Ever Banega

[Ekeke]

Complete midfielder, an absolute beast who could play in Barcelona's midfield. I get the feeling he'll move on in the next couple of transfer windows and move on to a top club. And if that top club is not us then I think we'll regret it



He tackles, he passes and assists, he has a rocket shot and he has that bit of flair too. He's strong, he looks to get on the ball and matches against Barcelona and Real Madrid have been amongst his best performances.

Judging by his performances for Argentina, where he's cemented himself as a starter, he seems key to Messi performing for his national side too. Whats not to like?

The last club linked with him I believe was Inter a few weeks ago. He'd make a huge impact for them if that one happened

 

[The White Pele]

I'd wecome his signing but I don't think it's on the cards to be honest.

 

[Devil may care]

Have we ever been linked with him? Honestly while all the Modric love has been going on I have always felt Sahin and Banega were better options for us, but I just don't see Fergie going for Banega.

 

[SharkyMcShark]

I've always been a fan in a non muppet non commital way

 

[McCool]

And he sounds like a bottle of champagne. A bit.

 

[Ekeke]

Have we ever been linked with him? Honestly while all the Modric love has been going on I have always felt Sahin and Banega were better options for us, but I just don't see Fergie going for Banega.

Nope we've never been linked with him. The best English side to be linked with Banega, or even Sahin, was Liverpool

I just refuse to believe that our scouts dont know about him. And he played in our group in the champions league this season and played against us.

I dont think we'll be going for him - I just dont see the reason why we wouldnt go for him. Another top club definitely will do and I see him being right up there with Iniesta and Fabregas in years to come

 

[Brwned]

Really like him. Watched him against the USA Ekeke, very impressive as he often is. Much more complementary to Carrick than Modric, IMO, because he offers that bit more bite and he would give us more defensive balance.

You'd have to think that if one of the really elite clubs don't go in for him then it's either because of price (unlikely?) or worries about his mentality/maturity/personality and what he does off the pitch, because on it he looks fantastic.

 

[Mainoldo]

Complete midfielder, an absolute beast who could play in Barcelona's midfield. I get the feeling he'll move on in the next couple of transfer windows and move on to a top club. And if that top club is not us then I think we'll regret it



He tackles, he passes and assists, he has a rocket shot and he has that bit of flair too. He's strong, he looks to get on the ball and matches against Barcelona and Real Madrid have been amongst his best performances.

Judging by his performances for Argentina, where he's cemented himself as a starter, he seems key to Messi performing for his national side too. Whats not to like?

The last club linked with him I believe was Inter a few weeks ago. He'd make a huge impact for them if that one happened

You just won't drop him will you!!!

Fair play!

 

[Devil may care]

Nope we've never been linked with him. The best English side to be linked with Banega, or even Sahin, was Liverpool

I just refuse to believe that our scouts dont know about him. And he played in our group in the champions league this season and played against us.

I dont think we'll be going for him - I just dont see the reason why we wouldnt go for him. Another top club definitely will do and I see him being right up there with Iniesta and Fabregas in years to come

Yeah I remember the Liverpool links, to me it was even more confusing that we had no interest in Sahin, given his price to boot.

I'm even more surprised that Real didn't go for him but it does seem odd that we have seemingly never looked.

Really like him. Watched him against the USA Ekeke, very impressive as he often is. Much more complementary to Carrick than Modric, IMO, because he offers that bit more bite and he would give us more defensive balance.

You'd have to think that if one of the really elite clubs don't go in for him then it's either because of price (unlikely?) or worries about his mentality/maturity/personality and what he does off the pitch, because on it he looks fantastic.

I'm guessing this is pretty much the reason, he has a bit of a chequered history doesn't he?

 

[Snow]

Haven't been impressed with him but then again haven't watched him particularly. Valencia also have mostly been poor when I've seen them this season.

Don't know how much better player he'd be for us than Carrick if you consider the price difference.

 

[Boss]

Haven't been impressed with him but then again haven't watched him particularly. Valencia also have mostly been poor when I've seen them this season.

Don't know how much better player he'd be for us than Carrick if you consider the price difference.

Hold up....

 

[CLK_FPC]

Hold up....

....
sums up the cafe

 

[Ekeke]

You just won't drop him will you!!!

Fair play!

I just think he suits a bunch of teams due to his skillset. One of which is us. He specialises in clipped/chipped balls over the top to an attacker... Can you imagine Hernandez feeding off that supply? And he does plenty defensively, so much so he could play in a two with Anderson imo. He can retain the ball smartly and at a high tempo with one or two touch play enabling him to make progress against the top Spanish sides...

