squad for 2013/14 good enough?

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highburyJD
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Re: squad for 2013/14 good enough?

Post by highburyJD »

hope not, would love to see a PepKlopp battle
but I thought it was rumoured he'd move...

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topgoon
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Re: squad for 2013/14 good enough?

Post by topgoon »

highburyJD wrote:WTF Arteta 'pointless' !?!
Agree with some of the sentiment that post but that undermines it

BTW think Guzan is nearly 30 not old for a goalie but not a kid

Problem I have with Guzan is he's an excellent shot stopper but I don't think he has great command of his area.

A crap/average defence can make a keeper shine because of his shot stopping ability but on crosses he isn't that hot. We have an excellent shot stopper, what we need is someone as good or better in shot stopping but who also commands his area,is good on crosses and has decent distribution something that Chesney is awful at.

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northbank123
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Re: squad for 2013/14 good enough?

Post by northbank123 »

Tomáš wrote:
highburyJD wrote: with Klopp leaving maybe Piszczek is gettable? He's class
Klopp is not leaving at least until 2016 :!: Why should he :?:
Guess it depends on how things pan out next year but if Bayern nick Gotze AND Lewandowski after beating Dortmund in the CL final and coast to another title whilst Dortmund struggle to recover I can imagine him becoming somewhat disillusioned by the unlevel playing field and knowledge that Bayern can just sign the cream of their players as and when they please.

If that does happen then summer 2014 the possibility of taking over at a club that won't be bullied in the same way with far greater resources (and probably double his salary) will become a lot more appealing...

Blood_Gooner
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Re: squad for 2013/14 good enough?

Post by Blood_Gooner »

highburyJD wrote:late 20s goalie, 8-10 years left, still isn't 'a kid' (and plenty of goalies don't even last that young)

I understand people who want our deepest midfielder to be either more physical, or more direct - selecting long range passes more often ('quarterback')
but to claim Arteta is 'pointless' for doing the job he's asked to, very well, is plain ridiculous
the manager wants us to play a certain way
our deepest pivot's job is perpetual availability and quick short passing, same job that Bousquets does for Barca,
Arteta is one of the very best there is at that particular role

either complain about the system, or pay more attention, there's no doubt that Tets is far from pointless
Fair enough. I always respect the views of others, especially on topics which are little bit subjective, so let's just say we agree to disagree.

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highburyJD
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Re: squad for 2013/14 good enough?

Post by highburyJD »

Fair enough. I love Tets, prob over sensitive to criticism of him.
Wish Wenger would sign more established, experienced players like him.

markyp
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Re: squad for 2013/14 good enough?

Post by markyp »

highburyJD wrote:Fair enough. I love Tets, prob over sensitive to criticism of him.
Wish Wenger would sign more established, experienced players like him.
i love Areteta too, and to sign him at the last minute you cant really complain,probably one of wengers only decent signings in the last five years alongside cazorla,its a shame he didnt get the chance to play alongside fabregas instead of being his replacement.regarding Wally regardless of what some people think of him his goals contribution has been immense,without him we wouldnt be where we are right now,imagine that,we are hardly in the dizzy heights are we!!the one thing i think would benefit Wally is some weight training to bulk him up,he's way too sleight imo for the prem,he needs some muscle to go with the pace.Apparently Torres upturn of fortunes as been down to working with weights like he did with liverpool to give him a bit more power so as to not get out muscled so easily,wally would then be a beefcake like the Ox is

LDB
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Re: squad for 2013/14 good enough?

Post by LDB »

Tomáš wrote:
highburyJD wrote: with Klopp leaving maybe Piszczek is gettable? He's class
Klopp is not leaving at least until 2016 :!: Why should he :?:
I was about to ask that, can't find anything about klopp leaving :?

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g88ner
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Re: squad for 2013/14 good enough?

Post by g88ner »

Tomáš wrote:
highburyJD wrote: with Klopp leaving maybe Piszczek is gettable? He's class
Klopp is not leaving at least until 2016 :!: Why should he :?:
:coffeespit: :lol:

He'll leave before then. Your team will be broken up within a year or 2 and he'll fancy a move to a bigger club like Real Madrid or Man City.

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GranadaJoe
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Re: squad for 2013/14 good enough?

Post by GranadaJoe »

ST, DM, GK, RB, LM in that order seems to be the consensus, and I agree completely, but I'd gladly settle for a fuckoff, superstar, 30 goals a season striker (offer 35 million for Lewandowski).

On a separate point, I think the criticism of Arteta is largely wrong. I remember thinking similar things about Gilberto Silva. Then he left and I realised what he had brought to the team.

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donaldo
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Re: squad for 2013/14 good enough?

Post by donaldo »

Squad good enough for what finishing 4th to 6th?Yes

Challenging for the title? Now way. We are 5 players short take a look at the table

We need a top quality keeper Szczesny is not top quality, a RB Sagna is off Jenkinson only back up,DM(as usual) and 2 quality strikers.Giroud and Gervinho one league goal away from home is a pathetic return

I can see Podolski and TV leaving this summer.Podolski is only starting because Giroud was suspended what does that tell you? And TV wont hang around as 3rd CB

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QuartzGooner
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Re: squad for 2013/14 good enough?

Post by QuartzGooner »

My priorities, as ever quality over quantity:

Striker - No nonsense top level goal scorer, number 9.

Centre Back - Top level physically strong centre back to compete with Koscielny and Mertesaker for starting position.

Goal Keeper - Good and experienced keeper to push Szczesney all the way.

Central Midfielder - Box-To-Box player who is powerful and good tackler, to add pace and drive to a team too given to sluggish build ups. To line up alongside Wilshere.
Vermaelen in this role is a possibility?
Less keen on a holding midfielder who sits deep.

If Sagna or Vermaelen leave - Replacements.

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hugh jardon
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Re: squad for 2013/14 good enough?

Post by hugh jardon »

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?

For me strike power is the most important element missing from our team - a regular goal scorer is desperately needed to take us on to the next level of looking like we might actually challenge for the title for a while.

arseofacrow
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Re: squad for 2013/14 good enough?

Post by arseofacrow »

We can talk round the houses all day/year long but we won't challenge for the title again under Wenger/with the club in its current mindset. And that isn't likely to significantly change.

Up the Arse :D :barscarf:

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DB10GOONER
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Re: squad for 2013/14 good enough?

Post by DB10GOONER »

hugh jardon wrote: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. :banghead: :roll:

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DB10GOONER
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Re: squad for 2013/14 good enough?

Post by DB10GOONER »

arseofacrow wrote:We can talk round the houses all day/year long but we won't challenge for the title again under Wenger/with the club in its current mindset. And that isn't likely to significantly change.

Up the Arse :D :barscarf:
^ This. 100%. :(

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