DIEZANI,BUHARI AND THE UK: PARDON ME TO THINK THOSE ITEMS WERE PLANTED

I have searched without any luck for an exact location and precise date in every news report on the jeweleries and customized gold iphone allegedly belonging to former minister of petroleum,Diezani Allison-Madueke sought to be forfeited to the Federal Government.That will answer a lot of questions.Going by the Buhari administration's reluctance to extradite her to face charges and the failure of the UK government to also do so after it had promised,the Diezani situation is one that needs to be observed very closely.Without a date those items were recovered and a precise location,then those jeweleries could have been planted by none other than Diezani herself in conjuction with the authorities.

A specific date and location would have answered questions as to the time government had those items in its possession and whether it was from a house it had already cordoned off at that time or not viz-a-viz the likelihood of her running off to the UK without making any attempt to hide items worth over $40M.

In September 2017,Ibrahim Magu,the EFCC chairman said there were ongoing plans to extradite Diezani back to Nigeria to face charges since the UK has failed to prosecute her.More than a year later in 2018,he said the very same thing-there were on-going plans to extradite her.

Now in 2019,instead of giving us that same line,their handlers get smart and fashion out a way to score some PR points for the government while at the hide and seek game by parading luxurious items and tagging them hers.Government need not spend a dime procuring those things,the woman herself will get it if it'll keep her out of prison. 

Diezani was said to have found a way to be on the same flight with then President-Elect Muhammadu Buhari to London.The media reports then were to the effect that she had approached him to discuss a soft landing but her advances were rebuffed.Maybe some way some how she was able to manage that either personally or through proxies otherwise there is no way else to rationalize the lukewarm attitude of both the UK and Nigerian government to prosecuting her.

When the woman herself insisted on coming back home to face trial,the authorities said she wanted to escape an imminent trial in the UK for money laundering offences.The UK government had slated a June 2017 trial for Diezani.It is 2019 and she not only hasn't been taken to court,there are no plans of doing so.If a whole UK government can act Buhari-like on a case like this then it means some sort of deal may have been negotiated for her and many fingers are pointing at the Buhari administration.She lets go of some cash and choice properties and she is allowed to roam without any worry of prosecution.The same type of deal she has down here.

We all saw how instead of Patience Jonathan,the former first lady thanking her stars money in the accounts of their former aides wasn't traced to her,she rushed out to claim them and even took the EFCC to court.The effrontery is shocking.Almost like she knew nobody would charge her to court no matter what.Till date,all the EFCC has done is punish her for that by seizing some more of her properties but it has not as much as invited her for questioning talk more charge her to court.Whenever there is a need to impress or deceive nigerians,government or its agencies will come out to tell us of a confiscated property or amount of money.No talk of prosecution.Pardon me to think the Diezani jewelleries and iphone may have been planted.

President Buhari specifically told nigerians every corrupt person will have their day in court.Why are these persons still walking free?.What message are we sending to other prospective mass looters of our common wealth-steal but steal enough to return some?.The Buhari administration has continuously done nothing as far as the very big guns are concerned.Not even to kill off the many stories being peddled around.

It has been whispered in some quarters that the reason why the first lady,Aisha Buhari's aide de camp,Sani Baba-Inna has not been charged to court for defrauding undisclosed persons of  N2.5bn in her name is that he acts as a liaison between her and corrupt persons whom she extorts with the threat of prosecution.His family has been reported as saying they know he took her money and that he was a front for her.Diezani is said to be one of the first lady's worst victims.Jail is the last place the woman would want to be in and she will do anything to avoid it.Pardon me again to think those items may have been planted and to some effect.Less and less people celebrate the seizures without worrying about the need to set a deterrent with Diezani.

The only way Buhari will truly impress us as far as the lady is concerned is having her pay for her sins.

MOST ARTISTES SHOULDN'T OWN A LABEL: OLADIPS/REMINISCE AS A CASE STUDY

THE LABEL CRAZE

Top Ghanaian rapper,D-Black real name Desmond Blackmore was recently asked by Ghana's music and entertainment blog,Graphic Showbiz if his lack of proper managerial skills was responsible for the departure of 6 artistes within months from his Black Muzik Avenue record label and he said "No,every artiste comes with his manager.I just provide the financing".

