I believe his name is pronounced Djaka.

You really think Xhaka over Kroos is controversial enough to say "oh my life", Savz?

El Genio de Oviedo wrote:

He would completely "kill" Ramsey though, in Wenger parlance. Does the gaffer have it in him to be this ruthless? He hasn't been in the past

I think its far too early (even if Xhaka signs) to say it would kill Ramsey. For starters, they would completely different roles in a team and we may one day see Xhaka - Ramsey as the perfect midfield rather than Xhaka - El Neny or Xhaka - Coq.

I think Xhaka would be a lot lore likely to 'kill' Coquelin than Ramsey.

Jan Aage Fjortoft ‏@JanAageFjortoft 6h6 hours ago
Bild Zeitung:

Gladbach- player Xhaka's father met Arsene Wenger in London last weekend.
Xhaka got a contract till 2019 with BuyOutClause

i think bild were the first to get wind of the schweini to united story as well

MistaT wrote:

El Genio de Oviedo wrote:

He would completely "kill" Ramsey though, in Wenger parlance. Does the gaffer have it in him to be this ruthless? He hasn't been in the past

I think its far too early (even if Xhaka signs) to say it would kill Ramsey. For starters, they would completely different roles in a team and we may one day see Xhaka - Ramsey as the perfect midfield rather than Xhaka - El Neny or Xhaka - Coq.

Spot on. We can theorise all we want but it's very difficult to know which combination works best without seeing it first. In the end we'll probably see loads of different combinations.

Is this even a reliable rumour. I'm lead to believe that Bild is very reliable however I can vaguely remember a few transfer stories they got horribly wrong last summer.

Arsenal working on transfers in March already?!

Bild have certain sources at Bayern Munich at least. They got Götze to Bayern right, and Schweini to United.

I like this rumor.

i'm torn. if we asked them to keep things on the hush and they leaked stuff it might turn us off. however if wenger's meeting his dad things must be fairly advanced so we might not give a shit if bild have it splashed all over their paper

or it could all be bollox

Klaus wrote:

I think Xhaka would be a lot lore likely to 'kill' Coquelin than Ramsey.

From what I've seen/heard, he primarily partnered Cristoph Kramer, a defensive midfielder, last season and this season he's primarily partnered either Havard Nordviet or Mahmoud Dahoud. Nordviet is a a defensive midfielder, but I don't know much about Dahoud. Maybe Gladbach has been playing with an inverted triangle with Xhaka behind Dahoud and Stindl? Do correct me if I'm wrong

Xhaka plays for the Swiss NT as the furthest forward in a midfield three with Inler and Behrami/Dzemaili, he also wears number 10 for them.

I'm not really sure the current edition of Ramsey is fit to be playing CM, period, unless he's paired with someone like the 14/15 Southampton vintage of Morgan Schniederlin. I'm not even sure you could partner the current Ramsey with the 13/14 Arteta, as I'm convinced that Ramsey does less work defensively in terms of tackles/interceptions than he used to. Both Kroos and Xhaka are number 8's to my mind. Ramsey is also an 8, he needs to be partnered by a 4

Our reserve team's ex-captain is called Nordtveit. Xhaka could probably work with any midfielder we have, that's what's part of why I like the rumour.

yep fills a few gaps in midfield, but more on the defensive side. he doesn't make frequent runs into the box from what i've seen, he mainly stays behind the play. 6 goals since 2012 also supports that.

Quincy Abeyie wrote:

Our reserve team's ex-captain is called Nordtveit.  

I'm pretty sure it's the same guy.

Also, I've never seen Xhaka play for Switzerland but whenever I see him for BMG he looks like pivote/DLP/whatever you like to call it.

Big Willie wrote:

Is this even a reliable rumour. I'm lead to believe that Bild is very reliable

Bild is basically the German version of the Daily Mail (or the other way around), when it comes to transfers they are pretty reliable though

Mello wrote:

Quincy Abeyie wrote:

Our reserve team's ex-captain is called Nordtveit.  

