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02 Jan 2015 13:53:14
Re yesterdays game/result, very disappointed in Szczesney but then again, why should we be surprised? He's a liability, has been even when we are winning and when he's playing well. Imo we have never replaced Lehman and until we do, we will never compete or win major championships. Great goalkeepers (generally) evolve with age, Szczesney is a good keeper and can play very well when he's shot stopping but like all young players, he's prone to errors and bad judgement. Wenger is persevering with him at the cost of results (and us), Ospina deserves a shot but in all honesty, we need to dig deep and buy an established, international class keeper from one of the top leagues.
Mert should go at the end of the season. I admire his attitude but he's been shown up both at club level and in the WC (when dropped for the latter stages and final) and is imo only in the team due to the lack of depth, experience and leadership at the club. I can't really fault Gibbs and Kos and Debuchy are international standard however imagine a Hummels, Kompany or Thiago Silva with Kos and a quality keeper behind them, the spine is drastically stronger.
Chambers was very subdued yesterday but I think I'm right in saying he played a large chunk of his short career Southampton as a DM. Its hard to say what role AW has in mind for him but imo he has the ability, strength and physique to be a very good holding player. Coquelin isn't the answer but to see a naturally defensive midfielder in the team shows up the problem we've all been shouting about for years now. Again, I think Gilberto Silva was the last player of quality we've had in that position, another AW has failed to replace.
Lastly, I think its a fact that we've converted the least amount of shots per Premiership team this season. Giroud has been out and Welbeck isn't a poacher, that explains a lot of the problem but I also think all our best attacking work is done outside the box. I'm thnking Sanchez cutting inside, Ox running at the full backs, we don't get the ball into feet enough in the penalty area. Wilshire out so often also effects this, he carries the ball and attacks the box. We brought on Walcott and Akpom but again, Theo does his best work running behind from wide positions and Akpom won't look good unless balls are played into feet, its a tactical issue, not personnel. If we end up buying Cavani, personally I think its a massive amount of money in the wrong area.
So, a long post which basically says replace Szczesney and a new center half and CDM, have I just re-invented the wheel?!
/Son1ka
1.) 02 Jan 2015 19:40:45
Good post.
07 Jan 2014 08:42:05
(Hi Anna!)
With Walcott out for the rest of the season, we really need to replace his 15-18 goals from midfield. I`m sure Podolski would weigh in with that many if he had a better all round game, but he won't start enough games imo. and that is assuming he isn't kept on the bench as a reserve striker. If we end up falling away and losing the title in the second half of the season, this injury and how AW deals with it will be analysed endlessly.
Gnarby is an excellent prospect and we have Chamberlain coming back, but its the lack of goals that I'm concerned about. I also think it puts too much strain on a thin squad, our bench has been very strong recently and given the amount of competitions we're involved in, we need depth more than ever.
Di Maria, Pedro, Draxler, Reus, all these players would capably replace Theos place in the team and also being us a dozen or so goals, maybe with the exception of Di Maria. But their employees know AFC are desperate to buy and the cost, even if they were willing to sell, would be way over the odds and I just don't see AW playing ball.
From being in a place where AW could pick and choose whether he brought in a striker this month, he needs to be very clever in what he does, this window could end up deciding our season fate.
/Son1ka
16 Dec 2013 15:19:55
Been a while since I posted on here, a few observations about the weekend etc.
6-3 Loss against City was harsh, could easily have been 6-6. What I saw though was our midfield being found out, especially Flamini. He's brought us some much needed bite in that position but, just like he's no where near the French national team, there are plenty of other players better in that position around the world. Matuidi would be great, Khadera another. Its been often said but I`d even give Vermaelen a run out there (providing we have fit defenders elsewhere ofc), Flamini and Wilshere just couldn't compete physically with Toure and Fernandinho.
AVB has gone, they're problems were balance of the team imo, the link up between midfield and attack was poor and they had too many defensive minded players. I'd love to nick Paulinho tho, quality player. How much did they spend on Lemala, don't understand that if he's not going to play.
Saw Osasuna/Real Madrid last night and Benzama played awful. Terrible first touch, body language was negative, looked really out of sorts. He scores more goals than Giroud but his support play isn't as good. I'd take him at AFC but there's plenty other strikers who would be preferable.
