Soccer 24-7 Blog

Is Robinho really the answer?

By: IBES

So Robinho seems to be the next big thing that Pep wants. Really? Is that what we really need to help this team? According to both, the Spanish and English press, it seems that Robinho will be the big signing for this team during the winter transfer period. Somehow, I think the money could be spent elsewhere.

Let’s look at the pros and the cons of this transfer possibility shall we. We will examine the pros first. He is only 25 years old, plays on the left and is not cup tied for the Champions League. He also has a giant chip on his shoulder after the way he was treated by Real Madrid. Robinho was supposed to be getting a new deal by Real Madrid but they kept delayed it and then dangled him to Manchester United to get Cristiano Ronaldo. The deal fell through and Robinho had had enough and demanded to be transferred. The last time the club signed a former Madridista; Eto’o helped the team win three league titles and two Champions League titles. Another motivating factor would be the fact that the World Cup is coming up soon and he wants to be match fit and in a happier environment.

However, let’s examine the cons too. Robinho’s arrival will not be cheap. According to Sport, he could come on a loan for the second half of the season at a cost of €3 million or can be bought for over €30 million. Another issue is his attitude. Robinho has never been one to be without issues or controversy and does the club need to have someone here after getting rid of one player that the manager did not get along with. He already had an incident with Manchester City last season with his flight to Brazil without permission allegedly. His comments that Manchester City needed to change their small-time mentality sure is not exactly music to fans ears. After what the club went through with Eto’o, why would Pep have a different feeling about Robinho? Also, will he be well behaved off the field or will we see him out at night? Seems like too many questions marks come with the transfer.

Robinho is a very talented player who I admired watching with Diego during their Santos playing days but in the end, why take such a risky and expensive gamble on him. Ajax’s Luis Suárez is only 22 years old, can play on the left and has done well adapting to European football over at Ajax without a great supporting cast. He is also not cup tied for the Champions League since he is only involved in the Europa League. I also doubt Ajax would ask for over €30 million and we can perhaps get him and loan them Kerrison in return. It also helps that he is a fan of the club.

Another name would be Landon Donovan. He is not cup tied for the Champions League and although he has been around forever it seems, he is only 27 years old. He can come on a loan for the second half of the season and would be a great player to have rotated with Iniesta and Xavi seeing as Cesc is realistically not coming to the club this winter break. He can run with the ball, set up players quite well, another lethal free kick taker and not a bad scorer himself too. He is no stranger to the team after playing in the Confederation’s Cup and the first game of the USA tour this past summer.

I know those two players are no saints either. Landon has been accused of being invisible at times and seemed to take the easy way out when he opted to return to the MLS and not fight it out in Germany. Luis is known to be a diver and gets booked too often for it and is known to be a bit theatrical. However, I still think it would be money well spent and just what the team needs over Robinho who we do not know if will do well or sulk and create distractions. Why splash the money on one player when you can get two for the price of one and solve two problems. Luis can play on the left for Henry and allow Iniesta to excel in the midfield while Landon can rotate with Xavi and Iniesta and give them the much needed rest for rotations too.

Only time will tell what the club will decide is right for the club and hopefully it will be right decision.