Think we need to stop the Merino experiment.
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Think we need to stop the Merino experiment.
Indeed. Although there?s something about that poxy club, regardless of how low their stock has fallen, or who we deploy upfront, an away point always seems to be the expectation.Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter
It?s a result that perfectly sums up our season.
Not really an experiment, is it. We don't really have any choices.Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter
Thank goodness our short-lived no striker "experiment" will be over soon too.
Ok. We need to stop playing Merino as centre forward because he's a useless ****ing carthorse.Quote:
Originally Posted by redgunamo
Better? :-)
Not his fault alone but Manchester United were far too comfortable today.Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter
I?m really not sure why we bought him in. Can only assume it was a punt based on his national selection. It hasn?t worked. The club are loaded with very average midfielders. Vieira, Lokonga, Zinchenko, Jorginho all need to go in the summer. Partey?s probably got another season but mainly off the bench. Our recent transfers, Rice & Timber aside, have been f?rking gash.Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter
Let?s hope the new guy, Berta can get us back on track.
I don't think he's a bad midfielder. And I don't think he was brought in to necessarily play every week. He isn't a centre forward.Quote:
Originally Posted by 7sisters
I'm hoping Partey stays another year.
Thought the young centre back did OK for them :-(Quote:
Originally Posted by redgunamo
At least he didn't make us worse. Slightly puzzling maybe, with that other Spanish bloke apparently waiting in the wings. But fair enough; we have a small squad so more players was good.Quote:
Originally Posted by 7sisters
The new TD simply must have a couple of decent strikers up his sleeve. Going into another season with an underpowered forward division would suggest a serious lack of seriousness; as good as they've been, expecting a group of occasional goalscorers to amass the 80-90 Premier League goals we need every season is a hell of a pressure and too much for them.
Yes. A Manchester United fan apparently. Or was it that young forward they had on the bench.Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter
That old mantra of being a couple of players short seems to follow us around like a grim reaper.Quote:
Originally Posted by redgunamo
Perhaps this applies to most clubs but you can?t really use that logic to Liverpool this season, or City, during those title winning runs; they always have that bank of quality in depth.
We need at least two midfielders, assuming the others get shipped out, a CF and arguably, a left winger to compete with an ageing Trossard and Martinelli.
is it? I've not been impressed with him for quite a while.Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter
He's not been the same since Xhaka left :rubchin:
If the rumours are right and we bring in Sesko and Zubimendi this will be an awfully good step forward imo. Add a wide attacking player and we should be fine. We have loads of depth at the back.Quote:
Originally Posted by 7sisters
And our transfers are hardly 'gash' 7s. Merino and Calafiori are solid to good and provide needed depth. Last years of Rice, Havertz, Timber and Raya were superb, so not quite gash.
Time to move Martinelli on if we can, imo.Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter
He's not developed into the player we thought he'd become.
Shame, injury took its toll, probably.
:hide:
Yeah, I guess you can always say that once you imagine you have enough money to avoid excuses. Liverpool and Manchester City probably want more European Cups at this point. Manchester United too, back when they were good.Quote:
Originally Posted by 7sisters
In the main, our transfer strategy has been excellent. Last summer wasn't a huge success but it was perfectly bloody obvious that we were under considerable financial constraints and couldn't splash out on the players we would have liked. We'd all love a great centre forward but nobody needs a **** one. And we couldn't afford the great ones......Quote:
Originally Posted by WES
There's been a lot of talk about Liverpool's luck this season but the one huge slice of luck they have had has been City being rubbish. If we'd had that last season we would have been champions. Same the year before. Us being a bit **** has helped further and has meant that Liverpool are going to stroll to the title without even being tested.
We need a couple more players but we also need a tactical rethink. The way we have been approaching games this season is never going to win you league titles. Injuries have made it worse but they are not the fundamental problem. We just haven't performed well enough all season, going right back to the very first game against Wolves. Under the weight of set piece perfection, game management and time wasting, we have forgotten who we are, and how we play. We need to find it again.
I am not sure any of our summer moves have added much to the team. Sterling has been the ultimate flop, Merino not quite sure about him yet, Calafiori whilst I like his enthusiam, hair and finishing he's not really working for what Arteta had in mind.Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter
Calafiori is a very good player and I am not sure we have yet seen what Arteta had in mind. We will. My only concern with him is that he isnt the quickest.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pat Vegas
do you think it might help if Arteta started to buy players for positions that actually play in that position. rather than everyone being versitaile.Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter
we'll have none of that at The Arsenal, f. Good grief.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pat Vegas
Not everyone is versatile. Odegaard never plays anywhere else, neither does Partey, Gabriel, Saliba, or Raya :-)Quote:
Originally Posted by Pat Vegas
Wide players tend to be a bit more versatile anyway, and Arteta is part of a generation of coaches that see the full back role differently. We have different types of full back on each side. I see it as a positive.
I guess the real question is about the forward line though. And if I had all the answers to that, with respect, I wouldn't be sitting here talking to you lot :-)
I do hope you're not doubting Thomas :-\Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter
I love Partey but he is a ****ing **** right back.Quote:
Originally Posted by redgunamo
We have MLS, Cala, Zinny, KT, JT and Tomi as LBs. But no fit strikers. Do we really need 6 LBs?Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter
I know that now we have Gabby M back, we could play one of him and Leo on the left wing and the other through the middle. But maybe Cala at CF, MnM at inside left and Dec as DM would be worth a punt. Both Cala and MnM would win aerial duels and could get on the end of crosses from Ethan {or Odin or JT.}
KT could play LW if need be, and MLS could play inside left. JT and Tomi can play anywhere across the back 4. But if we're gonna have these versatile players and shedloads of LBs, we should have at least one LB who could play CF.
A left back who can play centre forward is a pretty big ask :-)Quote:
Originally Posted by Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult
And of course, we didn't plan on having 6 left backs. Tierney would have gone if he hadn't been injured and I dont think we were banking on MLS making as many appearances as he has. And both Timber and Tomiyasu are also right backs, predominantly so in Tomiyasu's case.
By the way, you left out Kiwior, so it is technically 7 left backs :hehe::hehe:
God, you're right. Yakob. It's a pity for his career that he hasn't gone back to Italy cos apparently he was a rather good LCH. But given all the LBs we have, if Big Gabby was injured, it would be Cala who would cover for him.Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter
So many FBs and no fit strikers. Gutted it didn't work out for Raheem. Taking a massive pay cut to join us. Yet all he's done is made an assist for Ethan's first EPL goal. His first goal for us will be the winner in the CL final - you heard it here first.
You may have missed him scoring the fourth goal in the 5?1 win versus Bolton Wanderers in the EFL Cup third round. Or don't those count?Quote:
Originally Posted by Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult
Oh, he was great in the Milk Cup. But look at all the kids we've had over the years who were great in the Milk Cup, eg Willock.Quote:
Originally Posted by pjlincs
It's nice to see a teenager on debut do well. A bit less impressive when it's a 29 year old international who's already won everything.