The Wishlist: Page 162 - The Arsenal discussion forum and community: One More in the Tolly

The Wishlist

Claudius

Just been thinking about our squad, and I'm still unhappy with it. Other than Ozil, Ramsey, Koscielny, and Mertesacker, I really don't feel like the other lads are irreplaceable. That's 6 spots on the team where we could conceivably improve. Chief concerns obviously at RB, DM, AM and ST; but even a new left back could be a significant improvement on what we already have.

Conor

Gunner89

That's a potential league winner

Klaus

Nah.

Claudius wrote:
Just been thinking about our squad, and I'm still unhappy with it. Other than Ozil, Ramsey, Koscielny, and Mertesacker, I really don't feel like the other lads are irreplaceable.

Per isn't exactly irreplacable either (said with the utmost respect because he's a player I really like). His situation is similar to Arteta's. He's the best we've got but he wouldn't last too long at a club where the objective is to improve the team every season instead of just maintaining the status quo.

It's a team built on scraps where players are often made to look better than they really are, which is why so few of them, even the more talented ones, leave a big mark at other clubs when they move on. It's no big deal in itself; other teams such as Atletico Madrid work on the same principle and do it well. We need more outstanding performers if we are going to have a chance next season though.

marv3llous

Klaus wrote:
Nah.

Claudius wrote:
Just been thinking about our squad, and I'm still unhappy with it. Other than Ozil, Ramsey, Koscielny, and Mertesacker, I really don't feel like the other lads are irreplaceable.

Per isn't exactly irreplacable either (said with the utmost respect because he's a player I really like). His situation is similar to Arteta's. He's the best we've got but he wouldn't last too long at a club where the objective is to improve the team every season instead of just maintaining the status quo.

It's a team built on scraps where players are often made to look better than they really are, which is why so few of them, even the more talented ones, leave a big mark at other clubs when they move on. It's no big deal in itself; other teams such as Atletico Madrid work on the same principle and do it well. We need more outstanding performers if we are going to have a chance next season though.

That is a huge credit to Wenger.

Klaus

Absolutely.

Claudius

true, but the gaffer can only do so much. you need some Henrys, Bergkamps and Pireses to take control and terrorise the opponent. we are s lacking in this right now.

my biggest frustration though is Ozil. Wenger needs to bring in Sanchez at a minimum and preferably a mobile striker (a la Suarez / Aguero) to take advantage of the lad. right now he's a massive waste of money - not because he's poor but because we aren't giving him the squad to optimise his abilities

Gazza M

that can also be credited to wenger. weird team building so far. i don't trust him with the money we have at all. either won't be spent, or spent on the wrong pieces

Captain

Ozil isn't a waste of money in any reality. Maybe in a few fantasies.

Rex

Yeah, I don't see the 'Özil waste of money' argument as valid either.

Clrnc

I think its fair in the whole context of what claud said.

innervisionscm

Yeah, all Claud said is that we're not utilizing a very expensive piece properly. You see the same in this current German team. He's still a consistent 7/10 player with good movement and good passing and a bit of class here and there, but he's not in a team that utilizes his strengths and let's him be what he is - the best playmaker in world football. Players of his type really aren't individualists. I'm not super sure that buying Alexis helps much on that front either. It's a concern.

Segway

Agreed. We need to pair Ozil with attackers that complement his qualities i.e. runners who can finish. Walcott and Ozil will be a devastating duo but Walcott alone is not enough. So yeah if we keep playing Ozil with the likes of Giroud and Cazorla we're not getting the most out of him and the big investment we've made on him would be a poor one.

With that in mind signing a player like Griezmann would be ideal. A quick striker with good movement is also very much needed but who would that be exactly? Remy has the characteristics but I don't think he has the needed quality.

Biggus

Bah- If Ozil was as good as he is supposed to be he shouldn't "need" other players to carry him and bail him out.
It's all just an agenda to deflect responsibility away from him and from Wenger for buying him.

Segway

I don't think that's defecting responsibility from him. On the contrary I'd say it's quite the responsibility that we want to build the side around his qualities. Needing other players to carry him as you say is not the same as getting players in to complement him either. Football's a team game you know?

Qwiss

There is definitely some truth in what Biggus is saying. Last night people were complaining Ozil was out of position. During our season people complained he didn't have the right striker in front of him. Maybe those things are partly true but no one spent the season defending Santi because he was out of position or claiming Giroud just needed the right supply. Both of which are equally true.

If Ozil is a player that requires the team be built around him then Wenger has hugely fucked up by first of all spending so much on him and secondly for not responding now and bringing in the players to compliment him.

I still have faith that Ozil can adapt to the team he's in though. His game is changing and hopefully we'll see much better from him this season. Its just a pity the World Cup will kill any chance of him getting a good preseason in.

Segway

I think unless we do build the team around Ozil we won't get more out of him than we did last season where he was good but hardly the world class player we imagined.

Biggus

But thats exactly what Claudius said, that if he wasn't complimented he'd be a waste of money???
I go further- Ozil can shape up or ship out- He has the skill and technique all the raw material to be a great player, but he still has a long way to go in terms of mentality.
As Qs said and I agree- None of us want to see him fail here, that would be such a waste and a tragedy.

lorddulaarsenal

Ozil will probably be the main reason Germany win the World Cup

Clrnc

qs! wrote:
There is definitely some truth in what Biggus is saying. Last night people were complaining Ozil was out of position. During our season people complained he didn't have the right striker in front of him. Maybe those things are partly true but no one spent the season defending Santi because he was out of position or claiming Giroud just needed the right supply. Both of which are equally true.

If Ozil is a player that requires the team be built around him then Wenger has hugely fucked up by first of all spending so much on him and secondly for not responding now and bringing in the players to compliment him.

I still have faith that Ozil can adapt to the team he's in though. His game is changing and hopefully we'll see much better from him this season. Its just a pity the World Cup will kill any chance of him getting a good preseason in.

Good post. Probably summarised both parties views up.

Bottom line is we need to rectify the shortcomings of last summer's failures.

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