The Wish List

[qs]

I agree, they are quite similar, and much like Silva, I'd utilise Goetze as an AM, if he were to sign for us. However, I'm not overly keen on reverting back to a pyramid midfield shape. I'd rather sign a rounded central midfielder with an eye for a final pass, so we can keep our relatively disciplined midfield. Either that, or add another decisive goalscorer in the attack, a Hulk or a Pato, if you will.

I don't see many better, realistic options for that job than Ramsey at the moment. Who do you have in mind?

 

[DJ_Markstar]

A midfield of

Arteta/Wilshere - Ramsey/Rosicky
-------Song/Frimpong-------

Has really proved itself this season so far, and I'm incliced to stick with it. That's why I'd rather sign Hazard than Götze, as he's more of a natural wideman imo.

 

[outlaw_member]

The longer we continue on this vein of good form, the more convinced I become that we don't need another attacking central midfielder. Sure, we clearly lack someone of Cesc's calibre, but we're now starting to play well with Arteta, Ramsey and Rosicky as the main midfield options. We lack some quality in there, and you'd theoretically think that Wilshere, and to a lesser extent, Diaby will offer that final bit of quality that we're currently missing. It's not going to be a great midfield by any means, but one that I think can work tremendously well, as long as they retain they great work and team ethic. The compactness with which they perform is refreshing for one thing.

To be honest, it's Song that really irritates me. There are some games where he is a disciplined shield who protects the defence, but in other games, he is literally all over the shop. There seems to be little middle ground with him, and his performance quality, and style tends to fluctuate drastically from game to game. I often think a truly disciplined, and technical midfielder like M'Vila will take our team up another level.

It is wishful thinking to surmise that a quintet of Ramsey, Wilshere, Rosicky, Diaby and Arteta would suffice for a championship aspiring side, but adding a top calibre midfielder, particularly a creative one may make us overly dependent on him, and too pivotal to our attacking patterns, as was the case with Fabregas. Hence, why, if we were to make a move, it should be someone like Arteta or Ramsey who can carry the defensive bulk of their duties, but still posses that bit of class in the final third. I can't think of anyone in particular, and Wilshere may yet be that guy we are currently lacking.

I think in truth, adding another top class individualistic attacker that we can rotate with Gervinho and Walcott, will further decrease the need for the CM's to offer a superb final pass, leaving us with even lesser offensive dependency on them. Whilst, also retaining the need for the attackers to offer serious goalscoring productivity, something that we need to ensure is the case with every front three member we sign from here on out. Let the midfield control the game, with little need for them to offer penetration. Add a front three which carries the large majority of the goal scoring duties, and we should be much more balanced as a result.

 

[Armor for Sleep]

I thought we needed a playmaker but i'm not bothered now. Song/Arteta/Ramsey has a very nice balance about it. Ramsey no longer looks like a guy getting over an injury and more like the potential world class midfielder he promised to be.

You then have Rosicky who is proving to be a handy squad player and of course we're also missing our best midfielder who is still only a teenager. Thats enough creativity for me. Technical players who work hard and give us a good shape, theres no need for anyone else imo especially when we have some interesting youngsters coming through like Aneke, Lansbury and co.

I'd be more interested in seeing a Diaby replacement come in. Someone who provides a bit of muscle, who can play alongside Song but also replace him. Ideally someone with a bit of experience because if Song and Arteta are missing i think our midfield 3 ends up looking a little green...our oldest player would probably be Ramsey so thats not ideal.

I'd like us to sign somebody in the Vidal mould or else somebody like Alonso who can create from deep but is also strong enough to hold the midfield. We should raise a bit of that money by selling Diaby.

Something like this would be perfect imo with the potential to get even better:

Song/Vidal - Arteta/Wilshere
--------Ramsey/Rosicky----

with Coquelin Frimpong Aneke and Lansbury trying to break through also.

 

[eye4goal]

I agree about persisting with the current set-up rather than reverting to last year's model. It is looking more productive and easier to execute. You could say it is mainly down to the form of RVP, but we seem to be winning games without playing greatly, whilst an average performance always meant dropped points last year. Playing with natural forwards is also helping the games of Ramsey, Rosicky and most probably Wilshere.

 

[ebouenolike]

Reus and Cavani.

 

[Floating]

Reus and Cavani.

Co-signed mate.

 

[Armor for Sleep]

In: Reus, Agbonlahor and Flamini (bosman).

Out: Almunia, Squillaci, Diaby, Arshavin, Chamakh, Bendtner, Vela.

