Thiago Alcantara

[LittleEgg]

He is injury prone though. Can we really get more of those?

Well quality is needed, so...

 

[Jacob Smith]

In the past managers used to have players they took with them wherever they went.
Kendall with Harper, Heath and Reid.
Big Sam took Nolan everywhere
And Redknapp with Crouch and Defoe.
I think Pep likes/ needs a player he knows he can put in the middle of the pitch and dictate the style.

You can tell from reading Pep Confidential that he feels most at home when his team has Thiago at the heart of it. I'd be delighted if we sign him.

 

[Dax777]

Well quality is needed, so...

There are lots of Injury free quality players out there. We can try getting one of those

 

[LittleEgg]

There are lots of Injury free quality players out there. We can try getting one of those

Not of thiago's quality, and obviously not many that are willing to move.

 

[Dax777]

Not of thiago's quality, and obviously not many that are willing to move.

I guess. But I can totally see a 5 game scenario during the season with all of Kompany, Thiago, Gundogan, Silva, Aguero and Delph all out. Then folks start whinning about Sterling not doing enough. :(

 

[MillionDollarDream]

With the way Renato Sanchez has handled the big stage I wouldn't be surprised if Thiago made way so Renato can see game time early.

 

[SWP's back]

That was three years ago. Pep says, too - and it seems he is right with it - that he has to change after three years as he remarks that the team and the players start to get fed up with him or he cannot teach them anything anymore.

From what I watched Thiago is a prime example for that. I remember a scene from one of the last matches - Bayern led 2:0 but Pep was not 100 % satisfied with the distances the midfield players held to each other - when Pep talked to Thiago on the side line. And you just felt that Thiago had his ears put on "in and out"-mode.

In the first year and second year Pep played Thiago whenever he was available. In the last season Thiago warmed the bench very often.

Thiago will not follow Pep. He already told that a couple of times. Thiago followed Pep three years ago because he was a young talent at Barcelona who did not get enough playing time. He would not have left Barcelona in other circumstances. He has made himself a home now in Munich.

But - I do not even think that Pep would want Thiago to follow...

Just like Pep wouldn't leave Munich he had found a home and his wife liked it there?

You don't change the tune a lot do you.

 

[aguerooo93]

Thiago would be a great signing but is there any thing to suggest that Bayern would actually sell?

 

[IWasHere]

I would love to see Alcantara at City, but it sounds impossible.
Bayern would not sell him, and if they did what happens to KDB or Silva?

In midfield they have sanches gotze kimmich vidal Alonso Javi Martinez rode and no doubt they'd probably be after another midfielder

Eventually they'll all want to play but I doubt he'd get much game time there so if we genuinely want him I reckon we'll get him, plus thiago plays in a different position to kdb and silva

 

[Maldeika]

Just like Pep wouldn't leave Munich he had found a home and his wife liked it there?

You don't change the tune a lot do you.

Oh, Pep moved despite that. He still keeps his home in Munich - that should tell you that I was not really wrong. I just overvalued it and thought that this includes his ideas of the job, too.

But that was not my main message. My main message was that I do not think it is "Thiago or nothing" anymore with either Pep or Thiago. And I take Pep's words serious there who says that after three years he does not reach many players anymore. From what I have seen on the pitch and on the sidelines Thiago is a prime example for this. And whereas Pep played him whenever it was possible (due to his injuries) in the first two years - he did not favour him anymore in the recent year.

In midfield they have sanches gotze kimmich vidal Alonso Javi Martinez rode and no doubt they'd probably be after another midfielder

Eventually they'll all want to play but I doubt he'd get much game time there so if we genuinely want him I reckon we'll get him, plus thiago plays in a different position to kdb and silva

The only playmaker on the 8 of them is Thiago - since Kroos is gone.
Götze will leave sooner or later - he is not even an 8 but has his abilities for a 10 or a false 9.
Martinez can work as sweeper or in defense - Alonso is a pure 6.
Vidal and Sanches are box-to-box players with a lot of engine - even if Vidal makes a good sweeper, too.
Kimmich is planned to come in for Alonso - even if it might be that he will overtake Lahm's job somewhen.

If Alonso plays the 6 - there is no problem to e.g. play Vidal + Sanches or Vidal + Müller on the other positions in midfield. Without Alonso - with one of Vidal or Martinez playing the 6 - you need Thiago playing the 8. And no - with Schweinsteiger and Kroos gone he is the only one for that role...