Anyone Else Concerned

[enjibenji]

That this good start will give arsene even more excuses not to bring in any more players ?

The squad in depth looks good, but a few more injurys and we are in trouble

[DB10GOONER]

I would say the first 11 looks good but the squad is poor. My fear is that Wenger will believe that this current team can A) play at that level for a whole season and B) stay injury free.

If the last 4 seasons have shown us anything it is that A) we cannot play at a high level for a whole season and B) we cannot stay injury free.

And this is what annoys me the most. We have the nucleus of a good team but we haven't strengthened it enough to compete for a full season and cover injuries and individual players' dips in form. We are a geehair away from disaster at any given time.

2 or 3 good signings at this stage can be the diference between 4th/5th and Champions.

[brazilianGOONER]

I would say the first 11 looks good but the squad is poor. My fear is that Wenger will believe that this current team can A) play at that level for a whole season and B) stay injury free.

If the last 4 seasons have shown us anything it is that A) we cannot play at a high level for a whole season and B) we cannot stay injury free.

And this is what annoys me the most. We have the nucleus of a good team but we haven't strengthened it enough to compete for a full season and cover injuries and individual players' dips in form. We are a geehair away from disaster at any given time.

2 or 3 good signings at this stage can be the diference between 4th/5th and Champions.

i think we have a very strong squad offensively, with the likes of vela, walcott, wilshere and eduardo on the bench, and we maybe the most blessed team in the world when it comes to fullbacks. central midfielders with creative ability is ok too, there's fabregas, denilson, nasri, rosicky, ramsey, merida, diaby... i think where we could add a little bit is on defence, as we have only 3 good CHs in TV, willie and djourou (i'm considering senderos gone), and in DM where i think we have song and nobody else except for denilson and diaby who i've already mentioned, but are not the ideal dms in our 4-3-3 strategy.

so i think i'd try to sign a good dm as cover for song (specially 'cause he'll be gone 6 weeks for the ACN) and a good center back, as cover for when gallas gets injured again...

[enjibenji]

If and the operative word being if, we can keep our midfielders fit then there is a strong set there.

Nasri rosicky and walcott will hopefully provide enough cover for the season on the wings.

I am however a bit concerned if cesc or song were to get injured, much the same if will or tom were to as well.

The goalkeeping department is also weak. I aint a fan of any of any of our keepers but i would rather have almunia then flappy....

[DB10GOONER]

I would say the first 11 looks good but the squad is poor. My fear is that Wenger will believe that this current team can A) play at that level for a whole season and B) stay injury free.

If the last 4 seasons have shown us anything it is that A) we cannot play at a high level for a whole season and B) we cannot stay injury free.

And this is what annoys me the most. We have the nucleus of a good team but we haven't strengthened it enough to compete for a full season and cover injuries and individual players' dips in form. We are a geehair away from disaster at any given time.

2 or 3 good signings at this stage can be the diference between 4th/5th and Champions.

i think we have a very strong squad offensively, with the likes of vela, walcott, wilshere and eduardo on the bench, and we maybe the most blessed team in the world when it comes to fullbacks. central midfielders with creative ability is ok too, there's fabregas, denilson, nasri, rosicky, ramsey, merida, diaby... i think where we could add a little bit is on defence, as we have only 3 good CHs in TV, willie and djourou (i'm considering senderos gone), and in DM where i think we have song and nobody else except for denilson and diaby who i've already mentioned, but are not the ideal dms in our 4-3-3 strategy.

so i think i'd try to sign a good dm as cover for song (specially 'cause he'll be gone 6 weeks for the ACN) and a good center back, as cover for when gallas gets injured again...

hmmm... I don't wish to nitpick - but I will!

vela, walcott, wilshere and eduardo

Vela is totally unproven at that level - Wilshere, ditto. Theo has failed miserably over the last 2 seasons (don't get me wrong, I rate him but he has not delivered - yet).

And while Eddie is quality, how much of this season will he miss through injury? Understandably as he tries to recover from a terrible injury and a long lay off...

fabregas, denilson, nasri, rosicky, ramsey, merida, diaby

Cesc and Nasri would be incleded in the first 11. Rosicky is ludicrously injury prone. Ramsey is unproven at that level. Merida is unproven too. Denilson is not good enough and loses posession too often (a sub at best and technically also included in the first 11) and Diaby is just pure shite.

My point is after the first 11 we are lacking in proven quality replacements with experience at the top level. 3 signings could go a long way to sorting this.

[brazilianGOONER]

hmmm... I don't wish to nitpick - but I will!

vela, walcott, wilshere and eduardo

Vela is totally unproven at that level - Wilshere, ditto. Theo has failed miserably over the last 2 seasons (don't get me wrong, I rate him but he has not delivered - yet).

And while Eddie is quality, how much of this season will he miss through injury? Understandably as he tries to recover from a terrible injury and a long lay off...

fabregas, denilson, nasri, rosicky, ramsey, merida, diaby

Cesc and Nasri would be incleded in the first 11. Rosicky is ludicrously injury prone. Ramsey is unproven at that level. Merida is unproven too. Denilson is not good enough and loses posession too often (a sub at best and technically also included in the first 11) and Diaby is just pure shite.

My point is after the first 11 we are lacking in proven quality replacements with experience at the top level. 3 signings could go a long way to sorting this.

dude, how many players are there in your first 11? you have cesc, nasri and denilson in two positions?

but i think the fact that vela and wilshere are unproven don't make them less good backup, as walcott's problem is consistency, not lack of quality. wonderfully skilled players who lack consistency make good backup for me... and i think eduardo might have some setbacks from his injury, but not long ones, we may count on him for a good number of games, unlike rosicky whose injury will prove to be a "strange one" again probably

but knowing wenger i think that he'll probably buy another striker if he buys anyone... i don't know what his problems are, he likes to collect strikers like panini stickers....

