering it would be his first season, he would be better off playing in CM where he'd have a bit more time on the ball. In addition, our issues lie in central midfield. Not the no 10 position.
He is THE signing for me. If we get him, we'll be much more potent force going forward.
He is THE signing for me. If we get him, we'll be much more potent force going forward.
I think it has to do with the stereotype of spanish midfielders who have great technique and have very good dribbling, that people assume they are attacking midfielders right away and if they play deeper then they are being played out of position and are shite defensively. I'll admit that a while ago before I properly started to watch him I thought the same thing. You would just think that someone with those skills and a name like that, that he would be a #10 type player, who isn't very good defensively
Yep, I think you're right. It also probably doesn't help that Barca spend so much time with all their players basically in the same ten yard band just in front of the opposition penalty area, where normal teams have their AMs. When they were at their peak, you could have been forgiven for thinking that Pique was a #10 who just happened to like helping out in defence.
I agree, people also give too much thought to the idea of us playing a two man midfield. It just isn't the case anymore, even if we aren't a true 3 man midfield either. Regardless, he plays the Xavi position in Barca and for Spain's u21, and their playing style's are pretty similar really (Thiago being more direct). If anyone thinks we would be more balanced with Cleverley next to Carrick instead of Xavi next to Carrick then they would probably need to get their head checked. I don't think it'd be much different with Thiago (balance wise, not saying Thiago is as good as Xavi yet of course).
I agree with Brightonian, Carrick and Thiago with Kagawa in front of them would be great to see. As far as I can tell Thiago offers all of the attributes that Cleverley does with the added ability of being a very good dribbler of the ball. Cleverley and Carrick were very good together and I think Thiago would just be a step up from that.
If needed in big games you still have the option of pushing Kagawa out wide, Thiago to attacking mid, and bringing in either Jones or another defensive minded midfielder.
If needed in big games you still have the option of pushing Kagawa out wide, Thiago to attacking mid, and bringing in either Jones or another defensive minded midfielder.
Ok, so for anyone that knows the lad inside out, how does he fair against the likes of Cleverley and Anderson? Is he much better and if we got him would he be an instant first team starter?
I Love Anderson, I hope he makes it here. Thiago is well ahead of him. Cleverely is even further behind in my opinion.
I don't know the lad inside out. We've never even met actually.
But he considerably better than Anderson and Cleverley. He would be an instant first team starter beside Carrick.
Instant starter, without question. He and Wilshere are probably the best two young CMs in the world (and whilst I've always rated Wilshere narrowly ahead, Thiago doesn't have the injury concerns).
Yes, he is better than both Anderson and Cleverley, and I would say much better than both of them. Thiago is a fantastic dribbler, great at passes both one-two passes and long ones and has a phenomenal shoot. He's also fairly pacey. Potential wise, I think (and have though the same in last 2 years) that he can become the best central midfielder in the world.
Also, contrary to what a lot of people say here, he is a more central midfielder than attacking midfielder, though he can play in both positions easily. And finally, he have been compared with all of Xavi, Iniesta and Ronaldinho is some aspects of his play, but personally I think that his game is more similar to Ronaldinho if he was a central midfielder.
Much, much better than the both of them, and has a much higher ceiling. Seriously, if we get this guy, get ready to *** every weekend of the next season. He should be a starter, but might be eased in his first season, though he doesnt need to be. He doesnt look out of place in the Barca midfield, so...
Agree about those two, though I would say that Gundogan is in that level too.
At the moment I would say that the best three young midfielders (in order) are Gundogan, Alcantara and Wilshere, with Alcantara having the potential to be the best of them.
I agree that he's CM but the last thing you would want with a player like that is to expect him to start dropping deep and win the ball. We did that with another promising player (Ando) and we know the result. In my opinion we would have two box to box midfielders who can tackle and deliver the ball elegantly backing a quality play maker who can deliver the magic in CM.
And lets stop with this 2 CM nonsense. Formations like that are dying out.
