Portuguese sports paper O Jogo claims that Sporting midfielder and Portuguese international João Moutinho (21) is still in the race to replace Barcelona midfielder Deco next season. Moutinho and Hernanes (read more here) would appear on top of the list of possible successors.
The paper claims that a representative of Moutinho's agent Pini Zahavi travelled to Catalunya last week to discuss the player's profile with Barcelona officials. Barcelona would have doubts on Moutinho's physical abilities although the recent performances of the player at the European championship have reduced those doubts.
With the buyout clause of 25 million euro° having expired anyway (read more here), Barcelona would only be willing to launch a bid of 18 million euro°. At this moment Moutinho is neverthless only one of the options and no official approach has yet been made.
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25 million euro =
39 million us dollar
20 million british pound
18 million euro =
27 million us dollar
14 million british pound
sounds like an ok price to me, i think or i hope ha, sell deco get him..........easy
This is direct at anybody: Is there any proof to the rumour that Barca would play a 4-3-1-2 formation next season? On Goal.com, they claimed that the manager is keen on that system.
Would that mean that Messi would be a free-roaming player behind the front two, while maintaining the triangle midfield? Also, if it is true, as Alves can have the right flunk, shouldn't they get a left-back who isn't afraid to go forward?
" Barcelona would have doubts on Moutinho's physical abilities although the recent performances of the player at the European championship have reduced those doubts."
Ummm, what games were Barcelona actually watching? Moutinho's performance was horrible at the Euro's! He was practically invisible! "Physical abilities?" Did he even play an entire match in the Euro's? This must be the writer's own personal opinions because I would find it hard to believe that anyone in Barcelona would be quoted as saying such a thing!
And Sporting can kiss 25mil goodbye. Barcelona's offer of 18mil sounds fair enough to me. I don't mean to judge Moutinho based on 3 matches, but considering that this is a world class competition with everything at stake I found his performance less than impressive.
Reading guardiolas comments on his first press conference, he said he would play a 4-3-3.However, given the kind of players he is chasing,it seems to me that his 4-3-3 will be very different from rijkaards.Instead of having wingers like before,i think there will be two centrally placed attacking midfielders.These two midfielders would probably be all over the place,dropping deep,running with the ball,providing crosses etc.Then upfront instead of having a more mobile forward like etoo,he will use a physical presence so that there is always somebody to punt the ball up to.
It would probably look like:
---------valdes---------
alves-puyol-milito-abidal
---------toure----------
-------xavi----iniesta---
----messi-------henry---
---------adebayor-------
Messi and henry will probably be the wild cards with their position being a little undefined.I think that the style he will use will be a little bit similar to how arsenal plays or how holland is playing at the euro.Lots of passing,numbers pull back and then lightning quick counters.Hopefully it will work :D
Thanks Abdullah. I agree with the other comment about Moutinho being flat at the Euros. Deco was certainly their stand out player, while C.Ronaldo proved the kind of player he is, one that shows off and shoots every and any time he has sight of goal (70m!!)
To Vin24. Yeah I read that as well but there is no validation that Pep was directly quoted as saying that as far as any media source or outlet I know off. I do know that he's not "married" to the 4-3-3 style like Rijkaard was. I just always assumed that he meant switching to a 4-4-2 at times(if Hleb is signed) because of so many midfielders.
My best guess is that in a 4-3-1-2 it would either be Messi or Hleb (if he's signed) that would take up that "1" spot. If it's Hleb then Messi would probably play upfront staying on the right with Henry/Adebayor flanking him on the left or playing slightly higher up. I suppose if Pep wanted to play Henry and Adebayor (if he's signed) together upfront then I would assume that Messi and Hleb would be interchangeable as the "1" and Hleb would either have to sit or play behind Messi as one of the three midfielders.
As far as the left back goes, I would think the opposite. If Alves is going to make runs forward as we expect I'd rather have a left back than can cover and stay behind rather than move forward as well and expose the centre backs to counters. If both right and left backs are constantly moving forward that's realy putting a lot of pressure on Yaya and your centre backs, Puyol and Caceres?? and we all know that Puyol can't cover like he used to.
This again is pure speculation and just my opinion on the matter so please don't take me to task.
Was very surprised by his poor showing at Euros. Thought he was promising in european club matches. But the whole team were under-par.
Scolari not the King he seemed? Deco wasn't as good as everyone keeps saying, he was better than he was for us all season though..
I feel Messi as the roaming player behind two strikers would be the best option. Can any team counter the best player in the world attacking from them multiple angles, one minute from the flanks, the next down the middle?
Whether, Hleb comes or not, he should not take up that position or wide (when/if playing 4-3-3) and they shouldn't change the formation to accommodate him. I'm not a fan, however, as the management are, hopefully they'll just see him as back-up for the starters: Iniesta and Xavi and behind fellow subs options Hernanes/Moutinho(?).
Finally, I prefer the both wings to at least have the capability to go forward to help break down the numerous teams that plays against Barca with a negative approach (that was Barcelona's main problem last season- even Man Utd did it). Think Brazil. They have done it for decades yet they never allow that many goals because their team, like how Barca does, keeps possession well. As long as Barca's defense AND midfield defend as a unit when a play breaks down it should not be a problem.
moutinho not enough experience.. de rossi is better..
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