The Wish List

Could / does Asamoah play a similar dynamic defensive B2B role as Flamini played in 07/08?
If so then I'd take him ahead of Song.

Don't want Flamini back.

Rather see us doing our best to ensure Coquelin has a future here. He's got bigger potential than Flamini and he's not as limited.

If we definitely lost Coquelin and Diaby was to leave as well, I'd think about it again, though.

Not a top, top quality player but see a few of the smaller Prem clubs looking at Nedum Onuoha in the Jan transfer window.
Would not see him as a starter but he is pretty versatile and can play across the back 4 and also in midfield. Could be useful as cover for our injury prone defenders.
Not a priority in any way but an interesting option perhaps.
Thoughts?

Could / does Asamoah play a similar dynamic defensive B2B role as Flamini played in 07/08?
If so then I'd take him ahead of Song.

How can you know so little of a play as to not know what position he plays and yet be so sure you'd take him over Song?

Cavani please.

Cavani please.

Napoli's front three are built for speed - I'd take any of them on tonight's performance.

Could / does Asamoah play a similar dynamic defensive B2B role as Flamini played in 07/08?
If so then I'd take him ahead of Song.

How can you know so little of a play as to not know what position he plays and yet be so sure you'd take him over Song?

Explain yourself Anzac!

Anyways Asamoah is a more attacking/technical player and wouldn't be my ideal signing. Plus he's African and we could do with Song's alternative not jogging off to the ANC as well.

Cavani would cost a bomb. Would be worth it but then we'd also have the issue of juggling RVP and him in the central role, which is why this would never happen.

Lavezzi would probably be more believable, cheaper, and would fit in with our current set-up using pacy forwards in the wide roles. Runs all day long aswell, but doesn't really score enough. Would be a good addition IMO.

As good as we've been lately i think 4-4-2 should still be considered for certain games. Would allow us to give Park/Chamakh games alongside RvP and also allow us to mix things up a bit more.

Would also mean that we could spend a bit on the right player knowing that he wouldn't just be a back-up.

As good as we've been lately i think 4-4-2 should still be considered for certain games. Would allow us to give Park/Chamakh games alongside RvP and also allow us to mix things up a bit more.

Would also mean that we could spend a bit on the right player knowing that he wouldn't just be a back-up.

I don't know how well we'd keep the ball that way. It's possible if you have a player capable of playing SS but helping keep the ball in the middle. If you give up the technical quality, and you lose out in the middle, and therefore unnecessarily sacrificing possession, you expose yourself more. Especially if it's a team like us built around that idea, and not meant to be defensively oriented. Our defense is based on winning the ball back quickly higher up the pitch, or has been most of the time; rather than soaking up pressure and dealing with heaps of opposition attack. most teams who share close to half or more of the ball don't just play tippy tappy like barca; they come at us every chance they get, like Chelsea or Utd. even WBA at home last season.

So, with the perfect blend of players, we could play 4-4-2. It would mean RvP playing just off the striker, and two industrious AND skilled midfielders able to do the specific job asked of each of them. They'd need to drift in and pick up the ball at times, and they'd need to share the creativity. If one of them is sharing playmaking duties this way, the other would have to take higher role, either wide or joining the attackers. So, if we want to mimimize the burden on RvP, then we'd need the perfect mix of other players in the formation, and we'd need to convert chances more instead of having RvP run around all game and risking injury.

It would only be for select games.

I think something like this could work fine:

Benayoun Song Arteta Gervinho
-----Chamakh Van Persie------

Would also allow Chamakh (or whoever) to build a bit of confidence and therefore be match sharp for when Robin needs a rest.

I like the idea, AFS, especially that last reason but I don't think it should be tried for a while. We don't want to risk losing momentum by changing a winning formula.

If we're moving to a 4-4-2 and RvP is to have a strike partner, then there is no way I want him to be Chamakh. Theo would be my first choice for this role, closely followed by Park and then Bendtner. I'd even consider Afobe ahead of Chamakh.

442 is dead, we've finaly got a settled side/formula, last thing we would want to do is change it.

@ macca - agreed.

@ DJ - Chamakh isn't important, its just an idea to get our back-up striker some games so he doesn't come in having played only 40 minutes in the previous month. This would be my alternative if we can't find a player who can play wide and up front alone equally as good (not many players around can). I don't want us to switch from 4-3-3 only for certain games.