I'd probably take Gundogan over both.
Midfield 3 muppets wet dream.
The short answer to that is YES. We all know how Carrick and Giggs faired against a world class midfield (Barcelona).
My concern is not about Thiago not being able to play in CM but in us (as fans) insisting on a 2 men CM. In my opinion, such formations are heading to their natural extinction. Thank God that Moyes is a firm believer of a 3 men CM. The man will probably beefen up the midfield by playing Valencia and Kagawa/Rooney on the flanks to have a narrow 4-5-1 system.
Why? We have no manager, who to be fair, you have no idea who/ what he wants, and all he has been linked to, is actually midfielders...
Thanks for that. It makes you wonder why in hell Barca would considering letting him go? I know apparently he has a release clause that is activated if he doesn't play an % of games/minutes, but why would Barca drop a bollock like this with a player of his ability then? hmmm.
I wonder how big a pulling factor Scholes' presence as a coach would be? The Barcelona academy focused on Scholes a lot in developing players.
Probably because he wouldn't sign the new contract if there wouldn't be that clause there. IMO, the made a terrible mistake by re-signing Fabregas, because that played a big part in Thiago's time, and even now I don't think that there is so much difference between them two, with obviously Thiago having potential to be a much better player than Fabregas.
Just imagine
Back 5
Gundogan Thiago Wilshere
Rest of squad.
No-one in this thread has proposed a 2 man midfield. What do you think Kagawa is, a striker? These days, the #10 is the attacking point of a midfield triangle. When people say 'the CM 2', they mean the two midfielders at the base of the triangle, not that they are the only midfielders in the line-up.
Probably because he wouldn't sign the new contract if there wouldn't be that clause there. IMO, the made a terrible mistake by re-signing Fabregas, because that played a big part in Thiago's time, and even now I don't think that there is so much difference between them two, with obviously Thiago having potential to be a much better player than Fabregas.
Just imagine
Back 5
Gundogan Thiago Wilshere
Rest of squad.
Wilshere? My god you have gone full muppet. I like..
Anyway, regarding Fabregas and this guy, as there have been rumours surrounding both players, would you take this kid over Fab considering his age and potential?
As I said, I think that Thiago has a higher ceiling potential and can become the best midfielder on the world in middle future. On the other side, Fabregas is a proven player in Premier League and the transfer risk is much lower in his case. Anyway, if it was to me, undoubtedly I would go for Thiago (of course getting assurances from him and his father that he won't make a bitchy Fabregas and ask to return to Barca when Xavi retires).
Aye, there is that. Especially is he does exceptionally well if we were to sign him, you just know Barca will be coming knocking again.
You seriously don't find him funny???
The least funny poster on Internets.
"Moyes have signed such great player as Mirralas and Coleman and won 4th place, sure he can win Champions League vs Bayern" - Devilish, Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2013
I'd say Thiago has more potential than Fabregas had, and is much quicker and a much better dribbler. Would definitely have much more gif-worthy material. Fabregas I'd rate ahead of him right now though, even though during their time at Barca there hasn't been much to suggest he's a better player. I'm basing Fabregas being better on how good he was before he went to Barca. He'd also be probably half as expensive as Fabregas, given the release clause, and would not require huge wages, and he'd be coming to us at the age of 22, with potentially many years in our midfield. I'd probably take him given the choice.
Well, personal preference. They're all very very good, which is what matters.
Given what I have been told in this thread, then I think I'd go down the same route if given the choice, then the only problem being like Revan said above, if he then later wants to return and fulfill his dream at Barca we have the problem of having to let go a world class player again. At least with Fab, you know he won't be returning a second time, so if we was to land him, then I feel it would be for good. But I just can't see Fab going tbh, and after what I have just read from you guys, I don't care. feck Fab, bring in Thiago!
Very few players are meant to stay at the club forever, if Thiago were to give us the same number of quality seasons that Fabregas has for Arsenal for instance and then asked to leave then it'd be worth it.
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