Friday 31 July 2009

Mascherano or Cesc

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Barcelona is determined to sign a midfielder during the summer transfer window.

Strengthen the midfield positions would be one of the priorities of Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola, although the profile of the player the club is looking for is not yet clear and the club doubts between a player with more defensive or more offensive qualities.

The two main candidates would still be Liverpool defensive midfielder and Argentine international Javier Mascherano (25) and Arsenal midfielder and Spanish international Cesc Fàbregas (22).


While Mascherano would be a natural substitute for Yaya Touré if the Ivorian midfielder leaves for the Africa Cup next January, Cesc would offer the coach the chance to move Iniesta to the left wing. In that last case, Márquez or Piqué could be used as defensive midfielders.

Read more:
Mascherano wants to join Barcelona
Looking for a cheap defensive midfielder
Ribery or Cesc

40 comments:

Anonymous said...

Let us move for Cesc! Arsenal is going downhill, they are a selling club, a youth team, and this is probably what Cesc thinks too. Cesc thinks:
"What am I staying here for, in this youth team, when my mates in Barcelona are putting the world on fire with fantastic football and taking home trophy after trophy?"

He must be dying to get to play for Barcelona surely.

Anonymous said...

CESC!!!!!

skanjos said...

i say move for cesc too.mascherano is a rock but we already have toure and an excellent prospect in busquets whom i value alot and i think is ready to start in our first team.if iniesta plays lw cause henry can play all matches there then another creative cm is vital(also if xavi gets injured"hits wood" then we need some cover),thats why if we sign somebody for midfield it has to be cesc.

i believe arsenal will be willing to sell for 35mil.if we have the money i say lets do it,if we get cesc along with ibra and our current players the team will have changed greatly and no other major changes will have to be done even next summer,lets see what the board decides

Anonymous said...

So does the club want to bring a player which is obsessed for Barca and the best player on his position or a overrated traiter which has more love for money then for Barca and doesnt mind to play for Real Madrid?

Easy choice, go for Masche. Let Cesc rot in Arsenal without titles for his entire career. He deserves that.

Anonymous said...

*traitor

fcbee said...

So Piqué should lso have stayed away? We don't know the reasons why they left, so we cannot judge.

The problem is both will probbly cost 30-40 millions and can't see how we can afford them.

Anonymous said...

Fabregas hasn't got the composure to be our main CM after Xavi... Please no for the 35-40 million that we need to pay for him. Would be good signing if and only if he uses the clause that he put in his contract like Keirrison. It seems if Fab is really interested and that he wants to come to us on his own then we could get him for 25 million, i.e., if he puts up a transfer request. If he shows his so-called loyalty for Arsenal and asks us to pay 40 million to Arse, then go fuck yourself Fab... A strict no, PERIOD
P.S. Pique came here for 5million guys :)

Anonymous said...

The truth is I didnt support the signing of Pique but at least he was quite cheap and always showed more respect for Barca during his time at ManUtd.

I dont know exactly why Pique left but I know how did Cesc leave...and it would be stupid to pay 30-40 million euro for a player who was personally being convinced by Laporta to stay but he refused to ear some $$$ in England and leave Barca during a very bad time.

Face it, Cesc has no love for Barca and if Arsenal would agree a fee with Real Madrid, he would be happy to sign for them, saying "Hala Madrid" and kissing their shield during presentation. Cesc is a rat.

groga said...

Laporta wants him back quite desperately so guess your little story doesn't convince, Anony. Everyone is free to go where he wants.

Anonymous said...

Laporta will look like an idiot if he brings him back for this price. But well, he looks already like a one after talking too much about Real Madrid spending and then doing something similar with Ibra.

Anonymous said...

Laporta already got a super-star like he wanted for his political reasons... And BTW his move proved to be an instant success in the form of Ibrahimovic who according to reports is now a new fan-favorite. I doubt if he's as desperate as he was previously to get back Fab.
And I think it's for good if we stay away from Fab. Xavi still got good 4-5 years left in him. Seriously, have you guys ever seen him RUN? He's gonna linger for a hell of a lot of time you Fab-sympathizers :)

Anonymous said...

---------Ibra----Messi
Iniesta---------------
------Cesc---Xavi-----
----------Yaya--------
Abidal-Pique-Puyol-Alves


This team is too good, unfair for the other teams.

Anonymous said...

But Masche would also be a good addition, so Yaya can play further up. I wish Masche was abit taller, but it is OK.

