Our prep is often pointless. We left preseason having established the first player for every single position in our formation. A few games into the season and we start Alexis at CF, Laca on the bench, and Bellerin and LWB just to allow Ox to play in a position he likes more.

Klaus wrote:

Gazza M wrote:

hopefully that front 3 can string some games together

It's kinda incredible that we've managed to play a third of the season without any sort or consistency among the players that are supposed to be our backbone, isn't it. I think Spurs was the first or maybe second time that Özil and Lacazette started together, and I'm pretty sure it was the first time those two started with Alexis.

Whatever people think of the individual players this doesn't help any of them. We're seeing partnerships forming at other clubs right now, like the Morata-Hazard-Fabregas one at Chelsea for instance, and it feels like we're still in preseason by comparison.

3rd time. they started against everton and swansea. still feels like they've barely gotten started though, you're right about that

Klaus wrote:

Think his touch is really poor. We've wasted a good few chances because he can't trap the ball or receive a pass while moving. His movement and eagerness to get forward partly makes up for it though. I don't understand why Wenger paid so much for a striker that he either benches or subs off at first opportunity. We're a better team with Lacazette on the pitch. If we're going to achieve anything this season it's going to come from him, Sanchez and Özil playing together.

I agree, he lacks the quality required for the very highest level. However, he's miles ahead of Giroud and Welbeck. Since beggars can't be choosers, I still think he was a solid buy.

I don't think his touch is nearly as bad as y'all are making out, but I also don't think it's exactly world class either. Not impossible that it improves either.

Reminds me of Suarez

Or Darren Bent

He's certainly no Harry Kane ain't that right flobs

Reminds me of Eduardo. Really good movement at the top of the frontline. It's amazing how little of that we have had post Henry.

Gurgen wrote:

I agree, he lacks the quality required for the very highest level. However, he's miles ahead of Giroud and Welbeck. Since beggars can't be choosers, I still think he was a solid buy.

I agree, I could't stand the thought of Giroud being our first choice striker for the 6th season, I like the guy but a backup player at best for us. Laca like you say isn't world class but he is very good, however for £47m you ain't buying no world class striker, probably at least double that in today's market.

Coombs wrote:

I don't think his touch is nearly as bad as y'all are making out, but I also don't think it's exactly world class either. Not impossible that it improves either.

It's generally fine but it's deserted him on quite a few occasions at key moments. 

It might be a confidence issue as mentioned above. He needs a couple of braces and a hattrick.

JazzG wrote:

Gurgen wrote:

I agree, he lacks the quality required for the very highest level. However, he's miles ahead of Giroud and Welbeck. Since beggars can't be choosers, I still think he was a solid buy.

I agree, I could't stand the thought of Giroud being our first choice striker for the 6th season, I like the guy but a backup player at best for us. Laca like you say isn't world class but he is very good, however for £47m you ain't buying no world class striker, probably at least double that in today's market.

Literally isn’t. Chelsea bought Morata for £58m potentially rising to £70m. We should’ve made that offer early in the summer when everyone else was shopping around. Or bought him any of the last 4 summers. Morata is a top, top quality forward.

He isn't world class though and he certainly wasn't world class in any of his preceding seasons.

jones wrote:

He's certainly no Harry Kane ain't that right flobs

Honestly your insistence on going on about that Spud mouth breather in every fucking thread is getting tiresome. FFS!

I don't think we had much of a chance getting Morata. He was probably cheap because he made his mind up where to go very early on.

Captain wrote:

He isn't world class though and he certainly wasn't world class in any of his preceding seasons.

Who? Morata? I’ve watched a lot of Juve and Real these past five seasons. That boy has been class. He’s just had limited game time because he plays on teams that are stacked with quality players. That’s like saying guys like Isco weren’t class because they were sitting behind galacticos.

Claudius wrote:

Literally isn’t. Chelsea bought Morata for £58m potentially rising to £70m. We should’ve made that offer early in the summer when everyone else was shopping around. Or bought him any of the last 4 summers. Morata is a top, top quality forward.

Morata is far from the finished article, the guy has never scored more than 15 league goals in a season. If offered I probably still would have chosen Morata for the £58m + addon fee but at the time Man Utd & Chelsea were after him. Man Utd were hot favourites but R.Madrid were happy to fuck all of them around until Utd signed Lukaku. Simply a risk that wasn't worth taking and we took the sensible option. Also would he have even joined us with CL football? I think R.Madrid got a bit caught out with Man Utd abruptly dropping interest and signing Lukaku, they were looking to squeeze them for even more money.

Claudius wrote:

Captain wrote:

He isn't world class though and he certainly wasn't world class in any of his preceding seasons.

Who? Morata? I’ve watched a lot of Juve and Real these past five seasons. That boy has been class. He’s just had limited game time because he plays on teams that are stacked with quality players. That’s like saying guys like Isco weren’t class because they were sitting behind galacticos.

I said he isn't and wasn't world class. That's exactly why he was "sitting behind galacticos".

Captain, the authority on who is and isn't world class. Please share your official roster.