Most artistes want to start a label after a couple of hits but owning and managing one entails a lot more than the average artiste on this side of the divide thinks.It takes more than just 'financing' an artiste and giving them a platform.So far,even where artistes are paid accordingly,the most common problem they have had is promotion.Either they aren't availed enough funds for it or it isn't properly done by the label.If D-black hands over to his artistes whatever they request for promotion and in the end,they squander it and come back for more,he will stop being wasteful and the artiste will feel enough isn't being done.

Managing a label is a full time job and no label should operate if it won't handle the promotion of its artistes itself.Nothing stops the artistes from doing the little they can on their own but basically it is the responsibility of he who has sunk money into an artiste's career and who hopes to reap from it to push him.

Quite commendably however,some big artistes have stayed conscious of the fact that their personal careers will take up most of their time and resources and have graciously resorted to 'helper-helpee' arrangements rather than signing young artistes and wasting away their fruitful years with shabby arrangements.Associating with these artistes alone thrusts them into the spotlight.They call in favours from a lot of friends to get them collaborations,magnanimously shoot a few videos and hook them up with the right promoters for shows.That is better.

THE OLADIPS/REMINISCE SITUATION

Oladips shocked the music world when he dropped a single titled 'Maybe' where he narrates his sad ordeal at his old label,Reminisce's Les Roses Rouges.Going by what the artiste himself said,if anyone refers to a signed contract as a helper-helpee arrangement then "the contract is a f**king trap and a fraud".Its important to get a grasp of the Oladips/Reminisce relationship.

We were first introduced to Oladips when he won D'banj's King Don Come rap competition and Reminisce signed him on afterwards.Alaga had a couple of endorsements then notably one with Samsung and was doing well on the music scene.Oladips would get something decent to pocket and perhaps a good car.

More importantly,the exposure that would come with being with Alaga; who himself is an indigenous rapper would be too much of a lure to resist.He gradually earned himself a reputation as a great artiste over time who despite scoring a major hit 2 years later in 'Lalakukulala',had impressed very much on virtually every song he made or featured on.Though it is advisable to hear both sides before reaching a conclusion,2 things tilt the balance in his favour-First,Reminisce hasn't had him drop an album and Secondly,Alaga isn't quite in the same position he was when he signed Oladips and may have difficulty fulfiling some of his obligations.Sojay; who had earned quite a reputation for himself on eLdee's Trybe records as one of the finest voices in the country was on LRR and left after some singles.The only artiste to have ever dropped an album on Reminisce's label is Reminisce.

Even when he appeared in a good position financially,he found it difficult handling his career along with others on the label.One thing a lot of artistes that have rushed into starting labels need to learn from the Oladips/Reminisce situation is when to let an artiste go.An artiste searching for a break through will swallow anything you say and sign whatever you present to him.And when after a while you renege on certain aspects of the agreement,he is willing to still stick around in search of his lucky break but when that artiste has grown to the stature Oladips has,you either fulfil your contractual obligations to the letter or have a serious problem to contend with.Leaving the label alone is news for the blogs and ultimately bad publicity.With a song like 'Lalakukulala',if Oladips hasn't or isn't making money for LRR then the problem lies with the label who perhaps aren't marketing him right.Besides,a contract is a contract.An artiste has to be paid his dues whether or not they make any money which is why the unready label boss/flagship artiste is better off with a helper-helpee arrangement.The signed artiste usually bemoans a proper lack of promotion by his label but when he is being told he is being done a 'favour' whenever a 'dollar' is spent,that is a major problem.

D'BANJ'S "SHY" AND 3 THINGS HE REALLY NEEDS TO DO

"Since early morning i neva chop,i neva smoke,i neva drink.Even common uhmm woman i neva uhmm..I'm so shy".

The chorus is 90% of an afro-pop song and from this point onwards,it was going to take a miracle to salvage D'banj's Shy.Fans have over the years fallen in love with songs whose choruses they didn't understand a word of thanks to the Terry Gs of this world but those were very pleasant noise.They were bouncy,had rhythm and made on an inch-perfect instrumental.Bangalee is a more conventional artiste aiming for groove and a very potent sing-along vibe to resonate with fans.That to an appreciable degree is dependent on the lyrics used.A lot of people would relate to someone saying "Since early morning i neva chop,smoke or drink" but to not only make a big deal of not sleeping with a woman since morning but to also pass it off as being a more regular thing than eating,smoking and drinking feels so off.To compound things,the "I'm so shy" mantra kicks in right afterwards.D'banj hasn't eaten,smoked and drank since morning because he is shy?.Does that really make sense?.

