26 May 2015 23:44:00
I actually think the Alves deal will be a real good bit of business thinking about it (if it happens), myself like ed04 was really against the idea, but after watching the last 6 games I've seen how much Toni gets the ball but unfortunately he now has neither the final ball, left foot or drive to beat a man in the final 3rd.
Ive seen quite a bit of Barca this season and he has had a very good one I must say.
Stick him next to a top draw CB like Hummels or Otamendi and we could have a good platform to build with.
Yes he's 32 but right now I think we need to be a bit more clever when signing players.
Recent activity shows we have been squeezed a lot in the last 3 Windows. So on a free it would keep the balance sheet nice and give us time over the next few years to find another RB.
I don't want Clyne for over 20m or Coleman too. Top players, but that money is too high when we need to really strengthen the core of the team and if we have to over spend to get our men for the area I'd rather it be the spine.
27 May 2015 05:23:17
I agree with you Chris. As much as I think Valencia has done enough to merit being retained this season, how many times has he been at the top end of the pitch and offered next to nothing in terms of crossing and attacking threat?
Alves may be getting on but who is out there at the moment better than him? Lahm, Ivanovic, Zabeleta are the only players who are better or up there with him at the moment. He has lost no pace and he is still at the top of his game. I've said it time and time again age is just number.
27 May 2015 08:19:17
Chris
Worte something similar on the other page. Good enough for Barca I would say plenty good enough for us considering what we currently have Valencia who can not cross period and not a defender and Rafael who is getting paid for being injured all the time and when he played one good game and so inconsistent.
Barca want him to stay but want him to take a massive wage cut and on a free it is great piece of business if the wages are reasonable. He would give us so much bite down the right side.
27 May 2015 08:58:13
JMB, you back then?
27 May 2015 09:11:28
Haha busted JMB
27 May 2015 09:23:58
i wouldn't class lahm as a rb anymore jmb., since he plays cm most of the time at bayern, but given the fact Valencia isn't a rb he hasn't done that bad.
alves has been good but all his diving and play acting would just p*ss me off. no time for players who cheat. I would rather try get clyne or coleman than alves regardless of being on a free.
27 May 2015 09:36:21
As long as the one footed maestro is no longer at RB i'm all for Daniel Alves to come in and mark it as his own for the next 2/3 seasons.
Barca want to keep him, who are currently a much better team than us, so if he is good enough to be their RB is definitely good enough to be ours.
27 May 2015 09:48:03
Dani Alves is the best option. Coleman, Clyne and Darmian will all be outrageously expensive and Cancelo is a huge risk.
27 May 2015 10:07:43
Juventus have done very well with their recruitment policy: think I read whole team cost less than £94m.
Pogba (free), Vidal (7.5m), Tevez (12m), Evra (1.2m).
Believe they're also favourites to get Khedeira on a free - and weren't they sniffing around Perreira before he signed extension with us?
Wouldn't surprise me if Alves goes there!
Perhaps our money men should be a bit cleverer and not overpay every time. As a previous poster on here suggested, SAF used to buy the up and coming players with WC potential (De Gea, Vidic, Evra) When he bought the finished article (Veron) he sometimes got his fingers burned.
So, thinking along these lines, I'd (lol!) buy from the following and supplement with proven experience such as Garay and Schweinsteiger: that young German gk Leno, Laporte before he becomes huge, Will Hughes, Aleksander Mitrovic, Niguez, Kongolo etc
So Alves could be a shrewd buy in the short term while we scout and bring through a young RB (De Sciglio)
27 May 2015 11:01:18
Was never gone AJH.
27 May 2015 11:02:03
i will be amazed if united sign alves
27 May 2015 17:35:17
Jred
Why do you say that?
27 May 2015 17:48:57
gcu
football wise for all the reasons i said yesterday pal, i just don't see lvg or more importantly the board going for him
also he has said he wants to stop at barce "if the money is right " .
and if he does decide to leave the ed has said he has been in talks with psg
27 May 2015 19:20:14
Jred
He said yesterday Paris is not an option for him.
27 May 2015 19:48:43
gcu
its been kicking off for a week.
it was reported he had already signed for psg , he lost his cool on local radio.
went on to say he has barce at his heart etc etc.
wont look good him agreeing to leave before a CL final.
who knows but i think he will stay a barce ,