Suarez was also costing them €400k (or more!) a week. Financially Barca are ****** hence their desperate clinging to the ESL. The best thing for their bottom line is getting rid of Messi, he’s on nearly a million euros a week plus bonuses no doubt. He’s probably costing Barca €60m a season.Get rid of 33 year old Suarez because he's too old, sign 33 year old Aguero the next season
Summer Transfer Window 2021/2022
- Thread starter Mark1989
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Yeah, it’s weird how people can’t see this.
He was never the same after his knee injury. On England duty no less too. He seemed to lose that burst of acceleration that made all the difference.
Caporegime
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He costs a lot but they have nothing else in attack. Griezmann and Dembele have turned out to be awful signings and neither can be trusted in front of goal. Without Messi's goals, they aren't finishing in the top 4 and they can't afford to sign anyone to replace him anyway.
Bit concerned we've been linked with Dembele for most of the season and now Griezmann's name is popping up with Liverpool.
The problem with just about any player at Barca is they’ll always be in Messi’s shadow. Neymar was and didn’t like it so engineered a move.
Griezmann has been a decent signing, 51 appearances and 20 goals this season is a very good return for any striker, they can’t all be as prolific as Messi and Ronaldo.
Messi is costing them over 100m euros a year apparently. If they got rid of him they would free up a fair bit of money. Griezmann was an awful signing and I have no idea why they wanted him for the amount he cost. Was never good enough to justify the price tag and they already had a better player in Suarez. Dembele was bought for the potential but it sounds like hes far too immature and is unlikely to even deliver on that promise.
Thats not a good return from a player that cost over £100m and was 28 at the time. He was the 8th best striker in the league with 13 goals and his average goals per 90 was 0.45. Utterly bizarre signing.
Fernandes has scored 28 in 57 and assisted 17 goals this season from midfield vs 20 in 51 and 12 assists from a striker in Griezmann. Thats in a much weaker league as well.
Last year Suarez posted nearly identical numbers to Griezmann but in 15 less games. Thats a top striker.
His stats aren't bad but signings aren't judged on "is this a bad return based on the average player in the average team". They are based on your transfer fee, your perceived contribution, your stats, the strength of your league, who you replace, what your team is like.
I think its hard to argue that hes had a good time there or has been a good signing.
I'm going to sound like a bit of a hypocrite here but I'm never a massive fan of these arbitrary targets like 20 goals. If you pick a different target number, it can tell a different story:
e.g. in his first 7 proper seasons in the EPL (97-04), Owen scored more than 15 goals a staggering SIX times.
Even the legend that is Alan Shearer NEVER managed to get more than 15 goals in 6 out of 7 consecutive seasons.
Wayne Rooney? Only hit more than 15 4 times in his entire EPL career.
Andy Cole? 3 seasons his his entire career.
So that's the 3 top Prem goalscorers of all time unable to hold a candle to Liverpool era Michael Owen's reliable >15 a season prowess.
Caporegime
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Barcelona are buggered financially but are clinging onto a lost battle. Barcelona are basically Germany after the battle of Kursk but in denial to the bitter end.
Messi needs to go and they need to start from the beginning. I think they will fall off a cliff next season but their league is so easy they will still get in the champs league.
Messi needs to go and they need to start from the beginning. I think they will fall off a cliff next season but their league is so easy they will still get in the champs league.
I have said in the past that Messi needs to leave as he's costing an absolute fortune and holding Barca back. The problem is who replaces the 35 goals and 11 assists? Barca might just have to accept they are going to have a few years of mediocrity in order to move forward long term.
Messi leaving Barca is akin to Fergie leaving United, different roles I know but there is no replacement. Even if their finances were in order it would still be a long recovery.
There's that saying that no one is bigger than the club but now and again there are exceptions to that statement.
There's that saying that no one is bigger than the club but now and again there are exceptions to that statement.
The analogy is particularly apt because both clubs had/have 0 plans for when their current era ended.
Strong rumour today that Dan James will be leaving Man United. This is the sort of ruthless move that Ole has to make in order to gain respect and credibility. James just isn't remotely good enough to play for a club that has ambition to win the league. His miss yesterday when through on goal was comedy gold but a perfect encapsulation as to why he has to go. Elanga looked better in his first match!
Caporegime
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Strong rumour from whom?
There is also a huge quality increase (or at the very least significant changes) in the EPL in general between the end of Owen's career and the end of Rooney's
If Owen at his peak was playing at exactly the same time as Rooney the numbers wouldnt be anywhere near the same (and to be fair Owen's game might have been significantly different as well)
Its also fair to say that a striker doesnt have a really decent season these days without hitting 25 league goals so only scoring 60% of that isnt that remarkable (and yes I know you chose 15 as an arbitrary number)
Let alone the fact that Rooney was rarely the central striker consistently , and arguably played in 3 or 4 different positions for significant portions of his Utd career , where as Owen was for the most part the man upfront.
Similar to why Bruno's record breaking season from midfield shouldnt really be compared directly with Lampard's - the game has significantly changed in the years since FL set his record.
James should be easy to sell (as long as Utd dont price themselves out of the market) but imo we should be clearing the wage bill first of Mata/ Jones/ Matic / Periera / Dalot even if they dont raise that much transfer cash before getting rid of James
Why was this moved out of the United thread?
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Read the first post in the thread, no transfer talk.
Caporegime
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Not looking forward to this window. It’s just gonna be dominated by endless, and I mean endless, stories about the Kane situation. I hope that one is wrapped up as soon as possible, otherwise it’s just gonna get on everyone’s nerves.
And let’s face it, we all know where he’s going, it’s not exactly gonna be a battle between loads of clubs.
And let’s face it, we all know where he’s going, it’s not exactly gonna be a battle between loads of clubs.