Football 17/18

[Wooderson]

Sky's coverage yesterday was a hoot. You'd swear they scored 4 eddie yauds level o.g.'s.

Edited August 28, 2017 by Wooderson

[mjsell]

31 minutes ago, Will-2609 said:

Koscielny, Mustafi, Mertesacker, Holding, Chambers, Monreal, Kolasinac.

However, one of the last two has to be playing at LWB (Ox and Bellerin are shite there) and out of the others only Koscielny and Mustafi are good enough (I doubt Mertesacker can be relied upon to play regularly). Mustafi isn't great but he's as good as they've got after Koscielny, and it'd be ridiculous to let him leave unless it's to bring in a better CB such as VvD or Koulibaly. Realistically, though, he won't be replaced.

They still desperately need a CM because Ramsey doesn't seem like he'll ever learn than he isn't a striker.

Realistically, though, they'll sign nobody, and Wenger will say Wilshere and Cazorla will be like new signings and he'll apologise that Rob Holding didn't cost £60m.

I reckon Wenger's been given nothing to spend and he's covering for the board. Must be. They've got a net spend of around £30m so far and potentially have Ox and Mustafi leaving which would push them into a negative net spend, which for a club the size of Arsenal who have such glaring issues in their team, is ridiculous.

Id keep koscielny, Holding and Mertersacker. 

Have never liked Mustafi. And I'd completely sack off Xhaka while we are at it as well. At least half of the goals we have conceded this season can be attributed to him. 

When you consider West Ham are, or have been, close to signing a player like Carvalho - a type of player Arsenal have been crying out for for seasons, our transfer dealings confuse the hell out of me. 

I didn't see the full game yesterday, but I'm fairly confident I can say that having Ozil in the team for a game like that was a waste of time. When you defend like we do, in the games against top teams, having someone like ozil is a luxury we can't cope with. 

[Wooderson]

Rob Holding about as useful as a chocolate kettle.

[Gucci Piggy]

3 hours ago, mjsell said:

Id keep koscielny, Holding and Mertersacker. 

Have never liked Mustafi. And I'd completely sack off Xhaka while we are at it as well. At least half of the goals we have conceded this season can be attributed to him. 

When you consider West Ham are, or have been, close to signing a player like Carvalho - a type of player Arsenal have been crying out for for seasons, our transfer dealings confuse the hell out of me. 

I didn't see the full game yesterday, but I'm fairly confident I can say that having Ozil in the team for a game like that was a waste of time. When you defend like we do, in the games against top teams, having someone like ozil is a luxury we can't cope with. 

The squad is a bit naff and a lot of changes need to be made but Mustafi and Xhaka aren't people who need getting rid of. Mertesacker is almost dead and Koscielny will be declining soon. Mustafi is Arsenal's best prospect at CB and should be entering his prime soon. He makes some mistakes but it was his first season in the Prem last season so I think he'll be more solid this term (if he stays). He may not have justified his price tag but he's definitely one of Arsenal's best CBs, and he's perfect for the RCB in a back 3. You can't replace 3 CBs in one window, which would have to be done if they only kept Kosc, Mert and Holding.

Xhaka is Arsenal's only CM who can actually claim to be top 4 quality. Coquelin and Elneny are shit, Wilshere and Cazorla are permacrocks, and Ramsey is a liability in a 2 man midfield (he's fine as the most advanced of a midfield 3).

2 hours ago, Wooderson said:

Rob Holding about as useful as a chocolate kettle.

I don't think his hype is justified. A decent run of performances at the back end of last season and that's it. He was shambolic against Leicester and judging by the highlights he wasn't much better yesterday. Sure, he's got time on his side and may become great, but he can't be relied on for a team like Arsenal right now, which some people seem to believe he can.

Like I said, a CM is the biggest need right now, and probably a CB after that.

This team would have a decent shot at making top 4 which is all Arsenal can hope for at the moment:

Cech

Mustafi Koscielny Monreal

Bellerin/Ox Xhaka New CM Kolasinac

Özil Lacazette Sanchez

Somebody like Van Dijk replacing Monreal in the back 3 and freeing him up to cover LWB would be great but I don't think Wenger believes in defence.

[mjsell]

Xhaka is not top 4 quality, no amount of arguments will convince me otherwise. He can't move, he can't tackle, and he makes far too many mistakes with 10 yards passes for someone who is supposedly good at passing. 

[ThomThomDrum]

Apparently LFC have done a deal for Keita with him joining in July next year

[DareToDibble]

Yeah it seems to be everywhere now.

We have paid the £48mil clause that comes into play next summer plus "a premium" to get it done now. Fairly clevver really as who knows who else would be in for him next summer.
We have  apparently bid £55mil for Lemar from Monaco as well as going back in for van Dijk. 

