It’s now official, so welcome, Gerard Pique!
By: Kevin | July 3rd, 2008
“I am proud and happy to say I am a Barca player, and I would like to retire here.”
Strong words from Pique on his homecoming day. Yes, we signed him from Manchester United, where he had something of a difficult time getting a consistent first-team place. But that doesn’t mean that the homecoming for the defender, who was signed away when he was 17 years old from our youth ranks, isn’t any less sweet.
And now, the stats. He’s just 21 years old and can play center or right back (for those wondering about the Alves stand-in). He’s 6-foot-4 inches tall, and is known for his good head. The fiscal deal isn’t really all that well-known, but as has been reported earlier, it’s probably something around the bargain price of 5 million.
He gives us size, he gives us pace, and on set pieces he’s a real threat with his height and size. This is no Crouch. Pique has some meat on his bones, and gives us much-needed defensive depth. It goes without saying that he can defend with his head as well, and you’d need to be one hell of a leaper to outdo him.
Are we as excited about this signing as the others? Not quite, because I don’t figure Pique to have a regular spot in the starting XI. But as well all saw, depth was a huge problem for us last season. As back line players got tired, the folks that were brought in weren’t quite up to snuff. Thuram worked hard and knows a lot, but he isn’t anything vaguely approximating the man he once was. So there was lots of flailing. As the season wears on, easy controls of counterattacks become just a step behind the attacker, which leads to goals. Depth is critical, and Pique is part of that program.
He’s Catalan, so he understands what it means to wear the shirt.
Pique continued, “My desire to play for this club is unlike that I have for any other.”
I have no doubt that he’ll show it. Man U sold him at a good time for his development. He’s going to become one hell of a defender, and like all good young’uns coming up in Catalunya, he bleeds blaugrana.
So let’s give it up for the newest member of the side, and wish him well.
P.S. Yes, I know what his last name is, and I don’t care that it isn’t all that uncommon in CataLand. I just can’t bring myself to type it sometimes.
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ive seen him play a couple of times.
does anyone know if he’s quick or not?Posted from
United States
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I just remember a game, where he messed up big time, and I never saw him play for Man U again after that match…the good thing is, he’s young and has the potential..
Posted from
Qatar -
Hello all, desde Barcelona! I’m stoked about the Dani Alves signing and also sort of completely out of the loop in terms of FCB. It seems strange that I’m less connected to the club when I’m actually in the same city, but there are just so many diversions, if you know what I mean.
Today is Camp Nou-visiting day and I’ll post pics at some point. If I make it back from Pamplona, that is.
I’ll check back in periodically. Good work, Kevin, holding down the fort.
Posted from
Spain -
I’m sure Isaiah will be tempted by the in-person view of the new kit at the Nou Camp store. Just you watch. The buzz around that place must be crazy right now.
So here’s a funny bit of news: Ronaldinho’s brother and agent says that the AC Milan deal is “80 to 90 percent” done. This, despite rumors that the Italians were horrified at his “fitness” levels and seeking other options, right after Milan’s supremo was quoted as saying no way they splash for R10 given the money, team needs, etc.
There’s more to this story still to come.
We’ll probably make one last-ditch move for Adebayor, planning to offer 30 million, same as we did for Silva. I’d rather spend it on Adebayor, frankly. We’ll see how that one goes.
In an excellent PR move, Guardiola underscored how important Krkic is to the plans and the side, saying that the wunderkind striker would indeed be a big part of the team’s plans this season, but that “one must keep in mind how young he is.”
Indeed.
Pique is indeed still a bit raw, but will learn quickly under the tutelage of Guardiola and Puyol. This is an exciting signing.
Posted from
United States -
I read about our last final effort to get Ade, and still as much as I would like him to be on the team skill wise, his attitude frightens me to death. If Eto’o is messing up the locker room with his attidude I can only imagine what will happen if Adebayor is here… I’m torn on this one.
Posted from
Canada -
Adebayor is not as good as his ego thinks…I’ve never been so upset with a possible Barca signing as I am with him.
Posted from
United States -
I dunno….I can think of a great many signings by us that would be vastly more vexing than Adebayor. Here are a few: Robinho, Ronaldo (the gimpy, transvestite-loving one), Crespo, Drogba, Baptista. But Adebayor is the guy that people love to hate these days, so have at it, I say. Even Goal.com is getting into the act. Too funny.
But think about this: 30 goals in 48 games, against Premiership defenses that were set up to stop him as a lone striker. That’s with only the occasional stellar Fabregas pass. And that’s not counting the chances he cocked up. Now remember: Just two of those goals would have had us in the Champions League final match. If you’ll recall, our array of talented midgets just knocked their heads against that big Premiership back line, passing the ball around in front of it, but never breaching it.
