Look a mess at the moment.
They’ve had a poor season so far and are unlikely to win the CL.
Their transfer business has been awful recently.
They massively overpaid for Coutinho and Dembele but at least you could see the logic in those deals. Talented players of a good age but for whatever reason they haven’t worked out. The Griezmann deal made no sense. Over 100 million for a player in his late 20’s who they did not need.
Also swapping 23 year old Arthur for 30 year Pjanic in an already ageing team is baffling not to mention signing the bang average Braithwaite.
Messi is still probably the best player on the planet but he’s unsurprisingly not quite the player he was. Same with Suarez. Still quality but not the same.
Others such as Alba, Busquets, Pique, Rakitic and Vidal all the far side of 30.
Massive rebuild needed and it may take a while.
Could be wrong but I think there could be a tough few years coming for both Spanish giants.
Barcelona
posted on 18/7/20
comment by CurrentlyStuckIntheUK (U11181)
posted 11 minutes ago
comment by peks - 1974 (U6618)
posted 3 minutes ago
madrid are in decent shape...got lots of quality youngsters on the books, in the current squad or out on loan
dont think it will be long before we're competing for the CL again
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How many of those out on loan will make it?
Martin Ødegaard was signed 5 years ago and spent most of it out on loan. He might end up as Alen Halilović and not really live up to his potential.
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Make it into the Madrid side on a consistent basis? Probably none of them, considering that they're mostly attacking players in positions where Perez tends to be dazzled by the latest big thing. But they all seem to be developing nicely.
Odegaard has just had a great season at Real Sociedad and I reckon will either be brought into the squad for next season, or sold for a healthy profit with an affordable buyback clause.
posted on 18/7/20
comment by Kunta Kante (U1641)
posted 6 hours, 16 minutes ago
And also interesting that they haven’t been quite the same, arguably, since Neymar left.
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Since Cruyff died. He was advisor to the club.
posted on 18/7/20
Nah, Cruyff was a sworn enemy of the Rosell-Bartomeu team that took over the presidency from Laporta.
posted on 19/7/20
Nothing coming through the youth ranks?
posted on 19/7/20
Riqui Puig and Ansu Fati both look like they will make the grade. Not sure what else they have cooking.
Realistically though, it's going to be nigh on impossible the generation of talent Barcelona saw in the decade spanning the late 90s to late 00s.
posted on 19/7/20
Looks like this "Ricky Pooch" kid saved his best appearance for last. Everything seems to be going through him today.
And here's Messi with the 5th
posted on 19/7/20
Puig is just 20 I think. If both he and De Jong settle in and establish an understanding, their midfield could become seriously good.
posted on 19/7/20
comment by it'sonlyagame (U6426)
posted 3 minutes ago
Puig is just 20 I think. If both he and De Jong settle in and establish an understanding, their midfield could become seriously good.
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Good thing he's at Barca. He looks about 12 years old.
Such a diminutive but talented ball-player would have never had a chance at an English academy.
posted on 19/7/20
Well, I think those attitudes are changing somewhat. Fodder's hardly built like a heavyweight champ.
posted on 19/7/20
Foden! Thank autocorrect for the !