It'd be interesting to see Fontas at Sporting for a while (although I hope he stays). Botia looks a bit more robust and able to play a more limited game whereas Fontas is tailor made for playing at Barcelona.
Yep, I agree. The flamboyance of Thiago will mean people will perceive him as superior to the Xavi of the same age but really there is very little between the two.
There's no such thing as a "Xavi replacement."
As for Thiago vs. Cesc - it's not going to matter, we won't have to choose. At some point or other, we will have both.
He is insanely brilliant on the ball. A little work on the pressing, a little better concentration/cut out the careless passes and he will be a truly exceptional player.
I presume he did too, doesn't change the fact Barcelona won something in the year 1999 :D
2000-2004 was trophy-less. 1999 and 2005 were quite successful, though.