On an instrumental perhaps needing a little more sauce than the conga drum pattern,whatever good his decent verse does is defeated by the poorly composed and unmoving chorus.

D'banj has been yearning for a huge hit since he broke up with former partner and producer,Don Jazzy without much success.What the artiste needs to do is evaluate his strengths,weaknesses and find out how best to re-enact the magic of yester years.

-P-Square had louder hits than D'banj but he was bigger than them.What he had going for him was a strong personality.People loved D'banj and had to love his music; a boisterous guy in trend-setting fashion gears either doing the 'koko fist' on stage or wearing only a towel.In 'Koko' and 'No long thing',he was synonymous with 2 of the biggest slangs to have ever hit the music industry.Taking a back seat,only popping up for the very grand occasions and then a song every now and then hasn't worked much.D'banj needs to be a lot more conspicuous outside the music doing the things only he can do.Its a lot easier in this current age of social media.He has a follow up single due for release soon featuring Slimcase and the title 'Mo Cover E' plus a recent Slimcase skit with controversial nollywood actress,Etinosa strongly suggest Bangalee is thinking in the slang direction.The consistency should extend to the other things that made the D'banj brand one of the most loved.

-Collabos.If you've followed the artiste over the years,you'll have to give him credit for a lot of his features.D'banj has slayed a lot of artistes on their tracks in a way he hardly manages to do on his.His performance on Skales' Senrere has been his best on any track since.Curiously,he has found it difficult to replicate that brilliance on a song he features others.While it would be logical to suggest he gets good song writers to pitch him something to work on,its best he remedies that by working on himself and picking the right artistes.Ones who would do to his songs what he did to Seyi Shay's Tina; Magic.

-Finally a good old buzzer to follow the right track.Olamide kept mute while word was planted round the blogosphere that he was dissing Davido on Buga Small Small.The controversy Science Student spawned was good for the song and Woske; a fabulous effort seem to have just passed by,so the needful was done.D'banj is a big boy no doubt but when an opportunity to start a fire for any of his songs presents itself,he needs to grab it.

WHO REALLY KILLED ALEX BADEH AND WHY ARE HIS ALLEGED KILLERS NOT IN COURT?

A lot of people have always believed Alex Badeh was killed by the Buhari government and that a cover-up was in place.There couldn't be more justification than the Badeh family coming out to dismiss the recorded confession of one of the alleged killers  in custody as a mere charade.

A close look at the story surrounding his death  will reveal some quite intriguing questions but what has lent more credence to the notion that Alex Badeh was murdered and that a cover-up was hatched is the refusal of the authorities to charge his alleged murderers to court.

On the 27th of December 2018,police spokesperson,Jimoh Moshood said the police won't parade the suspects arrested in relation to the killing of the former CDS on that date so as not to jeopardize the ongoing investigation.However on that same day,a video surfaced of one of the suapects narrating how they killed Badeh.In one day the police contradicted itself on a matter as sensitive as the killing of the immediate past Chief of defense staff who is being prosecuted in court for corruption by the present government.The release of that video going by the narrative of the police implies that the investigation has been concluded.Why haven't those same persons been charged to court six months later?.

Alex Badeh's family in puncturing the confession of the suspect in custody by the name of Shuaibu Rabi,pointed out that the former CDS couldn't possibly have enough to buy a new farmland as it was no secret to them that he was broke.As a matter of fact,Badeh had told his employees at the farm that he could only keep 3 of them and was letting 5 of his 8-man staff go.

The family added that he didn't have up to N500 on him at that time.A villager who approached him for money on that same day to buy 'Paracetamol' for his headache was told to take 10 mudus (measured quantity of maize) and sell at the market because he had no cash on him.He also took out time to tell the person that he was at the farm himself to pick up some maize for sale because the government had blocked his pension and that he was unable to pay his cook and cleaner.

