Arsenal Banter Archive June 15 2015

15 Jun 2015 21:17:43
What do you guys think, is coq good enough to start next season or do we need a signing. Just wondering if coq ability has not been exagerrated due to lack of quality DM in the squad. For example his ability to hold onto the ball and create play.

15 Jun 2015 21:24:44
He is more than good enough proved it already he's going to save us 30m spend that on a striker wasn't his stats better than the Chelsea tent boy

15 Jun 2015 21:41:09
He made some cracking pases last season when he either intercepted the pass or made a brilliant tackle then simply released the ball quickly but very accurately turning defence into attack quickly and simply and very affectively.
Like Mesuts work rate Le Coqs passing quite often goes unnoticed by many.

15 Jun 2015 21:48:05
He did very well, but if wenger doesn't buy a central mid to play with or in place of for injury, big away games and competition then we will pay. that's one area we don't have depth of quality.

15 Jun 2015 21:55:39
Mate le coq has been great. But I personally think that our lack of DM before he came back made him look even better... Sorry the team looked better! The shape was better and I think ozil became a lot better because le coq was mopping everything up and ozil could concentrate on going forward

15 Jun 2015 22:40:44
James McCarthy would be decnt cover coming in as part of a deal involving Poldolski and maybe Joel Campbell passing him on the motorway.

15 Jun 2015 23:00:58
Would love it if we grabbed Schneiderlin or that Kondogbia chappie, but if we go into the season with Coq as our 'Police Officer', I would take it.

Would still be a bit worried if he gets injured though.

15 Jun 2015 23:12:34
im all for given the lad a chance. he has not put a foot wrong and is another of our players who has come good after quite awhile.

but we need assurance. if diaby and flamini are leaving us and we are going to reduce the wage bill by releasing or selling, poldi and campbell and miyachi, we need to invest that in a GK, which we will find out soon enough about, a CDM to cover and add depth, if not schneiderlin kondogbia is my pick. and i'm not sold on any striker besides benzema so if it was me id try theo up top with welbeck and giroud as options when form fades, and look into getting a worldie in the likes of vidal or reus.

16 Jun 2015 00:12:44
Yes, he's definitely good enough. But I don't see arteta or flamini as good enough to replace him when injured/suspended/exhausted, and I feel there are some away games especially in the CL where a second DM next to him will be necessary. So if we could get a schneiderlin / kondogbia / bender that would be a big boost to the squad and our trophy chances.

16 Jun 2015 05:21:21
We need another defensive midfield player to give us options to cover for Coquelin and to play in tandem with him. I would like to see us sign Schneiderlin.

16 Jun 2015 08:59:48
What about Beilik as cover? Wholly inexperienced of course, but deemed good enough by Arsene to go straight into the first team squad Or even Mr Wilshire? Seems capable of playing there for England, whether you agree with it or not?
Max

16 Jun 2015 09:03:54
Cool, thanks for all the input!

16 Jun 2015 13:50:00
Coq has not suddenly become good at winning the ball in midfield tackles or making interceptions, he has always done this from his first spell in the team before he was loaned out.

The major change is that before he would try to play like Jack or Rambo and dribble or make an incisive pass after he won the ball and would lose it again quickly and would often be out of position leaving a gap for the opposition to exploit.

Since his return he has followed Wengers advice and stuck to what he is good at, which is winning the ball, his passes are normally short to one of the more creative midfielders or wide men to start an attack, he then gets back to his defensive position. This has worked well and has greatly improved our defensive stability but does slow down the play when the ball is won in midfield because his first ball is often square.

However the very best defensive midfielders win the ball and then convert defence to attack quickly either by taking the ball round a layer of the oppositions defensive midfield line and laying it off or by a quick long ball pass into the path of an attacker. This speeds up the play and can make the most of a ball won when the opposition players are pushing up in attack.

I think if we really want to compete for the EPL or in Europe we need one of the best type of DM to take us to the next level and make the most of whichever world class striker Wenger brings in.

