Marc Roca

[Cjay]

A new target has emerged, confirmed by the ever reliable Phil Hay.

It's a midfielder!!!!

Marc Roca.

The 25 year old former Spanish youth International has been at German giants Bayern Munich since 2020 after impressing for boyhood club Espanyol and attracting the interests of the likes of Arsenal and Real Madrid in addition to Bayern.

In recent months he has attracted links to Jose Mourinho managed AS Roma and Copa del Rey winners Real Betis.

Roca has struggled for game time in Germany only taking to the field 24 times in total. He has however extensive La Liga experience with with 100 games to his name including playing a key part in Espanyol's 7th placed La Liga finish in 2019 at which point Roca was considered one of the next breakout Spanish stars.

He is known for his great positional sense which enables him to effectively break up attacks and his passing range.

Not blessed with great pace or athletic ability Roca uses his brain to compensate.

https://footballbh.net/2020/02/27/marc- ... s-tactics/

People will be understandably nervous about signing a player once highly rated but who has fallen away. Orta hasn't got a good record of this sort of transfer at all (JKA, Firpo, Cuisance etc).

However I always feel that the opinions of the players current fans is important and with Roca being a bit parter at Bayern you would expect the fans to not rate him.

But that isn't the case as this link to a Bayern English language forum shows. Many of them do and feel he hasn't been given the opportunity he deserves.

So concern is justified but optimism is given by the Bayern fans imo.

A fee of around £10million would be required.

https://www.bayernforum.com/transfers-f ... 0-675.html

[Johnboy1965]

For 10mil it seems a good punt as he would fit into our system well, especially if KP leaves.
We do need to start offloading the deadwood before too long also.

[Jimang]

Would be a good signing for me, we need more strength in midfield and sounds like he would fit the bill.

[dezzy]

With 5 subs next season we need to add depth and quality to the squad and for 10m this looks like a great signing of we get it over the line

[1964white]

With 5 subs next season we need to add depth and quality to the squad and for 10m this looks like a great signing of we get it over the line

We needed a squad last season to no avail, unfortunately dezzy. As you imply, even more so in 2022/23

[Scoobychief]

Let hope very much that he is an upgrade from Roberts and klich. Because both those need replacing asap

[Mountain]

He has been a flop under 2 different managers at Bayern. Definitely not one I'd get too excited about, don't know what Marsch's record is like for taking individual players and improving them

[Scoobychief]

He has been a flop under 2 different managers at Bayern. Definitely not one I'd get too excited about, don't know what Marsch's record is like for taking individual players and improving them

Reminds me a bit of the michael cuisance deal we almost did with bayern he went on to be a first class flop.

[Rover]

Looks more of a DM than O'Brien, stands his ground making some good tackles, one touch passing ability, eye for the long diagonal ball and for the same money as Huddersfield want. He's not a worldy but playing alongside Phillips could be a useful addition.

[Cjay]

Problem with Roca is that it's being widely reported that he lacks the physical stats and stamina.

Lacks pace, strength etc.

He also will be used to a less physical and intense league.

He could easily go the way of Saul Niguez.

Roca is a deep lying playmaker who specialises in retaining possession and progressing play with forward passes.

Saul Niguez was the same at Atletico Madrid.

He was elite level in La Liga at that.

But he couldn't cope with the physical demands of the Premier League and the press that denied him the time he was used to in La Liga.

Roca could easily go the same way.

Nobody doubts his technical ability.

But his biggest weakness seems to be exactly the sort of thing that hindered people like Niguez before.

[Leeds1000]

£10m seems a steal... By the sounds of it tho he would suit a more technical league.

[weasel]

Problem with Roca is that it's being widely reported that he lacks the physical stats and stamina.

Lacks pace, strength etc.

He also will be used to a less physical and intense league.

He could easily go the way of Saul Niguez.

Roca is a deep lying playmaker who specialises in retaining possession and progressing play with forward passes.

Saul Niguez was the same at Atletico Madrid.

He was elite level in La Liga at that.

But he couldn't cope with the physical demands of the Premier League and the press that denied him the time he was used to in La Liga.

Roca could easily go the same way.

Nobody doubts his technical ability.

But his biggest weakness seems to be exactly the sort of thing that hindered people like Niguez before.

If you asked me to describe Kalvin Phillips I would also say that he lacked pace and strength - don't get me wrong he isn't a slow coach but I would also say he wasn't the quickest and while he is strong in the tackle (ooer missus) he isn't overly phyiscal in a way say a Roy Keane or Patrick Vieira were. I would even say David Batty had a stronger presence, you wouldn't want to squar eup to Batty but I think you probably would feel relatively safe squaring up to KP, he'd more likely laugh at you than deck you.

