It is my favorite move too. When I play, I do it all the time.
As a CM it is very useful in tight spaces. How the Don pulls it off near the lines/on the lines is just perfect. Simple but efficient move.
Ney brings new abilities and skills which is good. Why give them up and copy another style? Of course he has to adapt to the team and system but Barca should not rely on the same things that characterized the team 5 years ago.
Bring new things or you will not win anything. Use Ney's strengths...
Sounds like Pique is very unsatisfied with himself at the moment. It is a good thing because he will probably step it up again.
The Van Gaal story is weird though.
I don't know, there are 2 different ways to look at it.
On one hand Pepe is somebody who does not deserve respect from his opponents because of the things he has done on the pitch. On the other hand you have to be better than him. Why put yourself on his level?
I could understand that we are not really after him if the club would say that they do not want so spend 40 mil. at all.
But apparently we are after Cuadrado and are ready to pay his price. It would be beyond stupid to buy a winger that we do not need and not go after a world class CB at all.