jeromelee
Well-Known Member
I really think Arsenal lacks depth in it's rotation squad. And mostly concentrated on the right side. RM is mostly for freddy but he hasn't really been playing well there. AW has tried gilberto there as well but you could see that he's not really comfortable. Especially when pushing up. He's good at tackling balls and adding a defensive dimension to Arsenal but he's not really good pushing up from the flanks. He can play the quick 1-2's from the midfield diamond but as a crosser he's not that good. And he can't really score as well (unless from the middle) and you know that the RM's and LM's have to be able to score to add more options in attack. So naturally freddy is the right choice as he is more attacking oriented. But he hasn't been playing well so you can tell that Arsenal seemed to only attack from the left nowadays. Unless henry decides to switch to the right which he does every now and then.
As for bringing in v.bronckhorst I dun think it will suit arsenals play as he is also an option for the LM or LB position which we seem to have more cover (even freddy can play left). With Cole, clichy and pires.
But pennant does however add an attacking option from the right despite all his misgivings and indicipline. If only he would change his attitude, I'm sure he will have a place in the Arsenal squad. Maybe not first team but definitely as a rotation player.
Parlour, Kanu and Wiltord can all play on the right as well, but the problem is that parlour is old, kanu isn't a fraction of what a player he could've been and wiltord wants to leave (or should leave anyway).
Frankly I think that if Arsenal wants to move forward in the future it really needs to build some depth again. In defense, I think that cole/clichy, sol, toure/senderos is solid but someone should be brought in to replace lauren. His speed really is lacking when compared to some class strikers/wingers. But perhaps he has still much to improve then maybe to bring in another cover for the RB. Or the option is to bring in a top class CB like nesta/ cannavaro in cb and push toure to the RB position. Then at least you have a fullback that can push up fast. RM really does need a new player in there. I can't see any existing rotationally squad fill that gap if freddy is to get injured or is off-form. Like I said, pennant is an option, but he ain't exactly pires.
Forwards although we have quite a number of players like henry, reyes, kanu, bergy, jeffers, ali, bentley lets look at the list. Henry is great and reyes is just starting to mold into the team. But bergy is old and on the way out. Kanu has lost his touch and could be sold this season. jeffers was a real flop IMO. That only leaves ali and bentley which IMO hasn't enough experience. I think we really need another experienced striker for example trezeguet or ronaldo (although for sure they will not come) but maybe even morientes which is really good as well. I really don't think that ali and bentley can step up in a big game against the likes of real madrid or ac milan and pull of a miracle. So that means that within 2 seasons we could just be left with henry, reyes,ali and bentley.
And for goalkeepers. Sorry to say this, but I realyl believe that lehmann really isn't a player of enough calibre to help arsenal achieve what it wants to, to be the greatest team in the world. he's like a loose cannon like when he shoved ronaldo against MU. Crazy. Some might say he's kept many clean sheets but I believe it was mainly due to 2 great CB's in sol and toure. I've seen lehmann make way too many mistakes and let in too many goals compared to great saves he's made. We really need someone like schemichael or casillas or buffon or toldo. A real world class keeper. Even ambrosio, robinson and carroll seems more steady between the post. Stack and taylor just don't appear experienced enough either.
Please don't flame me cause I do love arsenal but we really do lack depth in our reserves/rotation squad. The players I see that are really great for arsenal and will continue to help arsenal are:-
stack, cole, sol, toure, lauren, pires, edu, vieira, freddy, henry, reyes, clichy, senderos, cesc, ali, bentley and maybe some of the youngsters which honestly I haven't had the opportunity to watch them play.
Players like taylor, jeffers, bronckorst, lehmann, silva, bergy, kanu, pennant, wiltord, parlour I believe should be slowly phased out of arsenal as they are either old, or play in a way which does not suit arsenal. With the exception of bergy which probably have 1 good season left, pennant who still has loads of potential and silva which hopefully will improve.
That will leave us with the task of trying to strengthen the team by adding:
1 or 2 keepers within the next 2-3 seasons.
1 CB or RB within 2 seasons (someone like terry for CB and push kolo to RB or someone like glen johnson straight to RB).
1 RM within 1 season.
perhaps 1 CM of strong calibre such as Davids, lampard or gerrard or just a rotational mid like duff, robben or joe cole within 2-3 seasons.
1 forward within the next season such as kaka or shevchenko.