 

[Floating]

Any word on the contract statuses of De Rossi, Montolivo, and Cahill? Any one of those on a free would be brilliant.

 

[Vela]

Any word on the contract statuses of De Rossi, Montolivo, and Cahill? Any one of those on a free would be brilliant.

Cahill isn't signing a new contract. Don't think Montolivo is as well been linked with Arsenal, Milan, PSG etc. No idea about De Rossi? Was linked with City in the summer.

 

[Floating]

Interesting, Vela. Those players are allowed to sign precontracts with other clubs in January, so I imagine rumors and talks will begin to pick up soon.

 

[fabo]

Don't want Montolivo tbh. If we are signing a midfielder I think it needs to be someone who excels in either the DM or AM department, preferably the latter as we do have numbers in the DM position, albeit only one of them is actually ready to play now.

Agbonlahor, Armor? Surprising one. I'm guessing you are taking into account the fact he can play wide and has also led the line. Don't think he's really developed too well tbh, too many protein shakes methinks!

 

[Armor for Sleep]

Yep one of the reasons. Decent premier league player who i think could be very good with the right manager. Not bad leading the line or playing wide and his pace is always a problem.

 

[fabo]

Somebody who could play as a wide forward and AM would be my ideal signing, but unless they're of a high enough quality to walk into the side, then I wouldn't bother.

The attack needs another quality signing, no doubt about it.

Plus we need to decide what the hell is going on with Chamakh and Park. I don't know enough about Park but I have a feeling he might be best suited to open games, with space to run into. Don't think he'll thrive with his back to goal or in the build-up, let's face it, playing CF in this team isn't easy.

 

[Proof]

Götze and Hulk.

 

[mistaT]

Does anyone else feel like we have to sign a forward in January?

RVP is already in the red zone, Park and Chamakh are clearly off in that neither has done anything in the league this year, and we'll be losing Chamakh to the Africa Cup of Nations.

Seems to add up to us needing a striker badly - and I'm really hoping we have a look at someone established rather than developing.

Not sure who mentioned it but Agbonlahor could be a decent short term option. He's got pace to play wide and could certainly lead the line too....not to mention he's used to the league.

Other legit January striker options?

 

[mo50]

We definitely could do with another quality attacker. We've got some ineffective forwards like Arshavin and Chamakh which we can replace. Ideally someone who is comfortable as a CF and also playing out wide. There's no way we'd bring in a specialist CF for him to sit on the bench when RvP is fit.

Someone with pace, technical ability and knows where the back of the net is would be ideal. I can't think of any names off the top of my head though.

 

[Bossa]

We definitely could do with another quality attacker. We've got some ineffective forwards like Arshavin and Chamakh which we can replace. Ideally someone who is comfortable as a CF and also playing out wide. There's no way we'd bring in a specialist CF for him to sit on the bench when RvP is fit.

Someone with pace, technical ability and knows where the back of the net is would be ideal. I can't think of any names off the top of my head though.

Joel Campbell, but seriously I think that this kid is a raw diamond.

Another player who ticks those boxes is Podolski. He's a very clinical forward with good pace.

 

[VancouverCanuck]

Does anyone else feel like we have to sign a forward in January?

RVP is already in the red zone, Park and Chamakh are clearly off in that neither has done anything in the league this year, and we'll be losing Chamakh to the Africa Cup of Nations.

Seems to add up to us needing a striker badly - and I'm really hoping we have a look at someone established rather than developing.

Not sure who mentioned it but Agbonlahor could be a decent short term option. He's got pace to play wide and could certainly lead the line too....not to mention he's used to the league.

Other legit January striker options?

Totally agreed with you that finding another striker to complement RVP should be our highest priority. However, I'd disagree with you on Park. He has so far a total of 60 mins of 1st team football in the CL, which is not exactly the easiest circumstances. Obviously, it was a poor performance on his part but we need to give him more opportunities before writing him off.

 

[Floating]

Does anyone else feel like we have to sign a forward in January?

RVP is already in the red zone, Park and Chamakh are clearly off in that neither has done anything in the league this year, and we'll be losing Chamakh to the Africa Cup of Nations.

Seems to add up to us needing a striker badly - and I'm really hoping we have a look at someone established rather than developing.

Not sure who mentioned it but Agbonlahor could be a decent short term option. He's got pace to play wide and could certainly lead the line too....not to mention he's used to the league.

Other legit January striker options?

Park is not "clearly off" - he's quality in my opinion, and is being eased into the pace of the English game. I reckon he'll prove quite useful in the coming months.