I think they're all **** and/or limited, didn't know anyone actually rated Skipp especially.I think we're just miles apart on how we rate both your squad and the teams around/below you tbh. I think Tottenham have a better central midfield than you (exacerbated by fitness issues) as I really rate Højbjerg, Skipp and Bentancur, and they're on a different planet with their attacking options. I think you're better at the back though.
Your reasoning is all over the place. Transfer fees aren't the be all and end all but they still matter, regardless of whether you're tired of it or not it's a fact very few clubs can spend the ridiculous sums we dish out on players. Don't bother arguing at all if you're going to act like fees are not relevant (or if you actually believe someone like White will ever be worth more than 55m).I'm honestly a bit tired of the finances debate. When people simply won't acknowledge the full picture and just keep shouting about transfer fees, I don't know what to say. Yes, you've invested heavily, but your wage bill is still MILES behind the top teams and the money you have invested have been invested in the prospect of future development, not the here and now. With some of the arguments on here you'd think you brought in world class players, but we all know the investment have been made with the idea that they develop into players that will end up being more valuable than the fee in the long run. I just can't argue anything on good faith when people won't recognize the actual finances involved here. You're still literally 30% or so behind in wage budget to the top 4 clubs (Man Utd included here), and people should know just how much that is.
Wages matter yes, but there's a reason the wage bill is as low as it is. How the **** do you count that as a pro when the reason it's been trimmed is because we literally pay other clubs to take our top earner off us? It's a constant in Arteta's reign and the arguments made in his favour, create obstacles and reasons for failure yourself then cry havoc and poverty when you fail in the aftermath.
And both United and Arsenal's signings were extremely dumb use of money. The fact the carcass of Varane isn't worth 35m doesn't make White's signing for a cool 50% more any better, necessary or less idiotic.You're basically overpaying in fees for the potential of developing world class talent on acceptable wages, while the 4 clubs above you in spending are just outright signing world class players. You sign Ben White, Man Utd sign Varane etc.
It was gradual improvement from the extremely low starting point he himself laid out last season. This season was the season the football should've improved, no club in existence ever gave a manager this long to improve without expecting results within 24 months. It's not a sequential task, you can both improve on the players you have while at the same time improve the football on show with the squad you have to work with.As I've said before in this thread, what's important with Arteta is seeing gradual improvement as that is the tools he's been given by the investment in youth. To me, getting 5th this year was gradual improvement. Next season, the football needs to improve. If it doesn't, that's when I'll start worrying.
And cut the "the tools he was given" horseshit, he spent massively on wages and old players on the likes of Auba Willian and Luiz before, got prime players in like Partey, wastes a 72m asset on the bench without even trying to implement him, tried or succeeded in extending big earners like Mustafi or Xhaka. He's the most indulged manager in world football and his sycophants make him out to be Jeanne d'Arc.
Again, I said I didn't expect **** from Arteta because I've seen enough to know better. Your whole stance is weird to me, so many interpolations, excuses, hypotheticals etc for a manager who literally has done nothing in his career but explain to the world how **** everyone he's had to work with is.But expecting top 4 when that is nowhere near the expected outcome given the tools at his/Arsenal's disposal just seem ****ing weird to me. Last season was definitely a missed chance, I'll give you that, but it also just highlights how you're basically "Man Utd getting their **** in order" away from probably not sniffing top 4 until one of the other 3 clubs **** the bed.