Marcus Rashford

[Maradona37]

Not a fan of the player (as stated before). In fact, I'm anti-England NT so don't rate any of their players. Call it personal bias. But Rashford is now a Barca player so I'm willing to give him a fair chance.

I am anti them too as Scottish guy but still rate some of their players, being objective lol.

I am not a big fan of Rashford, but hope he does well at Barca also. My response was more about people just assuming Torres will keep up his 2025 form, as you discussed.

 

[MonteCuler]

 

[wisconsincule]

Him supposedly replacing Lewandowski is the funniest thing ever.

Rashford + Dumbfries might be the worst Barca window ever.

Who said he’s replacing Lewandowski? He is literally being signed to be a bench/depth guy….

He is an upgrade to what we had coming off the bench last year. He is not being signed to light the world on fire.

 

[Barcaman]

Who said he’s replacing Lewandowski? He is literally being signed to be a bench/depth guy….

He is an upgrade to what we had coming off the bench last year. He is not being signed to light the world on fire.

He is not being signed with that wages to sit on the bench. And Flick obviously asked for LF and asked for it early.

 

[Maradona37]

He is not being signed with that wages to sit on the bench. And Flick obviously asked for LF and asked for it early.

Something doesn't add up.

270 grand a week and I am being told by people here that he's just a rotation option, a bit-part player who will get a few minutes here and there and be one of the lower ranking members of the squad. A club like Barca can't afford to spend 14 million a year for a bit-part player. If they are intending to do that then they're clowns and it's a negligent waste of resources.

Talk about attitude all you like, but the guy cannot even get near a terrible team like United. No other club wants him or can afford him but Barca (and it's not all about wages either, they don't trust him as a footballer). There's major red flags here.

I mean Barca have made shocking transfers/loans plenty of times in the past, so why are people so confident this is a good one? Seems like blind faith.

Do people even know (I doubt at is I am one of the few British guys on here) that this guy's fame in England is massive, and VASTLY out of proportion with his ability? He gets treated like he's Messi by the English media - he has WAY more hype than superior players like Palmer and Saka. Think of Bellingham PR and that is what Rashy has in England. The amount of PR he gets over here, and that gets written about him, is huge. He's a huge name in the UK. I really do not believe for a minute that he will be happy being used as a rotation player in small games and getting 15 mins as a sub in the big games. This guy's ego is massive and he will back himself to be the best player in the team (he's delusional like that).

Barca are taking on all the circus of his PR with this as well, they should have steered clear of that.

He could very well replace Raphinha in the starting lineup by November and Flick's blind faith in him could cost Barca. Raphinha outperformed last season statistically and in all-round game. I doubt he can replicate that, and ain't no way Rashford can. So much pressure will be on an 18-year-old kid again.

I have said I am undecided on this. But gun to my head, if I was forced to back an outcome, I'd say he will be a failure. This just absolutely smells of being a complete car crash, based on a few factors (him not being a Barca player in style at all on the pitch being one of them) and the other being especially given Rashford's propensity for playing up off the pitch and leaking stuff to the media (especially Henry Winter). If he is unhappy with something I promise he will cause chaos. Barca have hardly any money so no way are they spending 270k a week/14 million a year in salary for a guy to mostly warm the bench

He could do well, but this is a huge risk financially and on the pitch - nobody here should be under any illusions about that - and quite a few people are getting carried away and assuming it will be a great loan signing, without really knowing the player on the pitch or off. It's clear that a lot of the Rashford supporters on here are pretty clueless about his career over the last decade and the ongoings off the pitch too. A lot is vague out of context highlights videos and hankering back to a statistical purple patch few months in 22-23 (which i have put into context many many times). As well as the old favourite 'look how well he played against PSG!' that keeps desperately being brought up. Clutching at straws.

Guys like @Skalman and @El Ilusionista seem like the type who (like me) have actually watched this guy a lot - since 2016 in fact - which is why they're even more damning than I am.

I think Barca should have stayed well clear of him and let United deal with the problem, but they've let United out of jail and taken on the risk of his large salary, attitude problems, and underperformance. What's done is done. But again - absolutely NOBODY on here should be under any illusions that this is a huge risk. Anyone who doesn't get that, needs a reality check.

 

[MonteCuler]

Something doesn't add up.

270 grand a week and I am being told by people here that he's just a rotation option, a bit-part player who will get a few minutes here and there and be one of the lower ranking members of the squad. A club like Barca can't afford to spend 14 million a year for a bit-part player. If they are intending to do that then they're clowns.

Talk about attitude all you like, but the guy cannot even get near a terrible team like United. No other club wants him or can afford him but Barca (and it's not all about wages either, they don't trust him as a footballer). There's major red flags here.

I mean Barca have made shocking transfers/loans plenty of times in the past, so why are people so confident this is a good one? Seems like blind faith.

Do people even know (I doubt at is I am one of the few British guys on here) that this guy's fame in England is massive, and VASTLY out of proportion with his ability? The amount of PR he gets over here, and that gets written about him, is huge. He's a huge name in the UK. I really do not believe for a minute that he will be happy being used as a rotation player in small games and getting 15 mins as a sub in the big games. This guy's ego is massive and he will back himself to be the best player in the team (he's delusional like that).

Barca are taking on all the circus of his PR with this as well, they should have steered clear of that.

He could very well replace Raphinha in the starting lineup by November and Flick's blind faith in him could cost Barca. Raphinha outperformed last season statistically and in all-round game. I doubt he can replicate that, and ain't no way Rashford can. So much pressure will be on an 18-year-old kid again.

