Next 2 signing are key

[FrenchGun]

de jong is just a dirty bastard and dont think he would bring anything to the first team, while i agree agression is needed but controled agression and not just any old dirty bastard of a player like de jong.

Mmmm... Too right!

De jong is not a bad DM, but IMO he clearly lacks the brain. In that case I'd rather have van Bommel as he's as cynical as de Jong, but clearly has the brain to break the play at the right time, and usualy get's away with it.

Playing with two defensive minded midfielders? That's what Barca have been doing recently and it works quite well I must admit. A second DM would fill the gaps left by Clichy and Sagna when they go forward. Well... actually, I'd have anyone as long as I never see Denilson in that position again!!

[QuartzGooner]

We need quality box-to-box dynamic ball-winner in the Vieira mold or even the Essien mold alongside Cesc and Song because that is what will help our back four more than anything else

Wow. I agree with USMartin on something.

Partly.

I actually think the thing that will help our back four most is a defensive coach, followed by a goalkeeper, but the type of player you speak of is a pet "wish" of mine, and I know "It's Up For Grabs Now" and "Marc Engels" are keen to see that purchase too.

[augie]

de jong is just a dirty bastard and dont think he would bring anything to the first team, while i agree agression is needed but controled agression and not just any old dirty bastard of a player like de jong.

I miss the days when we had plenty of dirty bastards in our team U didnt fcuk with The Arsenal back then

[FrenchGun]

We need quality box-to-box dynamic ball-winner in the Vieira mold or even the Essien mold alongside Cesc and Song because that is what will help our back four more than anything else

Wow. I agree with USMartin on something.

Partly.

I actually think the thing that will help our back four most is a defensive coach, followed by a goalkeeper, but the type of player you speak of is a pet "wish" of mine, and I know "It's Up For Grabs Now" and "Marc Engels" are keen to see that purchase too.

Well... Who wouldn't have Viera or Essien in the place of Denilson?

A defensive coach would also be nice as Defense has always been Arsene's soft spot.... Tacticaly our defence has been a shamble for some time now...

[USMartin]

We need quality box-to-box dynamic ball-winner in the Vieira mold or even the Essien mold alongside Cesc and Song because that is what will help our back four more than anything else

Wow. I agree with USMartin on something.

Partly.

I actually think the thing that will help our back four most is a defensive coach, followed by a goalkeeper, but the type of player you speak of is a pet "wish" of mine, and I know "It's Up For Grabs Now" and "Marc Engels" are keen to see that purchase too.

Well... Who wouldn't have Viera or Essien in the place of Denilson?

A defensive coach would also be nice as Defense has always been Arsene's soft spot.... Tacticaly our defence has been a shamble for some time now...

Most of us could suit up and pass for Denilson - the hair would be tricky but the sub-par defensive football and lack of pace - I think most of us could pull it off

NO I'm saying let's get a real quality player for the role and not just "someone who's better than Denilson in the role" because really who isn't? He's more suited to Cesc's role actually and he's got a ways to go there too than he'll ever be a holding role.

[peeps112]

We need quality box-to-box dynamic ball-winner in the Vieira mold or even the Essien mold alongside Cesc and Song because that is what will help our back four more than anything else

Wow. I agree with USMartin on something.

Partly.

I actually think the thing that will help our back four most is a defensive coach, followed by a goalkeeper, but the type of player you speak of is a pet "wish" of mine, and I know "It's Up For Grabs Now" and "Marc Engels" are keen to see that purchase too.

Well... Who wouldn't have Viera or Essien in the place of Denilson?

A defensive coach would also be nice as Defense has always been Arsene's soft spot.... Tacticaly our defence has been a shamble for some time now...

Most of us could suit up and pass for Denilson - the hair would be tricky but the sub-par defensive football and lack of pace - I think most of us could pull it off

NO I'm saying let's get a real quality player for the role and not just "someone who's better than Denilson in the role" because really who isn't? He's more suited to Cesc's role actually and he's got a ways to go there too than he'll ever be a holding role.

go back and watch the pre-season. we already have this box-to-box ball winner. his name is frimpong. whether he is young or not is irrelevant. wilshire is young and he is the business, so he is frimpong. there is a reason (aside from the crap competition) that our creative midfielders had so much of the ball and could do whatever they wanted in these three games - frimpong won everything in sight and gave it to them.

he is really one for the future, yes, but he can come in and get valuable minutes in the side this year. id like to see him play some in the emirates cup - though it is not the best gauge, it is far better than against fc scheitz et. al.

[QuartzGooner]

Frimpong looks a great prospect, on the basis of pre season games and last years reserve games.
Eastmond does too, though looks more of a "Sitting" defensive midfielder in the mould of Gilberto, than Frimpong (and the less good but still decent Coquelin) who are more Essien type dynamic ball winners.
We sold two of these types in one season (Diarra, Flamini) and have yet to replace them, in my view a big part of our inability to hold onto leads. Without this type of player we lack the ability to keep pressure on the opposition, to take the sting out of opposition attacks.

But the age is relevant.