Badeh further told him there was a huge refuse pile at his house which the Abuja environmental protection board had not cleared because he had no money to pay.This rhetoric sounds more in line with reality.

The EFCC freezes the bank accounts of a person accused of corruption.Whether out of genuine sympathy for boko haram victims or to exact revenge for how he may have treated the President as a soldier in the past,the Buhari administration has not obeyed court orders releasing former NSA,Col.Sambo Dasuki (rtd) on bail.Nobody would safely put it past them to deny Badeh his pension contrary to the position of the law.

The air force has said it gave Badeh security befitting his status but the whereabouts of his detail(s) as at the time he was shot is still a grey area.He was said to be in a Toyota Tundra truck only with a driver who was injured and a friend who was abducted by the assailants/robbers who claim they heard he was coming to buy a piece of land in cash.

The arraignment of the suspects in court would have doused suspicions of a cover-up and since that hasn't happened,government has allowed conspiracy theories to fester.

There is the version that he was privy to some of the shady dealings of current Chief of Army staff,Lt.Gen Tukur Buratai while serving under President Jonathan and that he had to be silenced for Buratai's good.Buratai has been accused of buying 2 properties in Dubai.One in 2013 from a contract he allegedly cornered for the purchase of vehicles and motorcycles and the other just days after being appointed COAS.

He is also alleged to own an exotic snake farm.Badeh being the most senior military officer in the Jonathan administration knew a lot of things and had to be eliminated.

There were concerns over online videos of fulanis with guns singing Pro-Buhari songs and the second theory adds another dimension to it.The theory basically stands on the notion that the fulani herdsmen have always had the backing of the highest level of government and that Badeh was fed to them.Yet another says that the persons in police custody didn't commit the murder and that they were mere decoys to be released when the dust had settled.

People pay more attention to these stories in their quest to know what is stopping government from charging the 5 persons it has been holding for 6 months to court for Badeh's murder.There are a plethora of persons that have been arrested by this administration and dumped in jail without trial.Persons as high up as former DSS boss,Lawan Daura who is still being detained after his arrest about a year ago but one would ordinarily think the Buhari administration had a full grasp of the sensitivity of the Badeh situation.

He wasn't just immediate past Chief of defense staff,he served under a PDP government whose members Buhari has been accused of selectively targeting.Badeh was the most high profile assassination we have had in a long while and with everyone watching,most of us thought even just for the optics,government wouldn't want to appear nonchalant.

Everyone has been quiet;from the Presidency down to the police.Was it the plan all along to kill off the case after the dust had fully settled?.Are the alleged killers even still in detention?.Who really killed Alex Badeh and why are his alleged killers not in court?.

A LOOK AT THE FAVOURITES FOR AFCON 2019

Afcon trophy

The Mohammed Salah inspired Pharoahs of Egypt came close at the last edition in Gabon but overall,African football hasn't changed much in at least the last half a decade; the West still reigns supreme.Each of the last 3 editions have been won by a West African nation with two of those three finals being played by two West African countries.

The only exception being Egypt's 2017 loss to the indomitable lions of Cameroon.If the dominance of the West would have to be attributed to one thing,it would be the physicality that goes with their flair.That has proven quite decisive especially in their domination of the North African sides.Whether Morrocco,Tunisia and hosts,Egypt have found a way of making their speed and technical prowess work more in their favour remains to be seen.

Afcon 2019 kicks off this Friday in Egypt and below are the top 3 favourities for the trophy.

SENEGAL

The Senegalese have assembled unarguably their best side since the iconic class of 2002 captained by current head coach,Aliou Cisse.The teranga lions are a perfect blend of flair,pace and strength.They are fast on the ball and hard off it.If they pull their acts together,this may just be their year.

In Napoli's highly coveted defender,Kalidou Koulibaly,FC Barcelona's most recent youth sensation,Moussa Wague,Inter Milan's Keita Balde and Liverpool's prolific forward,Sadio Mane to name just five,Cisse has the best collection of African players at his disposal.If the Senegalese have one flaw,it is keeping a cool head under pressure.Most teams looking to beat them will be aiming to score first.