Anonymous said...

Hard one.. Ibra did cost a lot of money, but he was crucial.. These two are less needed. And that's a lot of money we don't have..

And people saying Xavi has got a few years left in him: I Agree, but look wat Fergie is doing with Giggs & Scholes.. He rotates them so they've got even more years to play. Why can't we do this with Xavi & Henry

Anonymous said...

Casc-Xavi combination never quite worked guys. I really think it's downgrade from Xavi-Iniesta combination, atleast for the present. But you never know.
Considering the financial aspects of the transfer and a look at the experiences of Spain National Team, not a very good idea to get back fabregas.

Manolo said...

Depends. Will Arsenal sell now when they offloaded Ade and Kolo?
Without Fabregas they are nothing.
And they know it.
Can't Fabregas like use some article that says that he price on his head should be lowred?

About Mascherano depends on whether Xabi is sold or not.

With Fabregas, we got a Winger (Iniesta) and a freaking good playmaker (fab) and a supersub (henry) . and also a worldclass rotation squad!
Mascherano can surely play AM but he preffers DM so do Toure.
3 DM next year? I prefer 2

Anonymous said...

Nobody is against the idea of getting in a quality CM for resting Xavi more. The wizard obviously played a LOT and needs some rest. But a wise manager would rotate using a quality Cantera-made player or an economic-buy. The idea of rotating a 40 million buy doesn't quite seem impressing don't you think?!?

Anonymous said...

OFF TOPIC
If Real still really goes for Xabi Alonso, I think they are just a bunch of bull-brains considering the very good reviews the young Granero is attracting. But I hope Real go for Alonso. Man he's such a waste, always looking for an aerial pass and only wants to shoot from faaaaaar out. Imagine a line-up including THE most-selfish Robber, Ronaldo and a seemingly quite similar Alonso... I would be really happy :P

Anonymous said...

I have to disagree with most people that blame Cesc for leaving.

Do you think if he would have stayed at Barca, he would be the star that he is today? no he wouldn't.

You guys need to understand that as fans its pretty easy to be loyal but as a player you have to also do whats best for your career and going to England has proven to be a great move for Cesc's personal career.

At a reasonable price I would definitely want him back ahead of Mascherano. I would take a catalan player over any other stranger and day of the week and twice on sundays.

Tudor said...

I just was on eurosport that "The Independent"(I don`t know how reliable they are) writes that Arsenal are in the proces of signing De Rossi from Roma...if this is truth...than maybe thay are in talks with Barcelona for Fabregas....I hope so...

Anonymous said...

I hope Fabregas will return to Barcelona one day. I hope it will be UE Sant Andreu or CE Europa. :D

Manolo said...

Tudor, yeah they are intrested in Vieira also.

If Sergio played the CL final,he can well take the backup position.
There isn't so many "hard" games.
Sevilla maybe. we also have Rafa

Martin Engelin said...

A couple of weeks ago I would be delighted to sign Cesc, but thats no longer the case. I wanted him because I think he is the perfect replacer for Xavi when he is too old. Then I saw Jonathan Dos Santos. Seriously that guy has great potencial. When seeing him on the pitch it really reminded me of Xavi, (only not as good). Thiago is suposed to be great aswell, havn't seen him enough too judge. If we bring in Cesc I'm sure that atleast one of Dos Santos/Alcantara will leave.

Buying Masch would be too difficult, too expensive, and we already have Busquets as backup for Yaya.

@Anon yes it was the best for Cescs career to move too England, but the thing is that he has said that he is willing too go to RM. Thats so not cool.

Aussie Barca Fan said...

I think we should buy Acquilini from Roma. He is an excellent player and will probably cost around $20 million. At 25 he has his best years ahead of him and will add depth to the midfield.

Anonymous said...

i'ts hard to choose...but cesc would be little bit better i think...

Unknown said...

On-field tactical-wise Masch will be Pep's choice, as we know it. With Cesc, it's for the future, Xavi's relacement unless there's one in the making.

Either way I'm sure Pep and the Laporta will not want to bring in a player that may not be used regularly with the current squad. I guess if he's the coach next year and was promised by one of the prez contenders, I'm sure Cesc will be here some time in the future.

My bet will be with Barca and Pep going for Masch with any money they have left

Anonymous said...

Cesc will start most games. Iniesta on the left. The point with Cesc is that we will be much less dependent on Xavi and Iniesta. The way it is now, it is total disaster if both Xavi and Iniesta are out. Pep understands this.