30 in 48 in the Premiership. That’s a damn sight more compelling than Arshavin, or Villa, or any of the other players that people are preferring we sign. Hell, Arshavin couldn’t even show against Spain, and they’re all Lilliputians, even though Puyol plays like he’s nine feet tall.
But no worries, since Arsenal are determined to keep him, so it’s all an exercise.
Meanwhile, we are going to dig our heels in over Messi’s playing in the Olympics, which aren’t skedded to end (unless the unlikely happens and Argentina gets bounced early) until the end of August. That’s the Champions League qualification rounds, and some early league matches.
We’re apparently talking to the AFA. But given that Messi wants to play, I don’t see the logic in this one. All it will do is make him dig in HIS heels, and result in some early rancor. Unless it’s a psychological precedent being set, that we need everyone, and no player is bigger than the club. Does that mean no ACN for Eto’o (if he’s still here), Keita and Yaya? Good question.
Argentine coach Sergio Batista said (and he’s right) that Messi needs to learn to play withOUT the ball, as regards movement and taking advantage of space to make his life easier when he gets the ball. If he doesn’t have the ball, at present, he does a lot of standing around waiting for it, or not really moving until a pass is imminent. Interesting, this blasphemy that dares to criticize The Wee Great One.
Good, I say.
Posted from
United States -
So, I’m watching an ‘05 match v. Racing Santander on Fox Soccer (yes, the week after Ronaldinho turned the Evil Empire on its ear), and here’s why I’m so excited about what Guardiola is planning:
The team he is trying to build sounds on paper a lot like that one. Puyol was three years younger, with tremendous closing speed. Ditto for Belletti. That pace made the defense rock-solid.
Up front, Messi was part of a four-pronged assault that included Deco, Ronaldinho and Eto’o. Xavi didn’t even need to push up, so the midfield was very solid, as well.
This season, Guardiola has added pace and depth, and he’s trying to change Messi’s world in the sense that he won’t be the attack, as he was last season. We can’t have a side where as goes Messi, so goes the match. By building in pace and options, it will negate the shut down potential.
Now we just have to see if it works. The best part is that if the system works, it won’t matter a lot who’s part of it, as long as they are of Barca caliber. That is, you don’t NEED players the likes of Ronaldinho, Deco and Eto’o to fill those front-line roles.
Certainly, Guardiola is envisioning a different kind of attack, but from everything we’ve read, it will be as rooted in multiple options.
Can’t wait to see it.
Posted from
United States -
Crap, this is a busy day. This just in:
Our final offer for Arshavin was rejected. Don’t know what the number was, but I suspect it wasn’t much above 15 million Euros, as it shouldn’t have been. Zenit want to keep him, or at least force some side who wants him to overpay. They also say that, contrary to rumor, we have been the only side to contact them formally about Arshavin.
The official comment from Zenit’s general manager is: “For the fee that Barcelona has proposed to us, we cannot sell Arshavin.”
Best of luck to them, and don’t be surprised to see Arshavin in the Premiership.
We’re talking to Ajax about a loan of the soon-to-be-signed Henrique (good move) and a sale of Oleguer. Stay tuned for that one. I think they also have a striker that may or may not be for sale. Hmmm.
Soriano has, in effect, told bargain hunters to get stuffed.
“They will go for the correct market price,” he said, adding “We will take as long as it takes to achieve transfers for our players.”
He also intimated that the 10 million Deco sale, given that we paid 18 million for him and sold him for 10, after four years of depreciation, was a fair price, neener neener.
This is a dangerous game, because the longer we keep them and the closer they get to contract expiration, the cheaper their price could become. But it really is starting to look as if we are going to at least start the season with Ronaldinho and Eto’o. The latter isn’t as vexing to me as the former.
Posted from
United States -
Pique is a great defender, defenders make mistakes its impossible not to(zambrotta cough cough) but at 21 he will become more wise to how to limit those mistakes as he gets older and gets playing time. I think he is a signing for just in case and next year. Personally i think if barce signs a new striker(eto’o is still very very good) it should be someone who is able to really cause trouble to defenders and open em up, some1 like drogba, toni or amauri. Adebayor scored 30 in 48 in the prem league but alot of that was from great service from hleb and fabregas and mainly against the on average shitty defense of the prm league. I think if barce goes for drogba in a 2 year contract it would be very smart. Get a replacement next year when things have quietened down.
Posted from
Australia
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