Against the top sides who won't sit back and defend against them,they have exhibited a propensity to then give away the ball a little too quickly and be rash in their tackles.The Senegalese were edged out of the 2018 World cup by Japan on the basis of having more bookings (6 as against the Japanese 4) when the fairplay rule was used for the very first time in the history of the tournament.If they are a little more patient off the ball and play their fluid attacking game as best as possible,it will be hard to stop them.

EGYPT

Three of Egypt's record seven Afcon wins have come when they hosted the tournament and with the Egyptians playing at home this edition,not a few pundits have ruled them overwhelming favourites to win the 2019 Afcon.They have without a doubt been the most outstanding North African team over the last few years and if the Egyptians guarantee anything,it is that if they will only be knocked out by a top side.

They will keep the smaller teams on the defensive with their fast play and will deploy their deft counter-attacking game against the tougher teams.The Pharoahs are a very resourceful side who can find a way to play in even the tiniest piece of space.

On their day,only a very spirited defensive display will check them.

The slump of the Egyptians from the pinnacle of African football is attributable largely to the ageing and phasing out of the bulk of the players who had not only been playing together for the national team but also as team mates for Al Ahly.The crux of the final-reaching 2017 team that also played the 2018 World cup is still very much in place and with more experience as a team,they could reach those same heights.

The North African teams are not noted for scoring much because they shut down after a goal or two but if this Mohammed Salah inspired team will win,they will need to understand when to drop that strategy or at least find a way of making it work against the very energetic West African sides.The one thing their co-finalists in 2017,Cameroon had going for them above every other thing was their youthful strength and persistence.Every permutation on a Cameroonian win was centred on the indomitable lions running them ragged.Egypt scored first and moved to secure the back.That proved costly.

NIGERIA

Since the disappointment of missing out on the last 2 editions,the Super Eagles have gone on to become arguably Africa's best team.The Senegalese are ranked number one by FIFA but if the calibre of the opposition both sides have had to face is taken into consideration,Nigeria will wear the crown.

The Eagles are a very formidable attacking side no one can afford to take for granted.The addition of Ogenekaro Etebo to the midfield is one of the highly underrated achievements of head coach,Genart Rohr.It has substantially helped in ensuring a smooth connectivity between midfield and attack.With Etebo in the most advanced midfield position,returning captain Mikel Obi as playmaker and rumoured Manchester United target,Wilfred Ndidi at the base,the Afcon qualifiers highest goal scorer,Odion Ighalo along with Ahmed Musa and other players up front have a good support cast.

In as much as they dispatch the teams they are expected to with much ease than in the previous years,they tend to get stuck against teams that defend well.The Super Eagles aren't too enthused by fast play and deploy a possession based plan and in quite a number of games,they appear to run out of ideas against teams that deny them too much space.

Apart from also lacking mobile and enterprising full backs in the class of those of the previous teams,there has also been a lack of stability in the goal keeping department.Severely criticized,Daniel Akpeyi seems to have taken over from the youthful and inconsistent Francis Uzoho.It helps that they are drawn in what is on paper,the easiest for any of the top sides with debutants Burundi,Guinea and Madagascar in Group B.

They are expected to easily top that group and proceed to face either of DR Congo,Zimbabwe or Uganda in the round of 16.A win against any of these 'small' sides,another in the quarter final stage and from then on,they have the trophy in sight.If nothing sensational happens en route that is.

BEST OUTSIDE CHANCE

There is the Wilfred Zaha led Cote d'Ivoire and also the Mohammed Ziyech driven Morrocan side but the best outside chance to win the 2019 Afcon belongs to the black stars of Ghana.Their most experienced players have not only played together for quite some time now,they form the heart of the team.

Very few may fancy their chances but with Alaves midfielder Mubarak Wakaso,Newcastle's Christian Atsu and Inter Milan's Kwadwo Asamoah still pulling the strings,the chances will surely come for the likes of veteran prolific goal getter,Asamoah Gyan.

Dependable Jonathan Mensah is still the Minister of defence and the highly impressive Ayew brothers-Fenebarche's Andre and Crystal Palace's Jordan are still very thick in it.The Ghanaians have a balanced side very much capable of taking the trophy home.

CBN WHISTLEBLOWER: GEORGE UBOH MUST NOT BE LOCKED UP AND FORGOTTEN.WHAT HE HAS ON EMEFIELE MUST BE HEARD.

