Robinho to Barca? [MERGED]

[Im_Spartacus]

Robbie is a great player and whether you rate him or not...like him or not... if he goes to Barca it will weaken our team and strengthen a potential european rival

That's about the top and bottom of it

This.

Just about only sensible post on this topic so far.

Personally I can't understand why people always have to slag some other player off when they show support to another. In this case, these topics started appearing after Bellamy found his great form. Why not be happy that we have both.

Regardless of what some people would have you believe, losing Robbie would be absolutely massive set back for us.

The only setback I can see is from a prestige point of view, as the money will doubtless be spent on a replacement who complements the work ethic of the other players Les has brought in. Robinho is not critical to our style of play - in fact he would possibly be more of a hindrance when you consider the way we have set out our stall this year.

Last year Robbie was crucial to us for his goals, but we have moved on from there, we have Adebayor and Bellamy turning out to be better than any of us dared hope, and turning in mom displays week after week by defending from the front along with Tevez. Even more tellingly, Petrov is starting to get involved as proved against West Ham, and on his return if Robbie shows himself still unwilling to do this, I can't see Hughes having a second thought about letting him go.

On the flip side, I hold out a (very) slim hope that he will up his game to his return with the better players around him. I look forward to seeing how he reacts, but regardless, I dont think it will be the end of the world if he left.

I would have to disagree.
Workmanlike team is great when you are chasing 5th or 6th spot. However I believe our target is much higher than that. To achieve what we are aiming for in the future we will need attacking players who have that talent and creative spark to win games with moment of genious.

Our game against Aston Villa was a prime example. We had good hard working team on the pitch but we were getting nowhere until introduction of Ireland who finally opened their defence for the equaliser. Robinho is like that as well. He can turn tight games for us, even more so now that he is surrounded by brilliant players who can work both ways.

There is a fine line between having a hardworking team and having a team that work horses who can't win that games. I hate to use rags as example but the how many games did Tranaldo win them despite being complete anonymous most of the game? Dozens. We need match winners just as much as grafters.

I'm NOT going to turn this into Hughes argument as he is doing well right now but my MAIN worry, which I repeated time and time again, with Hughes is that is he the kind of manager who can sample winning team like that. I don't mean just breaking into top 4 every now and then but what Sheik expects, all conquering team. Remains to be seen. Selling Robinho and replacing him with Yaya (despite him being top notch player) would be step in wrong direction in my opinion.

I know exactly where you are coming from, there should always be room for a player with the TALENT of Robinho in any team - and agree that work rate alone is no substitute for talent, although it would be unfair to say that our team is workmanlike - I think we have players who each have a great mix of both work ethic and talent, and a player who lacks one of those isnt going to cut it with Hughes and his tactics.

With all the best will in the world, Robinho is never going to work in that sort of team. In Hughes' defence, last year I thought we were going to turn into a team of thugs like Blackburn, but I am starting to see the bigger picture of what he is putting together - an upgraded version of Blackburn, players with both special talent & work rate - EXACTLY what the rags have been doing for years, and it has done them no harm - thats why they are all up in arms about Berbatov.

I think we have a nice mix at the moment, and at home, Robbie would fit right in. He would not be prepared to put a shift in when needed though (generally away), and I personally cannot accept that a talent like that would be wasted on the bench every other game, so if a opportunity comes up where we can get our money back and bring in a top quality left midfielder with the right work ethic, then we should take that opportunity.

My personal view is that Robinho will always be a city legend for some of his exploits last year and is one of the most gifted and exciting players I have ever seen - and I love him for all that, but the bottom line, as we both pointed out in the Hughes out arguments last season, Robinho wasnt Hughes' signing, so we should not expect any loyalty from Hughes and it should come as no surprise when Robbie eventually leaves.