I'm pretty sure it's the same guy.

It is, and I'm aware.

El Genio de Oviedo wrote:

Klaus wrote:

I think Xhaka would be a lot lore likely to 'kill' Coquelin than Ramsey.

From what I've seen/heard, he primarily partnered Cristoph Kramer, a defensive midfielder, last season and this season he's primarily partnered either Havard Nordviet or Mahmoud Dahoud. Nordviet is a a defensive midfielder, but I don't know much about Dahoud. Maybe Gladbach has been playing with an inverted triangle with Xhaka behind Dahoud and Stindl? Do correct me if I'm wrong

Xhaka plays for the Swiss NT as the furthest forward in a midfield three with Inler and Behrami/Dzemaili, he also wears number 10 for them.

I'm not really sure the current edition of Ramsey is fit to be playing CM, period, unless he's paired with someone like the 14/15 Southampton vintage of Morgan Schniederlin. I'm not even sure you could partner the current Ramsey with the 13/14 Arteta, as I'm convinced that Ramsey does less work defensively in terms of tackles/interceptions than he used to. Both Kroos and Xhaka are number 8's to my mind. Ramsey is also an 8, he needs to be partnered by a 4

That's right. I think it's pretty damning on Ramsey if Wenger puts his priority on splashing out for a CM. He has said more than once that our balance is better when Cazorla plays as a CM, and then he said it again when Elneny plays. That 2 months of torrid form when Ramsey was our CM could have convinced him that it will never work for more than a select few games.

Coquelin, Elneny, Xhaka, Ramsey, Wilshere for 2 positions sounds pretty decent. If we are worried Wilshere is going to be out another season then throw in Toral/Hayden for some useless cup games rotation.

Obviously Wenger isn't sold on Ramsey as a "CM" as he's played him at RW as much as centrally (if not more) over the last few years. But my larger concern is that if Wenger doesn't like Ramsey's approach to playing CM why not work with him to find better balance?

Ramsey has a well defined game in that its obvious what his strengths are and how he will look to exert himself onto a game. If Wenger doesn't like that approach then that's on him as much as Ramsey to adapt it to the team's needs.

After seeing a few "vs" compilations I'd say he's a more jagged and uneven version of Arteta in his passing and technique. Probably quicker, maybe a little stronger but I don't see the point of this guy next to Coquelin. So I'd have to agree with Klaus that rather this is a partner for Ramsey.

From a brief view of his play I'd guess his passing would get found out if he were to move here and partner up with either of the two obvious choices.

MistaT wrote:

Obviously Wenger isn't sold on Ramsey as a "CM" as he's played him at RW as much as centrally (if not more) over the last few years. But my larger concern is that if Wenger doesn't like Ramsey's approach to playing CM why not work with him to find better balance?

Ramsey has a well defined game in that its obvious what his strengths are and how he will look to exert himself onto a game. If Wenger doesn't like that approach then that's on him as much as Ramsey to adapt it to the team's needs.

Thing is signing someone with Xhaka's passing range will create an option to play Ramsey in CM even with his gung ho forward running as he won't be required to come deep (or force Ozil back). Not saying that would strictly be the plan. certainly not for all games, though it is an option.

Xhaka has a £23m clause that activates in 2017 (summer i expect), so we should be able to negotiate from that point of reference.

Savz wrote:

Quincy Abeyie wrote:

You really think Xhaka over Kroos is controversial enough to say "oh my life", Savz?

Yes

Oh my life

Sky now reporting this and claimed we will pay about 33m pounds for him. How reliable is Sky Deutschland jones?

I'm a big Bundesliga fan, and I've said before that Schalke are my second team. I have seen Mochengladbach maybe 5 times this year and Xhaka didn't stand out. He may sign for us and may go on to be exactly what we are missing, a proper unit who can spray a variety of balls around the field, but nothing stood out in a few games.