Lets face it gooners, we lack depth. Compared to the big teams, we really have serious problems in rotaional squad. This is more than evident the minute we lose 2-3 first team players. But I also know that Arsenal are tied up with financial issues. So lets just hope that the board of gooners will think up something.
Oh yah, and AW is still the best despite making some doodoo in substitutions lately. Everyone makes mistakes, just take a look at fergy, or ranieri with his crazy substitutions, or houllier. I'm sure he has his reasons for doing what he did.
As for bringing in v.bronckhorst I dun think it will suit arsenals play as he is also an option for the LM or LB position which we seem to have more cover (even freddy can play left). With Cole, clichy and pires.
But pennant does however add an attacking option from the right despite all his misgivings and indicipline. If only he would change his attitude, I'm sure he will have a place in the Arsenal squad. Maybe not first team but definitely as a rotation player.
Parlour, Kanu and Wiltord can all play on the right as well, but the problem is that parlour is old, kanu isn't a fraction of what a player he could've been and wiltord wants to leave (or should leave anyway).
Frankly I think that if Arsenal wants to move forward in the future it really needs to build some depth again. In defense, I think that cole/clichy, sol, toure/senderos is solid but someone should be brought in to replace lauren. His speed really is lacking when compared to some class strikers/wingers. But perhaps he has still much to improve then maybe to bring in another cover for the RB. Or the option is to bring in a top class CB like nesta/ cannavaro in cb and push toure to the RB position. Then at least you have a fullback that can push up fast. RM really does need a new player in there. I can't see any existing rotationally squad fill that gap if freddy is to get injured or is off-form. Like I said, pennant is an option, but he ain't exactly pires.
Forwards although we have quite a number of players like henry, reyes, kanu, bergy, jeffers, ali, bentley lets look at the list. Henry is great and reyes is just starting to mold into the team. But bergy is old and on the way out. Kanu has lost his touch and could be sold this season. jeffers was a real flop IMO. That only leaves ali and bentley which IMO hasn't enough experience. I think we really need another experienced striker for example trezeguet or ronaldo (although for sure they will not come) but maybe even morientes which is really good as well. I really don't think that ali and bentley can step up in a big game against the likes of real madrid or ac milan and pull of a miracle. So that means that within 2 seasons we could just be left with henry, reyes,ali and bentley.
And for goalkeepers. Sorry to say this, but I realyl believe that lehmann really isn't a player of enough calibre to help arsenal achieve what it wants to, to be the greatest team in the world. he's like a loose cannon like when he shoved ronaldo against MU. Crazy. Some might say he's kept many clean sheets but I believe it was mainly due to 2 great CB's in sol and toure. I've seen lehmann make way too many mistakes and let in too many goals compared to great saves he's made. We really need someone like schemichael or casillas or buffon or toldo. A real world class keeper. Even ambrosio, robinson and carroll seems more steady between the post. Stack and taylor just don't appear experienced enough either.
Please don't flame me cause I do love arsenal but we really do lack depth in our reserves/rotation squad. The players I see that are really great for arsenal and will continue to help arsenal are:-
stack, cole, sol, toure, lauren, pires, edu, vieira, freddy, henry, reyes, clichy, senderos, cesc, ali, bentley and maybe some of the youngsters which honestly I haven't had the opportunity to watch them play.
Players like taylor, jeffers, bronckorst, lehmann, silva, bergy, kanu, pennant, wiltord, parlour I believe should be slowly phased out of arsenal as they are either old, or play in a way which does not suit arsenal. With the exception of bergy which probably have 1 good season left, pennant who still has loads of potential and silva which hopefully will improve.
That will leave us with the task of trying to strengthen the team by adding:
1 or 2 keepers within the next 2-3 seasons.
1 CB or RB within 2 seasons (someone like terry for CB and push kolo to RB or someone like glen johnson straight to RB).
1 RM within 1 season.
perhaps 1 CM of strong calibre such as Davids, lampard or gerrard or just a rotational mid like duff, robben or joe cole within 2-3 seasons.
1 forward within the next season such as kaka or shevchenko.
Lets face it gooners, we lack depth. Compared to the big teams, we really have serious problems in rotaional squad. This is more than evident the minute we lose 2-3 first team players. But I also know that Arsenal are tied up with financial issues. So lets just hope that the board of gooners will think up something.
Oh yah, and AW is still the best despite making some doodoo in substitutions lately. Everyone makes mistakes, just take a look at fergy, or ranieri with his crazy substitutions, or houllier. I'm sure he has his reasons for doing what he did.