[edge275]

The press want Robinho out of City and eventually they will get there wish

Yes I can sense a touch of discomfort that CITY have a player that must be seen as genuine world class by most top managers etc

People (press and fans of other clubs) can get their heads around our other players:

Ade - well just wait until he gets lazy and has attitude - they say
Tevez - well he was only a sub - he is not really worth the money - he only went there for the money - they say
Bellamy - he is always trouble wherever he goes and he will get crocked - they say
Barry - wanted CL?? - just gone for the money - anyway will not play for England once the scum players are fit - they say


It is only Rob that they cannot make such comments about - Chelski would have him at a shot - so would Barca - just what on earth are we CITY fans thinking about

Yes it has all gone very well so far - but if Bellers does get injured? or Tevez or ....

We have a jewel in our squad - why on earth would be lose him - what would make him want to go? - well losing the love of the fans maybe

Personally I think he will play the best football possibly ever see in a CITY shirt in an advanced MF role rather than out left

I think that SWP will lose out and Bellers will be left and Tevez right of him - I do admit to 'drooling' at the thought of what he could do given the much more space that he will get now that opposition teams have more than one player to worry about

We need to be planning to add to our squad in January - particularly RB - so we finish strong whilst the old Sky 4 are struggling with utility players etc

I agree, especially about Robinho in an advanced MF/ supporting striker role.

I wish he would come out and clarify these Barcelona comments.

[Ted Hughes]

Robbie is a great player and whether you rate him or not...like him or not... if he goes to Barca it will weaken our team and strengthen a potential european rival

That's about the top and bottom of it

This.

Just about only sensible post on this topic so far.

Personally I can't understand why people always have to slag some other player off when they show support to another. In this case, these topics started appearing after Bellamy found his great form. Why not be happy that we have both.

Regardless of what some people would have you believe, losing Robbie would be absolutely massive set back for us.

The only setback I can see is from a prestige point of view, as the money will doubtless be spent on a replacement who complements the work ethic of the other players Les has brought in. Robinho is not critical to our style of play - in fact he would possibly be more of a hindrance when you consider the way we have set out our stall this year.

Last year Robbie was crucial to us for his goals, but we have moved on from there, we have Adebayor and Bellamy turning out to be better than any of us dared hope, and turning in mom displays week after week by defending from the front along with Tevez. Even more tellingly, Petrov is starting to get involved as proved against West Ham, and on his return if Robbie shows himself still unwilling to do this, I can't see Hughes having a second thought about letting him go.

On the flip side, I hold out a (very) slim hope that he will up his game to his return with the better players around him. I look forward to seeing how he reacts, but regardless, I dont think it will be the end of the world if he left.

I would have to disagree.
Workmanlike team is great when you are chasing 5th or 6th spot. However I believe our target is much higher than that. To achieve what we are aiming for in the future we will need attacking players who have that talent and creative spark to win games with moment of genious.

Our game against Aston Villa was a prime example. We had good hard working team on the pitch but we were getting nowhere until introduction of Ireland who finally opened their defence for the equaliser. Robinho is like that as well. He can turn tight games for us, even more so now that he is surrounded by brilliant players who can work both ways.

There is a fine line between having a hardworking team and having a team that work horses who can't win that games. I hate to use rags as example but the how many games did Tranaldo win them despite being complete anonymous most of the game? Dozens. We need match winners just as much as grafters.

I'm NOT going to turn this into Hughes argument as he is doing well right now but my MAIN worry, which I repeated time and time again, with Hughes is that is he the kind of manager who can sample winning team like that. I don't mean just breaking into top 4 every now and then but what Sheik expects, all conquering team. Remains to be seen. Selling Robinho and replacing him with Yaya (despite him being top notch player) would be step in wrong direction in my opinion.

I know exactly where you are coming from, there should always be room for a player with the TALENT of Robinho in any team - and agree that work rate alone is no substitute for talent, although it would be unfair to say that our team is workmanlike - I think we have players who each have a great mix of both work ethic and talent, and a player who lacks one of those isnt going to cut it with Hughes and his tactics.

With all the best will in the world, Robinho is never going to work in that sort of team. In Hughes' defence, last year I thought we were going to turn into a team of thugs like Blackburn, but I am starting to see the bigger picture of what he is putting together - an upgraded version of Blackburn, players with both special talent & work rate - EXACTLY what the rags have been doing for years, and it has done them no harm - thats why they are all up in arms about Berbatov.