CBN Governor,Godwin Emefiele

George Uboh is the chairman of the George Uboh Whistleblowers Network.He sought and got an ex parte order from the Abuja Federal High Court restraining the senate from confirming the reappointment of Godwin Emefiele as Governor of the Central bank of Nigeria.Uboh alleged that in 2015,Emefiele in connivance with the NNPC,diverted the sum of $2.564bn expected to be shared by the Federation Account Allocation Committee to the 3 arms of government in January 2016.

Uboh also alleged that in 2017,Emefiele under-declared and under-remitted a total sum of $760M,from what was described as the CBN's gains from Bureaux Du Change (BDCs) due to be credited into the Federation account.The Federal high court having been satisfied with Uboh's submissions,ordered that the senate hold off any confirmation of Godwin Emefiele as CBN governor.

That order was not complied with by the senate and Emefiele also did not respond to the lawsuit.Rather,a complaint of 'false information' was lodged with the Nigeria police by one Ned Nwoko.Uboh was swiftly arrested and when he was granted bail by the Upper Area Court Zuba,FCT,he was picked up right away by the police in respect of another complaint lodged by Emefiele himself this time.With Uboh still in detention for a period spanning about 3 weeks,Emefiele having totally neglected Uboh's suit against him and the issues raised,has filed an action in court for defamation against Uboh.

The one thing George Uboh has consistently asked  through his lawyers over the past weeks is that he be allowed to provide concrete proof to support his allegations.This is the Nigeria we have come to live in for the last 4 years.

A Nigeria where government shamelessly stays mute when allegations of corruption are raised against top officials.Anyone with such information is caught,stiffled and dumped in jail.

Aisha Buhari's aide de camp,Sanni Baba-Inna has been arrested for duping unnamed persons of N2.5bn in her name.Baba-Inna's family members have been quoted as saying he had been her front for quite some time before he started to act greedy.They claim there are not only audio evidence but also documents including a duplicate evidencing a house he bought for one of her daughters in Asokoro.Almost a year later,Baba-Inna is still yet to be charged to court.So also former DSS chief and Buhari townsman,Lawal Daura who some believe was made a scapegoat when the big countries started asking questions about the shutting down of the National Assembly at the height of its face off with the Presidency.

Suspicions are bound to arise from President Buhari not only reappointing a Jonathan appointee as CBN governor but also one of South East extraction.He may very well be a burden to be carried along because he knows too much on the shady dealings of this administration.Like Baba Inna and Lawal Daura only unlike them,he hasn't given them cause to dump,hide and forget him in jail some where.

If they are scared you have anything to say,you are locked up and forgotten.We as a people must ensure that doesn't happen to George Uboh.He must not only be released if he won't be charged to court,he mustn't be intimidated into keeping quiet.His evidence must be investigated.

When Sahara Reporters leaked a telephone conversation between Emefiele and some other officials bordering on how to cover up a N500bn deficit in the Central bank's books believed to have been stolen and invested in a business that didn't yield the desired fruits ,the apex bank's response was that they had made some error in the classification of loans issued to some states.But on the audio,Emefiele is heard saying "i am not too happy that Arowosegbe led us like this, in fact, that was what i was asking, i said we have an impression that we had 500 billion, he said no...where are we going to find this? Now we are in a very bad situation".One of the officials is also heard suggesting that the Ministry of Finance be solicited to lie on their behalf.

Curiously,the senate under a defeated and unenthusiastic Saraki confirmed him without asking him anything relating to the scandal.Instead he was showered with encomiums and told to keep up the good work.Now a man screaming to the world he has evidence the CBN governor embezzled $2.5bn not only got arrested but had his entire residence ransacked perhaps to find the incriminating evidence.

Despite the nagging questions,Emefiele's N500bn scandal was allowed to pass.With the way the system has been used to haunt Uboh,no one expects him to trust the police enough to hand them the evidence but the anti-graft agencies are looking the other way as far as his claims are concerned.

If someone could get hold of a recorded telephone conversation of Emefiele musing over a N500bn deficit with his CBN cronies which was authenticated by the apex bank itself,then it won't take a trip to Pluto to lay hands on evidence of a financial crime.

