Qwiss! wrote:
Temo wrote:
this is not about who's more talented, it's about who's talent serves the team best. We're building the team around Ozil and Sanchez, not Ramsey. I know it must feel like a wasted opportunity to you but I'd sooner place my bets on their talent over Ramsey's. So it now, for me, becomes a question of getting the best out of them before worrying about anything else.
It seems to me that Ozil and Ramsey have possibly the best understanding of any 2 players in the team (only Mert and Kos come close). I don't know that Ramsey or Cazorla really effect Sanchez form or work better with him but it seems to me his best spell as an Arsenal player came at the start of last season when Ramsey was in the midfield for what thats worth. So I don't find the argument that Cazorla is a better fit for either of them all that convincing. I also don't find an argument for our centre halves preferring Cazorla more convincing. Do you mean because he drops off to get the ball more? Because defensively he much more of a burden than Ramsey.
Isolating this to a matter of which players understand each other, though valuable, misses out half the discussion. That is to say, just because two players aren't playing one-twos every time they get the ball doesn't mean they aren't effecting each other. So for example - how will Coquelin's presence lessen Ozil and Sanchez's defensive burden. How will having two deep midfielders versus Ramsey and an Arteta replacement allow for better or worse protection to the back four. How will this protection allow for the full backs to attack more in turn provide the team with much needed width.
I actually don't buy the Ozil Ramsey understanding. Ozil has a pretty great understanding with everyone - it just so happens Ramsey was in red hot form at the time Ozil came in and started to establish himself. Surely their understanding will have gotten better in 2 and a half years, but to my mind it hasn't - it's worsened, despite Klaus' admission that Ozil's been in the best form of his life. The degree to which we can get Sanchez defending the least is how effective I think he will be in conserving his energy for attacks. Sanchez's understanding with Monreal is also worth noting - since he's been the best LB in the league. Well, Cazorla's understanding with Monreal is among the best in the squad - and a happy Monreal is a happy Sanchez. Then we come to the CB's. To my eyes Caz-Coq offer a better screen then Arteta and Ramsey ever did, by virtue of the simple fact that they're there. Ramsey runs alot, but gets caught ahead of the ball while we're defending counters more than Caz, and this is to the detriment of a CB pairing containing Merte.
The priority for me at CM is - someone who can defend really well, and someone next to him who can pass really well. The theory behind Ramsey and an Arteta replacement is someone who can score and run really well, and someone who can defend AND pass really well. Logic will tell you, it's easier to find a passing specialist than a passing and defending specialist.
