Mark Tobias
Mr. Agreeable
Don't forget Wenger to sign an extension. We buy some bargain basement replacement.
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Squad Analysis 2017/18
- Thread starter Aevi
- Start date
- Replies 1,411
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Griezmann is the only sure thing, the rest is subjective depending on the team.
Jack the lad
Active Member
What we need is to stop buying journeymen and start to buying the most talented players in europe again. The team is now full of journeymen. We have the least exciting bunch of players in Europe. Which youngster do we have coming through that oozes talent? Iwobi is doing allright but he is hardly the next O.Dembele, Dybala etc. Buy WC players and WC talent. Stop this journeymen bullshit.
Recently bought journeymen: Debuchy,Gabriel,Perez,Coquelin(called back), ospina, welbeck, mertesacker, monreal, elneny
Players that wenger should have realized a long time ago that were not good enough: Walcott, Ox(willing to give him a chance in a midfield 3 though), Gibbs, Jenkinsson, Campbell, Ramsey,
Players that are of the required level: Sanchez, Özil(i want him out though and change to midfield 3), Cazorla(when fit), Wilshere, Koschielny, Mustafi, Bellerin, Cech(as backup), Giroud(as backup), Iwobi(as developing player), OX( has to keep this form/hunger), Holding(good enough 4th choice developing cb).
This summer we need a new manager, we need to sell players that have been away from the team. Chambers(10-15m), Campbell(5-7m), Jenkinsson(5m), Schezny(17m), debuchy(0,5m), Sanogo(0),
Not good enough players(there are more than that though): Gibbs(10m), Coquelin(10m), Ramsey(25m-30m), Walcott(20m), Özil(50m, we need midfield 3, this midfield 2 is costing us too much)
Total in: 150-160m + spending
We cant get rid of all the plonkers in one year but we can start with this.
In: Jonas Hector LB(15m), Isco(45m), Frank Kessie(30m), Kylian Mbappe(40m), Marco Reus(50m)
Total spent: 180m.
Ospina
Bellerin Koschielny Mustafi Hector
Isco Kessie Xhaka
Reus Alexis Mbappe.
Cech
Gabriel Mertesacker Holding Monreal
Wilshere Ox Cazorla
Welbeck Giroud Iwobi
Other players: Elneny, Martinez, Willock, R.Nelson.
Recently bought journeymen: Debuchy,Gabriel,Perez,Coquelin(called back), ospina, welbeck, mertesacker, monreal, elneny
Players that wenger should have realized a long time ago that were not good enough: Walcott, Ox(willing to give him a chance in a midfield 3 though), Gibbs, Jenkinsson, Campbell, Ramsey,
Players that are of the required level: Sanchez, Özil(i want him out though and change to midfield 3), Cazorla(when fit), Wilshere, Koschielny, Mustafi, Bellerin, Cech(as backup), Giroud(as backup), Iwobi(as developing player), OX( has to keep this form/hunger), Holding(good enough 4th choice developing cb).
This summer we need a new manager, we need to sell players that have been away from the team. Chambers(10-15m), Campbell(5-7m), Jenkinsson(5m), Schezny(17m), debuchy(0,5m), Sanogo(0),
Not good enough players(there are more than that though): Gibbs(10m), Coquelin(10m), Ramsey(25m-30m), Walcott(20m), Özil(50m, we need midfield 3, this midfield 2 is costing us too much)
Total in: 150-160m + spending
We cant get rid of all the plonkers in one year but we can start with this.
In: Jonas Hector LB(15m), Isco(45m), Frank Kessie(30m), Kylian Mbappe(40m), Marco Reus(50m)
Total spent: 180m.
Ospina
Bellerin Koschielny Mustafi Hector
Isco Kessie Xhaka
Reus Alexis Mbappe.
Cech
Gabriel Mertesacker Holding Monreal
Wilshere Ox Cazorla
Welbeck Giroud Iwobi
Other players: Elneny, Martinez, Willock, R.Nelson.
But isn't that the point? These players are still actually more "talent" than graft. Sure, Coquelin is our midfielder enforcer, but he is very much an Arsène Wenger type midfield enforcer because I don't think any other manager would play Coq as a DM. He is not particularly strong, he doesn't read the game very well and generally isn't even physically well built for a DM. Similarly, Iwobi is a great young talent, but you are not going to be able to rely on him to get up and down that flank all night protecting his full back and be solid. Other top managers would probably be more cautious and stick a seasoned player there who is reliable and accepts instructions and will facilitate the likes of Özil to do their stuff.
Country: England
Player:Saliba
Before the match I chose Elneny instead of Coq and Wellbeck instead of Iwobi. Not really sure what difference that would have made. Our players were still making basic footballing mistakes, passing to the opposition, not controlling the ball with the first touch.
