Read on Twitter
[THREAD]
Liga fans, I'd like to walk through the top 3 teams to get a sense of their major squad needs over the course of (1) the next year and (2) the next 2-3 years.
I'm going to write a thread here with my own thoughts, but I encourage fans of their club to give feedback.
Liga fans, I'd like to walk through the top 3 teams to get a sense of their major squad needs over the course of (1) the next year and (2) the next 2-3 years.
I'm going to write a thread here with my own thoughts, but I encourage fans of their club to give feedback.
MADRID
Need to leave ASAP: Bale, James
-Many players past their best, but few that truly must go now to free up wages
Need to buy ASAP: FWD/goal-scorer
-Last season was an outlier for Benz, can't expect again (hasn't repeated this ssn). Goal-scoring wingers are RARE, focus on CF
Need to leave ASAP: Bale, James
-Many players past their best, but few that truly must go now to free up wages
Need to buy ASAP: FWD/goal-scorer
-Last season was an outlier for Benz, can't expect again (hasn't repeated this ssn). Goal-scoring wingers are RARE, focus on CF
MADRID
Key players leaving w/in 2-3 yrs: Benzema, Ramos, Marcelo, Modric
-Marcelo's replacement(s) are there in Mendy & Reguilón
-Modric has Ødegaard, Valverde, & a big buy waiting.
-Ramos won't be replaced easily (no disrespect to Militão)
-Another CF has to come in for Benz
Key players leaving w/in 2-3 yrs: Benzema, Ramos, Marcelo, Modric
-Marcelo's replacement(s) are there in Mendy & Reguilón
-Modric has Ødegaard, Valverde, & a big buy waiting.
-Ramos won't be replaced easily (no disrespect to Militão)
-Another CF has to come in for Benz
BARÇA
Need to leave ASAP: Rakitic
-Half of Barca's squad is past their best (Rakitic, Suarez, Pique, Busquets, Alba, Vidal) but few are sellable. Most can't easily be replaced given wages to move + available options. Short-sightedness/optimistic investing put the club in a bind.
Need to leave ASAP: Rakitic
-Half of Barca's squad is past their best (Rakitic, Suarez, Pique, Busquets, Alba, Vidal) but few are sellable. Most can't easily be replaced given wages to move + available options. Short-sightedness/optimistic investing put the club in a bind.
BARÇA
Need to buy ASAP: RB, LB, CM*
-FB is the glaring weakness. Problem is, they're committed to 4+ players at those positions & can sell none at peak value. LB is a desperately thin position these days, so high competition for limited quality.
-CM depth is there, but sellable.
Need to buy ASAP: RB, LB, CM*
-FB is the glaring weakness. Problem is, they're committed to 4+ players at those positions & can sell none at peak value. LB is a desperately thin position these days, so high competition for limited quality.
-CM depth is there, but sellable.
BARÇA
Key players leaving w/in 2-3 yrs: Pique, Busquets, Suarez, Alba, RB, Messi(?)
-3 world-class forwards, 2 over 30, only Griezmann is likely to be in his prime 3 years from now. Messi can't be replaced.
-CM depth is there but may have to be sold to cover bloated wages.
Key players leaving w/in 2-3 yrs: Pique, Busquets, Suarez, Alba, RB, Messi(?)
-3 world-class forwards, 2 over 30, only Griezmann is likely to be in his prime 3 years from now. Messi can't be replaced.
-CM depth is there but may have to be sold to cover bloated wages.
ATLETI
Need to leave ASAP: Lemar
-Atleti revamped exceptionally last summer so "dead weight" is minimal. Wages are used well, for key stars. Lemar & Vitolo haven't matched expectations (for various reasons). The former is still sellable, Simeone needs more for that investment.
Need to leave ASAP: Lemar
-Atleti revamped exceptionally last summer so "dead weight" is minimal. Wages are used well, for key stars. Lemar & Vitolo haven't matched expectations (for various reasons). The former is still sellable, Simeone needs more for that investment.
ATLETI
Need to buy ASAP: None
-Again, Atleti has been nearly brilliant w/recent moves so desperate needs are few. Goals & chances have to increase, but the market is highly competitive & now the wealthiest clubs are in need. Morata isn't sellable, Felix is the future.
-Lemar swap
Need to buy ASAP: None
-Again, Atleti has been nearly brilliant w/recent moves so desperate needs are few. Goals & chances have to increase, but the market is highly competitive & now the wealthiest clubs are in need. Morata isn't sellable, Felix is the future.
-Lemar swap
ATLETI
Key players leaving w/in 2-3 years: Aging out, none. Sold, TBD.
-Atleti isn't an elite club, so key players are always at risk of being sold. At the moment, they have no one who is aging out soon at least. Good position as long as key players will bring in lots of cash.
Key players leaving w/in 2-3 years: Aging out, none. Sold, TBD.
-Atleti isn't an elite club, so key players are always at risk of being sold. At the moment, they have no one who is aging out soon at least. Good position as long as key players will bring in lots of cash.
SUMMARY
Madrid and Atleti have been shrewd in recent season. Madrid due to good planning, Atleti out of necessity (as a non-elite, selling club). They have problem areas, but are in a good position to minimize negative impact and replace aging or lost stars w/relative ease.
Madrid and Atleti have been shrewd in recent season. Madrid due to good planning, Atleti out of necessity (as a non-elite, selling club). They have problem areas, but are in a good position to minimize negative impact and replace aging or lost stars w/relative ease.
SUMMARY
Barcelona, comparatively, is in a tough spot. The time to pay the piper for their wage structure is near. They have missed the window for too many players to be sold at value. As a result, they have to sell young talent & keep aged stars. Many holes, few clear solutions.
Barcelona, comparatively, is in a tough spot. The time to pay the piper for their wage structure is near. They have missed the window for too many players to be sold at value. As a result, they have to sell young talent & keep aged stars. Many holes, few clear solutions.
These are my thoughts, but let's hear from you, the fans.
Without catastrophizing or getting hyperbolic, what are the biggest needs, question marks, and potential (likely) solutions for these 3 clubs?
P.S. I may do a similar thread for other clubs soon.
Without catastrophizing or getting hyperbolic, what are the biggest needs, question marks, and potential (likely) solutions for these 3 clubs?
P.S. I may do a similar thread for other clubs soon.
