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I barely noticed him last night. Mind you, the same was true when he was at City as I recall.
Good player but no more than that, and never worth 100mil.
And on another note, Declan Rice really is the best player in the Premier League if not Europe :nod:
Not sure he was anywhere near fully fitQuote:
Originally Posted by WES
Do you really want to spend big money on a new striker?Quote:
Originally Posted by WES
He would have wanted to rest Vik in those last 20 minutes as he had put a serious shift in. But he simply couldn't afford to take him off. He was that good :-)
He was very good, missed (difficult) chance aside. However I would point out that his best moments came when he had the an entire half to run into when he could do so one vs one. We are learning how to get the ball into those channels quickly... but also those channels don't exist in 90% of the PL games we play.Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter
So to answer the above question; do I want one of the top forward players in world football? One that can play in and of the forward three positions. Yes - very much.
No, his best moments, and there were dozens of them, were when he got repeatedly got between ball and defender with his back to goal.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rich
All season we have been asking for him to use his strength, win his duels, hold the ball up, give us an out ball, and get us up the pitch.
Last night he did that magnificently. He was a constant menace and with virtually no protection whatsoever from the ref.
As good as Alvarez is, he doesn't give you that.
That is also true. We?ve obviously done a good job coaching him as he couldn?t hold anything up when he arrived. Equally; would I expect my big lump of a centre forward to hold the ball up? Absolutely.Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter
Alvarez gives us unpredictability and the ability to breakdown the teams we face in the PL. Would allow us to play a much more attractive brand of football too.
This. Just this.Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter
Kai to start vs the Hammers to give Vik a bit of a breather?
I think you start Vik. He is absolutely flying at the moment.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult
Same starting 11 as last night - this is the next most important game of the season.Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter
We have momentum, let's not lose it by being cautious.
Be interesting to see how West Ham play it at home. They need 3 points but do they sit in and try and do us on the break (they do have pace in wide areas). Or do they just go all out for a goal and then go into a filthy low block once they have it.Quote:
Originally Posted by WES
They'll start solid. He isn't an overly bold coach.but if we give them space to work they will hit us.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rich
We need to dominate the ball. If we keep them under constant pressure they will make errors.
It is our toughest game. Needs a big performance.
Winning those duels in midfield that Arteta goes on so much about is going to be so important. Thankfully we have the best in the business at that.Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter
Would be tempted to play Zubimendi for the same reason. Lewis-Skelly gives us more penetration there but that's not likely to be what's required. MLS' skillset will come to the forefront against Burnley.
That is probably the biggest call. As long as he keeps using Rice the way he is at the moment, I am fine with it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rich
I'd say Trossard stays in if fit. He is playing well
He didn?t put a foot wrong yesterday. The only thing missing from his game is his reliable ability to score.Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter
I?d rather take a punt on Mitoma. Great little player to interchange with Martinelli. Wouldn?t cost a fortune eitherQuote:
Originally Posted by WES
I don't really watch opponents, but he's one I've noticed. Like Easy was before he signed.Quote:
Originally Posted by 7sisters
So long as it was in addition to a superstar / young player. Mitoma is 30... hardly going to make a big and/or long term difference to us.Quote:
Originally Posted by 7sisters
He's a bit lightweight. Not sure I'd want him.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rich
With all due respect to him, I think we need to aim higher. Imagine Gyok/Havertz between Saka and an equivalent. We need one very good left sided attacking player.Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter
And a defender, with MLS a midfielder now.
With Rice playing DM Zubi is 2nd choice or he plays as a sort of 8. With Merino, MLS, Eze and Ode midfield is set unless Arteta decides to sell Ode or Eze, which would surprise me.
Fair enough. Let's whip PSG in the final and nick the Georgian lad :-)Quote:
Originally Posted by WES
Dunno, P. Georgians are complete lunatics, homicidal maniacs to a man.Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter
The only two Georgians anyone has ever heard of are Medea, who murdered her children and escaped in a chariot pulled by dragons, and Joseph Stalin, who murdered everyone else's children and stayed where he was. As the man said.
Fine people, nonetheless. I do worry about dressing room harmony though, with all that sort of thing going on.
let Havertz have a rest. sub if needed.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult
Where is all this money coming from :-(Quote:
Originally Posted by Rich
There was Kinkladze. He didnt murder anybody, except maybe for pace :-)Quote:
Originally Posted by redgunamo
When City was City :-\Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter
Was just watching the news and apparently we are now the richest club in the country. Even more so if we actually win something......Quote:
Originally Posted by redgunamo
Winning the final and entering the fifa club world cup would make us around 130 million, apparently:-(
We're doomed.
That's the trouble with so called sporting directors; just sit around drinking espresso all day and playing FIFA, think they know all about football. I was like that when my sons were small.Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter
And that Berta fellow is precisely the sort to have every goalshy hundred-million pound superstar centre-forward in Europe on speed-dial :-\
Berta had a right go at Simeone last night at the end. Good lad :-)Quote:
Originally Posted by redgunamo
But yes, he does strike you as the sort who likes a big signing. We dont want any of that nonsense at the Arsenal
Excellent. I saw that.Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter
My question is, why is a sporting director on the touchline during a match; I don't know where they got it from and I don't like it. But if the answer is, to slap Simeone's face, then fair enough, imo. Well done, Andrea.
I guess he knows him better than anyone. If he felt he needed to be there, good on him. He can afford a red card :-)Quote:
Originally Posted by redgunamo
They're talking about banning Jesus for slapping a dago. After the final whistle. When there lad went to kick off, and Triphop pulled him away as they're both Spanish yoof team players, and then he got uppity again and Jeez slapped him.Quote:
Originally Posted by redgunamo
I saw that. ****er.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult
If they tackle that they have to address what happened on the touchline. If I were UEFA I'd move on and forget about it.