But I dont think its specific to us. I think he'd have been an outstanding player to put next to Alonso at Madrid as well. But obviously Madrid found a stunning deal to get Sahin in there. As I said, most recently he was linked with Inter and I think he'd go a long way to helping them win Serie A next season. I think that if we dont go for him, in a couple of years we'll wish we did...

 

[Ekeke]

Really like him. Watched him against the USA Ekeke, very impressive as he often is. Much more complementary to Carrick than Modric, IMO, because he offers that bit more bite and he would give us more defensive balance.

You'd have to think that if one of the really elite clubs don't go in for him then it's either because of price (unlikely?) or worries about his mentality/maturity/personality and what he does off the pitch, because on it he looks fantastic.

You may be on to something there but I mean there have been lots of worse characters off the pitch who have been given chances at top clubs. And in the past 2 years he's matured and settled down a lot.

He missed training once and sometimes fell out with Emery when he was subbed, the problem Valencia have is that there's a good 4 or 5 players who have fallen out with Emery which suggests its a manager thing in the main and he doesnt have complete control over the dressing room. But lets certainly not ignore that he's one of the bunch who fell out with the manager because he can be that way and its all too simple to say that a top manager will definitely get on with him and sort out any issues. A lot of people probably felt that way about a young Cassano. But Ever definitely isnt nearly as problematic

 

[Aint gota Kalou]

He's amazing, been following him for the last couple of seasons and he really is something special.

He's superb technically, great close control which allows him to ride tackles and keep the ball in tight areas, can pick a pass and also has a bit of tenacity in his game. Would love it if we signed him.

He's my muppet choice for the summer, was last summer too.

 

[Top]

Hold up....

All he's saying is that Banega hasn't impressed him the few times he's seen him.

 

[FranklyVulgar]

He's a much better player than Carrick.

 

[Cold_Boy]

He's a much better player than Carrick.

Not really a big thing.

 

[FranklyVulgar]

Not really a big thing.

I think the CL final was the last straw for Carrick, i've never seen him perform well against a top european side. He lacks the required skillset.

 

[The Physio]

Not really a big thing.

feck off

 

[FortBoyard]

I think the CL final was the last straw for Carrick, i've never seen him perform well against a top european side. He lacks the required skillset.

You mean excluding English teams? Because he bossed Chelsea the other week.

 

[FlawlessThaw]

Lovely player, shame we haven't been linked with him at all or else I would be a complete and utter muppet.

 

[Brwned]

I think the CL final was the last straw for Carrick, i've never seen him perform well against a top european side. He lacks the required skillset.

In Europe he's excelled against Inter, Roma, Porto, Valencia, Villareal, Marseille, Arsenal and Chelsea amongst others. Who has not performed badly against? Barcelona and Bayern? I think that's stretching it a little to say he can't perform well in those type of games.

I don't think him not being able to turn it on against Barcelona is enough of a reason to kick him out. Especially given that he was good against them in 08' - say what you want about our tactics during the game but he performed his role excellently - and that he's arguably been better than his partner(s) in the games against Barcelona when's not been at his best.

 

[Ekeke]

Carrick is fine but even the likes of Fabregas wouldnt be able to do much on his own.

Have a player like Banega next to him and they can pass the ball around quickly and accurately and get us moving forwards a lot more than we managed last night.

For me it was the 2nd time Giggs hasnt worked against Barcelona and Park playing in the middle didnt help either. And when we got the ball the 4 of Valencia, Carrick, Giggs and Park barely had any ideas of how to keep the ball whilst moving it up the pitch towards Barcelona's goal, so we lost the ball and they were on the attack again

 

[Untied]

Would be a great signing, but I'd be surprised if we went for him.

Not because I don't think he's good enough, or isn't the sort of player we need, just that we have never been linked to him and he generally seems to be quite overlooked.

 

[Untied]

I just think he suits a bunch of teams due to his skillset. One of which is us. He specialises in clipped/chipped balls over the top to an attacker... Can you imagine Hernandez feeding off that supply? And he does plenty defensively, so much so he could play in a two with Anderson imo. He can retain the ball smartly and at a high tempo with one or two touch play enabling him to make progress against the top Spanish sides...

But I dont think its specific to us. I think he'd have been an outstanding player to put next to Alonso at Madrid as well. But obviously Madrid found a stunning deal to get Sahin in there. As I said, most recently he was linked with Inter and I think he'd go a long way to helping them win Serie A next season. I think that if we dont go for him, in a couple of years we'll wish we did...

