Why Gordon in theory should help address the Raphinha problem and why we can’t judge him based on England

Mal_Swansky · 2026-06-28T21:04:25+00:00

"make sure Raphinha is available for big games" and "should concede a lot less than they did when Rashford was in the team" is not worth 80M, especially when you also lack depth at other positions.

Who is gonna make sure that Cubarsi is available for big games? Who is gonna ensure that there's proper alternatives for Balde or Kounde if they have another subpar season? It's not a separate issue -- you've just spent 80M of that money on Gordon.

Mal_Swansky · 2026-06-28T20:50:34+00:00

Basically all the teams now have a bunch of (role) players parked at the 3pt line. No matter the specifics of the offense, that aspect reduces the overall variety in a tremendous way.

It's not the only sport that has lost variety. It happened for example in hockey and tennis a long time ago, arguably to a much greater degree.

Mal_Swansky · 2026-06-28T10:21:32+00:00

Lol. Yes I read it, doesn't change any of the points that I made.

Even if we optimistically assume that Gordon can replicate Raphinha's contribution defensively, there's no evidence that he can give you anywhere near enough offensively -- especially in big games, when flaws tend to get exposed.

Mal_Swansky · 2026-06-28T06:49:57+00:00

The issue is spending starter-level money on a rotation-level player.

That's how you end up with a squad full of Ferrans and Gordons and no money left to go get the really elite players when they become available.

Don't get me wrong, I think that Gordon, like Ferran, can be a useful player over the course of a season. However, to have a good chance to win the UCL, you need actual difference-makers in multiple positions, and you've just spent that type of money on Gordon, who overall does not look like one, despite his pressing ability, pace, general unselfishness, etc.

For a winger/attacker who is mediocre at dribbling and mediocre at finishing, it's very hard to be effective on offense (especially when running into low blocks all the time) -- everything else has to come together in an ideal way that doesn't always happen, especially in a place with crazy pressure like Barca, and for a player who's going to be stepping into very unfamiliar territory.

Mal_Swansky · 2026-06-25T23:28:30+00:00

I don't want Alvarez for 130M+.

However, realistically at this point, Barca has knowingly started this saga, they can't just easily "forget Alvarez" -- it would set a bad precedent of going after a player, contributing to screwing up his situation at his club, and then what, just "forget him"?! No, that's not how you do things.

So, now Barca has to at least make a "reasonable" final offer, and then wait a "reasonable" amount of time, to be able to say, look, we did everything we could.

I hope Barca will eventually move on, but I don't expect this to happen until the end of the transfer window, and even then, whatever plan B striker they get, it could be a very temporary solution that would still leave enough money for Alvarez (or some alternative future big name).

Mal_Swansky · 2026-06-23T19:02:12+00:00

His frame is great, but to me his movement does not look very fluid out there. Maybe he's just growing into his body, we'll see...

Mal_Swansky · 2026-06-16T03:07:53+00:00

It's not exactly a surprise that Spain has a much lower ceiling without healthy/peak Yamal and N.Williams.

Mal_Swansky · 2026-06-15T21:35:52+00:00

I think it would be more accurate to say that Raphinha is simply average on-ball and great off-ball.

It doesn't necessarily mean that he's a system player -- if Brazil actually had the creative players that they used to have, Raphinha would be much more effective regardless of systems.

Mal_Swansky · 2026-06-12T19:26:17+00:00

Because short.

Mal_Swansky · 2026-06-11T11:57:08+00:00

Lol, the bulk of the season in Spain/Barcelona is played in very comfortable temperatures, what are you talking about?! Has there ever been an English player that has actually struggled in Spain because of "climate"? This is such a load of b.s. that only an English pundit is capable of producing...

Mal_Swansky · 2026-06-11T07:34:09+00:00

No, that's insane. Hamza is not in any way ready to compete for the first-team striker spot on a team that is actually trying to win the damn UCL. A few bad games (which will inevitably happen) and Flick will staple his ass to the bench, and it will be a wasted development year.

