Summer Transfer Speculation and Shit

[McNamara That Ghost...]

If that is the case that'd be because our midfield is much stronger now than it was last season with Ramsey going mental and having signed Özil. I don't think it's fair to bring up what may or might not be said by somebody else from last season, what's important is what might be true now. Most would have thought Ramsey leaving over the summer, though he played pretty well would not be the blow it certainly would be now, ie, things change.

I don't neccesarily think we need a 'centre forward', which I assume is based on the traditional English idea of what having a striker is (and what Wenger tends to go for)! Unless we lose players soon, like perhaps Rosicky then such is the way we play, I don't think we need to be stockpiling 'centre forwards', that's not to say Rosicky is one of those players but he is one of the first players that comes off the bench, because as I said before, using our midfield and different midfield players during games is what's more likely to change it for us then throwing forwards on like we did for instance against Man Utd in the FA Cup game in 2004, when we ended the game with no threat whatsoever.

Who mentioned shining examples? I'm saying that yes Suarez has done some very stupid and hurtful things towards the club he plays for but in terms of playing, it's not as though his attitude will affect other players unduly in the same way as we supposedly did with Adebayor/Nasri/Kolo/Gallas. Anyway, that ship has sailed I think, much as I wanted him to join over the course of this thread.

[Syn]

Agree with Maccy and LDG. Giroud is undeniably top class with his first-touch play when linking up with the midfield. There is not much difference between him and anyone else at that. He might not at the technical level of a Bergkamp generally but he's just top notch at creative play around the box. It's just something that he happens to get spot on time and time again. And that's huge for the way Wenger's trying to set us up.



But in the big games where you're looking to convert this sort of chance, where you need the first touch to be spot on - only the top class strikers (in the league I'm thinking Van Persie, Suarez, Aguero) are likely to take them. In games where the midfield isn't allowed to waltz up to the edge of the area and you're looking for more clinical finishing, he's not your man to turn 1 point into 3. A Van Persie does that creative stuff and has a much higher strike rate in converting chances like that. But I can't think of another striker of Van Persie's style and quality at the moment.

That doesn't mean we shouldn't buy a striker. If Giroud gets injured, we're screwed at the moment. Wenger knew that as well and was all over the shop. Higuain, Suarez, Ba - all very different type of players. I'm guessing now that Giroud is stepping up and fans don't want to kill Wenger, he'll be more clear about what type of striker he wants. Reckon we'll get one in January - but maybe just a stop gap cover, unless Bendtner proves he can hack it for a few games.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

If that is the case that'd be because our midfield is much stronger now than it was last season with Ramsey going mental and having signed Özil. I don't think it's fair to bring up what may or might not be said by somebody else from last season, what's important is what might be true now. Most would have thought Ramsey leaving over the summer, though he played pretty well would not be the blow it certainly would be now, ie, things change.

I don't neccesarily think we need a 'centre forward', which I assume is based on the traditional English idea of what having a striker is (and what Wenger tends to go for)! Unless we lose players soon, like perhaps Rosicky then such is the way we play, I don't think we need to be stockpiling 'centre forwards', that's not to say Rosicky is one of those players but he is one of the first players that comes off the bench, because as I said before, using our midfield and different midfield players during games is what's more likely to change it for us then throwing forwards on like we did for instance against Man Utd in the FA Cup game in 2004, when we ended the game with no threat whatsoever.

Who mentioned shining examples? I'm saying that yes Suarez has done some very stupid and hurtful things towards the club he plays for but in terms of playing, it's not as though his attitude will affect other players unduly in the same way as we supposedly did with Adebayor/Nasri/Kolo/Gallas. Anyway, that ship has sailed I think, much as I wanted him to join over the course of this thread.

Giroud is benefiting from playing with some very good players, as any other striker would be right now. Whether or not another player's contribution would outweigh Giroud's can only be proven by actually seeing another player play there. That will never be witnesses unless we actually buy a player, or promote Sanogo.....that is when ever he is fit again.

As far as I can understood, you have not out rightly disagreed with the fact that we need another forward? Whether you call him a centre forward, a forward, striker, attacking player, ghost 9, the bottom line to me is that we need better options to play the central position in attack in a 433 because that is ultimately the formation the manager plays. Yes the formation is fluid, yes the players are fluid but there is a reason Wenger is unwilling to play Theo in that position, in spite of his qualities and there is nobody I am really happy to see there other than Giroud. That is not a position a club like Arsenal should be in IMHO neither is it tantamount to winning the title...again, in my view. Giroud cannot be expected to play 60 games at the level he has. Is it really healthy that there is nobody seriously to contest his position? It's not like signing a quality forward means we will now have a stock pile of quality forwards who can play in the middle that we won't know what to do with....... like City had at one point with Tevez, Aguero, Balotelli and Djeko.

