Barcelona 2017/18

Would that be going well with the squad? German media reported that several (senior) players demanded signings publicly in the interviews sorrounding the Super Cup.
And Barca's management relies on votes to keep their positions, right? Telling the club members that they have to sacrifice the season because they fecked up their squad planning could easily be political suicide.
It's a lose/lose situation right now: don't sign 'em, and you send a message of giving up on the season(when even Pique comes out and says they're inferior to us, you know that's what most socios will think too). Sign 'em for those fees, and they'll be pissed that you're wasting money, also nothing left for Espai Barca which won't be taken well by the older socios

I think at this point they will push for both players in the coming days, sign whichever is easier, and hope the other club will cave in at the end of the window. They HAVE to sign at least one of the two. Ideally they would prefer coutinho apparently
 
And what about referendum for Catalan independence? Surely that would be another huge negative impact if they will vote 'yes'?

Even if they eventually get independence it's unlikely that Barca will get stuck with playing in just a Catalan league. La Liga (despite saying they're a Spanish league)will come up with a formula to give them a place, or France will do it instead. Or were you thinking of some other kind of consequence?
 
Even if they eventually get independence it's unlikely that Barca will get stuck with playing in just a Catalan league. La Liga (despite saying they're a Spanish league)will come up with a formula to give them a place, or France will do it instead. Or were you thinking of some other kind of consequence?
It's hypothetical, but interesting issue. Would BFC be afflicted with economic and administrative turmoil, no matter in what league it would played? I suppose it wouldn't be so simple. Big clubs in former Yugoslavia have lost their former financial power after the war, and the national leagues became real gash. I Know it's completely different than Barcas case, but I couldn't help think about it.
Do you really think Madrid is gonna accept it?
There would be tanks on the streets in Barcelona just like in Turkey last year!
 
It's hypothetical, but interesting issue. Would BFC be afflicted with economic and administrative turmoil, no matter in what league it would played? I suppose it wouldn't be so simple. Big clubs in former Yugoslavia have lost their former financial power after the war, and the national leagues became real gash. I Know it's completely different than Barcas case, but I couldn't help think about it.

I don't think that any of the former SFRY clubs were ever financially powerful in a true meaning of the word. It was more a case of them having somewhat of a parity due to the fact that, say 40 years ago, there was probably around 20 to 30 times less money involved in football overall. Domestic players weren't allowed to move abroad until they turned 28 IIRC, that was a big help obviously.
 
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Messi still not signed a new contract? Runs out next year does it not ? Will be interesting to see what happens.
 
Even if they eventually get independence it's unlikely that Barca will get stuck with playing in just a Catalan league. La Liga (despite saying they're a Spanish league)will come up with a formula to give them a place, or France will do it instead. Or were you thinking of some other kind of consequence?

FC Barcelone champions de France.:drool:
 
Why didn't Barca try and close deals for Couthinho/Dembele early in the window and before Neymar was sold? Are they cash strapped?
 
Why didn't Barca try and close deals for Couthinho/Dembele early in the window and before Neymar was sold? Are they cash strapped?

They wanted to keep Neymar and they can't add much more wages.
 
I get they wanted to keep Neymar but they must have had an idea PSG was coming for him.
Nope, they didn't.

And they were going after coutinho all along, the reason they didn't go for him earlier was that they wanted Verratti. They thought liverpool are a selling club and signing Coutinho would have been easy

They also went for Dembele early on, but at the time they considered stupid to spend that much money on him
 
I get they wanted to keep Neymar but they must have had an idea PSG was coming for him.

I'm not sure if they realized that it was serious, from the outside it seems like they thought that they could prevent it. And Barcelona have money but they need to be a bit more careful than other big clubs because of their wage structure.
 
It's a lose/lose situation right now: don't sign 'em, and you send a message of giving up on the season(when even Pique comes out and says they're inferior to us, you know that's what most socios will think too). Sign 'em for those fees, and they'll be pissed that you're wasting money, also nothing left for Espai Barca which won't be taken well by the older socios

I think at this point they will push for both players in the coming days, sign whichever is easier, and hope the other club will cave in at the end of the window. They HAVE to sign at least one of the two. Ideally they would prefer coutinho apparently

That would be annoying, Dembele is the one to spunk the money on if anything. We are loaded with midfielders or players that can play centrally but no direct replacement for Neymar.
 
I get they wanted to keep Neymar but they must have had an idea PSG was coming for him.

they didn't, this is why barca fans are butt hurt about neymar. the players knew he was going to leave in june, but the greedy cnut (his dad) wanted his loyalty bonus which he isn't going to get anyway
 
I'm talking totally in hidsight, like getting Dele Alli past summer, or the improbable chance of signing him two years ago, even if we managed to do that I don't believe a midfield with Alli and Rakitic would fare really better, we probably would've ruined him.

The right train passed with Real Madrid current midfielders, maybe Pogba but we'd never manage to add his wages to what we already have. To be what we once were we'd need a special kind of players like Silva, Hazard, Ozil, Vidal or Thiago. No way we could afford their transfer + wages with the backpack we were carrying
I thought you guys would get bernardo silva because he would be a good replacement for iniesta
 
Should Barca try to lure Aguero* and/or Sanchez?

Would either (or both) make more sense for their style?

*No idea if he's wanting away from City but I do recall Chelsea speculation.
 
Barcelona have lots their marbles i guess, fans sporting " coutinho 11" shirts.

Probably this is the first reason they are not getting coutinho...the way they are trying to force it. I think they should wake up and smell the coffee.
 
Should Barca try to lure Aguero* and/or Sanchez?

Would either (or both) make more sense for their style?

*No idea if he's wanting away from City but I do recall Chelsea speculation.

