Mik Merino

Asterix

I completely didn't realise / think to remember that Odegaard played with Merino at Sociedad. That's an extra little benefit to getting the side to gel.

Claudius

Asterix next step is to get Isak. Reunite the boys

MistaT

I have hesitancy about Rice as a lone 6 because he’s at his best on the front foot, and his best season was in a midfield pair.

Perhaps I’m thinking about this naively though as in our system the inverted fullbacks offer Rice a midfield companion (if not a partner). Further, when we’re really under pressure it seems like Merino will be plenty comfortable coming deep alongside Rice.

So do we see Califoria or Timber enabling Rice to actually press higher than we’d typically expect of a 6? No way Zinchenko can offer what I’m envisioning…

Burnwinter

MistaT So do we see Califoria or Timber enabling Rice to actually press higher than we’d typically expect of a 6?

Yeah I'm curious about this. Reckon we'll see Øde continuing to track back quite a bit to help in the build-up. We might deputise an extra CB more for backstop duty.

banduan

MistaT So do we see Califoria or Timber enabling Rice to actually press higher than we’d typically expect of a 6? No way Zinchenko can offer what I’m envisioning…

Zinchenko is already dropping in between the two CB during the build-up phase, so those two will likely follow the same template.

lorddulaarsenal

Merino is also a little bit Busquety

Lukazan

lorddulaarsenal That's what I was thinking watching him, but I think it's more just visually than stylistically.

Burnwinter

TambourineMan Could be a week or two ... shouldn't be any longer based on the Euros, though, our England players are already back in action. I'm sure he'll get at least a week's training with the XI, however ... anything else would be daft, we don't need him to plug a hole in the Titanic or anything.

Might ride the pine this weekend to get a taste of it if everything comes together astoundingly quickly, or get a little run-out at home to Brighton.

lorddulaarsenal

Happy Merino Day!

Something to get the juices flowing. Have a watch whilst you sup on your morning latte

Pepe LeFrits

I'm glad we signed him but I'm not that excited. I think he's more of a depth signing to help us maintain the way we finished last campaign across an entire season, which is great, but I'm not sure it'll too noticeable in individual games.

Pepe LeFrits

👍️ Gabi Martinelli likes this

QuincyAbeyie

Pepe LeFrits I remember when Tifo/The Athletic made that video about how Havertz would fit in at CM and it totally tricked me into thinking it would work. 😆

HomeSteak

QuincyAbeyie Tifo and the Athletic spend a lot of time sucking Arteta off. If Arteta bring his wife into the team, they would make a video about how great she is gonna be.

Excited about this signing, he will fit in very well. Hope he breaks into the first 11 really fast

Pepe LeFrits

QuincyAbeyie I remember when Tifo/The Athletic made that video about how Havertz would fit in at CM and it totally tricked me into thinking it would work.

Ha. Well at least in this case I think we're going to play him in exactly the position he's used to playing!

Claudius

QuincyAbeyie he’s played in CM in pre-season and it has looked good. I think we often get too married to positions without considering things like a) who else is around these players?, b) how versatile are players, c) how flexible is the coach’s system, and d) what are the game states?

QuincyAbeyie

Pepe LeFrits yeah, not particularly worried about this one.

QuincyAbeyie

Claudius I guess it's only when we lose against Liverpool we're not supposed to care about preseason. 😉

I've seen enough of him in CM. He was put into a functional team without managing to get involved, and without doing enough when he was.
He's a striker for me,and luckily that's probably where he'll play.

Qwiss

QuincyAbeyie he's been brilliant as a striker. The idea of putting him back into midfield when we haven't signed another striker is a really weird one for me. Especially given we are about to be one striker lighter than last year.

Claudius

QuincyAbeyie what do you watch preseason for? Tactics and strategy? or results?

Qwiss

TambourineMan Wonder how long it'll be before we see him in first team action?

I'd be shocked if he's not at least on the bench for Brighton. Perfect chance to give him a debut off the bench at home.

Anyway I like the signing, he's a player with qualities that should suit the PL. I do wonder how he'll be deployed and what the shape of our midfield will be once he's up to speed. Good to have more solid options there though.

Gazza M

Qwiss it's good we got him in now. he can spend this season bedding in as we phase partey out

goon

Kai's not dominant enough with the ball to play in CM. All his skills lean towards being a centre forward.