The strangeness at Barca - worst ever transfer transaction?

Keith Moon: There was a couple of moments there were I had to pinch myself. First the unveiling, they do like the spectacular kind of stuff there but still, Zlatan is a guy I as a Swede have been following for years, it was just mental.

The second was, obviously, the promo. Much more surreal, in fact. They really are bigging it up, looks like quite the event that one. I'd expect a couple of fireworks and all in all a great time. FCB vs Manchester City, nothing unheard of but the way they've invited us to their special annual pre season thing, that's quite amazing. So what if we weren't first choice, still amazing.
 
Blue Moon Henrik said:

one of the best single handed goals ive seen! Barca will be awesome with someone who can do that single- handedly and someone who can do this

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIep5g_GeSQ" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIep5g_GeSQ</a>
 
After all these years i still struggle to come to terms with the Gerry Creaney deal, positvely shocked when i think Paul Walsh was used in it, time for my prozac!
 
Eto'o is a better player. Ibra is a big ponce although he might look a good player in Spain because the defenders their are not physically strong.
 
the more i see of this deal the more insane it looks. 2 players + 38.5mil is crazy. I'll say that Ibra is the more skillfull player, but Eto'o is by far a more consistant and accomplished goalscorer. Inter get the better deal hands down
 
Yes Ibra's stats are good, yes Eto'o was down to the last year of his contract, yes Eto'o is rumoured to be a trouble causer. But Eto'o plus 40 mil for Ibra? Plus Hleb on loan!!! That's nonsensical! I think Barca have panic bought there and even if Ibra starts banging them in it's still a little over the odds as deals go. I personally prefer Eto'o as a striker and no he doesn't only score tap ins (what a ridiculous statement from people who've clearly not watched him playing week in and week out at least on Sky, and certainly not live). I think Eto'o will bang in goals for fun in Serie A, but Ibra may well do in La Liga also.
 
Keith Moon said:
Just watched his introduction on BarcaTV, 70 000 fans went mental. They also showed commercials for FCB v MCFC, cant fnuckin wait!

Probably because unlike the vast majority of folks on here, they've actually seen Ibrahimovic play and realize the upgrade they're getting...
 
somervillain said:
Keith Moon said:
Just watched his introduction on BarcaTV, 70 000 fans went mental. They also showed commercials for FCB v MCFC, cant fnuckin wait!

Probably because unlike the vast majority of folks on here, they've actually seen Ibrahimovic play and realize the upgrade they're getting...

Spot on.
 
AntMcfc said:
somervillain said:
Probably because unlike the vast majority of folks on here, they've actually seen Ibrahimovic play and realize the upgrade they're getting...

Spot on.

I've seen him play at the San Siro many times and have to disagree - he is really pants!!
 
Nah I read somewhere tonight that Ibra will miss our friendly, which is such a shame cos I'd love to see Ibra ruin Toure and totally embarrass him, maybe the first match of many where the City fans on here will realise that we've signed a donkey.
 
AntMcfc said:
Dutty1968 said:
I've seen him play at the San Siro many times and have to disagree - he is really pants!!

BS.

PMSL - The fact you think he is anything BUT pants clearly demonstrates to me you know F all about the beautiful game!! Wouldn't pay this fella in washers! Watch Inter 4 or 5 times a year live and he is clueless!
 
AntMcfc said:
Nah I read somewhere tonight that Ibra will miss our friendly, which is such a shame cos I'd love to see Ibra ruin Toure and totally embarrass him, maybe the first match of many where the City fans on here will realise that we've signed a donkey.

LOL - And ANOTHER example that you know F all!! LMFAO
 
bizzbo said:
nick.nikky said:
There's a huge difference in players worth and market value. If say, Robinho had won you the Prem three years in a row and been your main outlet together with Zabaleta on the right, scoring almost every single decisive goal during that period... would you sell him for any less than 60M?

And on the other hand, if you had won the triple with Barca style play and Bellamy had scored some 30 tap-ins (with the odd beauty in the CL-final)... and now decided to leave on a free next season if he didn't get Robinho-money (with a unwritten rule that Robbie is the top earner), leaving you with a month to get things sorted or be royally effed... would you throw him into a deal that would land you Torres for 40M?