Coq is still needed as a more defensive mid and would be great cover, the lad has done well and deserves a place in the First Team squad, but sentimentality aside if we want to compete with the Chelsea's and the Barcelona's we need the best we can get in every position on the park and there are more accomplished DM's than him out there with more strings to their bows. E.g. Goals, driving runs, switching play, defense cover in set plays, clearing headers etc.

16 Jun 2015 18:41:27
I agree with the majority of what you're saying Gunny but I have seen him go past players with a great bit of skill and play the quick long diagonal ball, as in the one to Walcott which started the move for our first goal at Wembley, on a number of occasions.

With the creative players we have in the side his natural ability to break up the play pretty much mirrors what Matic does at Chelsea and everyone has raved about him but he again has Fabregas next to him and Hazard ahead, as Coquelin has Cazorla and Sanchez ahead.

We have pace to burn bar Giroud and it's the massive defensive difference he has made that has made the biggest difference. I still see no problem with bringing in another DM but the defensive side of that player at this time has to be the most important.

15 Jun 2015 16:54:14
I think Arsenal are planning to spend considerably higher than previous windows; reflecting their growing financial clout. It is widely reported that we are interested in Sterling, which would take at the very least £40m, and possibly £50m. In addition to a CDM and a new keeper, the outlay could be in excess of £75m. Of course, we may recoup some of that with Podolski, potentially Walcott, and a few others being shipped out/let go, but it could be the last piece in a title winning jigsaw. Thoughts?

15 Jun 2015 18:05:23
I do not think we need or are after another CDM, Wenger likes Coquelin and doesn't need to strengthen their seing as Arteta and Flamini are still on the books, Also Jack can play their and so can Chambers.
I see this as being a quiet transfer window, With maybe Cech/Casillas coming in. No defenders as we don't need any as there are 2 for every position. Jenkinson will go on loan again.
Possibility of Sanago leaving/loan but certainly a striker to come in if the price is right. However, Wenger liking Giroud and Walcott means we won't be overpriced for an average joe so unless Benzema or Lewankdowski come available then i do not think we will get a striker. I don't put Jackson Martinez in that quality bracket so he may come in.
Sterling will end up at Chelsea or City, they need home grown players and offer rediculous wages and fees. It isn't a position we are weak in (even though i would live him to play for us)
Walcott to sign new contract. Padolski leave, sanago leave, Campbell leave

15 Jun 2015 18:23:09
If we don't spend what's required because of the increase revenue for everyon , we will fall back, its not rocket science. 25 mil players become 40 to 50 mil players. 50 mil players become 80 to 90. If we buy 25 mil players we are getting players that were worth 10 to 15 mil, like giroud,arteta and pod, not sancez, ozil or cazorla who we got cheap because his club were potless. The stakes for very good to great players has been raised. Even everton paid 25 mil for a player, sign of things to come.

15 Jun 2015 18:35:04
Wenger, whether he has money or not, will always be frugal with the pennies.

He will always sell before he buys and will only pay market value if he thinks the player is worth it, ala Ozil and Sanchez.

If Liverpool value Sterling at £50m, Wenger won't touch him with a barge pole.

15 Jun 2015 18:40:59
I don't agree. We've got a pretty large squad now. I think that if we were going to make significant investments, we'd need to sell first. We do have two players for every position off the top of my head, and that's I'd pod and Campbell go. So if we are keeping arteta, flamini, rosicky,Walcott welbeck etc, we will be paying a lot of players a lot of money to not play for us, assuming we don't have a ridiculous injury list.

What worries me is more signings in midfield especially could be terrible for the ox for example. Maybe it is the right time for Walcott to move on if we are going to be signing attacking players?

