Thiago Alcantara | Signed for Bayern Munich

[Revan]

I asked the same question 10 pages ago. Apparently according to the redcafe youTUBE analysts, he is the prospect of a generation.

I bow to their superior youtube analysis skilssz.

It's not youtube at all. Have been watching him for around three years and I am confident that I have seen him playing around 50 games. My believe is that if he reaches the potential he'll become the best in the world in his position.

I think its safe to say United are a bigger club than Juve for starters. He was only 18 when he legged it & he would have been given the chance to prove himself again when Fergie thought he was ready, because the 3 games he played in our first-team - he most certainly wasnt ready to play week-in week-out...

Pogba might have played 27 games for Juve last season & scored 5 goals... fair play to him, but the Premier League is by far the superior league atm & the pace of their game allows players more time on the ball. The Prem eats players up if they dwell on the ball - thats why there's an impression of hoof-the-ball in English football - many players just get rid of it as they've little time to do anything with it, better players will always find a pass & can manage their space & distribution better tho. Pogba needed time to adjust to that pace, thats why Fergie was being patient with him & Pogba would have known that as Fergie would have told him & to trust him, but he knows more than Fergie apparantly!

We are not bigger than Juve, we are similar in club stature. Italian football is not having the best of time but that doesn't change the fact that Juve is the biggest club of the strongest historically league. Won't comment on that anymore though, we had the same discussion before.

SAF is the best ever manager but that doesn't change the fact that he didn't give Pogba his chance. There are a lot of reasons for that, but in the end Pogba is playing for a big club every week so he hasn't lost that much. He isn't a Manc (or even British) to dream to success at United, playing at the club when his childhood hero Zidane won Golden Ball alongside Pirlo surely beats the bench of United or a loan to a decent Championship team/ mediocre EPL team.

 

[Maajid]

Yeah! I have no clue either!

Press Association. News agency similar to Reuters, AFP etc.

 

[SATA]

Is he going to walk into our midfield ahead of Cleverley and Ando in our first league match of the season? I've never seen him play much either

 

[Olly Gunnar Solskjær]

I like today's updates

 

[Revan]

Is he going to walk into our midfield ahead of Cleverley and Ando in our first league match of the season? I've never seen him play much either

Only Moyes can answer that. He's miles better than both of them though.

 

[OnlyTwoDaSilvas]

I don't blame Pogba for leaving, or question his reasons. He wanted to play, and he felt he could get that elsewhere. I hoped that he would do well there as I always really liked him.

I grew to dislike him quite quickly though. Every interview he did since leaving, he mentioned United, often without being asked, and kept hammering on about how he didn't care about United, or ever thought about United.

I don't like Barcelona at all, but I hope Thiago doesn't start taking cheap swipes at Barca if he becomes a United player.

 

[bosnian_red]

Is he going to walk into our midfield ahead of Cleverley and Ando in our first league match of the season? I've never seen him play much either

If he's fit then he'd be an automatic starter for us I'd imagine. Much better then anyone else we have apart from Carrick, but potential wise he can be the best midfielder in the world.

 

[OnlyTwoDaSilvas]

Press Association. If they annouce something, it's usually as good as official.

Didn't PA announce it the week before last?

It's probably been in the bag for ages, but we've left to agonise over it so Davey can take his new job as well as all the glory.

 

[Revan]

I like today's updates

The news about Mazinho selling the restaurant?

 

[SATA]

If he's fit then he'd be an automatic starter for us I'd imagine. Much better then anyone else we have apart from Carrick, but potential wise he can be the best midfielder in the world.

That's quite a big shout. Some here said the same when Ando arrived in 2008

For what it's worth, i think Carrick and Cleverley will start in midfield on opening day, with Thiago easing into it

 

[sammsky1]

Didn't PA announce it the week before last?

It's probably been in the bag for ages, but we've left to agonise over it so Davey can take his new job as well as all the glory.

I'd have no problem with that strategy. Fingers, toes and eyebrows crossed!

 

[SATA]

Mazinho played in the 1994 World Cup? Funnily enough, i don't really remember that at all. From my memory, i could only remember Taffarel, R.Carlos, Bebeto, Romario, Dunga and Jorginho. Too long a time though

 

[Revan]

That's quite a big shout. Some here said the same when Ando arrived in 2008

For what it's worth, i think Carrick and Cleverley will start in midfield on opening day, with Thiago easing into it

It is a long shot, but looking at young best prospects he looks miles better than the likes of Wilshere, Pogba and Veratti. Gundogan had a better season but Thiago looks more naturally talented, Gundogan is more disciplined though. Also, when we said that Ando was 18, Thiago now is 22. A big difference. He's already rated by a lot of Barca fans better than Fabregas who was the best midfielder in EPL two years ago.

