25 Nov 2016 22:47:00
We all agree we are missing Cazorla badly. People have talked about Isco as a replacement and others too. I would like to suggest someone else who'd come at a price even Wenger wouldn't mind. Jack Wilshire.
It seems the way the season has gone that it was Ramsey who should have gone out on loan - Wilshire to me is the more natural Santi clone.
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26 Nov 2016 08:15:39
Whaaaaat?
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26 Nov 2016 13:17:58
Would prefer to cash in on Wilshire and perhaps one other, either Ox or Ramsey and splash the cash on a decent player. Central midfield is a key role worth spending decent cash on IMO. Isco would not be my choice for a premiership midfielder, more an Ozil replacement, I. e. good going forward but a liability defending.
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26 Nov 2016 14:16:24
Get my boy back at the club!
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26 Nov 2016 15:15:54
there are very few players who are as naturally talented as Santi. like everyone says, he has that special something. Thiago from Bayern would be my first choice replacement.
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26 Nov 2016 16:10:17
It would have been handy to have Jack right now because of Caz injury but I'd look for a more proven solution to replace Caz long term, at this moment in time Jack for Carzola on a permanent basis would be a step backwards when we desperately need to be improving the quality of the side.
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26 Nov 2016 18:28:05
62 - with Jack it's his fitness that concerns me. He would miss too many games and we would be having the same debate all over again. I also agree that he is not a natural replacement or upgrade on Santi. Although if he sorted his life out and had a run of twenty games - who knows but I don't want to risk building the balance of our team around someone with such poor professionalism when it comes to his body plus his fitness.
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26 Nov 2016 18:54:55
Agree SY but who knows maybe this season away might be the making of Jack both on and off the pitch, 5 years ago he looked like the player we would build our team around and now there's a big question mark over where he will find his level as a player, champions league club Spursday night league standard or mid table standard.
If he has anyone who is a good enough friend to point this out to him and he is capable of listening to them he might yet go on to have something close to the career that once looked assured.
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26 Nov 2016 19:23:19
I really hope so but it looks like his friends enjoy Jake's money, fame and lifestyle
This is the sentence that hit home: "If he has anyone who is a good enough friend to point this out to him and he is capable of listening to them . " : (
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26 Nov 2016 20:36:25
I might be rude, sorry. but if anyone dares to compare Santi to Wilshere? you must be crazy :-)
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27 Nov 2016 01:35:27
SY4, you were rude. Play the ball not the man. That is, stick to the argument, don't make aspersions about someone because they have a different opinion to you.
Also I think if Wenger stays and Wilshire has a good season at Bournemouth, you will find Wenger will be comparing Wilshire to Cazorla. That is, I think Wenger will try to put Wilshire into the Cazorla role.
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25 Nov 2016 14:18:25
Seen recently a lot of teams have started using a 3-4-3 system in the Premier League now and it seems to work well with the right personel. Its obviously been a huge success for Chelsea seeing as they've won 6 on the bounce without conceding a goal. Watford been using this system aswell and they're 8th in the league i think? When Spurs used it against us it stopped us creating many chances.
So was wondering would you like to see us try out this system? And what players would we use for it?
Id go for:
Cech
Mustafi, Koscienly, Gabriel
Bellerin, Ramsey, Xhaka, Gibbs
Walcott, Alexis, Ozil
Bellerin and Gibbs certainly have the pace to get up and down the wings and offer an attacking threat. Ramsey and Xhaka both have energy and a good range of passing. wouldn't need a DM as we compensate my having 3 CBs. All of which are strong and mobile being able to set up into midfield or cover at RB/ LB position. Then the front 3 would be allowed fluidity and not have to worry to much about defensive responsibilities.
Obvs there's debate for others who would start, like Coquelain or Cazrola in midfield. Or Giroud upfront to have a target man in the side. or even Iwobi aswell. Ox could also play instead of Gibbs/ Bellerin.
What do you guys think? I personally wouldn't risk trying a new system but itd be interesting to see how we perform under it.
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25 Nov 2016 15:58:17
With wenger its a non starter. he's too old hat.
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25 Nov 2016 18:55:49
I'd go 3 5 2 with Walcott and Xhaka dropping out and Le Coq fitting in the centre and Caz on the left of a middle 3, very difficult to break down and extremely effective on the break imo.
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25 Nov 2016 21:56:48
Could you trust Gabriel? Also Koscielny likes to come out of the line if he feels he needs to. He knows he has good pace to get back if he is wrong. Back 3 is a no no for me.
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26 Nov 2016 09:23:14
If we played Kos as sweeper he would cover both Gabriel and Gibbs weaknesses more easily as part of a back 3 than 2 in my opinion, Gibbs and Belerin would provide the width with more freedom while both Ramsey and Cazs defensive duties would be less imperative, I think it would suit us well personally.
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{Ed025's Note - kos as a sweeper?...not for me mate, good stopper but is not exactly the brightest bulb on the tree which you need to play that role, hes also not quick enough mate but thats just my opinion of course mate..
26 Nov 2016 09:53:31
Fair shout Ed mate but he does react quickly enough to cover lots of mistakes by others now as part of a 2 and I just think he would do it better still as the centre of a 3.
Ideally your sweeper wants to have great pace be able to read the game like a by book and be very comfortable on the ball plus be able to pick out a quality telling pass that changes attack into defence quickly and effectively, not too many of those knocking about at the moment mate but for me Kos is the closest we have or are likely to get to having one.
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26 Nov 2016 13:23:57
Yes if we added van Dijk from Soton to sweep with Kos and mustafi covering the fullback positions. Wouldn't trust Gabriel in a back 6 let alone a back 3. Cash in on him and let BFG go and use the salary and cash on Van Dijk. I think Belerin would fit perfectly pushed more forward in a 5 midfield but not sure about Monreal. Perhaps we would need a better left winger who is capable of also defending. Draxler perhaps?
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26 Nov 2016 18:24:09
Ricardo Rodriguez or Jetro Willems? (free agent end of year)
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27 Nov 2016 10:15:07
I think we missed a trick last year. We should've played three at the back when we lost Coquelin and Cazorla to injury in the space of a week. Playing three who were happy to sit relatively deep might have been worth a try then because it would have allowed the rest of the midfield and the two full-backs to get further forward while still leaving three sitting back, just as we get when there's a proper DM holding right in front of the CB pairing.
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