Pedro

MUFC07

So how good is he?

Everytime he comes in for Barcelona he gets his name in the scoresheet or has an assist, either way he shines. He is doing very good for Barcelona and is 22.
I think he is pushing for a first team spot but I don't think he is able to move any of the current first team players and I don't think he can stay in the bench for 3-4 years.

AttackingFlair

Definitely looks a good player, impressed with him. Seems like he's first choice back up for one of the attacking positions ahead of Bojan (that's of course apart from when Iniesta plays at LW).

EZee

he looks to be another top talent from the barca youth team...

bojan
messi
pedro
iniesta
xavi
fabregas
puyol
pique
valdes

thats a pretty impressive bunch to have brought through...

Anderson Searl

He seems to have shunned Bojan to a regular bench-warmer in recent times... Or am I horribly wrong?

I havent seen the crow in ages

AttackingFlair

Busquets too

B9

scratch Valdes who isn't all that and add Reina as well.

Cold_Boy

Going by today's values,thats more than 250 mil pounds worth of talent there.

Clealry the best academy in the world?

Lil Cee

i'd say definately in the last decade or so. even more so than Ajax who've had some of their players fail to reach the heights of earlier generations.

Smash-E

Yeah, from what I've seen (correct me if I'm wrong) Guardiola doesn't rate him/use him as much as Rijkaard did.

Alex

I dont rate Bojan as a special player

Gio

Only played a handful of games but has usurped Bojan in the pecking order. I'm a fan - he's nimble and clearly a talented finisher.

OneUnited24

Me either, everytime i've seen him play he hasnt 'wowed' me anywhere near what people are talking about him. But hes still young (18 i think) and has potential so i suppose we'll just have to wait a few years

Red Indian Chief Torn Rubber

Bojan is nothing special.

Brwned

Bojan was always a regular benchwarmer.

Starting to realise he's not all that?

Anderson Searl

Haven't seen him in training and away from the pitch to give you a proper answer, this is the work of the manager.

I still think he's a quality striker for the future.

Brwned

That's different from saying he's one of the top three young strikers in Europe though.

cesc's_mullet

Scored against Inter the other night...

Everytime I check up on Barcelona's results he seems to be on the score-sheet. I know he's 22 now, so it's not like he's burst onto the scene as a teenager, but he still has time to develop into a top player. Doesn't he?

AttackingFlair

He's looked brilliant every game I've seen him and he already has 10 goals this season from a wide position.

MUFC07

10 goals from a wide position for a bench player is a lot, not even half of the season has been played.

adexkola

A cheeky bid perhaps?

FranklyVulgar

I'm not sure if Bojan is all he's hyped to be but he's clearly a bit special, you dont go down as Barcelonas youngest ever goal scorer without having something about you. To write off a kid of 18? as nothing special is very nieve in my opinion.

Anyway, to shed some light on the matter he featured in the early fixtures of the season but picked up an injury in a game which has kept him out injured, i think he's back to full fitness now and i would imagine he will feature a fair bit in the coming months. Barca dont have a massive squad, Henry has been utterly shite (he's a shot player now) and Messi and Zlatan will never play every match.

AlwynP

Yeah Pedro's always impressed me when I've seen him. He seems like the really determined type of player that will seize any opportunity he's gonna get, as there are clearly people far ahead of him in the pecking order.

What I like about him is his ability with both feet. He's adept at dribbling on his left, but when he cuts inside to shoot with his right he's got a cracking shot with that as well. One to watch, I'd say.

kouroux

He was taking on Maicon and Zanetti without any fear, it's amazing to see Barca's present and future look so bright.Hopefully our younger players will make similar impacts in the coming months

FranklyVulgar

Barcelona have the best youth system in the world by a mile to be fair.

I mean just looking at their team, their first team has 10 players from the youth system. That is established first teamers, then if you look at them they have another 8 or 9 youth players promoted to the first team.

Basically they could field a team entirely of youth products and beat most sides.

cesc's_mullet

What's his actual position? A wide Forward?

Gio

Yeah, I've seen him play across the front line, but with his physique and dribbling abilities he's probably most suited to wider areas.

AttackingFlair

wouldn't be suprised if he got a spain call up. He's really looked the part and filled in well for messi which says it all really.

Brwned

That's the same logic that leads people to believe Akinfeev's a bit special.

FranklyVulgar

Goal keepers and outfield players are very different though. At a club where players with the talents of Fabregas and Pique leave because they feel they'll get a better chance at first team football do not just promote any kid. He is clearly a talented individual.

Akinfeev is a good keeper. I'd have him over Ben Foster any day of the week.

Brwned

The concept's still the same - he broke through extremely early so he must be good.

Really that could just mean he matured earlier than most, not that he's going to be special.

What an utterly pointless thing to say. Either that or it was a very poor attempt at wind up.

AlwynP

Yeah but look at the other prospects for Spain on the left. Includes Mata and Silva. On form, Pedro would probably warrant a call up, but by reputation he doesn't stake much of a claim. I'd love to see him in the Spain side though.

Who did Akinfeev have to push out of the Russia team though. A solid but unspectacular Malafeev? Pedro is making appearances in the first team for one of - if not the- best clubs in the world.

Brwned

I've barely seen any of Pedro, maybe two games.

I was talking about Bojan, and while he's a good player I was just saying I don't think he's special or destined to be one of the best strikers in the world.

AlwynP

I concur, though I think he'll become a decent player. Not done enough to justify being called special though, in my opinion.

::sonny::

Pedro hasn't got particular abilities, but he scores like a striker

AlwynP

He's two footed.

FranklyVulgar

i didnt claim he would become one of the best however i reckon he must be a bit special. To write him off at this stage is very premature and that's what i am arguing against.

Brwned

Who wrote him off?

A bit special means what, exactly? It's a very ambiguous way of putting things.

johnmufc

Well, I'm not so sure.

Pablo Hernandez and Jesus Navas are better wide players.
Then you've got Juan Mata and David Silva who can play out wide or up front.
And of course Torres, Villa, Negredo, etc.


Then again, if Busquets can get a game with the likes of Fabregas, Xavi, Iniesta, and Xabi Alonso, then maybe Pedro does have a chance.

I have to say, I'm surprised by Pedro's breakthrough this season. He's basically come from no where as a 22 year old and burst onto the scene.

AttackingFlair

True but if Busquets can make the team with all the amazing CMs for Spain, I wouldn't see why not. He may not but on his form right now he deserves it.

I guess dribbling, good weaker foot, touch/control is nothing then?

Just said the same thing! But yeah definitely there are other great players in the wide position. Goes to show how complete a side Spain are, minus their defence. Top keepers, top midfielders, top wingers, top strikers and all in depth.

FranklyVulgar

it means people at the club have seen enough in him to think he warrents a bit of hype and some game time. He would have had more football so far if he didnt pick up the injury early on.

I just think it is far too early to write him off because he's clearly very talented. If he can make it at the very top of the game is yet to be seen but i wouldnt put it past him. I've seen him do some very clever things with a football. He has a lot of ability and is a very neat finisher. He's outwide a lot but his future is a striker. He's a goal scorer and a very intelligent footballer for his age.