Read somewhere online that LvG wasn't convinced by DDG when he first took over (at a time when DDG would have happily signed an extension) so no contract was offered until LvG could make his mind up - seems by the time he had at Christmas DDG had already had his head turned. If true that's on major **** up regardless of whether you rate him or not allowing a 30m player to run down their contract.
just read a comparison between Mane & Pedro not only Mane is faster, stronger and younger but he actually beat Pedro almost at every stats .. remember Pedro still is not tested in tough PL , as scoring goals is slightly easier in La Liga the stats is per match, i converted each chances created, shoots on goal, goals ...etc. to per minutes played, still he beat him well stats wise in every section http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...ster-United-target-trump-Chelsea-new-boy.html
I really don't believe that stats for the PL can be used in a like for like comparison with La Liga - the pace and style of play are worlds apart. I mentioned on another topic that I watched the Southampton europa league game last night and the lad was absolutely nothing special - there was nothing about his game that marked him out as a particular talent and certainly nothing trhat would want to wish he was playing for us. In any event, hasn't the player been caught on camera telling a young fan at St Marys that he has no intention of leaving this season.
Mane may come to us or may not, but this topic is about Pedro & is he that special buy we have missed on? take out Messi and another 2 special players and Barca look like an average side tbh .. i watched Pedro alot, he is in his peak and gone missing in many matches, Mane though still young and didn't reached his peak, beside you are judging him on one match, even top players had average matches.. more when we are at the start of a season and players are not fit and didn't hit top form yet
Have to disagree with you there...an average treble winning side? And I've watched Pedro a lot too and he is an important cog in all of Barca's attacks when he's on the pitch. I'm amazed you'd say otherwise. I just hope you're not going by last season.
when i said Barca is average side without 3 key players, it mean they are not that special , and we seen them beaten and struggling without 2-3 key players going back to Pedro, his attempts of dribbling , chances created, goals , shoots last year even per minute is not that impressive.. more for attacking side like Barca in a league when you can score more goals than PL. we seen Pedro in the match early month, was he anything special in the match? remember pedro is 28.. he is losing his pace in a modern football which is more physical demanding than before, so I feel his stats last year is not a coincidence, am sure you are judging him when he was 24 or 25.. I remember when RVP came to us, i was not happy, bcz he was 29 and said he is short term success and he is in his way off his peak, and was true bcz we only had one good season with him .... in modern football this is the case sadly, take a look at another barca player, Iniesta, he was 30 last season, and he looked like a shadow of the player he was 4 years ago I think if he was that special, UTD would had paid full money but even UTD didn't value him that much Pedro is a good player but his age and his last year form and the fact he was not been tested in PL, will make the deal a risk .. imo instead of debating this further, i think is best we wait till end of season and see how it goes, I could be wrong at the end .. but bcz he joined Chelsea, I hope i will be correct
hmm was only one who said RVP was not best deal bcz he will bring only short term success.. and get slammed just like now.. with people saying he will keep on scoring like a machine for years.. guess i was wrong .. oh wait .. he had only one good season
RVP was an astute bit of business tbf. He strenghtened us, weakened our rival and was a direct factor in winning a league title. For £20m he was absolutely worth it. Something we could have said about Pedro a year from now.
They're not an average side mate. You dont win a treble with just 2 or 3 world class players. They have quality all over the pitch. For me Rakitic is the next big thing. Mark my words he will go on to be regarded as a true great. And that's just one example. As for Pedro, last season you have to factor in that he came off the bench a lot and rather than looking at raw stats, look at what the scoreline was when he came on (was the game already won or lost), who else had been subbed, and the competition. If Barca are winning 3-0 and pedro comes on with Suarez and Messi and Iniesta having been subbed, it's unlikely they're going to be busting a gut to attack. Conversely the Super Cup sums it up perfectly. When Barca need a win he comes on and is involved in everything - his greatest attribute is the relentless pressure he puts on defences. And that's without the goal he scored. I hope I'm wrong but IF Jose uses him properly in a front 3 he will make their attack very good indeed.
for only one season ... which was my point at that time bcz I said he was short term solution while many said he will keep on scoring for years like a machine but sure, deal wise he give us the title that season, so totally worth it, but we were not arguing about that but the short term success
Fair enough. I wonder how much more he could have given if Fergie had stayed. Guess we'll never know.
i know Rakitic since he was playing for schalke, was always in my UTD team in my FM games i seen him in Barca matches, he is really good, but i still think Messi & naymar are their 2 most important players atm, and before it was Messi, Xavi and Iniesta. I still don't think Rakitic is that key player for Barca. regarding Pedro, well is not like chelsea have alike of Messi or naymar .. they had suarez & Iniesta playing .. by the Pedro left at 0-2 , actually Barca become more threatening since. regarding last season, even stats is per minutes played make him average, normally players coming off the bench have an advantage bcz they are fresher, beside he started 45% of match he played , so those stats are not far from reality.. given his age, I think we seen the peak of Pedro, and the QS is when the decline in form will start , so last season form & stats could be a sign or just a bad luck .. we will see at the end of this season