I think we have a nice mix at the moment, and at home, Robbie would fit right in. He would not be prepared to put a shift in when needed though (generally away), and I personally cannot accept that a talent like that would be wasted on the bench every other game, so if a opportunity comes up where we can get our money back and bring in a top quality left midfielder with the right work ethic, then we should take that opportunity.

My personal view is that Robinho will always be a city legend for some of his exploits last year and is one of the most gifted and exciting players I have ever seen - and I love him for all that, but the bottom line, as we both pointed out in the Hughes out arguments last season, Robinho wasnt Hughes' signing, so we should not expect any loyalty from Hughes and it should come as no surprise when Robbie eventually leaves.

Surely it's about Robinho himself; If he's the player we all want him to be & if he want's to play at City? There are no other factors to consider. He has everything any player could want in order to produce his best & if he doesn't he's either not good enough or can't be arsed. No one can judge what he'll do because he hasn't got started yet this season. As for away games; he was great at Palace just before he got injured & did a reasonable amount of tracking back so that was looking good. For some games, obviously he may not be the best option but that's the same with many players.

Does anyone really think we'll kick him out of the club if he's playing brilliantly ? With him playing at his best, in this team; we'd be top of the league. Alternatively, are people seriously suggesting that we keep this guy in the side even if he plays like shite; just because he's Robinho? He has to play well to have a City career, like everybody else.

His performances & his attitude will decide his City future. If HE decides he's leaving then he'll be gone, just like at Madrid. If he 's happy to stay at City & produces the goods he'll stay & be one of our biggest stars.

[ronk]

It gets irritating to have the same thread every few weeks. He's been injured, there's no new information and no reason to suspect that anything different is happening.

There are the same lengthy replies discussing the role that we think Robinho will have in the squad and how important he is for the team. Then someone starts another thread almost exactly the same and everything starts again.

[Vantage]

He is down the road I'm afraid lads. He'll be at Barca in Jan so I am told by a former substantial shareholder.

[ant london]

He is down the road I'm afraid lads. He'll be at Barca in Jan so I am told by a former substantial shareholder.

Now confirmed by another person who is well and truly ITK

I am crestfallen

Please don't go Robson....I can't believe this is happening :-(

[Douglas Higginbottom]

He is down the road I'm afraid lads. He'll be at Barca in Jan so I am told by a former substantial shareholder.

Now confirmed by another person who is well and truly ITK

I am crestfallen

Please don't go Robson....I can't believe this is happening :-(

Who are the " well and truly ITK's" How come we believe they are ITK's?

[CITYTILLIDIE11]

He is down the road I'm afraid lads. He'll be at Barca in Jan so I am told by a former substantial shareholder.

Now confirmed by another person who is well and truly ITK

I am crestfallen

Please don't go Robson....I can't believe this is happening :-(

Who are the " well and truly ITK's" How come we believe they are ITK's?

I might be wrong mate but I detect sarcastic humour.

Either that or he is a very emotional lad lmao

[Mike J]

i dont want him to go but i reckon this will happen. when rumours hang around for as long as this one has there is no smoke without fire.

if he stays i hope he ups his work rate.

[shawzy]

Got very mixed feeling about all this.
Robbie said awhile back that he would play for Barca but he has always expressed loyalty and backed up the City cause countless times.
He is a very special player and i wud like him to stay.
Just get this feeling he would play better in Spain than the Prem.
Plus Petrov and Bellers are fighting tooth and nail for the left side birth.Would you pick Robbie over Bellers in away games? I wouldnt but not at home.
He needs to sort it out before Jan.

[Pretty Boy Lee]

Got very mixed feeling about all this.
Robbie said awhile back that he would play for Barca but he has always expressed loyalty and backed up the City cause countless times.
He is a very special player and i wud like him to stay.
Just get this feeling he would play better in Spain than the Prem.
Plus Petrov and Bellers are fighting tooth and nail for the left side birth.Would you pick Robbie over Bellers in away games? I wouldnt but not at home.
He needs to sort it out before Jan.

Sorry mate, but without looking up stats I'd dare say last season killed anything he did in Spain previously. Granted he struggled to get the star role at Madrid, but why people assume it would be different at Barca I don't quite understand.

