my two cents

[Goonanana]

There has been an awful lot of discuss with regards to the team, who should stay? who shuold go? what needs to be changed?

So I thought we should all give our humble opinions will full and thought out reasonings and facts rather than just moaning and having a rant.

Starting with players:

Goalkeeper

I for one this season have been very happy with Manuel Almunia's performances. He has proved himself as a worthy goalkeeper and in my opinion didn't put a foot wrong in any of our cup competitions. More importantly he has a much greater command of his box then Jens lehmann. I believe this gives the back four greater confidence and relieves some of the perssure which we obviously suffer on set pieces. It also stops Jens being stuck behind a striker on the line and flapping his arms and crying like a little boy who can't get the ball off his dad. Depending on our monetary circumstances I would be happy with him as our first choice keeper and for us to let Jens go for enough money to (with the sale of Poom) buy ourselves an adequate reserve keeper. If we have the money then I would love to see an extremely competent goalkeeper but they are very expensive to come by.


Defence

I believe this is where our main problem lies. We need two Quality players in every position to mount an effective title challenge and this is something we simply do not have. I also believe our combination of Central defenders doesn't work well enough. I've noticed this point amde before and I agree - Toure and Gallas do not provide us with enough cover together. They are both fantastic players but both have the same flaw and that is the inability to defend set pieces. They are not tall enough or powerful enough to compete. Goals such as that scored by Alex in the champions league and Drogba in the carling cup final must be stopped or at least made much more difficult. I am not saying for one second we should get rid of either of them but I am saying we need two quality strong defenders to partner them. Senderos is definaetly not good enough, we prob can't afford two so we will ahve to keep Johan. Turning to the full backs I do not think Hoyte or Eboue are world class as yet. Hoyte has the potential in his ability and Eboue has the potential if he can sort his attitude out and perhaps improve a little also. Therefore I believe a new right full back is needed. Clichy for me is top class and I can see flashes of brilliance in Traore. With the money situation as it is and Hoyte and Gallas's ability to play left back if needed I think we can just about do without a new left back

Midfield

This is an area for us that is full of quality but in a muddle. AW needs to sit down and decide where people aer going to paly and let them play there as a group and work together. At the minute he seems to be almost picking4 midfielders and putting them anywhere across the line. Diaby is an amazing lpayer and should enver be no the left wing. Hleb is not an orthodox winger and so is only suited there when he has eboue running up around him. Freddie unfortunately is now passed it as much as it pains me to say that. He willl be great in perhaps a slower league like Italy and I can maybe see him going somewhere like Juve because he still has something to give at the top level. Rosicky I feel just needs a settled run in the team. Theo I am sure will come good and I would prefer to see him paly up front but as there is no chance of that for a few years we can add him to the list of wingers. With my rule of 2 players in every position then we are short of a winger. This is another poisiton I would buy in - perhaps Ribery. Now in the centre. I am a firm believer in the timeless combination of one attacking central midfielder and one defending ala carrick / scholes makele / fat frank. We have 3 attacking CM in my opinion namely Cesc, Baptista and Denilson. We onlt need two. Judging by the money involved to me Baptista has to go. Althoguh i have faith he could come good for the money being asked for him and the players we have in that position he is not needed. Now for the tough DMC we have diaby - he has been amaznig and neesd to be played here. We also have Gilberto - excellent servant and I can never make my mind up about him. Thankfully he isn't egtting any younger and so this is going to eb made up for me very soon. If we have the money now though I'd like a new tough DMC to alternate with Diaby.

Strikers

I like the mix again of a fast finisher and a taller header of the ball, luckily we already have two of each

Henry - Will be back - Not going to dignify the recent postings with an argument

RVP - Amazing this season we have missed him dearly

Bentner - as set the championship on fire - can he cut it in the prem? only one way to find out

Adebayor - Needs to work on his heading a little but with a summer focussed on it he will be fine

There is no room for Alliadiere i'm afraid. If he was a little bit more of a utiity player then maybe. If we struggle to get any wingers then maybe try him pre season as a winger because he has pace and skill but no finish - his crossing ain't too bad either..might be on to something there

Squad Players

These must always be flexible in my book.

Flamini - Mr utility himself

Song - Perhaps not flexible enough - been getting good reviews so may be time to cash in

Muamba - Get some money for


The Final Team

So putting this on paper with a / representing either or (i.e. not to be played together unless mass injuries force otherwise)

Almunia/New keeper

Hoyte/Eboue Toure/Gallas Djourou/New player Clichy/Traore

Rosicky / Theo Diaby/Gilberto Fabregas/Denilson New Player / Hleb


Henry/RVP Bendtner / Adebayor


So with the right training I think I agree with Arsene we dont need a overhaul just a couple of super super players in the positions above

Estimated costs / sales

Alliadiere
Reyes
Senderos
Song

£ 12-15 mill

Ribery
Defender
Goalkeeper

£ 30 - 35 mill

So if we have £20 mill in the kitty then I think we'll be fine

[Gunnerz4life]

Yeah i agree with you about the defender situation. We need a centreback who could attack the aerial ball and is fearless (not saying Kolo and William rnt) during set pieces. We need the variety.

