we seem to have money to burn

[Peter]

In no particular order:

1. Are the Jocks throwing this for Asian bookies? Just missed the first pen.

2. We did just want a new striker, but we knew we were getting Zubi to replace Wigwam. And given our injuries, we needed a cover for B {if Ethan is cover from Odin and both are out} and replacement for Tommy, and for Kai once he was injured, and a new cheap 'keeper so it makes sense.

3. Yeah I want us to play it forward fast but for so many reasons {clearances, fouls etc} that doesn't always happen. When we've got possession against a set defence in their half, Eze cutting into left 8 and a LB overlapping is what we'll want with Vik making runs.

Re point 3. This is exactly what we don't do and is why Martinelli is always left out there on his own.

[Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult]

Yes, you may recall we actually played against this chap at the Emirates for an hour or so, in pre season.

Oh, I almost never know who the oppos are. I don't even remember Messi from the one home game {the 2-1 win} I went to. Though I always noticed Eze. Dunno why - I guess I liked his style, liked his hairdo, he was from a team who I don't detest, he played very well but didn't seem to cost us points like some coonts do even when he scored against us. {I'm not saying it's like the coup de foudfre I experienced when I first set eyes on the glw in the bar at the Rocket when Bedlam were doing a rave night, but watching Eze on streams I always noticed and liked him which almost never happens.}

I think I noticed Vik hitting the post against us when we won 5-1 but only cos the commentator on tv mentioned it.

Oh, watching a YT vid of the young Ecuadorian yesterday, in the German league he right took out that other black no.10 with a funky hairdo the Eagles used to have. And the other one still officially doesn't have as good as hair as Eze.

Anyway, what did he do at our gaff pre-season? I only remember our players.

[Peter]

Oh, I almost never know who the oppos are. I don't even remember Messi from the one home game {the 2-1 win} I went to. Though I always noticed Eze. Dunno why - I guess I liked his style, liked his hairdo, he was from a team who I don't detest, he played very well but didn't seem to cost us points like some coonts do even when he scored against us. {I'm not saying it's like the coup de foudfre I experienced when I first set eyes on the glw in the bar at the Rocket when Bedlam were doing a rave night, but watching Eze on streams I always noticed and liked him which almost never happens.}

I think I noticed Vik hitting the post against us when we won 5-1 but only cos the commentator on tv mentioned it.

Oh, watching a YT vid of the young Ecuadorian yesterday, in the German league he right took out that other black no.10 with a funky hairdo the Eagles used to have. And the other one still officially doesn't have as good as hair as Eze.

Anyway, what did he do at our gaff pre-season? I only remember our players.

The only reason I remember Messi, from the 2-2 game that I went to, was the hush that went round the ground every time he got on the ball.

A terrifying silence. But the player i really noticed was Xavi.

[Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult]

Re point 3. This is exactly what we don't do and is why Martinelli is always left out there on his own.

I'm with you that we don't do it, and if we have an inverted LB, we need Gabby at LW cos he not only works his socks off defensively, he's rather good at it.

But the ACFC YT channel {the only footy thing like that I'd recommend} says we need to stop being so predictable about attacking down the right and that Eze's best in the inside left pocket. So the way to combine both is to have a LB overlapping to make five in attack with Eze cutting inside from the LW.

In this scenario, we can have an overlapping as opposed to inverted LB because we have a double pivot of Dec and Zubi as opposed to Dec L8 like GX was with our LW staying on the touchline to stretch the defence across the pitch.

Basically, we did do that when we played with KT, before we bought Zinny to invert allowing us to push GX forward.

I think MA says he wants to be able to play different ways to make us unpredictable and this is surely one option as it's the way we used to play before inverting LBs.

The fact that he's been trying Dec and Zubi both swapping positions and as a double pivot means we've got new options.

{I also suspect he has a plan for a fit Kai, cos he's too good a player to have just for back up. I dunno what it will be, but it will hopefully be interesting to see.}

[Peter]

I'm with you that we don't do it, and if we have an inverted LB, we need Gabby at LW cos he not only works his socks off defensively, he's rather good at it.