Could be quite some transfer window if we manage all that and keep Coutinho.

[pink_triangle]

1 hour ago, DareToDibble said:

Yeah it seems to be everywhere now.

We have paid the £48mil clause that comes into play next summer plus "a premium" to get it done now. Fairly clevver really as who knows who else would be in for him next summer.
 

I assume it's subject to medical in 11 months? Wouldn't look as clever if he had a serious injury and value dropped.

[DareToDibble]

7 minutes ago, pink_triangle said:

I assume it's subject to medical in 11 months? Wouldn't look as clever if he had a serious injury and value dropped.

He was at Melwood today and passed his medical apparently. I guess it's a risk we take. On the flip side if he has another incredible season then the likes of Madrid could have come calling.

Not sure exactly but apparently a contract has already been signed and the money paid.

[lolMomo]

8 hours ago, Wooderson said:

Sky's coverage yesterday was a hoot. You'd swear they scored 4 eddie yauds level o.g.'s.

Seems to get worse with each passing season

[Wooderson]

25 minutes ago, lolMomo said:

Seems to get worse with each passing season

Sky footie culture spends more time talking down than up. Anger sells more than happiness. It's Arsenal this week. West Ham next. Newcastle next. LFC next. Etc etc.

[pink_triangle]

I'm not convinced by the Ox, but not convinced the message it sends to sell him to a potential rival is a good one either.

[The Nal]

10 hours ago, pink_triangle said:

I'm not convinced by the Ox, but not convinced the message it sends to sell him to a potential rival is a good one either.

I think hes overrated on a startling scale. Maybe he just hasn't played under the right manager?

Arsenal selling another player to a rival though, madness. 

[eFestivals]

Just now, The Nal said:

Arsenal selling another player to a rival though, madness.

a bit like Utd selling Welbeck to Arsenal?

 

[The Nal]

13 minutes ago, eFestivals said:

a bit like Utd selling Welbeck to Arsenal?

Nah Welbz is nearly 27, never going to cut the mustard. Ox only just gone 24 and never had a proper run of games because of injury. 

£35m is silly though.

Sanchez to City too? Is Wenger trying to burn the place down?

Edited August 29, 2017 by The Nal

[ThomThomDrum]

28 minutes ago, The Nal said:

 

£35m is silly though.

 

Is it? In this day and age I have no idea what a player is worth and what a good or bad deal looks like. The money sloshing about the place is mad

[The Nal]

5 minutes ago, ThomThomDrum said:

Is it? In this day and age I have no idea what a player is worth and what a good or bad deal looks like. The money sloshing about the place is mad

Yeah its normal now but doesn't mean its any less crazy. Think I've seen him play well a handful of times 3 or 4 seasons ago. 

[jyoung]

53 minutes ago, The Nal said:

I think hes overrated on a startling scale. Maybe he just hasn't played under the right manager?

I reckon this but maybe I'm just blinded by hope. As a CFC fan I'm happy for him to come. Home grown, premier league experience, not yet reached his peak, versatile and direct etc. I think if Conte nails him onto a position he will flourish. Moses is a great example.

[Hugh Jass]

Ox has been at Arsenal for 7 years now, yet I still have no idea what he actually does or what his best position is. A lot of this is due to Wenger shunting him around but there haven't been many times I've seen him and thought that he looks good.

[mjsell]

I like ox, but agree that he hasn't ever backed up the clear potential he has. I'm confident that with the right club/manager he will become a top player though. And Arsenal will be the big losers in that situation. 

He should be played centre mid. 

[Hugh Jass]

City are going to offer Sterling as part of any deal for Sanchez apparently.

Seems Sterling's stock is falling rapidly at City.

[jyoung]

2 minutes ago, Hugh Jass said:

City are going to offer Sterling as part of any deal for Sanchez apparently.

Seems Sterling's stock is falling rapidly at City.

Just seen this. Be interested to see what kind of figure City have in mind alongside shifting Sterling. 

[Hugh Jass]

33 minutes ago, jyoung said:

Just seen this. Be interested to see what kind of figure City have in mind alongside shifting Sterling. 

Sterling's already well on the way to a cut price move either us or Stoke. Give it another year or two.

[DareToDibble]

What a remarkable recovery his back seems to have made.

Edited August 29, 2017 by DareToDibble
I can't spell.

[ThomThomDrum]

2 hours ago, Hugh Jass said:

Sterling's already well on the way to a cut price move either us or Stoke. Give it another year or two.

What? I thought he would for sure be heading to Real/Barca as the next Ronaldo!  

8 minutes ago, DareToDibble said:

What a remarkable recovery his back seems to have made.

 

I read some shite that someone said his injury was caused by emotional stress. Fuck right off