The midfielders are fine as they are, id like Freddie to be replaced either by Ribery or someone else. He has no more to offer us.

But id love to see a 20 goals a season striker up front. The last 2 seasons TH14 have had too many injury problems and i dont want Adebayor and RVP having to play too many matches together with Henry out. I think Arsene should go for a Etoo or a David Villa, though he had said he wouldnt buy a striker. Goal scoring has been a problem and there rnt many goalscorers among the mid fielders now, perhaps only Rosicky, im not sure about Ribery's contribution when it comes to goal scoring. thats more of a reason to get another top class prolific striker.

So for me, it will be a striker, a wide midfielder and a centreback.

[donaldo]

We need a top class keeper next season.Goalkeeper is one position you cant take any chances with as Chelsea with Cech being injured this season and Manure before they bought Van Der Sar have found out.We need a keeper who has proved himself at international level and champions league level. Almunia hasnt done this. I wish we could get Buffon it would be £12 million well spent.

[Goonanana]

Well the other thing you get with a top keeper is that on set pieces they can come and pluck most things out of the air before the striker has had the chance to head it.

In Eindhoven against PSV their keeper dominated the box so much it almost became a waste fo time putting crosses in beacuse he just caught them all! maybe that was our bad crossing and lack of heading players though

[Chopper]

I agree that Almunia is good enough to be first choice but feel Lehmann (next season) and Poom will be inadequate backups. However don't think anyone failed to be impressed with Gomes of PSV and think he can rival Cech and Van der Sar as the top top level of goalkeepers. I like Buffon but figure Gomes would be cheaper and have more years in him.

Agreed we need the commanding centreback to clear setpieces. I can't think of a real dominator other than (Chavskis) Alex. The best (available) centreback I can think of is Woodgate who would do a fine job for us I feel. I like Djourou and have no qualms about him staying or playing but Senderos has to go. With our budget I think we can rely on Traore/Clichy and Hoyte/Eboue next season at fullback with Gallas/Toure as cover if needed to fill their spots.

Midfield is our strongest but also our weakest area, the array of talent is fantastic but the penetration is lacking. We need a winger who will run at the opposition rather than look to be the playmaker which is my one reservation about Ribery. Reyes can go if he returns and whilst I think Baptista will be better next year can we afford to keep him, when other areas need to be stenghtened? I would like us to sign one of Quaresma who has amazing skills and is not afraid to beat players and have a shot, Lennon or Wright-Phillips as both frighten fullbacks when they run at them. Can't see the Spuds/Chavs selling either to us so think Quaresma is the man. Theo I think will still be used as a winger next year so we would have plenty of options.

Having a fit Henry and RVP next year will make a huge difference. Adebayor (suspension free) and Bendtner would do a fine job also. I see no real problems. If Etoo becomes available lets sign him, if not then don't think we necessarily need another. Would love to see Villa or Torres but feel the price will be more than Arsene is willing to part with. Huntelaar would be an ideal striker to complete the squad if really required but with Bendtners return I can't see how he would be unless
RVP is switched to the wing.

My squad next year would therefore be:

Gomes
Almunia

Hoyte
Eboue
Gallas
Toure
Djorou
Woodgate
Traore
Clichy

Rosicky
Hleb
Diaby
Gilberto
Denilson
Fabregas
Walcott
Quaresma

Henry
Van Persie
Adebayor
Bendtner
Huntelaar/Etoo

Think we could get Huntelaar for about £8 million and Quaresma about £6 million, Woodgate will be around the same although if we could get a swap for Reyes (if they want him which I think is doubtful) and Gomes would be about £6 million too. So say £20 million.

Out would be Lehmann (£1m?), Senderos (£2m), Freddie (£3m), Song (£1m), Aliadiere (£3m). So say £10 million. Giving us a £10 million expenditure so for our supposed £20m budget swap Huntelaar for Etoo and we will be laughing.

I realise my valuations may be way off but thats what Arsene and Mr Dein are for!

[Goonanana]

Very good point - I forgot Woodgate was still a Madrid player. That would be fantastic if we could do a part excahnge with Reyes. He was great for them at the start fo the season but tailed off a bit and is injured at the minute. Considering what we paid for Reyes I'd hope we could get away with a straight swap for Woodgate but I think we'll have to take a loss at give them Reyes and a Mill. To be hoenst thoghu i've not seen Reyes enough in the second half of the season to judge what he is worth now.

