What now for Walcott?

[Power n Glory]

Definitely the second option. I don't think he has been frozen out at all, I reckon Wenger's just told him to wait a bit to see how Gerv does. Walcott sees himself as good enough to be a key player in the team (one that starts all the time), and Wenger doesn't right now. But that's easily sorted if Theo out-performs Gervinho. He'll get his chance soon.

It is an interesting one. Yao Kouassi almost fits the bill to be that striker we need but he lacks confidence and went missing when he screwed up that first chance against City. With Theo, he's not as technically gifted on the ball, but he's smarter with his movement, decisions and finishing. Also, he's mentally stronger and won't go missing if he screws up a chance. Just look at the Spurs game. But can play in our system?

I think Wenger may need to adjust the formation slightly and try to get two strikers playing up top. Giroud seems like a good player but I can't see him scoring a ton for us in this system. He doesn't look like a work horse type but I get the feeling that is what he'll turn into against bigger teams. Our battering ram. Poldoski up front on his own….seemed anonymous too. It's very early but when a team plays like how we play and hold a lot of possession and attack, it's a bit of a worry that they're not involved. Yao Kouassi keeps busy but if he wastes chances and goes into a shell, we can't afford to play him there.

[Syn]

We are sort of playing two forwards. Cazorla's usually around the box but we went a bit defensive against Man City. It's an awesome formation that's on the go right now. Wouldn't want us to change it. Nobody really holds a fixed position; incredibly hard to defend against when 3 or 4 out of the 6 are on it.

Not liking Giroud so far but not writing him off either. Unconvinced by both Theo and Gerv. In an ideal world, we'd have one of those Spanish youngsters we can chuck in (Suso for Liverpool looked handy) that's all about the balance and squirming out of tricky positions. Oxlade looked to be that but now he's gone all gay and English for some reason. I don't really worry about having goalscorers if you genuinely are good enough to pass it into the net. Just getting to that level is difficult though. In recent years we've been called a team that 'like to pass it in' and because we haven't succeeded, people assume it can't work. It can work if you're good.

[Japan Shaking All Over]

I like the fluid front three that we seem to be leaning towards! It could be Walcotts way into getting that elusive strikers position he craves and at the same time do his bit out wide when its his turn.

The only thing is when he plays wide, hes more often than not woeful. His attempts at crosses are not even worth trying to get on the end of!

Saying that, and people can have a pop, my support for Gerv can at times seem very misguided! I didnt see the whole game but his attempt at the end was rubbish, goal opens up in front of him as it did and he cant hit the target. . .shit

As Syn says Theo will get his chance, whether he takes it remains to be seen, if he does he gets paid but Im not convinced he deserves any more than we have offered.

[Power n Glory]

For Theo and Yao Kouassi, I think the current system could work because they'd float around and not always have their back to goal. With Giroud, I see another Chamakh or Eduardo situation. His movement is slow but he'll pounce when he see's an opening. He looks like a typical predator type striker but I can't see how that is going to work in this system. We're trying to replicate this tika taka style that Barca and Spain play, our own style of total football, then i think we'll need a busy striker and someone more mobile. We've seen it with Cesc and Messi. Neither play with their back to goal and their able to find pockets of space. Playing with a more static striker that hangs deep just makes it easier for defenders to sit back and defend and i think Giroud we'll be heavily dependent on other players movement for him to find his own space. He's hardly able to get a shot on a goal.

[Aida]

http://www1.skysports.com/football/n...ot-about-money

[Kano]

it becomes lazy to keep harping on about poor crossing etc when he bagged 13 or so assists and 11 goals last season - I mean, what are we expecting from the wide players instead?

i can't think of another one in recent memory with figures like that.

he is obviously a key and productive member of the team but will of course be leaving this season at some time.

just another player to leave, get hammered by the fans whilst the board laugh in our faces.

[Xhaka Can’t]

It doesn't matter...free is free. We get nothing for him if we let him walk and the difference between £75k and £100k in a year is less than £2m.

But it isn't supposed to be about the money!

Sent from my HTC One S using Tapatalk 2

[LDG]

it becomes lazy to keep harping on about poor crossing etc when he bagged 13 or so assists and 11 goals last season - I mean, what are we expecting from the wide players instead?

i can't think of another one in recent memory with figures like that.

he is obviously a key and productive member of the team but will of course be leaving this season at some time.

just another player to leave, get hammered by the fans whilst the board laugh in our faces.

Don't think anyone is calling him out here. Nobody is saying he's shit.

As long as the team keeps on improving, then I just don't give a shit.

[Marc Overmars]

I would personally give him a shot up front, we're not loaded with central striking options. It's not like this is a radical new idea anyway, it's something thats been spoken about for years and even Wenget has given the notion some positive thought in the past. I don't see Theo as being a money grabber or some sort of billy big bollocks, I just think he's a frustrated player who knows his game is stale wants to do something about it.

I reckon he'll probably leave which would be a shame because he's arguably one of the best finishers in the squad. Ultimatley though if the club doesn't rate him despite his favourable statistics, then he should go and I wouldn't begrudge him.

It would be pretty galling though to see him leave on a free because another club would have picked up an incredible bargain.

[Özim]

he's arguably one of the best finishers in the squad.

Doesn't really say much though in reality, we barely have anyone who can finish in the squad.

Podolski seems to be the only player who can so far.