The police must release or charge Uboh to court and the EFCC must as a matter of urgency,study the evidence in his custody and do the needful.A good man must not be punished for a good deed.

FC BARCELONA HAS TO GET ITS TRANSFER BUSINESS RIGHT

Two things have been responsible for FC Barcelona still being a major force in European football-the club's style of play and Lionel Messi.Barca's traditional tikitaka make them a very difficult side to play against but over time,a dearth in top class playing personnel has gradually come to trouble them.To take it from the very top,Sergio Busquets.In Yaya Toure,the club had an athletic,strong and combustive defensive midfielder that provided very ample cover for the back four.Barca was at the peak of its powers when he left and being an attacking side whose short passing style allowed players win back the ball swiftly,he wasn't exactly indispensable.

A Busquets who in addition to being Catalonian also had a father that once played for the club would do.He was skilful for a defensive midfielder,could pass the ball and hold onto it or a few decent seconds before he is muscled off it.He loses virtually all physical battles and has to foul to check a move his peers ordinarily wouldn't.But thankfully, we were able to get through the years without much problems.

However in these times when as a defensive unit the team has grown less cohesive,the need for a real defensive midfielder,not necessarily a playing one,is very glaring.A more physical player at the base of our 3 man midfield to make up for Barca's defensive excesses especially against the more formidable sides-Liverpool et al.

In Arturo Vidal,the club has someone ready-made for that role.Vidal not only has the strength and presence,he has a knack for joining the attack.Despite having had limited playing time,Vidal,Arthur and perhaps Philippe Coutinho have been arguably the only decent signings by the club in the last 3 seasons.Barca have gradually grown from plucking the very best players available to settling for mid-table talent.

Too much money is being sunk into procuring players either coming in to struggle or outrightly under-perform.It doesn't help also that the club has not been able to nurture its young talents as well as it used to.Jordi Alba is not quite the player he used to be at left back and even though the issue of a deputy has been raised on a number of occasions,it is sad that the club let the opportunity to trigger its €4M buy-back clause on exciting 20 year old SD Eibar full back, Marc Cucurella slip by.

In Cucurella they had a player who would not only cover for Alba but also one who would stake a strong claim for a first team place.Barca's transfer policy over the last few seasons have come to hurt it.The club would be right to want to raise funds by disposing off Ivan Rakitic as is being whispered in some quarters but then as far as out goings go,Ousmane Dembele should top that list.If not for anything,his £220,000 weekly pay.He has had enough time to prove himself when fit and in as much as he is a good player,he is not just Barca quality.

The main transfer targets this summer are Antoinne Griezmann and Matthijs De Ligt and both aren't what the club exactly needs.It would be splendid to get an extra attacking player to ensure a vibrant forward line on days either of Messi or Suarez is injured,rested or replaced but not if that player would cost over £100M.

It only makes sense that Fc Barcelona will cough out such a huge sum for a player coming to occupy the largely latent left attacking slot but since Barca adopted the 3 man forward line,it has worked for it in no small measure thanks to players operating on opposite flanks.Players who cut in on their stronger foot to take shots or lay the right passes.Griezmann is a left footed player and won't be as effective as a right-footed attacker.

There is no way in the world he will bench Lionel Messi or Luiz Suarez and even though his experience as a supporting striker could enable him slot into a midfield position,everyone knows Barca would rather pay that sum for a natural orchestrator.Crystal Palace's Wilfred Zaha is a more natural fit for Barca's left and will cost much less than Griezmann.

Ajax defender Matthijs De Ligt's young age and leadership experience would excite just about any club in world football but he shouldn't be deemed a priority for Barca.At least not one more than €80M should be forked out for without having purchased an experienced central midfielder to hold forth while the very promising duo of Arthur and Carlos Alena complete their adaptation and maturation processes respectively.In Pique,Lenglet,Umtiti and Vermalen,the club can make do with what it has.

The reason why some fans want Ernesto Valverde out doesn't have to do with his tactics as much has it does with a need to have a bigger figure in the dug-out.One who wouldn't simply nod to any list of players submitted to him but one with balls large enough to dictate to the club the type of players he needs to achieve his set goals.A lot has to change about Barca and most of it is primarily hinged on getting its transfer business right.