• The Houseboat

  • The Shopping List—aka We've got flipping great wadges of cash

qs! wrote:

Exactly. Young is the sort of direct, quick player we need in attack. We've been missing Walcott alot recently because he stretches the game and makes us less predictable. We don't need another Rosicky, we need someone a bit different. All our attacking mids cut inside pretty much every time, Young can cut inside or stay wide and provide good service, he's be brilliant for us.

I have to agree with this. It was one of the reasons I wanted someone like Suarez over Hazard in the past. In this formation it's so vital for the wide forwards to be able to stretch the defence and contribute with goals.

I don't think Young is good enough to start but he'd be good squad depth. I doubt he'll sign a new contract with Villa at this point too so we might be able to pick him up cheap. If he wants a shot at a big club it has to happen soon. He's 26 in the summer.

When I first heard that he was hesitating over his contract I was thinking that he might be available for £10-12m in the summer, but his reputation seems to have spiked recently. Can see quite a bit of interest in him driving the price up. I'd be suprised if he went for less than about £18-20m now.

screw this formation. it's embarrassing that we mimic barcelona. it's no coincidence we switched to it after they made us look like dog turd. and whatever, i know they've moved messi inside, blahblahblahidontcare. if we had anyone remotely as good as him, we'd probably do that, too.

we're an english team, lets go back to the way we used to play. it was prettier to watch and we scored more goals.

We switched to this formation long before we played Barcelona too.

Funny thing is I remember people saying Wenger was stuck in his ways with the old 4-4-2 and how he needed to move on with the times when that wasn't working 😃

I don't think the formation is the problem to be honest. Even with the 4-4-2 the slow passing, tempo and closing down would still be a problem.

Sick to death of this slow posession football, lots of passes that ultimatley ends with a Sagna cross that gets easily cleared. Add some pace and directness please.

i guess that's right, since the changeover was complete once henry left. but barcelona is definitely our model. not that we come close to them (and not that i'd even want to), but high pressing, trying to play futsal on a football pitch, de-emphasis on pace and power, not bothering with things like actual defending. absolutely detest the way they play.

MangoDjourou wrote:

Sick to death of this slow posession football, lots of passes that ultimatley ends with a Sagna cross that gets easily cleared. Add some pace and directness please.

He only crosses as a last resort because teams have gotten smart to us (3 years ago) and pack 8 across the box.
Whats the point of crossing high to Arshavin or Nasri? all they get is a bump on the head.

Our crossing was fine against Blackburn (for certain values of fine), our real problem was that none of the three tall forwards we had on for the last 20 minutes was capable of knocking one in. They all had good chances.

MangoDjourou wrote:

Sick to death of this slow posession football, lots of passes that ultimatley ends with a Sagna cross that gets easily cleared. Add some pace and directness please.

I remember reading the same things being said about Lauren & the Invincibles.

The problem isn't really anything to do with our formation or our style. We just don't have enough quality attacking players (or ones who can stay fit for long enough, anyway).

Pepe LeFrits wrote:
MangoDjourou wrote:

Sick to death of this slow posession football, lots of passes that ultimatley ends with a Sagna cross that gets easily cleared. Add some pace and directness please.

I remember reading the same things being said about Lauren & the Invincibles.

The problem isn't really anything to do with our formation or our style. We just don't have enough quality attacking players (or ones who can stay fit for long enough, anyway).

I didn't really complain about our formation or style. But I do think we need to add pace and directness. Both in the midfield three and on the wings. Having at least one FB that is good at attacking would be nice as well.

I don't mind our formation but I think we need to inject players with pace and ability to take on players.

Edinson Cavani anyone? He scored another hat-trick yesterday, taking his tally for the season to 32 goals I believe?

Only thing I know of him is the World Cup, where he looked nothing special, but that's an impressive goal tally.

If we're sticking with our way of playing; scoring goals through quick passing and movement - and I hope we do - I want to get players in to help us play it better.

  • I want us to bring in an attacking right back to seriously challenge Sagna, or at least provide more competition than Eboue does.
  • I want us to go back to a flatter midfield 3 with a midfielder that sits, or is at least charged with more defensive responsibility than the other two.
  • I want a wide man who can offer what Theo and Nasri at their best offer - speed, incisive movement, penetrative dribbling and goals.
  • I want a proper alternative to van Persie brought in. Someone who perfectly fits what we want him to do in that role - no making do.

In other words

van der wiel
toulalan
hazard/neymar
and benzema

Gotze 'cos of some youtube I just watched and Cavani for err... variety.

If we signed Cavani, I'd have to resurrect my Brandon Lee avatar.

Machete wrote:

In other words

van der wiel
toulalan
hazard/neymar
and benzema

More likely;

Vrsaljko
Song shifted back to his previous holding position
Hazard (call me crazy, but I actually think we have a chance)
No idea, Bendtner staying probably.

Although, if we were playing Football Manager for a minute, your list wouldn't be far off.