Kippaxstreetheadache said:
Does no-one care about the repercussions signing Pepe could have for Nastasic?
Pepe would expect to play every week, he'd be on a big wage and Nastasic wouldn't get a look in. Nastasic is a rare gem, a young player with the ability and hunger to thrive at this club and on every stage.
He could become an adopted blue, playing most of his career here. Players with real quality and an affinity with a club don't come around very often. I really don't want to see his progress hampered, he could become a stalwart for this club.
This is would prove a short-sighted transfer IMO.
It'd be like Real trying to bring in an upgrade on Varane now, whom he'd see himself outgrowing eventually anyway. It'd harm his confidence and just set his progress back a year or two.
Irony is Varane got his chance and took Pepe's place. Real are placing a lot of faith in Varane, as we should with Nastasic.
I think if we brought in a centre half to compete with Nastasic, i.e a smaller name with less playing time demands, that would prove a wise move.
As much as Pepe is a good player, and would certainly strengthen the squad. He's not going to want to move from one club playing under study to a young prodigy to another club in the exact same position.
I just think this is a short-sighted move, and I really don't want to see Nastastic's development hampered.
Anyone else share my concerns?
Not really, Pepe's 30 and won't be here for too long, he'll play in the tougher games in the Champions League alongside Kompany, but if Kompany was injured then Nastasic will play alongside Pepe. With 70 odd games to play they'll be plenty of games for Pepe, Nastasic and Kompany to play. We don't need backup players, we did that last season to fill out the squad and that didn't get us anywhere. We need competition for places but should have 4 centrebacks good enough to start, and a combination of one old head and one young one is a good mix in most domestic games. In the Champions League we need more experience and Kompany himself doesn't have enough, hence Pepe could be a target, there aren't many centre-backs more experienced than him for big European games. He plays Barca at least 3 times a season, wothout counting the Champions League games he has played for Madrid.
