el Janny Tranny
Qwiss we still make some very odd decisions on contracts. I think it would have been fine to let him go but when we kept him you presume their is a plan but then we don't seem to use them. It does worry be with how we approach transfers and squad building. Sterling another, nothing we've seen about him is a surprise from his time at Chelsea. It's why I didn't get the deal but you assume Arteta must have an idea of what he had in mind. But then he's never used and it makes you think did they really not have a clue?
Qwiss Of course he does, he hardly plays. Anyway his contract is up in June, just like Partey. We're going to need a big midfield signing as well as attacking signings this summer.
Yup, also why I wasn't that against the Merino signing. We are gonna need at least one if not two player in those positions in the summer.
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I’m fine with Jorginho leaving for £20m+. Build some funds for summer signing.
We have three (Rice, Merino, and Partey) to cover two positions. In am emergency I also think we could play MLS or Zinchenko centrally.
£20m?
There's no way we are getting close to £20m for Jorginho. I'd be surprised if we get close to breaking even on what we paid for him (£10m if I recall) at this point. I don't think we have the depth to allow him to leave even if he is looking even more washed these days.
I will be very upset if we end up with Rashford at the end of this window unless it's for a short term loan. I have no confidence he will be anything more than dead weight moving forward and these reclamation projects like Sterling are not helping the squad whatsoever.
I'd rather us bring in a youth prospect like Nypan this window with eyes on developing for the future. Even if that means letting him stay at his club for the rest of the year.
If we don't get the Jorginho/Partey replacement right, we'll be screwed.
The only guy that looks good enough is Zubimendi. Everyone else that I know of will be a downgrade.
samthegooner we can't loan Rashford. We are maxed out for PL loans.
daredevil I don't know if I agree with this. Squads evolve and I think our next evolution has to be to a midfield setup with Rice at the 6. Of course we will hear complaints about his progressive passing but whenever he's had a chance to show it off, he's been solid iMO. I also think you can adapt to that by moving to a structure that I am a fan of which is pushing Odegaard deeper as a buildup specialist and bringing in a more output focused CAM to play where Odegaard plays now. Merino is versatile enough to provide depth at both of those positions and hopefully MLS can also provide depth at the 6 next year (as well as LB). There are far more options out there for advanced midfield roles - can go from the top of the market with Wirtz and Musiala to other good signings like Reijnders, Eze, Gibbs-White, Sudakov, Moleiro) and I want Rice in a more defensive role with two midfielders ahead of him that are better technicians, playmakers and ideally, can provide some goals).
With inverting outside backs like Timber/White and Calafiori/MLS, ball progression shouldn't be an issue and I think we struggle more with playmaking in the final third. I haven't seen Partey or Jorginho help much in that, nor has Rice in an advanced 8 role provided a ton of value there. A midfield like the following would be my (realistic) dream:
----- Rice (Merino/MLS) -----
Reijnders (Nwaneri) -- Odegaard (Merino)
samthegooner agree with the majority of this. Thoughtful post.
samthegooner — great thoughts, but to clarify — are you suggesting that Odegaard should move to the left 8?
MistaT I am not as stuck on left or right - it could be either as long as its the CM role focused more on buildup (currently our left 8). I view Odegaard as best deployed not as "our KDB" but moreso as "our Bernardo Silva". That isn't a slight against him but I think if we added a starting midfielder who does more of the things we would associate with a traditional 10 (while still working hard out of possession) and allow Odegaard to operate more as a traditional 8, it would play to his and Rice's strengths better and open up a lot more recruitment options for an attacking oriented midfielder. A pie in the sky midfield for me would be Wirtz - Rice - Odegaard but I want to be realistic.
samthegooner A pie in the sky midfield for me would be Wirtz - Rice - Odegaard but I want to be realistic.
I’d like a serving of this pie
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So I agree with that, my preference is also to move Rice to 6 and get a ball playing 8. I wonder if Cunha could be that guy, or he's too attacking for the role.
Personally, a ball playing creative 8 should be our biggest priority, followed by left winger, followed by a CF. We don't create enough chances in open play and are too reliant on Odegaard and Saka. We need someone equally good (or better) on the left side.
If we don’t sign anyone we this Jan then we have effectively written off this season.
Sicario2 - Tier 1 you wrote off the season two months ago. So we’d just be making it official
I wrote off the league. Not signing anyone this window is writing off the CL, FA Cup and League cup. It not only wastes this season but means the last two seasons were wasted and all that momentum we’ve built as a club go to shit.
daredevil the midfield rebuild might be a problem too far for arteta, and could spell the end for him. that 65m/200k pw havertz splurge felt like a breaking point, because he was (mistakenly) bought to be a key fixture as a left 8 and also created a false sense of security that our forward line was sufficient. the combined shockwave of his incorrect recruitment + taking 1-2 windows too long to actually fix the forward line has now resulted too many new fires to put out, leaving us once again with competing priorities aka 'a day late and a buck short'. looking at artetas recruitment history, he will favour the perspirational/structural aspects of the team first and foremost.
had we scooped 1 piece of major silverware in the last few years, the time and resource required for the above rebuild would be acceptable.