12 May 2019 21:30:24
Do any of the Ed's have an opinion on Xhaka? He seems to give the ball away in dangerous areas but he is the best at passing through the lines. I also feel we miss him when he doesn't play.

{Ed001's Note - he is a very average, on a good day, lower end Prem player. Offers little to the team.}

1.) 13 May 2019
13 May 2019 06:36:30
Xhaka is an enigma. On his day, an excellent link between defence and attack. However, he can be a total liability. Against Brighton I can’t fathom out why he gives away the penalty that arguably cost us 4th place.
There are also question marks over his defending, which I thought would improve under Emery.
However, both Wenger and now Emery played him consistently.
We have other areas in the team that need improving such as full/ wing backs that can defend. A tall, commanding centre back and the greatest problem is no width and attacking midfield players that contribute so little defensively. Such as Ozil, Mkhitaryan and Iwobi.

2.) 13 May 2019
13 May 2019 09:45:08
Would welcome selling xhaka for a half decent price just don't see what he offers tbh can't tackle illdisiplined and gives away dangerous fouls, does not track runners and slow sidways passing for the most part, he has a decent long shot that is about it.

Lets give AMN a chance to shine in his position. I think the priority shoud be two CB's to replace Mustafi and chambers that both need selling not forgetting Kos will be in final season. That will most likely take all our budget anyway.

3.) 13 May 2019
13 May 2019 12:19:15
I think that it is a double case that a) he is just not good enough and b) the whole deep lying playmaker just doesn't really work, and it just slows our play right down. Chelsea have suffered the exact same issues at times this season with everything having to go through Jorginho rather than just getting the ball up the pitch quicker to the players who make a real difference. It seems to me that the teams that have dominated this season get the ball up the pitch much quicker, use the full width of the pitch, and finally press high up the pitch.

4.) 13 May 2019
13 May 2019 15:33:16
Weird situation in that he's one of our worse performers and yet the only option most of the time. Our other deep players don't have the passing range to offer what Xhaka does. Agree that I'd like to see AMN get a go though.

5.) 13 May 2019
13 May 2019 17:22:18
Stats have shown we get more points without him than we do when he plays, I said on the day we got him he was a liability and it’s been proven.

6.) 13 May 2019
13 May 2019 18:47:17
Xhaka for me this year has again been hot and cold, we have missed him in games where he hasn’t played but again he is a liability 80%, Goundouzi would be more of a replacement for Xhaka as he is always available deep turns and looks to get play moving, great vision, just needs to work on the timing of his play a little more, but that will come woth experience in thw league AMN wouldn’t be able to play in a deep play maker role, he’s more of a box to box playmaker, suppose he would be a good replacement for Ramsey, if he could hit the ground running. On the plus side i was rather impressed again by Joe Willock on Sunday, showing signs of real promise, potential future midfield 3 of Terreira, AMN/ Willock Goundeouzi. I feel in the summer we need to really be buying leaders more than anything, for me 2 new commanding CBs a LB with an engine, and some steel in the middle, i don't want Doucoure but a player of his size and mobility would be great, just abit more technique 🤣 if Emery gets this summer right then we could either be challenging seriously for 2nd/ 3rd if he gets it wrong we will be exactly where we are now. Big summer needed!