Personally I hope we sign an absolutely top quality centre back. I'd prefer a better keeper. Ospina gas seemed more reliable than shez, but the defence has been much improved the second half of the season which makes the gks job a lot easier. I'd love to sign a top striker. And a defensive midfielder. So off the top of mg head, say for example Cech, hummels, carvahlo and cavani. they're not my choices just an example. But if we were to sign them I think we'd need to get rid of shez,flamini and one of welbeck and Walcott otherwise there's just not enough room in the squad in my opinion. Maybe a case is to be made for getting rid of arteta and rosicky also.

15 Jun 2015 18:43:19
Can't believe we would pay 40-50 mill for sterling.

If that is the figure he's at then what the hell is Jack worth? And how about Theo?


I really don't see us even wanting him to be hones.... Judging by the reactions of the players on the field we have a good dressing room - not worth spoiling it.

15 Jun 2015 19:49:55
Cech 100% likely if we can get him and either Reus,Draxler or Pedro if available and the price is right.
Theo Danny and Olly will be our forwards for next season and only if Theo leaves will we buy a striker.
Arsene showed signs of being less players happiness ordinated last season refusing to rotate and playing his considered best team week after week so he isn't going to give him self to many extra headaches by overloading further still.
Le Coq is undropable for Arsene ( me too to be honest) so Flamini will be his deputy as I think Artetta is ofski if he can a get a descent deal with game time he won't get with us.

15 Jun 2015 20:21:45
With our injury record I can safely say we need 4 players in each position

15 Jun 2015 21:51:33
Ece you have anwered your own question, they are worth more than people think because the price of players has just gone up. Especially home grown.

15 Jun 2015 14:19:29
Hood,

How did that rain check go?

I must say to great goals from Jack last night, u know I think Cleverly might struggle to regain his place if he keeps this up at this rate. Well until Jack gets injured/caught doing summit he shouldn't again.

Pleasure x

15 Jun 2015 16:00:42
Yeah that Jack is a very naughty boy.

By the way, Cleverley (who Man U are ofcourse responsible for) doesn't play regardless of whether Wilshere does so that's moot. That's been the case for a while now too.

I do hope he stays uninjured though and, like you say, keeps this up at this rate because last night shows us another glimpse of what he can do when he's up to it.

Also, what do you make of Smalling's performance, or Smalling in general I should say? Every now and then I think he could become a decent CB but just as I start thinking that, he goes and puts in a poor performance.

xoxo

15 Jun 2015 17:02:44
I think Smalling is a very decent CB, not world-class and probably not going to develop into a world-class CB either but he's a stable hand to have in the squad.

U see unlike many arsenal fans I don't see 6 months of decent performance and then declare that player is world-class.

:)

15 Jun 2015 18:30:09
Chris,

Smalling is, at best, above average.

He had plenty of potential when he was at Fulham, but has not progressed as a centre half in 5 years at OT.

You could possibly argue, and rightly so, Theo is our equivalent of Smalling, plenty of unfulfilled potential.

But as for Coquelin, c'mon mate, the guy is not World Class, only a fool would think so, but he has been brilliant for us since playing in the first team.

15 Jun 2015 18:30:16
Its strange cahill is a decent cb, but he looks clueless for england. I don't rate smalling yet, but he is improving, but he needs to get a pair and a few scars on his face to look like a proper cb. Mind i suppose the same could be said about cahill, too pretty looking, i like my cb to be thugs and look like they mean business.

15 Jun 2015 18:46:57
No you don't CTR like all manure lovers you say that as soon as they pull on the shirt for the pre transfer pic!

15 Jun 2015 18:47:03
I think if he was around ten years ago he wouldn't even be in the Manchester United reserves, let alone the England team. He's worse than Evans in my opinion.

15 Jun 2015 19:31:43
Did I mention Coqulain dags? Hmm....

But while u bought up that subject, name me a game where he had been as good as the game at city?

Disappeared at old Trafford, got a stupid amount of praise in the final when he had nothing really to do. Was no where when Chelsea played u and when Liverpool came to London they were shot to pieces.

But other than that yes he played well when u played Swansea ;)

15 Jun 2015 20:12:29
Chris,

It's the nature of the beast mate.