[augie]

I would say the first 11 looks good but the squad is poor. My fear is that Wenger will believe that this current team can A) play at that level for a whole season and B) stay injury free.

If the last 4 seasons have shown us anything it is that A) we cannot play at a high level for a whole season and B) we cannot stay injury free.

And this is what annoys me the most. We have the nucleus of a good team but we haven't strengthened it enough to compete for a full season and cover injuries and individual players' dips in form. We are a geehair away from disaster at any given time.

2 or 3 good signings at this stage can be the diference between 4th/5th and Champions.

Thats exactly the way I would put it Some of the rose tinters feel ok with the squad we have and if we just fall short next may they will proclaim that we had a great season that seen much improvement but the sad thing is that even just 2 quality additions in the right positions could make the difference between nearly men and success again. We have made 30m profit on our summer transfer dealings thus far so the money is surely there right ? Most of us on here (realists and rose-tinters alike) will all agree that we have the nucleus of a very good team but close is no cigar and the club have to start showing some ambition here. To be honest the recruitment of a centre back is not as straightforward as it was 2 or 3 weeks to me - vermaelen has made a very good start to the season and has looked excellent alongside gallas so I dont really see the point in spending big money (12m on hangeland) for a back up centre half. On the other hand it is just 2 games and the real test will come when vermaelen faces up to a drogba or crouch type of striker cos history has shown us that gallas cant deal with an aerial bombardment.

I have to say that I have totally lost interest in this transfer window and that is the first time that has ever happened. I reckoned we needed 2 or 3 quality players but what club in their right minds would sell their key players (especially at the prices we offer ) at this stage leaving themselves fcuk all time to replace their players ? I think our business is done to be honest

[DB10GOONER]

hmmm... I don't wish to nitpick - but I will!

vela, walcott, wilshere and eduardo

Vela is totally unproven at that level - Wilshere, ditto. Theo has failed miserably over the last 2 seasons (don't get me wrong, I rate him but he has not delivered - yet).

And while Eddie is quality, how much of this season will he miss through injury? Understandably as he tries to recover from a terrible injury and a long lay off...

fabregas, denilson, nasri, rosicky, ramsey, merida, diaby

Cesc and Nasri would be incleded in the first 11. Rosicky is ludicrously injury prone. Ramsey is unproven at that level. Merida is unproven too. Denilson is not good enough and loses posession too often (a sub at best and technically also included in the first 11) and Diaby is just pure shite.

My point is after the first 11 we are lacking in proven quality replacements with experience at the top level. 3 signings could go a long way to sorting this.

dude, how many players are there in your first 11? you have cesc, nasri and denilson in two positions?

Wenger will play all three on occasion (in 3 positions!! ) as he seems to think Denilson is a utility midfielder that can adapt as need be. Particularly if Arshavin gets a knock (or he wants to drop Arshavin to prove some stupid point. )

[Gunnersaurus]

I've also lost interest in the window as I don't think anyone else will be coming after the good start.

The first 11 is good but not out of this world, to really compete I think you need to have 2 quality teams and we only just about have one (if everyone is fit) and the 2nd 11 are just kids or players who are not quite there yet, if he don't add to it then it will be the downfall again.

It's gonna go 1 of 2 ways, no one will come or we'll all wake up on the morning of Sept 1st to read about 2 new signings because they were done so late even Bryan Swanson had gone to bed, nothing will happen in between I don't think.

[SCREAM AIM FIRE]

If and the operative word being if, we can keep our midfielders fit then there is a strong set there.

Nasri rosicky and walcott will hopefully provide enough cover for the season on the wings.

lol anyone else find it funny that all 3 of those are currently injured?

we need another defensive player, someone who can play the holding midfield role and be dropped back to CB if he's needed, im not sure gibbs is up to filling clichys void at left back should anything happen there
i think eboue is good cover for sagna at RB but shouldnt be put on the wing

all this could be solved by hireing a decent fucking club doctor (someone has to explain why our team is made of glass)

[Pedro]

I thought we did that towards the end of last season with the guy coming in from the Ireland Rugby Team but we still have the same problems..

I was hoping he would find some massive oversight from us and correct it but that wasnt to be and the same players are still injured! Maybe its just bad luck?

[Magic Merse]

I think eboue is ok as cover RM or RW but im still not happy about having Walcott as first choice. I would like to se who Wenger considers our first choice RW, i dont see any stand out candidate.

[augie]

In my ideal world (where everybody is actually fit a pipedream I know ) nasri is the starter on the right hand side of a 4-4-2 with roicky on the left. In other words walcott wouldnt make my team either

[Tallest gooner]

I would say the first 11 looks good but the squad is poor. My fear is that Wenger will believe that this current team can A) play at that level for a whole season and B) stay injury free.

If the last 4 seasons have shown us anything it is that A) we cannot play at a high level for a whole season and B) we cannot stay injury free.

And this is what annoys me the most. We have the nucleus of a good team but we haven't strengthened it enough to compete for a full season and cover injuries and individual players' dips in form. We are a geehair away from disaster at any given time.

2 or 3 good signings at this stage can be the diference between 4th/5th and Champions.

SPOT ON!!! Every point

[Rob]

That this good start will give arsene even more excuses not to bring in any more players ?

The squad in depth looks good, but a few more injurys and we are in trouble

We are already neck deep in injuries !!!! - Walcott, Nasri, Eduardo, Diaby and Rosicky !!!!!!!!!!!! -


How many more are required ? Fabregas ??? Van Pesie ????? Vermallen ???????



Rest assured, they are coming -


We need at least two more players - a defender and someone who at least can play anywhere short of goalkeeper -