 

[OnlyTwoDaSilvas]

I'd have no problem with that strategy. Fingers, toes and eyebrows crossed!

Oh me neither. Moyes buys world class midfielder for pocket change. Whole world boys down to Moyes.

Sir Moyes.

 

[Solius]

Mazinho played in the 1994 World Cup? Funnily enough, i don't really remember that at all. From my memory, i could only remember Taffarel, R.Carlos, Bebeto, Romario, Dunga and Jorginho. Too long a time though

Holy shit I remember Taffarel. That's a blast from the past.

 

[bosnian_red]

That's quite a big shout. Some here said the same when Ando arrived in 2008

For what it's worth, i think Carrick and Cleverley will start in midfield on opening day, with Thiago easing into it

Big shout, but not one that's unfounded. He was being groomed as xavi's successor and many barca fans rate him over fabregas. Their midfield is arguably the hardest in the world to get into, yet he's made over 100 appearances for the first team by the age of 22.
Also, I think there is a chance that thiago could be eased into it, but if he signs soon and has a full pre season with us then I don't see why not.

 

[Arruda]

I remember Branco, cannon left foot, was Porto's left back.

 

[Revan]

Holy shit I remember Taffarel. That's a blast from the past.

Me too. Though from WC1998. feck, it looks that I am getting older.

 

[SATA]

Big shout, but not one that's unfounded. He was being groomed as xavi's successor and many barca fans rate him over fabregas. Their midfield is arguably the hardest in the world to get into, yet he's made over 100 appearances for the first team by the age of 22.
Also, I think there is a chance that thiago could be eased into it, but if he signs soon and has a full pre season with us then I don't see why not.

That's mental. I personally would have Fabregas over Thiago at United if i have a choice. Why do the Barca fans think that way anyway? If Fabregas at Barca isn't working, that's because i think he's being played in the wrong position in most games

 

[NotoriousISSY]

That's quite a big shout. Some here said the same when Ando arrived in 2008

For what it's worth, i think Carrick and Cleverley will start in midfield on opening day, with Thiago easing into it

He's been credited with being the replacement for Xavi for both club and country in the long term. It's a big shout but it's accurate.

I think when a 22 year old comes from Barcelona, a player they really don't want to lose...you have to ignore slightly similar cases such as Anderson who came from a smaller club, at a younger age and arguably far more raw and rough around the edges. Anyone who's watched Thiago knows he plays a very mature game for someone of his age, Anderson came in with the reputation of skill, pace, dribbling and all the stuff people credited him with to become the new Ronaldinho.

Now Thiago has arguably bigger boots to fill in Scholes and being as good as Xavi, but here's to hoping we allow him to be his own man.

 

[walsh]

I remember Taffarel very well, probably from FIFA RTWC 98!

Anyway, Thiago. If he is announced tomorrow at the presser or Moyes says/implies that it's close, I'll go mental.

 

[Revan]

That's mental. I personally would have Fabregas over Thiago at United if i have a choice. Why do the Barca fans think that way anyway? If Fabregas at Barca isn't working, that's because i think he's being played in the wrong position in most games

Because Thiago is more talented, younger and more like Xavi?

 

[OnlyTwoDaSilvas]

Anyway, Thiago. If he is announced tomorrow at the presser or Moyes says/implies that it's close, I'll go mental.

What if he pours cold water on it, like Sir Alex often did? Anti-boner.

 

[Arruda]

Me too. Though from WC1998. feck, it looks that I am getting older.

It's easy to remember Taffarel in 1994 because one acrobatic save he made, and another by Pagliuca, are the only moments of slight excitation in the final, apart from the PK's. Must be one of the most boring football finals I ever remember.

 

[SATA]

Because Thiago is more talented, younger and more like Xavi?

I think we are way ahead of ourselves here. I reckon Xavi even at 33 is a better player than Thiago now. As to whether Thiago himself will surpass that, that remains to be seen

 

[Red Hand Devil]

The bolded sounds like made up stuff to me to support your point. Many reports stated we had offered more than Juve financially, and there was nothing that suggested he wanted parity with Clev and Welbeck on about 50k.