Players like him will never grab the headlines, like Ozil, Sanchez, Walcott and Wilshere.

They get the goals and the headlines, but players like Coquelin make it possible for players like Ozil to do their job.

He doesn't maraud forward, but stays behind and looks after the back 4.

Granted, he didn't have much to do in Cup Final, but that was down to Villa and not him.

Ask the majority of Arsenal supporters who their fav player is.
Most would say Adams, Ljungberg, Henry, Wrighty, Bergkamp etc etc etc.

Now, ask the same supporters who their fav unsung player was, a lot would say Gilberto Silva.

Coquelin is in the Silva mould.

An unsung hero, who quietly goes about his business.

15 Jun 2015 20:28:05
Where do you get your fishing bate CTR? Can you give me their address please...!!

15 Jun 2015 21:13:23
U had me until u started putting coq in the same bracket as Gilberto.

Brow I'm am the arsenal pages reckoning, I'm a necessary evil :)

15 Jun 2015 21:50:33
Your more like an anchor mate. Stops us sailing off to fantasy Island

15 Jun 2015 12:37:47
Was watching the Colombia match and noticed Ospinas footwork is not the best he needs to work on it

15 Jun 2015 12:46:54
He will learn a lot from Cech :-)

15 Jun 2015 17:04:25
Hopefully

15 Jun 2015 17:39:31
Thought he was a goalie, not a boxer or a contestant on Strictly.

14 Jun 2015 23:45:54
Walcott and Wilshere are 2 of the best English footballers around, if not the best. What they have achieved already despite their injuries is tremendous. They have their best years ahead of them. Having English players now is vital and we have the best. I honestly don't understand why anyone would want to get rid. Who would you replace them with? Sterling? No thanks. Cleverley, Henderson or Barkley? No thanks. Ramsey would get into any top 4 team and people wanted rid of him a couple of years ago. We should support our players till the end, that's what it takes to be a fanatic. If we could replace these players with anyone from any country then o.k. we could possibly replace them with better but we can't. Chelsea, Manchester United and City are struggling to get enough quality homegrown talent at the mo to meet the quotas. We are not. We have it in abundance. We have been striving on all levels to be the best footballing team and club in England and Europe for the last 10 tears and we are very very close. Let's be happy with that. COYG

{Ed007's Note - You've kind of lost your own argument mate, Walcott and Wilshere are the best English players but look at who they have to be better than, the Cleverleys etcof this world. Being the best out of a bad lot doesn't mean you're anything special and like most of the over-hyped English players they get found out against the stronger international teams.}

15 Jun 2015 07:01:46
Good to see a totally unbiased view there Davros mate :-) but for the record I think the Ox is a far better player than either Jack or Theo as things stand, all 3 suffer serious injury issues but in least time the Ox has had the most consistent performances of the 3.
Jack was excellent yesterday no question there but for both club and country the Ox is our stand out English player

15 Jun 2015 14:28:27
No mate - Ox is a stud no doubt and luv him to bits, but Theo is the purebred of the bunch and a total game changer. let's revisit when Ox has turned Barcelona on its head the way Theo did and few can.

Room for both for sure but at the peak of his powers Theo has to be one of the first names on the sheet.

15 Jun 2015 19:01:21
Davros - DEAD RIGHT!

Theo, Jack, Ramsey and the OX are the dogs danglers and they can become even better... I think they will all get better with AFC!!!

KEEP THEM PLEASE

15 Jun 2015 19:16:08
And Wilshere against Barcelona or Ox v Bayern Rooster mate? They've all shown moments of brilliance but for me Ox was 2 and only to Sanchez first half of last season and was consistently excellent which is something both Theo and Jack are yet to be, but hopefully we will see it yet.
At 26 Theo needs to be more than a potential star very shortly and for me that's only going to happen down the middle.

15 Jun 2015 22:49:57
G I am with you Ox is consistently solid player and Theo can be spectacular, great finish in the cup wouldn't you say? So I guess its just a matter of taste…