Anonymous said...

no point playing fabregas and xavi in the same team. I mean both are similar kinda players. What we want is a pair who can complement each other and nothing is better than having xavi and iniesta do that.

If iniesta had to move to the left wing in case of any injuries, we can have yaya and xavi in the midfield backed by a tireless masch.

Moreover, fab is not a player with a cool head. If things are going well, no one is so deadly but when things go wrong he gets frustrated easily.
So, best option would be to buy masch and keep rotating xavi, iniesta, yaya and masch in the midfield.

Martin Engelin said...

Anon thats what everyone said about Xavi and Iniesta, and look how that went.

ograsrot said...

I'm hoping we don't add Cesc, who deserves a starting position in any team- but who doesn't qualify for Barcas if all our regular players are match fit. Instead I think the team seriously needs to add depth, unless the Atletic players are good enough to fill in when injury or fatigue comes knocking mid season.

I like the idea of signing a defensive midfielder so that way Yaya and Busquets can rotate in other positions. On the other hand I think we should have a back-up playmaker for Xavi and Iniesta. Also who will be playmaker in Copa del rey should Gudy leave?

Dolce said...

Barca needs more cover for certain players, now Barca´s quality of play drops dramatically if 2-3 key players are rested in the same time. I think that its more crucial to get a new CM than LW, Henry still has fuel left in his tank so we must use his huge potential as long as he stays. What were Barca chiefs thinking when they loaned Keirrison, Hleb and soon also Caceres? By selling at least Hleb plus Guddy, Barca could have signed one more superstar. Now the team is still in a starting spot; Barca has replaced Eto'o with Zlatan and signed a younger replacement for Sylvinho, but thats it, more is needed. The team cant rely on players like Pedro, Muniesa, Gai and Jeffren, even if they play well in friendly games, it doest mean that that they will shine in La Liga vs top teams. Keirrison is better and more ready to play in La Liga than Bojan so its stupid to loan him and not Bojan

creus said...

I don't know if I'm so keen on getting Cesc after those things he said about Real.

Anonymous said...

Keirrison isn't ready. He has no experience on training and playing in Europe, whereas Bojan has been with Barca first team for two seasons and been already been given responsibility and delivered. Keirrison was a gamble, like Guardiola said, and now he will have to perform elsewhere to prove his worth.

Anonymous said...

Here is something to think about . The so highly rated Fabregas and Alonso have no chance of starting for Spain with both Xavi and Iniesta healthy . If either of them comes to Barça he will be sitting on the bench . A scary thought !!

B. Beltrocco said...

OMG who doesn' know Cesc is good but we already have someone like him its Iniesta we need defensive midfielder, and to compare cesc with masche Masche Owns =]

Anonymous said...

C'mon guys, we are no madrid to buy bench players for 30-40 mill.

If u ppl want to mould fab into the next xavi, then forget it. Despite being a catalan by birth, he said that it'd be a tough call to choose between barca and madrid. Does nt he recognize that the reason for him being what he is today is barca?

To be the next xavi, we have busquets, crosas, dos santos, and thiago to name a few. And since xavi is only 29 and has atleast 3-4yrs from his prime, he can mould these guys by then. By that time these guys would have enuf experience to take over the mantle.

Tohar Investment Limited said...

dont even know why we are using all our summer time to chase one or two same player?/i accept with the deal of mesha,but if he is not coming or livepool is not selling just lets look for another young,talented and cheap player to buy.its not buy force we buy a defensive mildfielder,busquet,marquez and pique can play for the one and the half month the africans would be away.pls dont mention cecs again.he wont come,though arsenal is now a real selling club,but i think he would prefer madrid over barca.he is a clear IDIOT.

thebackseatstrangler said...

i'd be thrilled with either one of mascherano or cesc but why not go after BOTH hernanes & poulsen? hernanes can play either in xavi or iniesta's spot and poulsen has proved himself in the spanish league w/sevilla and is familiar w/dani alves & keita...so he's spit in a couple of people's faces and is a little controversial? i think he'd be a great addition to the team :^/

thebackseatstrangler said...

*proven

sorry, a little tipsy before work...i've gotta prep my liver for the barcelona game this weekend x^)

Anonymous said...

yeah annoy, you're right.
we are not Real Stupid CF.
we have enough quality players already,but if we sell gudjhonsen,we need to buy another MF.

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