He's not even the player that gets the most praise, Dahoud does.

Bet Wenger shits all over this in his next press conference.

Similar to SSN in general I'd say Clrnc. They basically just repeated some of Bild's earlier information and added that it's what their sources told them (as well).

Might be just hope talking but I think it's unlikely that info this specific is completely made up.

Savz wrote:

I'm a big Bundesliga fan, and I've said before that Schalke are my second team. I have seen Mochengladbach maybe 5 times this year and Xhaka didn't stand out. He may sign for us and may go on to be exactly what we are missing, a proper unit who can spray a variety of balls around the field, but nothing stood out in a few games.

He's not even the player that gets the most praise, Dahoud does.

Dahoud does because he's just now breaking through. Xhaka is a seasoned player for Gladbach, club captain too. Dahoud looks very impressive has to be said though.

Xhaka is as complete a midfielder as you'll find. Good technique, very composed on the ball and plays always with his head up. His real strength is his defensive ability though, I can see how he says he'd relish the challenge of the EPL because he absolutely loves to get stuck in. Reminds me of Vieira in many ways and I reckon he'd also break his record of most sending-offs in no time.

Reminds you of Vieira and him over Kroos.

I will be watching more of Gladbach from now until the end of the season.

Not in terms of quality of course but in a number of shared traits. All action all over the pitch, leader figure in young years already, deceptively good technique for a more defensively minded CM, extremely combative to the point that he's bound to get sent off every now and then.

jones wrote:

Similar to SSN in general I'd say Clrnc. They basically just repeated some of Bild's earlier information and added that it's what their sources told them (as well).

Might be just hope talking but I think it's unlikely that info this specific is completely made up.

Reminds me of when every reliable source confirmed Gundogan's move to United. Not believing yet.

If we have been watching Xhaka long enough, surely Dahoud will catch our scout's eyes as well? Unless maybe they want someone more established and performed at higher level for a long time.

Savz wrote:

I believe his name is pronounced Djaka.

Like Zulu?

Where the youtube scoutnation videos guyses?

Yall be slacking in here

Looks a bit too rigid on the ball for my liking

@lorddulaarsenal wrote:

Looks a bit too rigid on the ball for my liking

He plays like Kim Källström.

flobaba wrote:

Where the youtube scoutnation videos guyses?

Yall be slacking in here

Sorry man don't know what I was thinking not posting this earlier.

I reckon he'd be a rock in our midfield..

Dahoud is the more aesthetically pleasing player to watch, so he'd naturally catch the eye more but they've got very different roles. Dahoud a real stylish b2b player whilst Xhaka is more about the early phase build up and ball circulation.

I have similar concerns about Xhaka in our team as Kroos though, it's not often we look a well structured team so will such a rigid player cope? It's difficult to find a player as quick & agile as Coquelin with the controlling qualities of Xhaka so i'd still take him though.

jones wrote:

Savz wrote:

I'm a big Bundesliga fan, and I've said before that Schalke are my second team. I have seen Mochengladbach maybe 5 times this year and Xhaka didn't stand out. He may sign for us and may go on to be exactly what we are missing, a proper unit who can spray a variety of balls around the field, but nothing stood out in a few games.

He's not even the player that gets the most praise, Dahoud does.

Dahoud does because he's just now breaking through. Xhaka is a seasoned player for Gladbach, club captain too. Dahoud looks very impressive has to be said though.

Xhaka is as complete a midfielder as you'll find. Good technique, very composed on the ball and plays always with his head up. His real strength is his defensive ability though, I can see how he says he'd relish the challenge of the EPL because he absolutely loves to get stuck in. Reminds me of Vieira in many ways and I reckon he'd also break his record of most sending-offs in no time.

Difference being we were able to cope with 10 men in those days. Its complete collapse when we're down to 10 now.