Robbie belongs here, winning trophies and rubbing it in to every media cunt that doubted his move.

[DoomMerchant]

He is down the road I'm afraid lads. He'll be at Barca in Jan so I am told by a former substantial shareholder.

Now confirmed by another person who is well and truly ITK

I am crestfallen

Please don't go Robson....I can't believe this is happening :-(

Who are the " well and truly ITK's" How come we believe they are ITK's?

we don't Dougie. Ant's just taking the piss...

Yawn. Robson i believe will be like a new signing when he returns. Can't wait to see him and Ireland playing together again.

[trueblue64]

I really hope the little man does not go love him to bits he is special, but I fear if Barca come knocking he may want out. We don't need the money we don't need to sell, but if he say's he wants to go with maybe Yaya to come to us City may say yes. Like I said I hope this does not happen.............

[ronk]

One of the big reasons Robinho left Madrid was that they were willing to use him as a makeweight in another deal.

If I wanted to unsettle him, that's the sort of rumour I'd want to put out. We'd be absolute fools to even discuss player swap deals if we wanted to hold onto him. Hence, we can know that any rumour of us swapping him is almost certainly bogus (and malicious).

[trueblue64]

One of the big reasons Robinho left Madrid was that they were willing to use him as a makeweight in another deal.

If I wanted to unsettle him, that's the sort of rumour I'd want to put out. We'd be absolute fools to even discuss player swap deals if we wanted to hold onto him. Hence, we can know that any rumour of us swapping him is almost certainly bogus (and malicious).

I agree we don't need to swap we can buy, we have the funds if we want Yaya for example we buy him.

[10.Goater_Legend]

One of the big reasons Robinho left Madrid was that they were willing to use him as a makeweight in another deal.

If I wanted to unsettle him, that's the sort of rumour I'd want to put out. We'd be absolute fools to even discuss player swap deals if we wanted to hold onto him. Hence, we can know that any rumour of us swapping him is almost certainly bogus (and malicious).

I agree we don't need to swap we can buy, we have the funds if we want Yaya for example we buy him.

Very good point Ronk, the whole swap Robinho for Tranny afair is the reason Robson plays for us today, so in that sense, yeah your right there can't be any truth init.

I think in the next two years with us having Kolo, we will land Yaya. He's always spoken of his desire to play for the same club as Kolo and is slowly becoming the second choice to Keita in the holding role at Barca.

Back on the Robinho topic, I really can't see us letting him go in January it would be a stupid move by the club. If he does go he will go in the summer, giving us time to get a player in of a similar level to Robi in as a replacement. I wouldn't be suprised that if we qualify for the Champions League and Robinho leaves that the club goes after Frank Ribery, and we would have a very good chance of landing him with CL football IMO.

[mcfc1632]

I think that if we qualify for CL this season he will be with us and shine - if not he will be off - I think that this has always been the position

[Fish111]

I've always felt we've been lucky to have Robinho and i've also felt that he's never intended to be here for any length of time. I've always felt he just used us to get the fuck out of Real Madrid and the wages we were offering at the time he would have gone to Kazakhstan if a club there were offering the same money.
I've never been truly convinced in his commitment to City and therefore i haven't established a real affection for him even though there is no doubting his skill. What i do doubt is his ability to work for a team when things are going a bit pear-shaped. Bellamy will roll up his sleeves and fight for the cause. Robinho will spit his dummy out and jog around for a while. I know which player i would really be arsed about if they left and he ain't Brazilian.
Pre-Lottery-winning days i would have been astounded if a player like Robinho was in our team but we need not worry anymore if he wants to go, let him. Just ensure WE get a good deal out of it. I.E: At least £20M and Ya Ya Toure.

[lets all have a disco]

Robinho should not be loaded,sold,borrowed,traded etc etc.

Robbie is ours and needs to stay he adds so much to the team its untrue.

[Bingo Lewis]

Strewth

Don't sell, loan, or anything.

He's class when he's fully fit.

If we are gonna sell, it better be at a profit, coz since he came here he's been in better form than when he was at Madrid so to sell at a loss would be madness. But anyway, don't sell.