07 Aug 2020 10:44:05
Another Barcelona injury prone player being linked, Rafinha (Rafael Alcântara) buyout clause of 14.5m, even at that price I think a big risk if true.

1.) 07 Aug 2020
07 Aug 2020 18:39:31
So pessimistic. Yes massive injury problems but his price definitely reflects that. This is a player who is legitimately good enough to play for Barca, rather than bought to pad out the squad. Even if he was only fit for say a third of the season, he would add something that no other player we could attract ever would.
Ideally he can overcome the injuries but 14 million is absolutely worth a punt!

2.) 07 Aug 2020
07 Aug 2020 19:13:07
Worcester - Since 2015/ 16 season he’s missed close to 150 games due to injury!
That’s more than Delph!
As good as he may be wouldn’t touch him with a barge pole.
We’ve got enough crocks in the squad we don’t need adding to it.
Why would you be happy to spend £14mil on him if he only plays a third of the games? He may recover from his injuries sure, but also he may have an injury that rules him out for the season!
Money is allegedly tight - surely that money would be better invested elsewhere.
Glad you’re not in charge of recruitment 😉.

3.) 07 Aug 2020
07 Aug 2020 19:20:52
Too right Woburn mate, too good to miss probably better than anything we have at present, no brainier for me.

4.) 07 Aug 2020
07 Aug 2020 20:04:54
What a surprise GingerDan.
Quote all the missed games you want but put it into context! - exceptionally serious injury, and has come back to still play 29 games last term. Did Delph manage that? The guy looks to be over the worst and if we got 29 games a season with someone of that calibre then the team improvement would be huge!

5.) 07 Aug 2020
07 Aug 2020 20:22:50
If he's good enough for Carlo he's good enough for me.

6.) 07 Aug 2020
07 Aug 2020 20:23:12
Come on Worcester you had a right go at me for not being happy with taking a loan without an option to buy in it.

Not sure why you’re getting grumpy now I’ve questioned purchasing an injury prone player.

We’ve done that so many times before and it’s not worked out - as class as Rafinha May be it’s not worth the risk.

7.) 07 Aug 2020
07 Aug 2020 20:44:48
ASnyone can get an injury Gbamin case in point. My concern would be a player with a bad injury record moving to the prem would be a red flag. Also its not a just a £14m punt its a fee plus wages. Sandro was a £9m punt with £120k per week and look how that worked out.

8.) 07 Aug 2020
07 Aug 2020 21:25:41
We had the money once to spend wisely with minimal risk and blew it massively. That means now the only way forward is through some canny dealing and some risk taking.

To be honest some of our best business has been when we've been forced to be canny, so I for one look forward to what happens.

If we can get Rafinha in for 15m I think it's worth the gamble. At least the gamble isn't his ability. Or maybe I'm just biased because I'm from Worcester too.

9.) 07 Aug 2020
07 Aug 2020 22:31:39
Can’t help but agree with GingerDan, yes it is only 14-14.5m but he’s a massive risk plus I’m sure he’ll want a nice pay packet too, whilst POTENTIALLY keeping the physios etc busy.

10.) 07 Aug 2020
07 Aug 2020 23:02:54
Wasn’t a certain Peter Reid an injury prone player? 🤔.

11.) 08 Aug 2020
08 Aug 2020 00:42:29
Yes he was southern. Hence how we managed to buy him for a cut price £60,000 from Bolton wanderers. As we all know he was outstanding for us. For £60,000 it was a risk worth taking.

£14million when our finances are tight and we may have to sell before we can buy seems too big a risk to me.

As Worcester has said if he’s fit then the quality he’ll bring to the team would be amazing and he would bring us up and I have to agree with him, he’s far better than anyone we’ve currently got.

The issue is the risk involved if he’s not over his injuries. When we were splashing the cash last season and season before I’d be saying yes but this season it’s a whole different ball game with our finances and we have to be shrewd. Would make more sense to get him on a loan with option to purchase at £14mil at end of it therefore mitigating the risk.

12.) 08 Aug 2020
08 Aug 2020 01:44:53
Obviously not worth arguing the point. Over the past couple of weeks it seems that everybody is criticising every single player we're rumoured to be interested in because they want the money spent on unproven championship players.

Oh no he's had serious injuries, let's steer well clear at an absolutely bargainous price because nobody comes back from them.

Seamus Coleman, Andre Gomes, Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Aaron Ramsey, Francesco Totti, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Santi Cazorla, Peter Cech, Henrik Larsson, Alan Shearer Ronaldo (G. O. A. T. Brazilian) - you were all frauds who should have retired because your careers were finished after serious injuries!

13.) 08 Aug 2020
08 Aug 2020 09:35:42
If we didn’t have FFP holding the noose then fair enough WorcesterEFC but again I agree with GingerDan. Loan for the season with the option to buy, then yes!
It’s hard not to look at players with some doubt and hesitation given our recent recruitment and what we see in front of us on the pitch. and on the physio’s bench.