I agree with this.

Was no one else in for Sahin? I guess its always very hard to know, with the way transfers are conducted now.

 

[Snow]

....
sums up the cafe

Really? So me basically saying, can't comment if he's the right signing because I haven't seen enough of him is more like the caf than someone raving over a player or dismissing a player and having only seen a few games of that said player?

Right...

 

[Snow]

All he's saying is that Banega hasn't impressed him the few times he's seen him.

It's alright. Boss just tries too hard sometimes to be clever. He's just that guy.

 

[apotheosis]

Carrick is fine but even the likes of Fabregas wouldnt be able to do much on his own.

Have a player like Banega next to him and they can pass the ball around quickly and accurately and get us moving forwards a lot more than we managed last night.

For me it was the 2nd time Giggs hasnt worked against Barcelona and Park playing in the middle didnt help either. And when we got the ball the 4 of Valencia, Carrick, Giggs and Park barely had any ideas of how to keep the ball whilst moving it up the pitch towards Barcelona's goal, so we lost the ball and they were on the attack again

Yes Ekeke, i agree completely. For us to continue with a 2 man central pairing we need better players who offer a wider variety of attributes than we have currently. Banega certainly fits into that category imo.

Banega, Sahin, Schweinsteiger, Essien, Yaya Toure these are the types of versatile and complete players i am talking about. Players who can do a competent job defensively, yet still have the mobility and technical ability to be able to switch effectively between attack and defence as the need arises.

 

[RedThaiDevils#7]

I think the CL final was the last straw for Carrick, i've never seen him perform well against a top european side. He lacks the required skillset.

Chelsea ?

 

[RedThaiDevils#7]

Carrick is fine but even the likes of Fabregas wouldnt be able to do much on his own.

Have a player like Banega next to him and they can pass the ball around quickly and accurately and get us moving forwards a lot more than we managed last night.

For me it was the 2nd time Giggs hasnt worked against Barcelona and Park playing in the middle didnt help either. And when we got the ball the 4 of Valencia, Carrick, Giggs and Park barely had any ideas of how to keep the ball whilst moving it up the pitch towards Barcelona's goal, so we lost the ball and they were on the attack again

Credit to Barca's pressing though, they had players all over us whenever we won the ball...

 

[Mickey]

A carrick, modric banega midfield would be lovely.

 

[RedThaiDevils#7]

He would definitely be an improvement... I don't want to point out a single player but I like the way he really gets stuck in once the ball passes him...

Also has a good range of passing, can shoot really well and those flicks in the box were class.

We should really be linked... If we're going to continue with Anderson, I can't see us going for the Modric's the Sneidjers so I'd rather go for a future replacement for the DM cover who will give Fletch/Carrick more competition... Also to replace OH.

Evra
-3-

Ever
-4-

Looks good

 

[gulli_G]

anderson in swap for him, i would love it, him and modric. would be excellent.

 

[Cal?]

I think the CL final was the last straw for Carrick, i've never seen him perform well against a top european side. He lacks the required skillset.

Depends how many teams you consider "a top european side", if it's just 1, I'll agree.

If there are a handful, have you forgotten his performance against Chelsea?

 

[SharkyMcShark]

And Inter

 

[elmo]

A midfield trio of Anderson, Fletcher and Banega would be tasty.

 

[RedThaiDevils#7]

anderson in swap for him, i would love it, him and modric. would be excellent.

No white text ? Surely you must be kidding me here.

 

[CLK_FPC]

Really? So me basically saying, can't comment if he's the right signing because I haven't seen enough of him is more like the caf than someone raving over a player or dismissing a player and having only seen a few games of that said player?

Right...

No offence mate but it's more often than not you get people on here passing judgement on players they've never seen. Wasn't a dig at you at all.

 

[MadDogg]

I rate Banega extremely highly and reckon he could potentially be the best central midfielder in the world in a few years (considering Xavi would've started dropping away at that stage). Admittedly I haven't seen a huge amount of him, but every time I have he impresses me that he basically has everything you could ask for in a central midfielder. Plus he has an awesome name.

Like I've said before however, at this moment in time I'd pick Modric over him. Modric would basically walk straight into our midfield and there would be no worries about how he'd adjust to the team, the English style of play, and the English culture. He's as close to a sure thing as you can get. Banega certainly has the potential to be better, but with the situation our midfield is in I think we have to take the sure thing who is very good ahead of the riskier potential to be even better.

Banega would probably be second choice though (keeping it at least somewhat realistic).