Now, I am a fan of his and would have rather he stayed too, but the reasons you have given to discredit him seem fabricated.

The parts in bold just seem like stuff you choose to discredit what i said, without adding anything or even stickin ur neck out with an opinion. Whats ur game - do u just go around pickin bones in folks posts & offer nothing constructive in return other than - "ur a liar just to beef up ur comment"?!

I never said that Pogba cited Welbeck & Cleverely's earnings in his contract negotiations - it just so happened to be reported as around the same figure. My point was - those two had earned a bump in pay - Pogba hadnt even kicked a feckin ball in the first-team, nevermind those two having played 2-3 seasons on-loan for Premiership clubs!

Pogba wasnt ready to play in the Prem - Italian league is a different matter for obvious reasons.. I'll let you work that out for yourself!

 

[SirAF]

It is a long shot, but looking at young best prospects he looks miles better than the likes of Wilshere, Pogba and Veratti. Gundogan had a better season but Thiago looks more naturally talented, Gundogan is more disciplined though. Also, when we said that Ando was 18, Thiago now is 22. A big difference. He's already rated by a lot of Barca fans better than Fabregas who was the best midfielder in EPL two years ago.

He's the best of the fecking lot. He's so good I don't dare watch anymore clips of him until he is unveiled!

 

[SATA]

It's easy to remember Taffarel in 1994 because one acrobatic save he made, and another by Pagliuca, are the only moments of slight excitation in the final, apart from the PK's. Must be one of the most boring football finals I ever remember.

I think the shootout made up for it. Felt for Baggio after the whole thing ended

 

[blitz133w]

This is really happening isn't it?? We are buying a Centre Mid FFS!

 

[Giggsforever]

At what time is Moyes presser tomorrow?

 

[bosnian_red]

That's mental. I personally would have Fabregas over Thiago at United if i have a choice. Why do the Barca fans think that way anyway? If Fabregas at Barca isn't working, that's because i think he's being played in the wrong position in most games

I think it's because Fabregas is too direct for Barca's nature and just doesn't quite fit in, which is why they think he isn't working. He's also being shoehorned into the side, and it's quite impossible to fit all their midfielders in the side together.
Most Barca fans think Thiago has much more potential than Fabregas, and while he might not be as good yet, they think if he's given a bit of time he will be much better in the long run.

 

[Revan]

I think we are way ahead of ourselves here. I reckon Xavi even at 33 is a better player than Thiago now. As to whether Thiago himself will surpass that, that remains to be seen

I was saying what a lot of Barca fans think. Either on Barcelona main English forum or from Barca fans I know they would rather lose Fabregas than Thiago and they think that if not already Thiago soon will become the better player.

Xavi is another thing though, potentially the best central midfielder ever.

 

[Sixpence]

At what time is Moyes presser tomorrow?

4pm and it's showing on Sky Planner that MUTV are showing it live.

 

[Sixpence]

Mazinho played in the 1994 World Cup? Funnily enough, i don't really remember that at all. From my memory, i could only remember Taffarel, R.Carlos, Bebeto, Romario, Dunga and Jorginho. Too long a time though

I'm pretty sure he wasn't that good a player. More of a squad filler. I remember him being most notable for a horrendous miss at the 94 World Cup.

 

[Kevin]

I doubt moyes and united want the shine and focus taken off of the presentation of the new manager by announcing thiago or whatever other transfers during it... It's off.

 

[Red Hand Devil]

I thought that was a winky smiley Got so excited coz RHD was flirting with me for a second. Little do I know

Agreed. It seems the summer (or our winter!) of 2013 has given birth to a different kind of muppet altogether. The genHectically enhanced super-muppet!

I'm not that sort of gal mate.. ...and there's far too much gayness goin on in the Caf without me somehow gettin involved either. Oh & Ireland doesnt have Summers - all we get, are a few days when it doesnt rain & thats usually whenever everyones sleeping

 

[kouroux]

So folks, what seems to have reinvigorated most of you ? What news has made you positive lately ? It's hard to keep up to be honest.

 

[Olly Gunnar Solskjær]

The news about Mazinho selling the restaurant?

Exactly

 

[Arruda]

I'm pretty sure he wasn't that good a player. More of a squad filler. I remember him being most notable for a horrendous miss at the 94 World Cup.

Spoiler

Video description says "imagine his kids watching that..." (in Portuguese).

 

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