I have said I am undecided on this. But gun to my head, if I was forced to back an outcome, I'd say he will be a failure. This just absolutely smells of being a complete car crash, based on a few factors (him not being a Barca player in style at all on the pitch being one of them) and the other being especially given Rashford's propensity for playing up off the pitch and leaking stuff to the media (especially Henry Winter). If he is unhappy with something I promise he will cause chaos. Barca have hardly any money so no way are they spending 270k a week/14 million a year in salary for a guy to mostly warm the bench

I think Barca should have stayed well clear of him and let United deal with the problem, but they've let United out of jail. What's done is done.

You could be right but I don't think we can lose a lot with this deal

If he starts with this ego bullshit, and he definitely knows this, he will be out of the equation for Flick and his time here is over

We can say we at least tried something. Because we clearly can't afford any of the good LWs. Diaz, Nusa and whoever else - well beyond our reach. We could have maybe somehow signed Nico but he fooled us and now our options are dire

Next to Rashford the only option we could have got was I think Fofana from Lyon. But who knows if we could get him and I seriously don't think that guy is Barça level

 

[Maradona37]

You could be right but I don't think we can lose a lot with this deal

If he starts with this ego bullshit, and he definitely knows this, he will be out of the equation for Flick and his time here is over

We can say we at least tried something. Because we clearly can't afford any of the good LWs. Diaz, Nusa and whoever else - well beyond our reach. We could have maybe somehow signed Nico but he fooled us and now our options are dire

Next to Rashford the only option we could have got was I think Fofana from Lyon. But who knows if we could get him and I seriously don't think that guy is Barça level

I mean if it wasn't for his attitude issues and his salary, it might make more sense. But at 14 million a year and with the attitude risks? I honestly think you might be better signing nobody than this guy. I mean people are saying they're happy with him contributing a little - what does Barca really miss if he plays the odd game and scores the odd goal? He will probably be mainly a stat padder anyway.

I have been following football for 40 years, and been right about plenty over that time (especially predicting the failures of Man United and their players). My instincts are screaming at me that this is a mistake. It's hard to ignore them, especially when I have been right before.

@Skalman also made the point in a round about way that Flick isn't a miracle worker and won't get every forward firing the way he has some of them. He will also need to play more pragmatically in future (let's face it, Barca aren't getting close to the CL trophy if they don't tighten up defensively) which in turn means less opportunities and less leeway for the forwards.

It's true there was no other option on the market. But if you are presented with piss, shit and vomit, for an expensive price, you don't have to automatically take one. You can refuse them all and be better off.

bed time for me anyway - I am sure one person or more will take issue with my long post overnight, and I will wake up to criticism, but I don't give a fuck. I trust my football experience and knowledge of the player over any of his supporters on here.

 

[Maradona37]

Just to be clear - I am not saying the above will 100 percent happen. I am not that arrogant that I think what I say is the truth. It's my - very strong - opinion. I acknowledge he could do well, too.

But it's a clear possibility that this loan spell could be an absolute disaster - that cannot be denied and nobody should assume him being a prick or underperforming cannot happen. And my instincts (which have been proved right at times before) about him aren't good.

 

[jairzinho]

some wild takes in here. Let's wait and see how things pan out. I'm optimistic. There will be plenty time to judge when season gets going.

 

[Maradona37]

Rashford has ability. Bums don't do this stuff vs the best side in Europe probably.

So I have just watched this full 3 minute video, and it's extremely underwhelming.

He has a few good moments, like the assist and a few other bits. But you could cut out everything up to 1.49/the assist where he basically loses the ball or fucks it up every time. After the assist he has a few good moments and a few more donkey moments, such as the pathetically bad lay off.

If THAT is an example of how 'talented' he is or him 'destroying PSG' then I am deeply underwhelmed and it proves just how fucking overrated the guy is

Other than the beautiful skill and pass for the assist, and the cut inside for the saved shot, there is very little to impress there. And those are meant to be his highlights from the game

The FK cross is nice too, tbh. But look at him overhitting the ball and running it out of play at 2.47. The sort of thing I have saw him do MANY times at United. You call that a technically gifted player? How often do you ever see Neymar or Hazard or Salah or Messi or De Bruyne do something as dumb and useless as that? And he does it many times. He has no close control or ability in tight spaces whatsoever.

Salah games have videos three times as long and they're not full of him losing the ball either.

The defending for the assist is also horrendous. Guarantee PL fans would be slagging that if it happened in Serie A or the Bundesliga. Vitinha tries to block him off on his left foot when he should know full well he wants to go to his right on the byeline. Then makes zero effort to get the ball. He is flat-footed and doesn't even move. It is beyond pathetic defending.

I don't rate 'Rashy' in the slightest, I am afraid. PR Man United hypejob. A lot of British football fans agree with me, too.

 

[BJJ]

Bottom line. This is a bit of a gamble. I didn't want him here but.....there's no real great left wingers out there plus we're cash strapped.
As long as he keeps his head down, works hard and doesn't disrupt the dressing room he should be ok.
Flick has worked wonders with Raphinha and Ferran. Let's hope he can do the same with Rashford.

 

[Maradona37]

some wild takes in here. Let's wait and see how things pan out. I'm optimistic. There will be plenty time to judge when season gets going.

What's 'wild' is thinking a guy who has been wank for two years (and most of his career before that outside his purple patches) is poor in tight spaces, needs space in behind, has a terrible attitude, has been frozen out at Man United, never won a league trophy or CL, and who is on a significant salary for a 'bit part player' (14 million a year) is more than likely gonna come to Barcelona and be and be a major factor in helping them win big trophies and be a massive success

I have seen claims of huge success on here before and it hasn't happened several times.

it's based on nothing but blind faith. Tbh most of the lads in here wear the same Barca goggles that Redcafe types wear United goggles.

I am just dropping the red pill. Don't shoot the messenger lads.