Yup, although that looks our strongest lineup to be honest. So the only change we'll make for a possession based game is replace Saliba with White? Makes sense.

@lorddulaarsenal wrote:

———————Ramsdale
Tomiyasu—Saliba—-Gabriel—Tierney
———————Partey
———Odegaard——Vieira
—Saka/Raphinha—-Jesus—-Saka/Raphinha

Oooorwff

That's a lovely lineup. It will take a bit of time though - expect Vieira to need half a season at least to get to grips with the Premier League. It took Pires a year after all. Might be the same for Saliba.

I'm just looking at Dules' lineup imagining if it was a 22 year old Paddy Vieira there

Big Willie wrote:

Yup, although that looks our strongest lineup to be honest. So the only change we'll make for a possession based game is replace Saliba with White? Makes sense.

From all we've seen so far Saliba is a good bit better on the ball than White.

Yep he’s definitely good on the ball. Arteta’s decision to send him out on loan to develop has paid dividends

It paid dividends for our chances of playing CL in the 22/23 season alright.

@lorddulaarsenal wrote:

Yep he’s definitely good on the ball. Arteta’s decision to send him out on loan to develop has paid dividends

Arteta is a genius!

Wonder what's happening with Joao Felix? Would love to sign him

GooneriC wrote:

Wonder what's happening with Joao Felix? Would love to sign him

Good shout, much rather him than Jesus, who’ll cost about the same.

Ray wrote:
GooneriC wrote:

Wonder what's happening with Joao Felix? Would love to sign him

Good shout, much rather him than Jesus, who’ll cost about the same.

Not even close = reading today that Atletico/Simeone now saying they are prepared to sell if their valuation is met, whereas previously they had said he was not for sale under any circumstances.  Trouble is they are wanting much the same figure as the 114m they paid for him.

I'd give them that rather than spend the same on Jesus and Raphina

Don't know if I would tbh. Lot of eggs in one basket.

3-5-2 with Felix

---------- Nketiah -- Felix ----------
-- Martinelli -- Odegaard ---- Saka --
----------Xhaka -- Partey-------------
----- Saliba -- Gabriel -- White -----

No idea if that would work.

Just don't think Felix works in a team with Odegaard AND without a proper CF.

As a false nine, Felix could well work

Jesus Felix Saka

Tielemans/Viera Odegaard


             Partey

That would be quite tasty

When Felix doesn’t play, you slide Jesus or Nketiah as the CF.

Conte laid a sizeable poo on walls of Bissouma wish listing spanning two years. I fear for those reconjuring Felix.

Camavinga on loan please. Likely to drop down the pecking order due to Tchouameni's arrival. This is a world cup year, so might fancy the move. As we've seen with Odegaard, loan deals could work out well for us.

Need a midfielder like Gilberto , find us a guy like that please.

I don't think we should be signing 45 year olds.

Good list. Chukwuemeka has Bellingham levels of talent. Martinez can be the passer we need if we don't get Tielemans.

Jacob Ramsey is better

Clrnc wrote:

Jacob Ramsey is better

Yeah agree. He'd be great in Xhakas slot.

First off we need to be focussed on the young players we have here though.

————————Ramsdale
Tomi—-White/Saliba—-Gabriel—-Tierney
————————-Partey
————-Odegaard——-SMS
—-Saka———-Jesus———-Gnabry

That’ll doozie

@lorddulaarsenal wrote:

————————Ramsdale
Tomi—-White/Saliba—-Gabriel—-Tierney
————————-Partey
————-Odegaard——-SMS
—-Saka———-Jesus———-Gnabry

That’ll doozie

Seconded.

Wouldnt mind a cheeky bid for Naby Keita.. last year of his contract and reports he doesnt want to renew.. Never really established himself at liverpool.. Brilliant player in there somewhere, probably at a point where he wants regular playing time.

I'd be worried about his injury issues, especially here and given Parteys issues.

We need to go after Gnabry before the Mancs get their grimy hands on him due to our indifference

GooneriC wrote:

We need to go after Gnabry before the Mancs get their grimy hands on him due to our indifference

I can't believe the reports we aren't interested when his fee is reportedly less than we are looking at for Raphinha, and we also have room in our wages.  Again I suspect it is more about us being unable to move players out before we buy.

I think it's mainly angling for a better deal at bayern. he's waiting to see if lewnadowski actually moves or not, then his bargaining position will be improved

I watched two or three Mönchengladbach games last season for reasons that escape me, and I remember one player who stood out a mile: Kone. Just saw him linked with Leeds and was thinking we should be all over that instead. He just seemed an incredibly skilful ball winner with great stamina.

Stats seem to back up the eye test too:

@G89, see Lokonga for documentation of ball progression.

Klaus wrote:

I watched two or three Mönchengladbach games last season for reasons that escape me, and I remember one player who stood out a mile: Kone. Just saw him linked with Leeds and was thinking we should be all over that instead. He just seemed an incredibly skilful ball winner with great stamina.

Stats seem to back up the eye test too:

By those stats Kone is worth a punt. Statistically close to Tchouameni.

Quincy Abeyie wrote:

@G89, see Lokonga for documentation of ball progression.

Indeed. And I bet if you were able to add a stat for how advanced those midfielders usually are when they pass forward he'd fare well too.

Yeah Koné is by far the best thing Gladbach have at the moment, in a season where the whole team played like trash he came in as a 20 year old new to the league and took it by storm. Lots to learn especially in the final third but his ability to move the ball forward both passing and dribbling coupled with his frame and physicality is very rare

If planning to sell Pépé then Orzabayal or Fekir, do it think later

GooneriC wrote:

We need to go after Gnabry before the Mancs get their grimy hands on him due to our indifference

Saw something that he is thought to be MCs target to replace Sterling.

Qwiss! wrote:
Quincy Abeyie wrote:

@G89, see Lokonga for documentation of ball progression.

Indeed. And I bet if you were able to add a stat for how advanced those midfielders usually are when they pass forward he'd fare well too.

Was reading something that suggested Elneny will likely be cover for Partey at #6, and Lokonga could be used in more of a #8 B2B/ball carrying role when Odegaard will play closer to goal.  Same blog suggested Saka/ESR/Vieira could play as left sided #8 when we want a more attacking options in the final 3rd, with MO then sitting in the middle of the 3 midifled roles.

Whilst I think our interest in both Martinez and Raphinha was genuine initially, I wonder how much of our recent 'interest' is more about forcing our top4 rivals to pay more/smoke and mirrors whilst we look elsewhere? Same as I wonder if our inability to shift Xhaka and Pepe may have cost us the early opportunities for each target.

Anzac wrote:
Qwiss! wrote:

Indeed. And I bet if you were able to add a stat for how advanced those midfielders usually are when they pass forward he'd fare well too.

Was reading something that suggested Elneny will likely be cover for Partey at #6, and Lokonga could be used in more of a #8 B2B/ball carrying role when Odegaard will play closer to goal.  Same blog suggested Saka/ESR/Vieira could play as left sided #8 when we want a more attacking options in the final 3rd, with MO then sitting in the middle of the 3 midifled roles.

I do think thats the future for Odegaard. I think he's better in there controlling things than being asked to push up and contribute a load of goals and assists, he'll still have those but it should be less of a priority for him.

Not happy at all about how much we look to be relying on Elneny though. Whats the point in having great technical centre halves if they're passing it to Xhaka and Elneny to slow the game to a crawl?