It is indeed a shame about Baptista, I'd probably have him for about £5 mill at most but I don't think he is worth the £8mill mark which is the figure I've seen flying around the media.

I would love to see Gomes at the Grove, trouble is after the two legs against us I imagnie he has put about £3mill on his price tag! Can't see him going for less than £9mill to be honest. Eto'o would be amazing but he will be VERY expensive (£19mil) and as not desperaetly needed then I think the money could be better spent elsewhere.

Queresma would be could be a very good buy, Porto will like the money I expect and he would score goals from midfield which we've beenb lacking, perhaps more than Ribery. I do feel myself and others are getting carried away with Ribery because he is French which means we can almost certainly get him! I think we need more confidence in our ability to attract top class players. Rosicky and Queresma on the wings would certainly frighten any opposition, especially if they were feeding RVP and Henry

[Gunnerz4life]

Chavski and Manure are after Quaresma. Mourinho wanted him during the January transfer window, willing to pay 14 million i hear. And besides hes portuguese, even a small interest from lets say Real Madrid might make him move there. So i really doubt whether he will be a realistic buy.

[Chopper]

On the subject of wingers from Portugal, I see the spuds are after Nani who is being raved about. Have seen him a couple of times and he did look quite good. Not sure how consistent he is but could be an option.

After all with all our kids they could do with a Nani.....sorry, i'll get my coat!

Can't see the Chavs getting Quaresma at the moment, not while the power battle is going on there. Not sure about the Mancs but would fancy our chances, although like you say Madrid may have an advantage although he is ex Barca i think so may not want to go back to spain or a former rival?

[Goonanana]

He will probably go where Mourinho goes. If he goes to Madird in the summer which I suspect he will then he will prob make Queresma one of his first purchases. He my go to the manc to play on the opposite wing to that diving little sh*t but I think he'll prefer the fairer weather of the south

[Arsenal 4 LIFE]

First of all I would like to agree with the opening topic in that we need some players.
However I would like to 10000000000000000000000000000000% disagree with the statement of Almunia can be our No. 1 keeper for next season. I would like to point to the season where AW tried Almunia as the No.1 for a while and he did not command the box any better then Lehman, it was suicidal. He is a good shoot stopper but that’s it, its not like we cant get another good shoot stopper look at Brad Friedel. For this season I will hold my hands up and say he has had a good season but call me ignorant but I would like to also point out the teams it was he was facing, they are no Barcelona. I think at best he can be our No. 2, buy a new keeper my No.1 choice is Buffon, just because he is in serie B does not mean he is not in the list for top three goalkeepers in the world. As for Gomes I have heard good things from Tony Adams but lets see what he has done when it comes to the end of the season if he does well No. 2 choice.


As for the centre backs people are two quick to judge on Toure and Gallas's performance seeing as Gallas has only I think under 20 games the rest of which he has been injured. I agree that we need a Vedic, Terry to header those balls away but I believe with the Wright coaching they can be a formidable pare. As for the right back position Eboue has not been top but I would blame that on his persistent injuries, I do not want to make excuses for him. However I will expect great things from him my favourite player because of the width and pace he provides us, If sold him who we would we get him with on our budget? He has more potential than most players he could possibly play on the right wing as he did when he came on for the spurs game when he changed the game. As for Clichy, never stops going the only thing I can say is he is to short therefore he is not commanding on the left flank of the box.


The midfield neeeeeeeeeeeeds wingers with pace, I will sum this up with players that speak for themselves.
Quaresma, Lennon, Wright-Phillips or Downing (not that fast but has brilliant delivery).
It is questionable on the prices the teams would want but we cannot continue with Rosicky and Hleb pretending they are wingers when I have never seen them torment a player and use the wings to actually cross. These players will also shoot from outside the box something that Rosicky did at will before he came to Arsenal but has now learned the arsenal way THE PERFECT BALL TO FEET.
The player I forgot but I am nearly 100% we are going to buy is Ribery. I will not mind him coming for the right price but it is questionable on some things on him i.e. can he cross?(we need whipped crosses in the box not floaters) can he be consistent?
As for Diaby I have never seen him actually defend and looks like he likes to attack more than defend therefore we need another DM because as good as Gilberto is he cannot pass to save his life.



The strikers.
Baptista should only stay if Reyes goes the other way because I don’t see either team putting there hands into there pockets for either player. Reyes is a great player and I really wished he could of regained the form he had at Seville-every penny was worth it at the time.
If we can get Eto'o then good but I don’t think it will happen, if it does it does. I think we should of kept Lupoli and I think that may come back to haunt us because he looks like a natural born scorer and letting him go with ought putting him in with the lions was a mistake.

I agree with sale the of players that AW considers important first team players i.e.
Alliadiere -but agree in making him into a winger potential for a genius move as he did with Henry, his crossing is questionable.
Reyes
Senderos
Song