We should just plop 40m plus Nketiah in front of Palace for Wharton and see if they blink.
Wishlist 2022/2023
RowJimmy I'm not opposed to a left-sided attacker if it's a transformative player, or a punt on a kid. R or S in Burnwinter's terms.
Whoever we look for in that position should either force Martinelli out of the first XI, or be an unreal talent headed for world class status. It's a hard ask. Fall short and there's no change to the status quo.
Even though our midfield targets are extremely elusive and expensive, it'll be slightly easier to shift the dial in that part of the pitch.
- Edited
Poor Trossard's wondering what more he could have done to even feature in the conversation.
Martinelli scored 15 two seasons back, while Trossard scored 17. The left sided attacker is the least of our problems.
What we need to improve is the midfield balance so we have a left footer who favours moving left to engage and supply the left-sided attackers, and reduce the right side bias.
Quite disagree with what you're saying there. Trossard is out of the conversation because he doesn't have ninety minutes in his legs, and he's also more effective later in matches when play breaks down more often. There's no sense in pencilling him in as starter, he's not built that way.
Our "right-side bias" is all about the quality and understanding on that side. Saka and Øde are the most prolific passing pair in the league by a margin, a testament to our league-leading territorial domination.
The right tilt in our game won't, and shouldn't change. We want to maximise the seconds Ødegaard and Saka are over the ball with room to breathe.
A more consistent one-on-one threat from the left creates width to that end. A 6 who can pass gives us an alternative to Ødegaard beating the press and leading in transition, which gets us more energy and time nearer the opposition goal for our best player.
daredevil To build and create through the left side, you need a winger who can either take on defenders 1-vs-1 or play deft combinations in the final third (ideally both). You need creativity from that position, like we have from Saka on the right, it's not just a matter of getting the LW service.
I don't think we need to sign a "transformative player" at the left wing, we just need someone who can actually be creative from that position, providing ball retention and penetration in tight spaces. Neither Martinelli nor Trossard really do that. Martinelli at his best is a relentless presser and amazing runner on counterattacks, but he struggles in tight spaces (and I don't think that will ever change). Trossard has popped up with crucial goals, but his general play is more limited, and he turns 30 in December (and is not an athlete to begin with).
I like Eze because he would add penetration and creativity to our team, provided his tendency to drift inside is managed/incorporated. He's less dynamic than Nico Williams but more intelligent IMO, a better decision-maker once he's beaten his man. He (or whatever other similar signing) may not be an automatic starter over Martinelli, but it gives you options and flexibility. City away, Martinelli starts. Porto away, Eze starts. For instance.
Kvaratskhelia
lorddulaarsenal He's brilliant but he would get kicked to bits here.
Kvara on the left with Saka on the right would be so deadly and would finally restore some balance to our left. Kvara is basically Grealish if he had more explosiveness and didn't get neutered by Pep. Saka would certainly see far fewer double/triple teams if we had an equal threat on that wing (not discounting Martinelli but he's nowhere near the pausa player that Kvara/Saka are).
Arteta has already neutered Martinelli, and I'm not sure Kvaratskhelia would fare much better.
MistaT Arteta has already neutered Martinelli
Think Martinelli has played his best stuff under Arteta. The drop-off last season isn't anything to do with how he's been managed as far as I can see.
————————Raya
White——Saliba——Gabriel—-Calafiori
————————-Rice
————Odegaard——Musiala
Saka————-Havertz———Williams
What are we saying 1mOrEiNtHeToLlBaG?
- Edited
lorddulaarsenal ————————Raya
White——Saliba——Gabriel—-Calafiori
————————-Rice
————Odegaard——Musiala
Saka————-Havertz———WilliamsWhat are we saying 1mOrEiNtHeToLlBaG?
Calafiori - no
Musiala - Yes
Williams - I can take it or leave it, don't matter to me.
If we can recruit Musiala I don't care who else.
Big Willie what about Calafiori?
QuincyAbeyie what about Calafiori?
Nothing specifically about his football. He seems a good player, is tall as fuck and pretty good on the ball both coming inside and staying wide. I just never feel confident about Italian players adapting to the PL, or even coming here in the first place. These were all before your time so that's saying something but aside from Zola, Vialli and Di Canio, they all either have serious issues adapting, or simply decide to not come at all.
Big Willie there are plenty of top Italian players who was superb in PL. Aquilaini, Emi Viviano, Scamacca, Diamanti, Nocerino, Boriello etc
- Edited
Clrnc there are plenty of top Italian players who was superb in PL. Aquilaini, Emi Viviano, Scamacca, Diamanti, Nocerino, Boriello etc
I think you're kind of proving my point there @Clrnc.
- Viviano? That keeper we got back in the day that never played a single game for us?
- Aquilaini was a really good player but didn't he hardly play for Liverpool and ended up being sent on loan a bunch of times because he couldn't adapt?
- Don't even remember Nocerino playing in the PL tbh.
- Boriello was an FM legend back in the day, not sure he reached the peaks he was expected to tbh, but regardless a good player in Italy. Don't remember him in the PL though mind you. Didn't even know he came over.
- Diamanti, I don't even know who that is.
- Scamacca is a recent one so I remember him well but he was only at West Ham for a season and was thoroughly disappointing, hardly scoring at all.
I guess what I'm saying is none of these guys were as good in the PL as you seem to be suggesting, definitely not on the levels of the ones I mentioned if I can't even remember them being in the league, let alone setting league alight.
Certainly not what I'd be thinking when I think of being superb in the league. For that you'd have to be at a playing at consitently good levels in the PL over a number of years. I can guarantee you none of these guys stayed more than a couple years though which kind of shows they either didn't adapt or didn't want to be here.
Edit:
Just checked these names out by the way.
- Viviano only "played" for us in the PL before leaving the country and never returning.
- Aquilaini had one season at Liverpool before he was loaned out for two years and then left.
- Nocerino had one season at WHU in the PL, and only played 10 games before leaving.
- Scamacca only played for WHU in the PL, making 16 appearances and scoring 3 goals.
- Boriello also played only for WHU in the PL, making 2 appearances and and not signing permanently after his loan ended.
- Diamanti had two spells in the PL, first with, you guessed it WHU and then with Watford. His first season he played 28 time in the PL. His second season, just 1. His loan at Watford consisted of just 3 appearances in the PL.
Even Balotelli, who isn't on either your list or mind or my list, despite some great moments, wasn't someone who you though was superb throughout his time in the PL.
What’s happening with Wirtz? He’d be another who would be ace alongside Odegaard
lorddulaarsenal What’s happening with Wirtz? He’d be another who would be ace alongside Odegaard
Would be great to get him. Sadly he isn't moving this season, and might already have his eyes set on Madrid/Bayern in 2025 according to links.
Big Willie hahaha I was actually agreeing with you and taking the piss mate.
Yeah for some reason Italian players never got to grips with the pace of England football. The only one I can think of in recent years that's half decent is Ogbonna but he's a defender which is a different profile altogether. So maybe Calafiori could work after all. Goalies and defenders don't really differ leagues to leagues.
Anyway I do really like the player. Noticed him whenever I try to watch Motta's Bologna. Incredibly good on the ball