The deal is simply good business for both clubs. Though Ibra has been extremely important for us (most say better than Ronaldo, the non-fat one), the fact is that he wanted out and that we had become far too dependent on him which actually held us back in CL with a hugely static attack (mark Ibra = kill Inter's attack, force Inter's other players back to basics in remembering how the eff you played football other than hoofing it to the brill target man). It was a delight watching Inter destroy Milan 2-0 the other day (Milito 2 goals, Eto'o yet to join) cause the players actually took some responsibility and worked together as a team and Muntari even went in for seconds after hugging Milito (the way ibra behaved after going out in this years CL he probably would have flipped him the finger!). We are on the move again, back to where we were 2 years ago when we probably were the best team in the world on the pitch (winning with 3 and 4 goals). Everything is there; from a United/Liverpool-stopping midfield, to world class defence, to the best goalie in the world, to a couple of die hard attackers (and let's not forget Balotelli) who will get the job done without the whinge. All that's needed is someone who will feed the ball or for the already present players to start taking responsibility again. And with three class finishers on top... hey... there's quite a few targets to aim at...

And Barca... Well, let's hope he they don't get Ibradepende (an actual phrase) and that he doesn't get fed up and destroys the team moral. If they don't and he doesn't, they will have a player with unbelivable athletic abilities and skill, that for the first time in his career wont have the responsibility of carrying the team, in a new no marking enviroment. I mean, this could be absolutely devastating seeing how he usually taps in on the close attention of at least two defenders. And against teams like Chelsea which provided them with a lot of problems last year, phew, it could potentially be a entirely different story with a holding number nine who's able to find the angles and "no-effing-way"-passes & goals. I mean, do you stop the supply from the midfield or the one from Ibra? Meanwhile, who marks Henry and Messi? If they hadn't gone for him, risk and all, they would have been faced with an entirely different beast next year when Eto'o left. Who would they hire? How much would he cost? Would he accept a salary below Messi's? Who else would accept Etoo's salary demands except Inter if it came down to another transfer deal (Ibra was already on 12M euros so Etoo's salary... meh, why not? There's already some extra 40M in the piggy bank)? How many of the world forwards actually ticks the boxes Ibrahimovic does? Adebayor? Not even close, and he's like 30M... and City weren't even THAT desperate... (note; not saying Adebayor is shit, I just don't think he's anywhere near the standards of Tevez and RSC, or Ibrahimovic)


So, when looking at the deal you can't compare Ibra and Etoos qualities and what fancies you, instead you have to look at how they fit into their particular teams future at this given time. The deal was a bargain and oh eff did we come out on top, Eto'o and Ibra are shit but oh boy are they good...

The alternative of them staying would have been extremely bad for both clubs, but 40M more so for Barca than us. Our grumpy player would have walked home another Serie A title and still be worth something next season...

And that's why deal is what it is.

well well well....

a super post that encapsulates everything I was thinking. good work.

Cheers.

I'd only add that I think Barca bodged the PR side of things and looked more desperate to sell than need have been the case. It always amazes me how much a well organised campaign of public pronouncements on these issues can affect the prices of deals, even when what is being said is scarcely believable. Barca hardly bothered to pretend that they had any desire to keep Eto'o whatsoever.

Yeah, but they tried though, didn't they? Laporta and Moratti are good friends but after the met they "decided" both players would remain at their clubs. Barcelona then tried to offer Eto'o a contract (which he publicly turned down saying it was only so they could land a fee), had another flirt with City and "tried" to get Villa (as if they couldn't have doshed out those 36M or whatever if they really wanted him). When Ibrahimovic still turned up at camp saying he was alright with the situation, Laporta instantly came banging on Morattis door with a bag full of money and Eto'o sitting on his shoulders. From there on, the deal was all about whether the players wanted it or not.

My guess is that they had the intention of getting Ibrahimovic all along, the one mistake they made in my opinion was done already last year when they made the huge misjudgement of the market and tried to publicly offer Eto'o out with only 2 years left on his contract. Other than that, they pretty much did what they could in this race? The crucial mistake was done already last year?
 

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