Gibbs and Iwobi looked like schoolboys against Lahm and Robben, two world class players. The crosses just kept coming in and Robben's goal was sublime. Coq even showed the guy onto his shooting foot.
Such a drastic reaction. The majority of the players are good enough. The main out needs to be Wenger and the coaching staff.
The squad needs tweaking in certain areas.
GK: Szczęsny needs to be brought back with Martinez sent on loan. That leaves 3 keepers to compete for the number 1 and for one to be sold.
LB: Gibbs offers nothing to the team but pace. Moreal is aging but offers stability. Gibbs needs to be sold with a new lb brought in and for Monreal to compete for his place as he always does.
Rb: Bellerin is complacent and needs adequate competition. Not just a back up.
Cb: Holding has shown promise and Mustafi has potential if coached. Mertrsacker is good to have around for one more year and Gabriel can also be coached. Koscielny is the man and will need more defensive contribution in front of him to keep his fitness. No new signings needed.
Midfield: Cazorla, Coquelin, El Neny, Wilshere, Ramsey, Ox, Xhaka. Don't let the way they have performed under Wenger fool you. A new manager coming in with fresh ideas will have more than enough to work with.
Wide players: I'd say this is our main weakness. We don't have any natural wingers. We have forwards who can play wide and midfielders who are more comfortable in the middle who can do a job on the flank. A big money signing is needed on the flanks. A player who is comfortable on either wing.
CF: Welbeck, Alexis, Giroud, Perez. More than enough.
Priorities: tie down Özil and Alexis. Buy a quality wide player.
Outs: Wenger, Gibbs, Walcott.
you're the voice of reason no one wants to hear.
We're too light in the middle, in my opinion. As you said previously, we need to have a 3 man midfield so that the hole in front of the two CBs is covered.
Time for a new tactic, however since many "fans" don't know any other tactic than short passing I am sure they will hate winger + crosses scheme tho...
carlito'sway
Established Member
Godin starts for any top club in the world, that is a given. The point is personnel matters and Atletico had a bunch of top players in their squad.
Country: England
This is a very strong point.
carlito'sway
Established Member
It depends on what we are shooting for. Sure they are good enough to finish where we usually do but not to compete at the highest level.
As I said we need significant upgrades at 3 or 4 positions, particularly the wide roles, in MF and even at LB.
Against any decent team and w/out Santi, we can't control the tempo in CM. Coq/Ramsey/Ox, 2 of them, if not all of them can go. Depending if we play with 2 or 3 in midfield, we will need one or two players there. Guys like Saul Niguez, Babayoko or Koke come to mind.
Wide players, Reus/Fekir/Dembele are great options.
Giroud can go as well. Serviceable CF but nowadays, you need pace upfront. Morata is scratching to leave RM. Get him.
Rocky
Swears he's not a Tottenham fan
I agree that a new manager should give most of the players a chance to prove themselves before a clear out. However, Alexis is leaving so that throws a spanner in the works of your plan. Also, some of the players like Coq, Debuchy, Jenkinson clearly aren't good enough.
Also, what about the formation? I don't see a new manager wanting to be so wedded to 4-2-3-1. Özil doesn't fit well into other formations, and he could want to leave anyway. The best strategy I see is to make a war chest with the funds from Alexis and Özil and rebuild from there.
Alexis, Özil, Gibbs, Walcott, Debuchy, Jenkinson, Coq is already a fairly big rebuilding job and this still leaves a lot of players who still need to proves themselves (basically the whole squad except for Koscielny, Bellerin and Giroud who isn't good enough to be a starting CF in a title challenging team).
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carlito'sway
Established Member
"Majority of players is good enough" is too much of a blanket statement. Good enough to play in the PL? to finish to 4? May be. To win the PL or even the CL? No where good enough! That is something I kept saying since last season.
We need a new LB, Gibbs does not cut it and Monreal is not getting younger.
In central defense, not convinced by Mustafi, but willing to see him next season.
In CM, the likes of Coquelin, Ramsey, Ox can go. Not good enough. (No I don't buy the idea that Ox can be a top player). Assuming Jack is back, I would bring a Koke/Babayoko or Saul Niguez.
Wide position, Iwobi is green and not polished. Can't be an automatic starter and Theo is mediocre. Sell him. Bring a Reus type player.
Giroud is serviceable but can't be a starter. If we can get a Morata, who wants to leave RM, OG can go.
We need to stop being complacent and realize we have a number of average players who are out of their depth against quality opposition and this has nothing to do with tactics. Actually, my main issue with Arsène has been his over reliance on those players and reluctance to let them go when they are simply not good enough. He has lost his ruthlessness. You can't win with mediocrity.