But the ACFC YT channel {the only footy thing like that I'd recommend} says we need to stop being so predictable about attacking down the right and that Eze's best in the inside left pocket. So the way to combine both is to have a LB overlapping to make five in attack with Eze cutting inside from the LW.

In this scenario, we can have an overlapping as opposed to inverted LB because we have a double pivot of Dec and Zubi as opposed to Dec L8 like GX was with our LW staying on the touchline to stretch the defence across the pitch.

Basically, we did do that when we played with KT, before we bought Zinny to invert allowing us to push GX forward.

I think MA says he wants to be able to play different ways to make us unpredictable and this is surely one option as it's the way we used to play before inverting LBs.

The fact that he's been trying Dec and Zubi both swapping positions and as a double pivot means we've got new options.

{I also suspect he has a plan for a fit Kai, cos he's too good a player to have just for back up. I dunno what it will be, but it will hopefully be interesting to see.}

It was Xhaka that made the left flank work. He'd get outside Martinelli, or drift inside him, and also slowed counter attacks down that flank. Our left flank simply hasn't worked since he left.

And you are right, the plan with Rice and Zubimendi seems to be a dovetailing pivot, so quite how we are going to support the left flank is a bit of a mystery. Unless that pivot means the left back doesn't need to invert.....

As good as he is in the inverted role, you'd think MLS would be superb in the more old fashioned overlapping full back role..

You can never predict where Arteta is going to go. The man is still full of ideas. And now we've given him even more options!

[Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult]

It was Xhaka that made the left flank work. He'd get outside Martinelli, or drift inside him, and also slowed counter attacks down that flank. Our left flank simply hasn't worked since he left.

And you are right, the plan with Rice and Zubimendi seems to be a dovetailing pivot, so quite how we are going to support the left flank is a bit of a mystery. Unless that pivot means the left back doesn't need to invert.....

As good as he is in the inverted role, you'd think MLS would be superb in the more old fashioned overlapping full back role..

You can never predict where Arteta is going to go. The man is still full of ideas. And now we've given him even more options!

Agree with all 4 paras.

I do think it notable that Gabby best season so far was when we had Zinny at LB and GX at L8. In theory, we have far better players in those positions now - MLS/Ricky C, Dec/Kai - but the fact we're always chopping and changing means that Gabby was better off when he knew what his teammates were doing.

[Peter]

Agree with all 4 paras.

I do think it notable that Gabby best season so far was when we had Zinny at LB and GX at L8. In theory, we have far better players in those positions now - MLS/Ricky C, Dec/Kai - but the fact we're always chopping and changing means that Gabby was better off when he knew what his teammates were doing.

I love Havertz, but he was a disaster in midfield and I never want to see that happen again.

Most people will have forgotten this but in that run the season before last, where we won 16 of our last 18 games, he played Havertz in a midfield role at home to Villa. The idea was he would run from deep and break Villa's crazy high line. It worked 2 or 3 times in the first half hour but we squandered the chances.

Emery switched his midfield and they controlled the game for the last hour. Arteta didnt react quickly enough and it was too late.

[Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult]

I love Havertz, but he was a disaster in midfield and I never want to see that happen again.

Most people will have forgotten this but in that run the season before last, where we won 16 of our last 18 games, he played Havertz in a midfield role at home to Villa. The idea was he would run from deep and break Villa's crazy high line. It worked 2 or 3 times in the first half hour but we squandered the chances.

Emery switched his midfield and they controlled the game for the last hour. Arteta didnt react quickly enough and it was too late.

The first half of the season, when he was playing L8 with Dec at DM, Kai didn't score or assist {mostly} but was winning duels, pressing, passing etc. He was doing all GX did in that role and more, it was just everyone was on his back. I still think he can play there when we're chasing a goal, with one of the DMs coming off.

