Deep Enough?

As we know this summer was the last time Barcelona could buy players until January 2016, after being punished by FIFA for breaching rules on signing players under the age of 18. Knowing that this would be their last bit of business for over a year Barcelona signed seven players for a grand total of €157.25m.

So, have Barcelona done enough to tie them over for this season and the next?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goalkeepers

Victor Valdes left in the summer following his contract expiring. In his place, Barcelona have signed two goalkeepers: Claudio Bravo and Marc-Andre ter Stegen, both coming at a cost of €12m. In the goalkeeping department they are well and truly sorted. Bravo comes in with years of La Liga experience with Real Sociedad, while ter Stegen is regarded as one of the brightest goalkeeping talents in the game right now

Defence

Carlos Puyol retired in the summer, to counter this Barcelona have signed Thomas Vermaelen from Arsenal and Jeremy Mathieu from Valencia, throw in Gerard Pique and Marc Bartra and the Catalan side seem solid in the centre of the defence.

At full-back, you have Dani Alves on the right, with cover coming from Douglas. On the left you have Jordi Alba, covered by Adriano. Alba is a quality left-back and Adriano is pretty decent, both are visions of health, so the left is pretty safe.

The right however, well, Alves gets suspended all too often and does struggle with injuries, as you do when you are 31-years-old, this means Douglas could be thrown in at the deep-end. The step up from Brazilian to Spanish football is gargantuan and one that could be too much for him.

Centrally and on the left the Barcelona defence is sound, the right side being the only contentious issue.

Midfield

A three man midfield is usually the Barcelona way, it is highly unlikely that this will end, and it is in midfield where you feel Barca are seriously lacking. They have six central midfielders, one; Xavi, is an ageing veteran, while another; Sergi Roberto is a novice in the grand scheme of things.

Instead, Barca have put all their eggs in one basket: Ivan Rakitic. The Croatian midfielder is a sound buy but he alone cannot solve the problems. Barca have gone to a casino and put everything on four (Rakitic’s number), if it pays off, brilliant, but there is nothing to suggest that it will. If you want to play roulette based on Barca player’s squad numbers follow the link to download casino games.

The midfield is sparse, a couple of injuries could profusely upset the side’s balance.

Strikers

The big talk was the arrival of Luis Suarez for €81m. The Liverpool striker was the hottest property in Europe last season and will now make a front-three of him, Neymar and Lionel Messi, an attacking trident that no other club in the world can compete with.

In the striking department Barcelona are well and truly set. They have an abundance of talent in those three, while their youth side is littered with other promising attacking wide-men.

Conclusion

Barca have an unbelievable squad. A squad capable of restoring the glory that the fans had been accustomed five years earlier. However, they need lady luck to be kind to their midfield. If that gets ravaged by injury then they are well and truly in the mire.