Qwiss! wrote:

Klaus wrote:

Me neither, and I think it could be detrimental to the team if we try to integrate him too quickly.

Ødegaard is someone I would have been happy to take a longterm approach with because his talent seems worth it to me. I think it's very easy to wreck a squad dynamic in the short term though by trying to integrate new pieces. We have found one squad dynamic that works now with Smith-Rowe and Saka. We're going to have a diffrent squad dynamic with Ødegaard in the mix.

I don't think it's going to prove to be worth it for a 4 month loan, so let's hope the assumption on Real's part is that he'll make a permanent move in the summer.

Why would Real not put in an option if their assumption was that he was going to make it permanent in the summer? I wonder if they think they can loan him again for next season like they've done with Ceballos.

According to reports it's because of the uncertainly surrounding Zidane's future. If Zidane sticks around then there's a good chance Odegaard will be made available (and probably Ceballos too). If he doesn't then it will most likely be down to the new manager to decide.

if this kid is good enough, then he should be given responsibility and put into a big role to see what he has. its not like we're fighting for the title here, now is the time to learn what we have in the squad so when summer time comes, we can get rid of the parts that dont fit and re-organize the side.

i'd like to see something like this, maybe

---------------- el neny ---------------

----- partey ----------- odegaard ------

--- esr ------ auba ------- saka -------

or if we play a 4-2-3-1

------- partey ------ odegaard ---------

-- saka -------- esr ------- martinelli --

-------------- auba ------------------

no more xhaka please.

el neny as a lone DM who sweeps up for the midfield in front of him is something that i think can still work. but if we do that, then i think we need to play a player like odegaard who is going to emphasize attacking as part of the two mids in front of him. el neny is much more mobile than xhaka. he doesnt offer much going forward, but i think he can play the cleanup role fine. we would obviously want to upgrade on him in the summer, but for now, hes fine there. its a waste to play partey in that role because of how dynamic he is going forward

I have researched a lot of Odegaard recently. He is not one you want to play just as a duo CM Md. He plays in a 3, or a number 10, one even as a RW. So unless ESR plays slightly deeper in a 3 doubt we can play just Partey and Odegaard.

We won't. I think he could probably end up deeper in the field in the future, but we're not going to start tinkering with his position during a four-month loan spell. Which makes me a bit ambivalent about the whole thing, because there's also no way we're bringing him in if he isn't going to take minutes from Smith-Rowe in some way. We might end up ruin one of the few things that's really working well in the team at the moment.

Have to remember ESR is pretty injury prone and we have to be very careful with him. It will be completely fine rotating him and Odegaard.

I would have no problems with Odegaard taking minutes away from ESR if he proves to adapt quickly and is more talented.

Of course, no one's going to have any problem with Ødegaard if he's brilliant. My concern is that I think he might not be brilliant right away. There's a risk in taking another player onboard, just like there's a risk in not doing it, is all I'm saying.

Either way it looks like this will be done before our next game, so let's hope the loan turns out well for us.

I think it's great if we've got someone to take some responsibility and pressure off ESR personally.

Sicario wrote:

goon wrote:

I think it's great if we've got someone to take some responsibility and pressure off ESR personally.

Exactly. Let’s be real, ESR’s played 6 games, he’s done well buts it’s nothing and we shouldn’t put our season on his shoulders.

Think brining in this Norwegian kid, assuming he’s not injured for the first couple of weeks, is good business.

Meanwhile Balogun is the real deal that should be given a starting role, right?

No, he shouldn't have.

Klaus wrote:

We won't. I think he could probably end up deeper in the field in the future, but we're not going to start tinkering with his position during a four-month loan spell. Which makes me a bit ambivalent about the whole thing, because there's also no way we're bringing him in if he isn't going to take minutes from Smith-Rowe in some way. We might end up ruin one of the few things that's really working well in the team at the moment.

This.

I posted earlier I think MO could facilitate a shift to Arteta's 433 vision, but not when in doing so we are still going to lack depth.

As it stands IMO MO is simply a replacement for the likes of Buendia/Brandt, and should be viewed as such for the remainder of the season.  As such he lacks match fitness and will be a rotation option from the bench, which is essentially what is required to begin with.

MO has the higher credentials than ESR in head to head comparisons - MO has almost as many international caps as ESR has senior club appearances.
Martin Ødegaard - Wikipedia
Emile Smith Rowe - Wikipedia

However IMO any questions regarding formation changes and/or starting selections can wait until the end of the season, and IF there is any desire/intent by club or player to make the loan permanent.

mdgoonah41 wrote:

el neny as a lone DM who sweeps up for the midfield in front of him is something that i think can still work. but if we do that, then i think we need to play a player like odegaard who is going to emphasize attacking as part of the two mids in front of him. el neny is much more mobile than xhaka. he doesnt offer much going forward, but i think he can play the cleanup role fine. we would obviously want to upgrade on him in the summer, but for now, hes fine there. its a waste to play partey in that role because of how dynamic he is going forward

Elneny is just a Xhaka who takes less responsibility and has a more limited range of passing. He cleans up fuck all and is a much worse defensive player than Xhaka.

Partey's dynamism is exactly why he's such a good DM. Recover, carry, and release, whether cross field, to a CM, or through to the CF. Elneny is terrible at all the things that really matter. All he can manage is giving it to a fullback. There is no "cleanup" role.

Wait a second. So the same people who’ve been complaining about signings, selections, substitutions, formations, play style, squad size, tactics, the coaches, the players and the execs are now saying they’re concerned about Odegard ruining the harmony of the team?

You couldn’t make it up.

ESR has made a difference purely by dint of where arteta positions him on the pitch. I think ESR will be the one to lose his spot. xhaka, partey and odegaard will be the go to midfield

I agree with that but working Saka, ESR and Odegaard into our attack might mean we can play Auba up top as some of the burden relating to ball retention will be taken off him.