17 Jan 2019 16:08:50
Should we be buying a right back and utilising Hector as right winger? Always liked him going forward not so much defending . Could cover RB too! Who’s with me or is it a dizzy spell 😀 COUG.
17 Jan 2019 16:43:11
Hi Sussex, i think ultimately Dick favours 3 at the back, for the future, if that is the case, for me the only place Bellerin has at this club is wing back. If we play 4 at the back for me bellerin is a dodgy right back and isn't for me strong or good enough. If we play 4 at the back that would most likely mean 3 in midfield, i don't see bellerin there and i don't see him being good enough to play up top of the three on the right side either. I suppose what i am saying is it depends on the formation, to get the best out of bellerin.
17 Jan 2019 16:54:35
I always thought we should of tried it when we had debouchy, when we were always exposed with a lack of cover because who ever else played there didn't offer much tracking back, we would of been much sounder defencivly, unfortunately his crossing and finishing isn't great, but in games against exceptional wingers that we were going to get spanked in it would of been worth a try.
17 Jan 2019 21:25:33
Agree it depends on formation! I think the thing I have been most disappointed in - hold the front page - is the lack of improvement in our defence despite adding Torreira to the team. It is a concern we are still leaking goals and not improving as a defensive unit having added a quality DM. Especially as we aren’t splashing any cash we need to improve what we have! Two things I’m hoping for is that it is due to Unai’s first season the defence is not improving and we will see it take shape next season and secondly we find a way to get Ozil’s head out of his arse and start assisting again! Oh and this ten year challenge, the Spuds trophy cabinet was as empty then as it is now 😀COYG.
17 Jan 2019 21:56:05
Personally I'd go for
3 Cbs
Belerin, Maitland Niles, Torreira, Guendouzi, Kol
Lacasette Pea
In a 3 5 2 formation with Torreira holding and both Maitland and Guendouzi providing the energy to get up and back. Not ideal but we don't have many cards to shuffle in our current pack plus Mesut and Ramsey are both soon likely to be removed from the equation complely so there is little point worrying about either them.
The good news is it gets Xhaka out of the starting 11 which would be new.
17 Jan 2019 22:25:13
Anyway we get xhaka and mustaffi out of the team has to be an improvement. Most of our mistakes come from those two.
17 Jan 2019 22:56:11
Bellerin, Maitland Niles, Torreira, Kola
Ozil
Laca Pea.
18 Jan 2019 01:52:08
Gunners mate, who would provide creating chances from the midfield? And Not much muscle in your midfield either.
18 Jan 2019 07:15:07
Bellerin was a right winger when signed from Barcelona and was converted into a right/ wing back by Wenger. The problem is he cannot tackle and has no defensive awareness or positional sense. As a right winger his delivery needs massive improvement. In the summer when Lichtsteiner's contract ends we should sign a RB, Cedric Soares of Southampton is a decent player. WE couldretain Bellerin, as he useful against certain teams when we dominate.
18 Jan 2019 08:03:04
But who is there Moe who can do that job not Xhaka that's more than obvious and both Ramsey and Ozil will be gone this month if both players and Arsenal get their way.
Arsenal Ozil and Ramsey all want to part company.
We know everything we are ever going to know about Xhaka so why not use this season to find out about others we have capabilities, top 4 isn't going to happen and 5th or 6th in the grand scheme of things does it really matter both are europa league next season.
The absolute worse thing we can do is nothing and just see the season out as we are, what's the point in that when we already know all we are going to know.
18 Jan 2019 10:17:33
I agree G62, in that sadly we don't really have anyone who can supply power in midfield, so for me, you might as well try and make up for that with energy, and playing the 3 of Torreira, MN and Guendouzi might just be worth a try. I still look at the Man City midfield 3 played against Liverpool in total awe. They played a 3 of Fernandihnio with David and Bernando Silva, not exactly the massive power you think you would need against a team such as Liverpool, and i thought they were going to get totally dominated. How wrong i was, with Bernando Silva especially a total revelation with his energy and work rate. There are more than 1 way to skin a cat as they say, and perhaps youthful energy could be worth a look.
18 Jan 2019 11:24:02
Totally agree with you Epping and use Maitland-Niles in his preferred position. We are in serious danger of ruining another talented lad by playing him out of position. Just as he thinks he's in the squad he gets shafted because he's 'filling in'. You don't get many old school box to box midfielders these days and he's openly said he would love to fill that role. If anyone hasn't seen his interview with Iwboi, it's worth a watch. Big fan of him and I hope he doesn't leave for regular game time elsewhere.
18 Jan 2019 12:31:34
Hello fellas. Big fan of the page but rarely post. I'm not sure power is what is needed. I think the team needs a carzola type of player. A player with speed and is mobile enough to get about the pitch. The problem with xhaka he needs too much time on the ball. Teams have found us now. When we are playing out from the back the opposition don't press when mustafi or papa are on the ball. Everyone knows they are not going to split open defences so they wait till xhaka has it and then press. He's too slow so it either goes back or he loses it. When that happens to city they have Bernardo or aguaro or Silva dropping deep as well as sterling and mane adding width. We have iwobi who doesn't want the ball with his back to goal and auba who wants it in the middle. The balance is all wrong. The early Wenger days everyone wanted the ball and were constantly moving. At present we are just so predictable.
18 Jan 2019 13:04:28
My point is Maitland-Niles doesn’t cut it for me, his aggressiveness is zero, he’s too nice. I can’t see him doing the job next to Gunedouzi and Torriera, they are not a hood match. We need someone commanding and bossing the midfield next to Torriera. The ozil and Cesc of old days type of player. As for now either we like it or not and forget about his mood, Ozil is our best option. If he depart along with ramsey than than surely another cm is on the way. None of our midfield have that killer pass in them and that’s the problem.
At the moment with our dodgy defence we can only think to out score our opponents.
18 Jan 2019 16:49:46
I think the thing is MG is that MN is only 21, and therefore if given the chance, especially at his preferred position of CM, then he stands a good chance of getting better, unlike say Xhaka, who has consistently shown he is both not good enough to play in the premiership as part of a 2 man midfield, and at his age, is unlikely to improve. Yes, MN won't get physically bigger, but as Torreira, and for Man City Bernado Silva show, you don't have to be large to make a physical statement on a game. Saying that would i like a physical beast to play alongside Torriera, hell yes (Geoffrey Kongodbia would be my choice if we had the cash to splash) , but as that's not currently an option, perhaps a high level of workrate you get from the "youngsters" such as MN and Guendouzi, will help make up for it?
18 Jan 2019 18:04:54
Epping mate, you misunderstood my point, it’s not the physical aspect I’m talking about, it’s rather the attitude, he’s not tough, Guendozi looks tougher. I know he’s still young but his buddy language and his tackling and the way he protects the ball not good enough for now. I hope he will a be great for us but he is far off for now imo.
I’m not slating the kid its just he just look shy on the pitch.
Until ozil goes, he should be played as we don’t have a better option to create chances.
Since ozil been dropped most our chances came from our left/ wing back in kola, I think that says a lot about our midfield. i'm not saying xhaka should play I bloody hope he gets a red card or pull out a hamstring sometimes.