Sanchez would make a lot of sense, at least theoretically, as a right footed player who prefers to play from the left side. As a direct replacement for Neymar, you would be hard pressed to find anyone as capable. He is 29 though, and would probably command very high wages which might be a problem in a few years' time, especially considering the fact that Messi and Suarez are both thirty.

Barcelona have lots their marbles i guess, fans sporting " coutinho 11" shirts.

Probably this is the first reason they are not getting coutinho...the way they are trying to force it. I think they should wake up and smell the coffee.

If their board had a shred of competence, they would have offered 80M upfront for Coutinho as a non negotiable offer, and if Liverpool refuses (which they probably would TBH) pulled out completely. Spending two thirds of Neymar fee on Coutinho would rank pretty high on Barcelona board's blunder list, and it is a pretty long one...
 
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Sanchez would make a lot of sense, at least theoretically, as a right footed player who prefers to play from the left side. As a direct replacement for Neymar, you would be hard pressed to find anyone as capable. He is 29 though, and would probably command very high wages which might be a problem in a few years' time, especially considering the fact that Messi and Suarez are both thirty.



If their board had a shred of competence, they would have offered 80M upfront for Coutinho as a non negotiable offer, and if Liverpool refuses (which they probably would TBH) pulled out completely. Spending two thirds of Neymar fee on Coutinho would rank pretty high on Barcelona board's blunder list, and it is a pretty long one...

See mate the market doesn't work according to what guys at Barcelona think. In todays market ( kyle walker 50 miln, Morata 60 miln , levy asking 150miln just to even consider a harry kane bid ) 80miln for coutniho isnt enough. Add to that at this time of window no club would want to loose their key player on the eve of new season. Only chance Barcelona ever had was if they had tabled a good sizable offer , 80miln over 5yrs is a joke. They are thinking they are dealing with some league 2 side .
 
80miln over 5yrs is a joke. They are thinking they are dealing with some league 2 side .

That's why they lost Asensio it surely went something like: 2,5 million over 5 year installments and the additional 2 million on clauses such as winnig a Ballon d'Or, CL, league, world cup, etc.

:lol:
 
That's why they lost Asensio it surely went something like: 2,5 million over 5 year installments and the additional 2 million on clauses such as winnig a Ballon d'Or, CL, league, world cup, etc.

:lol:


They are in a great illusion. They think that the pull of Barcelona and Messi is so strong that they can get the player to force the move and then throw in few peanuts to get him.

It may sound like a rant but i really dont like how they go about their business. Teams like City, Madrid sign top players too but atleast they come up with reasonable offer. Barcelona on the other hand use all the media to spread rumours, their ex players unnecessarily speculate how so and so player is so perfect for Barcelona. All this to unsettle the player, give him a hard on and then those low bids. It is like a blackmail to be honest get the player on their side and then try to sign him on their terms. They did this with fabregas, suarez now coutinho and dembele.
 
Should Barca try to lure Aguero* and/or Sanchez?

Would either (or both) make more sense for their style?

*No idea if he's wanting away from City but I do recall Chelsea speculation.

Kun is a bad fit at Barcelona eventhough it might be a good thing for Argentina - he is a CF and can't really play out wide as he'd have to. Plus, he's more a bottler than most of you wish to acknowledge

Dembélé is the only forward they need to sign by the 31st. Seri is a great option at CM and that should it be it in terms of incoming - then move the deadweight in Arda, Paco & Vermaelen.

As for Gomes, depends on what Valverde sees in the player but judging on how little he has been used I get the impression he is being moved out. I'm not in that mob of fans who are down on him, I think there's quality there and needs a proper role but there is Aleñá, Denis, Sergio & Rafinha already. Midfield issues have not been sorted out, only complicated by the fraudulent addition of Paulinho which is sure to see Samper sent out on loan again
 
If this Barcelona team measured in Fifa 18 club rating... They should be at 4 star club now. Serves them right.
 
Now that barca have withdrawn their offer as of last night, what will coutinho do next? Stay injured till the international break or?
 
Now that barca have withdrawn their offer as of last night, what will coutinho do next? Stay injured till the international break or?

It'll be interesting to see how it goes from there as the player seemed to make it clear he wouldn't play again for Liverpool so Klopp et al will have some bridgebuilding to perform - Perhaps FSG will have to throw some additional money at him to bring him in line but I am convinced there will be lingering issues for Liverpool going forward on dealing with player discontent and wanting an exit.
 
It'll be interesting to see how it goes from there as the player seemed to make it clear he wouldn't play again for Liverpool so Klopp et al will have some bridgebuilding to perform - Perhaps FSG will have to throw some additional money at him to bring him in line but I am convinced there will be lingering issues for Liverpool going forward on dealing with player discontent and wanting an exit.

I doubt it. Last time this happened, we made suarez apologise publically before he was allowed to play again.

He is going to be more worried about when he is allowed to play for us again than choosing to sit on his ass for the season.
 
I doubt it. Last time this happened, we made suarez apologise publically before he was allowed to play again.

He is going to be more worried about when he is allowed to play for us again than choosing to sit on his ass for the season.
It's world cup year, once the window closes, he'll toe the line and give it his best.
 
I doubt it. Last time this happened, we made suarez apologise publically before he was allowed to play again.

He is going to be more worried about when he is allowed to play for us again than choosing to sit on his ass for the season.

Did Suarez actually apologize publicly? Either way, that particular situation was slightly different in that Liverpool would have been fools to sell him to a direct rival - that sort of line is understandable by the biggest clubs. If we're to believe Coutinho, like Suarez, were promised an opportunity to leave should a reasonable offer come in then to deny them is really just a matter of time until they part ways. Luis moved less than a year later so I have a hard time seeing Coutinho's situation being so easily remedied either