Claudius wrote:

So Goon, nobody knows Liverpool’s backup players.
The concern we have is not that this is a one off fullback cover. It’s that we consistently hire these past it pensioners. It helps reinforce the notion that Arsenal is Club Med, a great place to come relax for a few years before heading off to MLS or Qatar. We have to stop buying these guys. Everyone has to be hungry.

I agree with you in principle, but as far as I'm concerned the only criteria in recruiting a back up left back is get someone who's good enough to keep Xhaka and other square pegs away from the left back position and someone who won't drain resources from other areas. Bertrand on a two year deal is a non event.

Someone home grown is also a bonus because it allows us to sell other English guys.

banduan wrote:

Qwiss! wrote:

I think he's a talented player but we didn't look better with him in the team. Our best form came with ESR playing at 10 and he usually looks better there than Odegaard. Odegaard just makes us even more blunt. He's a good player but he's not the player we need.

we don't want one #10 we want two.

Now, if the other was Jack Grealish of course I'd toss aside any thought of Odegaard. But we're not getting Grealish and if Odegaard is available for the right price we should go for it.

Why do we want 2?

Qwiss! wrote:

goon wrote:

Do you even know the names of Liverpool's second choice fullbacks?

Robertson played every game this season. He's barely missed a game in the last 3 years. Do you think we can expect the same from Tierney?

He played 40-50 games a season for Celtic so I don't see why not, plus we're out of Europe so in theory he only needs to play around 30-40.

If there are questions about his fitness then I think it means he's the problem rather than whoever we sign to cover him.

Claudius wrote:

That’s fine too. Then get a Grealish type for the left wing. Or get Buendia right and move Saka left.
My one worry is trying to start Pépé on the left. He’s too variable for my liking. He’s productive but causes variance in performance. You don’t want that if you want your team just dominate in a game and be able to put on runs. Think about the great Arsenal teams. They didn’t have streaky starters. Guys like Reyes were on the bench.

Well I don't think Grealish or Beundia are available to us at a price that would make any sense. And the same goes for Odegaard.

If we want to improve on Pepe thats great but I think it'll take a bit more scouting and know how to do it at a price that doesn't fuck us elsewhere in the squad. Plus Pepe has inbuilt competition from Martinelli.

goon wrote:

Qwiss! wrote:

Robertson played every game this season. He's barely missed a game in the last 3 years. Do you think we can expect the same from Tierney?

He played 40-50 games a season for Celtic so I don't see why not, plus we're out of Europe so in theory he only needs to play around 30-40.

If there are questions about his fitness then I think it means he's the problem rather than whoever we sign to cover him.

that i agree with. if he can't play 30-40 games a season (preferably 40) then he's the problem that needs to be fixed in the transfer window.

Qwiss! wrote:

Claudius wrote:

He makes us play better. He’s an excellent talent. If he’s available for a good price, I take him. If not, go get Buendia. He takes us forward, passes incredibly well. I want highly technical players on this squad. Tired of scrubs

I think he's a talented player but we didn't look better with him in the team. Our best form came with ESR playing at 10 and he usually looks better there than Odegaard. Odegaard just makes us even more blunt. He's a good player but he's not the player we need.

Agree with this. Might be unfair but he doesn't play quick enough for my liking. 

goon wrote:

Qwiss! wrote:

Robertson played every game this season. He's barely missed a game in the last 3 years. Do you think we can expect the same from Tierney?

He played 40-50 games a season for Celtic so I don't see why not, plus we're out of Europe so in theory he only needs to play around 30-40.

If there are questions about his fitness then I think it means he's the problem rather than whoever we sign to cover him.

His fitness is clearly a problem. The question is what do you do about it? Should we get rid of him or get someone good to rotate with him. Plenty of teams rotate fullbacks regularly, just because Liverpool don't doesn't mean we shouldn't. We've clearly been hurt by the lack of proper cover at left back since the January window. Its a position we need decent cover in. Bertrands not the only option out there. My main concern with him is he's old and currently injured, thats not the sort of player who makes for good cover.

If we are serious go for Goosens. He can cover LB and also play left wing.

In terms of transfers Arsenal are always 6 months behind in what we should have done.

Odegaard/number 10 should have come in the summer.

Back up LB should have come in Jan.

We are quite reactive with our signings.

To be fair, I think that's true of most clubs. I'm sure I don't need to tell anyone that most businesses are geared towards maximising margins in the short term regardless of the long-term ramifications. In other words, what's the bare minimum you think can get away with to see your objectives?

