Are we really weaker than last season?

[Maravilloso Marvo]

So we have had a clear out of the dead wood and this has led to us being incredibly worried about lacking depth now. But if you stop and take a look at the players who have left, are we actually any weaker without them? If they didn't play last season, with the injuries and fatigue and squad rotation and suspensions last year, then it makes no difference if they are here or not.

So I went through player by player to check.

Gervinho is the biggest loss as he played 12 games last year. But considering we all came to a unanimous decision on him, I don't think you can be too worried here.

Mannone played 9 games, but as 3rd choice, it is hard to call it a loss.

Santos played 3 games, see Gervinho.

Coquelin played 3 games.

Then Arshavin, Denilson, Djourou, Eastmond, Squillaci, Watt and Chamakh all played ZERO games.

So they can't be missed, we can't be any weaker. The only place weaker is Gervinho and we all whooped and high fived when he was sold.

[Red N White Army]

[Doughboy-TSL]

[East Upper for Supper]

[Billy Goat Sverige]

I think it's more the point that we have the means to be better than the same.

[Red N White Army]

[Pat Vegas]

squad is thin.
any injuries and we are in trouble.

we just finished 4th.
Spurs appear to be strengthening.

We are quite good but there are a few areas I am far from convinced . GK for one.

[Maravilloso Marvo]

[halfsharkalligatorhalfman]

Spurs have spent 60 million, that's almost all the Bale money (including increased wages). I think with a few signings we should be alright

[Maravilloso Marvo]

2 because of age and 2 because it is their second season in the league?

[Mack]

[Ashberto]

Not sure why you're missing this. As I said below:

http://www.awimb.com/fudforum/index.php?t=tree&th=547273 &mid=3738877&rid=2804&S=4f212773d0765d3d483e7532 7ad99b45&rev=&reveal= (http://www.awimb.com/fudforum/index.php?t=tree&th=547273&mid=3738877&rid=2804&S=4f212773d0765d3d483e75327ad99b45&rev=&reveal=)

[Pat Vegas]

many times watching us I kept thinking who's missing from the team.

And when I thought about it there wasn't any.

Risky business

[Maravilloso Marvo]

I am saying the clearout has no impact on the players who played last season. So we are not needing to reinforce because of the clearout.

[East Upper for Supper]

It may be able to get through to your pea sized brain cell.Last season he could use JD Squillaci Miguel Coq Santos even Chamack. He hasn't got the luxuery of using so many squad players for a competition that is maybe not our priority. With the Accademy so poor he hasn't even got a defender to rely upon. He'll have to use who ever is fit unless he'll play the academy and get a whipping.

[Maravilloso Marvo]

Or should we have kept Squillaci, Djourou to play in one game a season in a meaningless cup?

[Sir Charlie of Nicholas]

Do you think this is how he behaves in the real world?

Such a rude chap.

[Maravilloso Marvo]

[East Upper for Supper]

The trick of getting rid of the deadwood is to replace them with either up and coming academy players or buy in young promising players We've done neiher. Not one defender to replace the departing JD and Squillaci nor Coquelin.

[East Upper for Supper]

[Maravilloso Marvo]

I don't give a fcuk about the Carling cup.

[Maravilloso Marvo]

[Sir Charlie of Nicholas]

I'm glad we're here to help you work them out.

You harm animals sometimes, don't you?

[Ashberto]

A squad that has just had a massive clearout does have room for improvement. It has room for improvement because there's currently several empty slots. Add some decent footballers, and it has improved, see?

I also said "if Wenger didn't think we could get better than he had, why did he get rid of them all?".

You are ignoring all my points and just repeated yours, which I have acknowledged while explaining how it misses the point of improvement.

[East Upper for Supper]

[Maravilloso Marvo]

[Dutch Gooner]

[East Upper for Supper]

[Ashberto]

[Bergkamp's Brain]

in practice, should we lose a few to injury/suspension then we can't call on any on that list, anymore. At least they were there.

In reality, if we replace those players cleared out with ones that are better, we will be in a stronger position going forward. The fact that we are only as strong, or slightly weaker, than last season should not really be acceptable.

[Maravilloso Marvo]

We haven't cleared out that squad though, we have cleared out the players who weren't even required for that, one level further down.

[Maravilloso Marvo]

Last season wasn't injury free.

[East Upper for Supper]

[East Upper for Supper]

[Maravilloso Marvo]

new season, I am questioning whether we are weaker than last season. And for that, I argue that the answer is no, we are not weaker.

He got rid of these players because he just went through a whole season, with all the injuries, suspensions and everything else without needing to give them a single start in the PL. So they are surplus to requirements.

[Maravilloso Marvo]

You seem very excited by all of this.

[East Upper for Supper]

[East Upper for Supper]

Take the keeper situation as an example. Last season Mannone had to be used. This season he's gone. Martinez a young kid has been promoted to the first team squad. No experience whats so ever. And by the way hes injured so if we were to get a keeping injury in the next few games we will have a 16yo keeper on the bench.

[Bergkamp's Brain]

A different view. We finihsed 4th by the skin of our teeth. Is it really acceptable that we go into the new season no stronger than we were the previous season? Assuming that we do not improve the squad, is the club saying that 4th is the only realistic target and going for the title is just not feasible?

The problem thought, in the words of George Graham, "if you're standing still you're going backwards"

[Maravilloso Marvo]

And last years signings being more settled in now, we are not stronger - And we do need to be.

The only purpose of my post was to explore whether those saying we are weaker are correct. I have come to conclusion that if we had sold all of these players last summer, the season would not have been adversely affected. So therefore we are not weaker.

[Maravilloso Marvo]

And with regards to goalkeeper, I referenced that we had to use Manonne last season in my OP. But in response to your point, who are the third choice keepers at United, Chelsea and City? Just out of interest?

[Ashberto]

them on the bench unless we get reinforcements will be better or not.

Citing the limited involvement of players who the manager thought were not good enough to play is circular though, but it doesn't look like you'll understand that. I believe that Arsene wants better players than the ones he's got rid of, either through promotion or transfers. If he plans that Gnabbers and co are to be in the first team squad because he thinks they are good enough then fine. He should announce that.

Anyway micro-focusing on the question "are we weaker?" is a distraction from the important issue. We finally have the monies we've waited so patiently for, so let's get stronger.

[Bergkamp's Brain]

not. This season they cannot be called upon, at all. One can use this to argue that we are weaker as the kids coming in to replace those departures have no experience :shrug:

One could argue based on stats that we are no weaker. One could also argue based on squad experience that we may be slightly weaker and both could consider themselves correct :shrug:

[Maravilloso Marvo]

this thread. Look at my OP. Are we really weaker? I am allowed to talk about that point without touching on why haven't we signed Higuain, Suarez and Gustavo.

[Ashberto]

Vermaelen (3rd CB) is out for a while. So it looks like we have no central defenders on the bench to start the season. If Kos or Per get injured, who comes on?