We must get points out of Chelsea or yet again, everyone will be saying we can't beat the 'big clubs'.
/Son1ka
29 Aug 2013 22:21:41
Dunno how some people are treating our CL group so lightly, Dortmond are by far the strongest team in it. Marseille are a decent team but are the weakest whilst Napoli did us in pre season and are strong this season. I think Dortmond will win the group with us and Napoli slogging it out for 2nd place.
The key is to win our home games and pick up some points away from home, Marseille away is a `must not lose` and Napoli away is the important one to win or draw.
1.) 30 Aug 2013 01:01:50
WTF are you on about?
25 Aug 2013 18:43:35
I actually quite like Sagna as CB, he's fast and decent on the ball, can drop off and cover plus experienced enough to read the play better than most. It leaves Jenkinson as our only RB but then again its only when TV5 or Kos are injured or unavailable. I`m not sure any defenders will come in during this window for this reason, any that do come in will only sit on the bench as Mert, Kos and TV5 will be ahead in the pecking order. Miquel`s loan is only til January so I can see him coming back from that to add depth (shouldnt have gone imho anyway).
I think we`ll bring in a new GK (obvious reason why), striker (no depth in the squad) and a wide attacking player who can change the game. Other than that everything else is to add depth to the squad, either Flamini or Cabaye, or both. I`d love to see a strong holding midfielder but it seems too much to ask given our usual tentative nature in the market, plus a GK, Striker and Winger seem far more a priority.
I think AW will do is make do with what we have now (probably Coquelin plus a fit player from Wilshire, Ramsay, Cazorla or Flamini alongside if we go 2 in front of the defence) in anticipation of grabbing Schneiderlin in the summer. I kind of agree, I think Schneiderlin is probably one of the best holding midfielders around right now and its I'd rather tough it out till the Summer than buy someone not as good now.
Paulista looks almost certain to join judging by other sites, able to play at full back or in the middle, 24 years of age and Brazilian. ticks a few boxes!
/Son1ka
I agree with you about Chambers at DM, he's very good on the ball with a great touch, tall and commanding, AW converted Petit into a DM and insists on playing Monreal at CB, I'd give Chambers at go in midfield too.
Carzola is playing better it seems when asked to drop deeper, almost alongside the DM. I think he's more positionally aware than some of the other attacking players and holds the ball well under pressure. The return from Welbeck isn't good enough no, but that's always been the criticism of him and somethign we need to work on.
And yes, it should have been 4 or 5-1 to AFC yesterday, they were overrun and outplayed in the second half especially.
/Son1ka
Its odd that Coquelin has failed in Germany and AFC in the past, yet I agree, he looked great against WHU. It makes a difference having a true DM in the team as opposed to converted CM players or Flamini (who has never impressed imo). A combination of Coq and Arteta would work well I think, atleast until the end of the season.
/Son1ka
Fabien Delph is available on a free come the end of the season, given AW recent preference for young English players I can see that happening given the chance. I think he's developed into a very good holding midfielder too, I'd like to see him at AFC. Vlaar from Villa is also a decent buy, a fully committed leader at the back and far more mobile than Mert. I think Villa would be absolutely mad to sell both but given their personal circumstances (out of contract or playing in a team far below their true level) I can't see them hanging on to them for very long.
/Son1ka
I'm going to throw in a name rarely mentioned in connection to the job but I do think it has weight - Remi Garde.
Garde was one of AW first signings at AFC along with Vieira, Grimandi and Petit and was brought in as a player AW felt comfortable working with (many managers do this). He played 2 seasons before retiring thru injury then some years later became Lyon manager. He recently left the club due to personal/family reasons but at 48, still has many years ahead of him. Under Garde Lyon played and set up like a mini-Arsenal, similar formation and player style, most will know AW has been linked with Lyon players such as Grenier and Gourcuff in the last couple of seasons, Lacerzette will be a EPL player too before soon. Whilst David Dein was at the club he recommended publicly that Garde would one day coach at the club and whilst Dein is (sadly) no longer here, it still says volumes.
All the above names have credence in their own way, Simeone perhaps more than others imo due to his ability of taking an under achieving team and turning them into a European force but I have a feeling AW will go upstairs and in a move similar to Alex Ferguson, have a huge say on his successor and pick an ex-player such as Garde to take over.