Asterix wrote:

For us now this is the best 3 months of the season.

Fuck me that is grim 

To think we normally hate transfer windows as well

banduan wrote:

Qwiss! wrote:

I think he's a talented player but we didn't look better with him in the team. Our best form came with ESR playing at 10 and he usually looks better there than Odegaard. Odegaard just makes us even more blunt. He's a good player but he's not the player we need.

we don't want one #10 we want two.

Now, if the other was Jack Grealish of course I'd toss aside any thought of Odegaard. But we're not getting Grealish and if Odegaard is available for the right price we should go for it.

We need one, and keep ESR at number 10.

fantasy scenario

Get Grealish 

We need to be feared again. We need swagger. We need confidence.

Grealish is the answer, get him on the ball constantly, and he thrives. Can’t really be stopped one vs one. Very clever and keeps his head up.

There used to be this young left back playing for Celtic. Looked a big talent with an even better attitude. Pretty sure he was captaining them on occasion at a pretty young age too. Whoever picked him up would have had their left back spot locked up for the next 5 to 6 years.

It’s a shame we missed out on him cause then signing someone with Bertrand’s profile would make sense while we throw our limited budget on players to improve the first eleven.

I think people are harsh on Ødegaard. He got a bit unfairly hyped up after the West Ham game and he's similarly been a little unfairly criticised lately because we've forced him to play with persistent injuries by the looks of it. There's no doubt in my mind he has enough in his locker to be one of the best in the world at his position someday. Lad has a pair of deadly quick feet to match a very quick brain in congested areas. It's the decision-making when he can't play on instinct that needs to improve a little.

The issue we're facing is that he's a couple of years older than Smith-Rowe, probably very expensive, and yet, due to Real Madrid's mistreatment of him, not that much more experienced at the highest level. I agree with Qwiss that Smith-Rowe has had better performances as a #10 this season, and I just think he makes us a little more dynamic and less predictable. With squad quotas getting stricter now he and Saka have to be the main considerations when we move forward. I'd keep Ødegaard in a heartbeat if there was a good solution to be had, but I don't think there is one. We'd spend an awful lot of money we don't have on someone who'd push one of our best players onto the wing.

Camavinga would be an incredible signing.

Klaus wrote:

I think people are harsh on Ødegaard. He got a bit unfairly hyped up after the West Ham game and he's similarly been a little unfairly criticised lately because we've forced him to play with persistent injuries by the looks of it. There's no doubt in my mind he has enough in his locker to be one of the best in the world at his position someday. Lad has a pair of deadly quick feet to match a very quick brain in congested areas. It's the decision-making when he can't play on instinct that needs to improve a little.

The issue we're facing is that he's a couple of years older than Smith-Rowe, probably very expensive, and yet, due to Real Madrid's mistreatment of him, not that much more experienced at the highest level. I agree with Qwiss that Smith-Rowe has had better performances as a #10 this season, and I just think he makes us a little more dynamic and less predictable. With squad quotas getting stricter now he and Saka have to be the main considerations when we move forward. I'd keep Ødegaard in a heartbeat if there was a good solution to be had, but I don't think there is one. We'd spend an awful lot of money we don't have on someone who'd push one of our best players onto the wing.

This is a good assessment of the situation. If we can find a way for Madrid to lower the price, we should take him.

There’s something that Jones said as well earlier. We are not seeing players at their best. It’s actually not just an Arteta thing. It’s a systemic club thing, of players underperforming or players playing injured because we have so many gaps. Saka, Odegaard and Partey have been victims of the latter this season to carry other people’s weight.

Yeah I think Klaus nailed it.

There is a situation where i’d be all for signing Odegaard, but it’s not one that involves us being skint when looking for potential cm’s and rb’s. A player like Bissouma would improve us a lot more than Odegaard would, for example.

Yeah. I keep hearing podcasters and bloggers saying £50m for Odegaard (I think it’s his Transfermakt price) and think that is crazy. You tell Real “you guys don’t appreciate this kid, here’s £30m, take it or leave it”. There isn’t going to be a long line of suitors in a Covid market. Never negotiate against yourself

Qwiss! wrote:

banduan wrote:

we don't want one #10 we want two.

Now, if the other was Jack Grealish of course I'd toss aside any thought of Odegaard. But we're not getting Grealish and if Odegaard is available for the right price we should go for it.

Why do we want 2?

because injuries?