They must not be held back because of it, but at the same time, they should not be overplayed, and risk fatigue injuries.
They are still growing, and Fowler and Owen are two players who suffered bone fissures because of over playing at too young an age.

They will also find a large jump in quality and physicality in the Premier league, so experience and increased physical strength will matter.

That strength will come from 21 - 23, so I am in favour of bringing in someone who is top level now, and selling Diaby, Vela, Simpson, Randall, etc to pay for it.

The following link has a Frimpong opinion piece, I highlight this paragraph from that link.

http://legendaire.wordpress.com/2010/07 ... ong-story/

"He quite simply is the ideal break up and simple pass it away man this team needs, I have nothing against Song, who performs an admirable role in the team, more of a shield to the defence rather than a Sword against the opposition, as Frimpong could be."

[USMartin]

Frimpong looks a great prospect, on the basis of pre season games and last years reserve games.
Eastmond does too, though looks more of a "Sitting" defensive midfielder in the mould of Gilberto, than Frimpong (and the less good but still decent Coquelin) who are more Essien type dynamic ball winners.
We sold two of these types in one season (Diarra, Flamini) and have yet to replace them, in my view a big part of our inability to hold onto leads. Without this type of player we lack the ability to keep pressure on the opposition, to take the sting out of opposition attacks.

But the age is relevant.

They must not be held back because of it, but at the same time, they should not be overplayed, and risk fatigue injuries.
They are still growing, and Fowler and Owen are two players who suffered bone fissures because of over playing at too young an age.

They will also find a large jump in quality and physicality in the Premier league, so experience and increased physical strength will matter.

That strength will come from 21 - 23, so I am in favour of bringing in someone who is top level now, and selling Diaby, Vela, Simpson, Randall, etc to pay for it.

The following link has a Frimpong opinion piece, I highlight this paragraph from that link.

http://legendaire.wordpress.com/2010/07 ... ong-story/

"He quite simply is the ideal break up and simple pass it away man this team needs, I have nothing against Song, who performs an admirable role in the team, more of a shield to the defence rather than a Sword against the opposition, as Frimpong could be."

Wow more agreement between us - its clear to me that letting two - and really three - defensive midfielders go within six months factored hugely into us falling back to fighting for fourth in 2009 instead of following up the success of 2008.

I also agree on developing players today. It shouldn't be that way but its not like the 1960s and 70s where you had squads of 20 men playing in 50 and more matches up to as many as 70 and only one substiute allowed, meaning the first 11 genrally played 50-60 matches a year and in playing conditions that make today's even at the lesser gorunds in football seem almost paradisical. The old line about "if you're good enough you're old enough" still applies but not nearly so completely as it did even a decade ago because of considering the long-term impact of playing youngsters too much too soon.

It's another balancing act really that is required and getting ti right will be essential.

[northbankbren]

Expect the next two signings to be somewhere around the middle of june 2011

[augie]

FFS peeps frimpong looked excellent v 3 teams that are fcuk all above pub team level and you laud him as being available for the prem league and the champs league ?? The guy did indeed look impressive but jesus that is a huge huge jump in opposition and personally I would much, much rather buy in a proven quality player now

[flash gunner]

FFS peeps frimpong looked excellent v 3 teams that are fcuk all above pub team level and you laud him as being available for the prem league and the champs league ?? The guy did indeed look impressive but jesus that is a huge huge jump in opposition and personally I would much, much rather buy in a proven quality player now

Augie youre talking about arsenal fans 2010.... they have been brainwashed into thinking using youngsters is a move in the right direction and winning championships/cups doesnt matter anymore as long as you play pretty football bit like the **** during the 80's/90's

[Only One Tony Adams]

FFS peeps frimpong looked excellent v 3 teams that are fcuk all above pub team level and you laud him as being available for the prem league and the champs league ?? The guy did indeed look impressive but jesus that is a huge huge jump in opposition and personally I would much, much rather buy in a proven quality player now

I think most of us would like to see him invest in the side and buy a rough and tough CB and DM but it's not going to happen so Frimpong it is. He can't be any worst then Denilson........

[USMartin]

FFS peeps frimpong looked excellent v 3 teams that are fcuk all above pub team level and you laud him as being available for the prem league and the champs league ?? The guy did indeed look impressive but jesus that is a huge huge jump in opposition and personally I would much, much rather buy in a proven quality player now

That;'s the really horrifying irony - we may wake up and find out we're s***s one day if we keep pretending there is nothing to worry about yet.

[Ricay]

[/quote]

I think most of us would like to see him invest in the side and buy a rough and tough CB and DM but it's not going to happen so Frimpong it is. He can't be any worst then Denilson........[/quote]


That is so profound ....unfortunately

[augie]

FFS peeps frimpong looked excellent v 3 teams that are fcuk all above pub team level and you laud him as being available for the prem league and the champs league ?? The guy did indeed look impressive but jesus that is a huge huge jump in opposition and personally I would much, much rather buy in a proven quality player now

I think most of us would like to see him invest in the side and buy a rough and tough CB and DM but it's not going to happen so Frimpong it is. He can't be any worst then Denilson........

Have you never seen diaby play ?? Now that really is shite