Would like to see it tried with Walcott now that you mention it. We could easily go 4-4-2 for home games v the likes of Wigan and Wolves.

442 is dead, we've finaly got a settled side/formula, last thing we would want to do is change it.

I'm not saying change it, i just think a bit of flexibility at times wouldn't be a bad thing. 4-4-2 is used regularly by Utd and even City this season, it can be very effective against teams that you will dominate possession against.

We even used 4-4-2 towards the end of last season when we were trailing and looked much better for the change, i.e WBA (a). Although that was more of a 4-2-4.

Ye we did. We started with 4-4-2 at Craven Cottage on the final day of the season iirc.

I thought that game at the Cottage was a small glimpse at life without Fabregas with us playing a 4-4-2.

I'd definitely be in favour of using two strikers in some home games. Right now our back up strikers have a total of what, 4 starts? Which is ridiculous considering RvP's injury record.

At this point I don't even trust any other CF option to play any minutes. Put Walcott up top in case the unthinkable happens.

If we're talking formations then I vote for an assymetric 4231 so as to accomodate our 3 role midfield. Alternatively we could set it up as any of a 4411 / 433 / 451 / 424 just by changing the roles or the players without needing to change the positions on the pitch.

More than midfielders I think we're in a need of a striker more than anything. I don't think we're a one man team, but we are when it comes to sticking the ball in the back of the net. If Robin does get injured or has an off day I don't really see where the goals are going to come from.

Podolski seems like a possibility, although I was very impressed with Lewandowski on Wednesday night. He could probably play up top on his own or with Robin if need be.

Who's out there?

If we fail to bid for the likes of Gotze or Hazard I would love to see Wenger going for Hoillet in the January transfer window. He could make an instant impact, is PL adjusted and can play as a striker or on the wings. He's got pace and is very direct, I remember Sagna struggled against him which tells a lot about Hoillet.

And he'll be in the last 6 months of his contract so he'll be fairly cheap IMO.

Doesn't strike me as someone who could lead the line tbh.

Actually how good is Podolski at leading the line? Only ever seen him play LWF or beside a striker so while we all say he's versatile, what is he like exactly up front on his own? Doesn't Novakovic play up top for Koln?

Btw, tonight is a good chance to see 2 of the German boys (Podolski and Reus) mentioned on here a lot, Koln v Munchengladbach is on tonight. Though i'd reccommmend Udinese v Roma

Podolski leading the line?

Tough question, as he does play behind Novakovic or on the wings at Köln and as far as I remember, never played as a lone forward for Germany either (or at least often enough to judge him).

Started his career as a striker in 2. Bundesliga for Köln, but if memory serves me right, never as a lone one up front.

Are you guys wanting a striker that will play only when RvP isn't playing? that's sorta wasteful.

Are you guys wanting a striker that will play only when RvP isn't playing? that's sorta wasteful.

I want the type of striker who can play both wide and up front. Like a Balotelli or Aguero.

Are you guys wanting a striker that will play only when RvP isn't playing? that's sorta wasteful.

I want the type of striker who can play both wide and up front. Like a Balotelli or Aguero.

or Reus. he's supposedly capable of playing SS ala Aguero at City. or would that take away from RvP's game. it could also undermine our ball retention in the middle, unless we have benayoung or chambo drifting in from the wings. then you'd have Reus, Rvp, and Walcott/Gervinho was intelligent movement upfront. i just wish people would describe the qualities of a player and the nuances of them fitting into our gameplan.

Can we discuss Gourcuff? i'll start it off. he seems incredibly slow.

Are you guys wanting a striker that will play only when RvP isn't playing? that's sorta wasteful.

I want the type of striker who can play both wide and up front. Like a Balotelli or Aguero.

This. Throws Pato's name into the hat.

Are you guys wanting a striker that will play only when RvP isn't playing? that's sorta wasteful.

I want the type of striker who can play both wide and up front. Like a Balotelli or Aguero.

This. Throws Pato's name into the hat.

His qualities being....? (besides the dreamy looking brazilian of course)

Pato:

Very direct, 2 footed, quick, great first touch, excellent dribbling, good finisher and can play across the forward line. Only drawback is his injury record but we have Theo and RVP so can hardly chastise him for that.