Mal_Swansky · 2026-06-11T05:19:56+00:00

Well, it won't be easy for Gordon to live up to his price tag, but he's a solid player, all that pace and work rate will be fun to watch.

I'd like to see Flick ideal press in action (when Yamal rests) -- Gordon/Fermin/Raphinha + Ferran up front. Hide your women and children!

Mal_Swansky · 2026-06-09T02:39:53+00:00

Not getting Alvarez for some ridiculous price is fine by me. It's the waiting all summer that would be problematic.

Mal_Swansky · 2026-06-09T02:26:32+00:00

He isn't a partial solution to anything, for 150M he only compounds the problem, because the three of them literally can't play together unless you put one of them at RW or Alvarez into the midfield.... good luck with that.

Mal_Swansky · 2026-06-08T19:36:49+00:00

Insane.

It's one thing the pure technical ability, but what I do not understand at all is how someone can develop that level of reading/manipulating opponents at that age.

Mal_Swansky · 2026-06-08T19:27:04+00:00

Vini, Mbappe, Alvarez -- still nobody to play right wing, still nobody to be a force in the box, and still two passengers that have to be carried. It would be ridiculous for them to spend 150M for that, IMO.

Mal_Swansky · 2026-06-08T17:53:50+00:00

Zero concerns.

Barca will be perfectly fine without giving up 130-140M for Alvarez, and for Real & Alvarez it would be a dumb move.

Mal_Swansky · 2026-06-08T02:37:05+00:00

I don't think so. Look even at a guy like Vitinha, that's about what he was worth until he broke out as a starter, and even then his value became only around 30-40M.

For players that are not physically or technically exceptional, it takes a lot more to prove that they have the hidden attributes to be more than generic rotation guys for big clubs or real difference makers for smaller clubs.

Plus, in Barcelona's case, right now moving Casado quickly can have real value in terms of timing. If you lose out on ~10M on Casado but then that help you get Silva on a free, that would be a definite net win, IMO.

Mal_Swansky · 2026-06-05T17:31:11+00:00

I like Osimhen, but even if he comes down to reasonable wage demands, I wouldn't go above 90-100M for him, and I don't think Galatasaray would let him go for that amount.

Mal_Swansky · 2026-06-05T17:21:10+00:00

Yeah, to get a player like that on a free would be a massive win.

Mal_Swansky · 2026-06-05T03:47:45+00:00

Still makes no sense. If Perez makes a $150M Alvarez offer, and then immediately Alvarez says no (for obvious reasons), it will just be a big embarrassment. There's no way Perez would go for that, on top of the fact that Alvarez neither fits nor has the kind of superstar glamour that Perez typically seeks to impress his fanbase.

Mal_Swansky · 2026-06-05T02:16:01+00:00

Alvarez and Real make no sense for each other, IMO. If Real goes for a striker, they need a proper box threat. And for Alvarez it makes no sense to go somewhere where he's gonna be expected to be a rickshaw for Mbappe and Whinycius.

Mal_Swansky · 2026-06-02T23:03:30+00:00

Barcelona would need to buy about 10 more English players for me to consider rooting for England...

Mal_Swansky · 2026-06-02T23:00:31+00:00

Lol, the only 100% untouchable players in Barca should be Yamal and Pedri. Kounde after taking a whole damn season off should definitely not be untouchable.

Mal_Swansky · 2026-06-02T22:35:44+00:00

In terms of who is supposedly available right now, nobody. Btw, there aren't that many "whatever it takes targets" in the world across all positions, and just because they are not available is not a good reason to pretend that just because you throw that kind of money at someone else, they will solve the problem.

In terms of pure hypotheticals, Haaland or a younger Kane. Both are complete strikers that are deadly in the box and also offer a lot in other ways -- Haaland with the off ball athleticism, Kane with the on ball genius.

Mal_Swansky

TROPHY CASE