He knows he can score now. A bit like MnM knows he can do it. I wonder what will happen to him? There's a good player in there - I like his touches around the box.

[Peter]

The first half of the season, when he was playing L8 with Dec at DM, Kai didn't score or assist {mostly} but was winning duels, pressing, passing etc. He was doing all GX did in that role and more, it was just everyone was on his back. I still think he can play there when we're chasing a goal, with one of the DMs coming off.

He knows he can score now. A bit like MnM knows he can do it. I wonder what will happen to him? There's a good player in there - I like his touches around the box.

Merino needs some games and Rice needs a break here and there.

Arteta HAS to get better at rotating. We can't just keep running the top players into the ground.

[PSRB]

Merino needs some games and Rice needs a break here and there.

Arteta HAS to get better at rotating. We can't just keep running the top players into the ground.

I can't see much of that until after the 1st 6 games, then he probably will

[Peter]

I can't see much of that until after the 1st 6 games, then he probably will

That is fine (although injuries are taking care of some of it).

It is when we hit the period of two games a week with the CL. Surely we can rest Rice, or Gabriel, or Saliba occasionally if we are at home to a Palace or a West Ham. We cant ask them all to play twice a week for months on end. The odd break here and there, one at a time, could make a big difference.

[Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult]

Merino needs some games and Rice needs a break here and there.

Arteta HAS to get better at rotating. We can't just keep running the top players into the ground.

You may have a point there. MA didn't like rotating except in home games against weaker teams. I think the injuries etc might have made him realise that he has to be able to rotate and still have various options when he does.

[Peter]

You may have a point there. MA didn't like rotating except in home games against weaker teams. I think the injuries etc might have made him realise that he has to be able to rotate and still have various options when he does.

In some areas he has so many options- Eze, MArtinelli, Trossard and Madueke on the left. Two great options for either full back when fit. Two good strikers when Havertz is fit.

The concern is the centre backs and central midfield, and Saka. He likes to keep that stable every game. Of course you can see why, and the replacements for the two central midfielders and centre backs are a step down. But Kiwior showed last season that we can play very well indeed with one centre back missing. He also showed that you can't expect someone to come in after months without minutes and not look rusty. His first couple of performances were iffy. After that he looked fine.

[PSRB]

That is fine (although injuries are taking care of some of it).

It is when we hit the period of two games a week with the CL. Surely we can rest Rice, or Gabriel, or Saliba occasionally if we are at home to a Palace or a West Ham. We cant ask them all to play twice a week for months on end. The odd break here and there, one at a time, could make a big difference.

I think he's been wanting a depth of squad to enable that, which he now has.

[Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult]

In some areas he has so many options- Eze, MArtinelli, Trossard and Madueke on the left. Two great options for either full back when fit. Two good strikers when Havertz is fit.

The concern is the centre backs and central midfield, and Saka. He likes to keep that stable every game. Of course you can see why, and the replacements for the two central midfielders and centre backs are a step down. But Kiwior showed last season that we can play very well indeed with one centre back missing. He also showed that you can't expect someone to come in after months without minutes and not look rusty. His first couple of performances were iffy. After that he looked fine.

I think that's sort of what I'm saying. Injuries made him realise he can swap FBs without disrupting the team. {Though I still don't think JT overlaps on the right as much as BW.}

Kiwior coming in and doing well made him realise he could also rest Big Willy, hence the Trip-Hop signing.

Zubi and Dec can cover for each other if we drop the double pivot and go 1 DM, 2 No.10s. And MnM could play in that role, too. He's played there with Zubi {and with Odin one year on loan?}

A fit Kai would be covering with Vik. Gabby and Leo swapped games anyway, before Noni came and before we think about Eze. And hopefully Ethan will prove Odin can have a break.

I could be wrong but I think last season's injuries showed him that rotation works when you have players you trust {like the spare FBs} or learned to trust {like Yakob.}

That's why we've bought so many players when we thought it would just be Wigwam's replacement, a striker and a cheap, spare 'keeper.