Only in Arsenal circles the likes of Theo/Coq/Ox/ Ramsey etc are seen are as being good to top level.
I can go through a list of 10 to 12 top clubs in the PL and Europe, those guys would not start for any of them.
Country: England
Goalkeepers
Cech (33)
Ospina (13)
Martinez (26)
Defenders
Koscielny (6)
Mustafi (20)
Mertesacker (4)
Gabriel (5)
Holding (16)
Monreal (18)
Bellerin (24)
Debuchy (2)
Gibbs (3)
Midfielders
Özil (11)
Xhaka (29)
Ramsey (8)
Cazorla (19)
Coquelin (34)
Elneny (35)
Reine-Adelaide (?)
Attackers
*Alexis (7)*
Perez (9)
Giroud (12)
Walcott (14)
Oxlade-Chamberlain (15)
Welbeck (23)
Iwobi (17)
Sanogo (22)
Key
Good enough for their role in the squad
Might be good enough for their role in the squad
Definitely not good enough to be here
Losing patience but deserves a chance under new management
Blackmailing Wenger
Cech (33)
Ospina (13)
Martinez (26)
Defenders
Koscielny (6)
Mustafi (20)
Mertesacker (4)
Gabriel (5)
Holding (16)
Monreal (18)
Bellerin (24)
Debuchy (2)
Gibbs (3)
Midfielders
Özil (11)
Xhaka (29)
Ramsey (8)
Cazorla (19)
Coquelin (34)
Elneny (35)
Reine-Adelaide (?)
Attackers
*Alexis (7)*
Perez (9)
Giroud (12)
Walcott (14)
Oxlade-Chamberlain (15)
Welbeck (23)
Iwobi (17)
Sanogo (22)
Key
Good enough for their role in the squad
Might be good enough for their role in the squad
Definitely not good enough to be here
Losing patience but deserves a chance under new management
Blackmailing Wenger
Those players could start for our rivals in the PL.
This new narrative that's emerged in the last few weeks about the squad not being good enough is ridiculous tbh. A team with the likes of Cahill, Luiz, Moses, Alonso, Matic and Pedro starting every week is running away with the PL, no excuses for not competing with that.
carlito'sway
Established Member
I don't know why you think this has emerged in the last few weeks, as far as I am concerned, I wrote about those players at the end of last season. The Ox/Theo/Ramsey etc crew was not good enough last year and should have been let go then, at least a couple of them.
By the way, do you see Ox, Ramsey or Coq starting for CFC? I don't.
I was hoping that we would go for Kante last year, but was told here that we had Coq, so he was not needed. Ditto for Draxler (Iwobi/Ox were better). Sigh.
Goon-Ger
Active Member
I'd personally like to see us sign a new:
LB (Mendy @ Monaco)
CB (A big nasty bastard like Godin, Koulibaly, Bonucci)
DM (William Carvalho,)
CM(Rabiot or Saul Niguez type)
Winger (Mbappe, Lemar, Cuadrado, Perisic)
CF (Griezmann, Belotti, Morata)
I realise we won't sign all (or any) of these guys but that's who i feel we should be targeting to kick us on to the next level.
Selling the likes of Gabriel, Debuchy, Mertesacker, Xhaka/Coquelin, Özil etc should help facilitate some of the funds to go for player like this.
LB (Mendy @ Monaco)
CB (A big nasty bastard like Godin, Koulibaly, Bonucci)
DM (William Carvalho,)
CM(Rabiot or Saul Niguez type)
Winger (Mbappe, Lemar, Cuadrado, Perisic)
CF (Griezmann, Belotti, Morata)
I realise we won't sign all (or any) of these guys but that's who i feel we should be targeting to kick us on to the next level.
Selling the likes of Gabriel, Debuchy, Mertesacker, Xhaka/Coquelin, Özil etc should help facilitate some of the funds to go for player like this.
Vardy turned us down in the summer & the best striker we could find was Lucas.
Doubt we are attracting the big names mentioned... Could still lose the three main draws as well.
Doubt we are attracting the big names mentioned... Could still lose the three main draws as well.
Not sure that matters considering Ramsey and Ox are squad players here, neither them were in Wenger's preferred XI when the team was playing well. In fact, Ramsey has only started this season when others have been unavailable. I don't rate Coquelin or Matic that highly, the difference is that the latter knows his limitations and sticks to his job.
You said that Ox and Iwobi didn't have enough end product while advocating signing a guy who didn't register a goal or an assist until mid-December. Draxler wasn't a big enough upgrade for the fee he would have cost, people want to sign genuine quality.
