squad for 2013/14 good enough?

[highburyJD]

We have the 2nd best defence in the league, more 1-0s than anybody,
on top of this, with more quality in front of goal - taking early chances, killing teams off when dominant
we would concede even fewer goals

I'd like to see us keep (and use) Bac, Pod and TV
Sagna at RB and CB. Pod LW and as part of a front two. TV in mid as well as defence.
get an experienced keeper as competition for Szczesny
then blow the vast majority of our budget on a genuine superstar up front

[Blood_Gooner]

People still craving a "DM" is it just me or since Song has left do we no longer seem to have a gaping hole through the middle of our midfield? Perhaps those playing in midfield now simply have the brains not to totally abandon their defensive duties like that clown so frequently did?

Great point. For me alot of it comes down to Arteta in particular. People are still pisswanking about saying he's a this and he's a that. He's playing as a DM. End of. And he goes about it quietly, effectively and professionally. No, he's not the best DM in the world, but he is a very good DM. One reason why alot of his work seems to go a bit unnoticed is that he is intelligent. His positioning is very good mostly and he anticipates and snuffs out alot of oppo attacks, whereas Song's positioning was appalling and he only ever reacted to oppo attacks, often too late.

Having said that, yes I'd love to sign a truly world class DM but they are few and far between. We also need a proven world class striker and a goalkeeper who is actually as good as he thinks he is.

But for me, just as important as those signings is that we need a manager that is tactically adaptable when needed, is also pragmatic enough to play to the strengths of the players he has, rather than wedging those players into a system just because he likes it. Constantly playing players out of position, and playing a system of Barca-Lite tippy tappy that the players are not capable of playing effectively is not going to win anything. Fit the system to the players' strengths, not the players to the system.

Fucking. Basic. Stuff.

Still can't figure out what you guys are on about with these showering of praise on a pointless Arteta.

Effective DM? Please. Has been mostly shit and is a complete lightweight there. Even Rooney was able to nullify him when we 1st faced the Mancs this season. Other players like Yaya just brush pass him. Chases shadows most the time and looks completely out of depth there.

If there was one player that personified the word average, it's Arteta. We won't be competing anytime soon for top honours if his kind are going to be names that automatically make the team sheet.

[1989]

Needed:

- World Class Striker (Higuain, Jovetić, Lewandowski)
- Tenacious, ball-winning Defensive Midfielder (Bender, Fernando, Gustavo)
- Experienced Goalkeeper for back up/Chesney competition (Vorm, Cesar)
- Right Back if Sagna leaves (Isla, Piszczek)

[SteveO 35]

I agree with JD for once

Based on the defensive record of Mert and Kos we look good at the back. Though a new right back would be good and also a keeper or better still a new keeper coach

Our strikers are fucking average at best. Giroud and Pod with 11 prem goals each!!!!!

Robin van Persie 25 Manchester United
2 Luis Suarez 23 Liverpool
3 Gareth Bale 20 Tottenham Hotspur
4 Christian Benteke 19 Aston Villa great scouting network we have
5 Michu 18 Swansea City - First season eh
6 Demba Ba 15 Chelsea
6 Frank Lampard 15 Chelsea from midfield and the bench
8 Dimitar Berbatov 14 Fulham
8 Edin Dzeko 14 Manchester City from the bench
8 Theo Walcott 14 Arsenal
8 Rickie Lambert 14 Southampton - ricky fucking lambert!!!!!!!!!
8 Romelu Lukaku 14 West Bromwich Albion from the bench often
13 Santi Cazorla 12 Arsenal
13 Sergio Agüero 12 Manchester City
13 Wayne Rooney 12 Manchester United
16 Carlos Tévez 11 Manchester City
16 Lukas Podolski 11 Arsenal
16 Jermain Defoe 11 Tottenham Hotspur - from the bench
16 Steven Fletcher 11 Sunderland - yep fletcher
16 Marouane Fellaini 11 Everton
16 Olivier Giroud 11 Arsenal
16 Daniel Sturridge 11 Liverpool
16 Arouna Koné 11 Wigan Athletic
16 Adam Le Fondre 11 Reading - yes Le Fondre from the bench


On par with Le fondre , Kone , Fletcher, Defoe



We need to get rid of these 2 sharpish. Sell Pod back to Germany as he doesn’t suit our squad and giroud needs to go before he turns as shit as cham!

The amount of games I saw Giroud miss sitters to win games is unreal. Were talking about being 12-15 points better off

Nice list Mikey. I've seen Giroud being compared with Drogba on here, but Fletcher, Le Fondre and Kone are all his level. Defoe is just a reserve too and has still scored as many as Montpellier's finest hod carrier