I think a lot depends on how the side plays. KP in the quarterback role under Bielsa was the one who always seemed to be the spare man when receiving possession enabling him the time to pick a pass. Until we see more of the way Marsch wants us to play we won't really know how we will cope with the press. Under Bielsa we coped well with the press at times but did struggle against the elite teams when they pressed well.

[Cjay]

If you asked me to describe Kalvin Phillips I would also say that he lacked pace and strength - don't get me wrong he isn't a slow coach but I would also say he wasn't the quickest and while he is strong in the tackle (ooer missus) he isn't overly phyiscal in a way say a Roy Keane or Patrick Vieira were. I would even say David Batty had a stronger presence, you wouldn't want to squar eup to Batty but I think you probably would feel relatively safe squaring up to KP, he'd more likely laugh at you than deck you.

I think a lot depends on how the side plays. KP in the quarterback role under Bielsa was the one who always seemed to be the spare man when receiving possession enabling him the time to pick a pass. Until we see more of the way Marsch wants us to play we won't really know how we will cope with the press. Under Bielsa we coped well with the press at times but did struggle against the elite teams when they pressed well.

Good point

Should be said as well that Kalvin Phillips himself never coped with the press well (which is why imo he isn't an elite player).

The consensus on Roca is that he is slow, unathletic and weak and if anything will hinder him it is that.

We will have to see how we play but having read about Roca it's clear why Marsch would like him.

He ranked near the top in the past for progressive passes and passes into the final 3rd.

He would suit the fast vertical passing style Marsch likes.

The YEP have asked experts for there views.

https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/ ... ns-3728027

[Cjay]

Price is creeping up.

Was as low as £7.75million.

It's now at around £13million according to that for a guy whose barely played for 2 years but was highly rated once.

I take some comfort from the fact most Bayern fans seem to rate him but this deal does worry me.

For £7.75mil it wasn't to bad financially but nearly £13mil is a bit to much for me.

Then again 1 season wonder Djed Spence cost Spurs £20mil so I don't know

Also apparently we are managing to beat West Ham, Wolves, Frankfurt, Villarreal, Sevilla and Real Betis to his signature.

All teams who had very decent seasons.

So clearly must have something about him.

[SG90]

Price is creeping up.

Was as low as £7.75million.

It's now at around £13million according to that for a guy whose barely played for 2 years but was highly rated once.

I take some comfort from the fact most Bayern fans seem to rate him but this deal does worry me.

For £7.75mil it wasn't to bad financially but nearly £13mil is a bit to much for me.

Then again 1 season wonder Djed Spence cost Spurs £20mil so I don't know

Also apparently we are managing to beat West Ham, Wolves, Frankfurt, Villarreal, Sevilla and Real Betis to his signature.

All teams who had very decent seasons.

So clearly must have something about him.

It's 12m euros not £. That £10.3m. Romano can't tell the difference between the euro and £ sign lol.

[Lumiukko]

Feel a bit underwhelmed by this signing. Might be that I am just getting some JKA/Cuisance/Junior Firpo vibes about it, so I hope I am wrong. Or maybe it just feels a bit meh after actually really rating our first two signings in Aaronson and Krristensen.

[Kennyb41]

I like the sound of it as a replacement for KP and that KP is moving on, get us 70m from Citeh KP and good luck there, it's the best move you'll ever make in your life.

[weasel]

I have a good feeling about this fella. Not concerned about the supposed lack of pace or strength - I wouldn't really say any of KP, Klich, Forshaw, Dallas and other were particularly fast or strong. With him having not played as much in recent years there should be less wear and tear on his body but when he has played he seems to have done well - not really a criticism if he is the 4th best midfielder for Bayern.

A lot would depend on his attitude and hopefully it is that he is coming to us to kickstart his career, get reguar football and live up his early potential. Not put off at all by comparisons to Cuisance or JKA as they were both French and the french are mardy bast$rds at the best of times.

I like Spanish players. They are brought up well, certainly footballing wise (and are usually better grounded as human beings as the Spanish way of life is far more family orientated and less about money, are usually very neat and tidy with good technique and retain the ball well.

[Kennyb41]

Me too feeling good about it, KP excels in that one and only lone role, Big Jesses new system will probably not suit KP and he'd be ordinary if not shyte, he needs to be on his own surrounded by quality and he'll become a grand un, 70m for him and buy players like this to start afresh again, it's a gamble all this and i'm praying it works, but we've got to get it right from the off in the biggest league in the world.

So fingers and toes crossed.

[1964white]

Me too feeling good about it, KP excels in that one and only lone role, Big Jesses new system will probably not suit KP and he'd be ordinary if not shyte, he needs to be on his own surrounded by quality and he'll become a grand un, 70m for him and buy players like this to start afresh again, it's a gamble all this and i'm praying it works, but we've got to get it right from the off in the biggest league in the world.

So fingers and toes crossed.

I'm loving your optimism Kenny boy