Alexis Sanchez

[Peter]

Having said all that, Alexis probably wouldn't make all that much difference to the team today. Assuming he would replace Martinelli, we (anyway, me) would still be grumbling about thirty-goal a season strikers.

He was always a highspeed, world class danger for us and would add a few direct free-kicks and a sprinkling of star quality to the team. An in-form GM could match his output though and is still fairly young, plenty of potential there.

Alexis was selfish and wouldn't fit in with Arteta's structure at all. He wouldn't do his pressing properly or his defensive work.

The game has changed. You cant have mavericks these days.

[redgunamo]

Alexis was selfish and wouldn't fit in with Arteta's structure at all. He wouldn't do his pressing properly or his defensive work.

The game has changed. You cant have mavericks these days.

Agreed. Dribbling ability masks alot of sins and as football lovers we revere players that can dribble and beat their man. By comparison, shooting and especially scoring goals are considered low, inferior skills and abilities.

Even Cristiano Ronaldo explains that injury forced him to modify his game (remember the one-trick pony, stepover merchant of long ago) and he became "merely" a goalscorer.

It's a widespread malaise in the game; whereas the ability to do fancy tricks is considered a gift from the gods, actual goals are considered to be an act of God; something of a coincidence or freak of fate that can sometimes occur in a football match.

I blame coaches.