The 'centre forward' is not based on a traditional idea of an English centre forward unless we are over simplifying. The idea of a traditional CF was formulated in a gone by era when the 433 was far from common place in Europe, never mind England. RvP is no traditional centre forward but if there was another like him around, I would be delighted to sign him and yes, even in place of Giroud, because he has the tools to play the position well.

Suarez is trouble both on and off the pitch. I accept he may not be directly and adversely affecting his team mates morale in the dressing room and in training which is why I mentioned that in the post before.....however, everything else that comes with him indirectly affects too many things negatively. On a pure level of integrity I have some serious issues with many of the things he has been caught doing and I don't want our club to sign such a player. I'm fine if other gooners disagree with that standpoint as it is my own personal view on the matter and to be honest I've even bored myself speaking and hearing about Suarez. I too, am confident, that ship has sailed and I'm pretty glad it has. He and his agent mugging us off once, was once too many.

Out of interest, do you think the squad needs strengthening at all?.....and if so in what positions and which players might be a good fit?

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

I think we all hope the Suarez ship has sailed. I certainly couldn't go through another transfer window of it.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Giroud is benefiting from playing with some very good players, as any other striker would be right now. Whether or not another player's contribution would outweigh Giroud's can only be proven by actually seeing another player play there. That will never be witnesses unless we actually buy a player, or promote Sanogo.....that is when ever he is fit again.

As far as I can understood, you have not out rightly disagreed with the fact that we need another forward? Whether you call him a centre forward, a forward, striker, attacking player, ghost 9, the bottom line to me is that we need better options to play the central position in attack in a 433 because that is ultimately the formation the manager plays. Yes the formation is fluid, yes the players are fluid but there is a reason Wenger is unwilling to play Theo in that position, in spite of his qualities and there is nobody I am really happy to see there other than Giroud. That is not a position a club like Arsenal should be in IMHO neither is it tantamount to winning the title...again, in my view. Giroud cannot be expected to play 60 games at the level he has. Is it really healthy that there is nobody seriously to contest his position? It's not like signing a quality forward means we will now have a stock pile of quality forwards who can play in the middle that we won't know what to do with....... like City had at one point with Tevez, Aguero, Balotelli and Djeko.

The 'centre forward' is not based on a traditional idea of an English centre forward unless we are over simplifying. The idea of a traditional CF was formulated in a gone by era when the 433 was far from common place in Europe, never mind England. RvP is no traditional centre forward but if there was another like him around, I would be delighted to sign him and yes, even in place of Giroud, because he has the tools to play the position well.

Suarez is trouble both on and off the pitch. I accept he may not be directly and adversely affecting his team mates morale in the dressing room and in training which is why I mentioned that in the post before.....however, everything else that comes with him indirectly affects too many things negatively. On a pure level of integrity I have some serious issues with many of the things he has been caught doing and I don't want our club to sign such a player. I'm fine if other gooners disagree with that standpoint as it is my own personal view on the matter and to be honest I've even bored myself speaking and hearing about Suarez. I too, am confident, that ship has sailed and I'm pretty glad it has. He and his agent mugging us off once, was once too many.

Out of interest, do you think the squad needs strengthening at all?.....and if so in what positions and which players might be a good fit?

I wanted Suarez for instance because I could easily see how he and Giroud could play at the same time and I suppose Higuain before that. It would be seen as us having bought a 'centre forward' in some parts of the media but really it wouldn't be, they're both very comfortable pulling out wide and running at defenders for instance.

As for someone that would directly be in Giroud's position I don't have much of an issue with us signing someone as a competent back-up to him but anything more that and I think though it will sway a lot in to thinking, wow unbelievable squad, usually too many quality strikers with so little chances to play them usually doesn't last too long. You see someone like Mandzukic for Bayern Munich and though he is good, he isn't exactly brimming with anything exceptional in his talent but he is perfect for that team, even though there are 'better' strikers out there.

Centre forward is a rarely used phrase from what I have seen regards to football in Europe. If they're talking about that position then tend to say a 'No.9', whereas here it's always centre forward and I don't think think they mean to deviate anything from the big lad that uses his stength and power to get on the end of the big boot upfield.

I don't know, stengthen is an easy term to just mean on 'signing players', based on that alone and assuming it would actually do that for us then I guess a centreback of decent quality that is more than content to be a bench player mainly (if they exist) and in all likelihood a replacement for Rosicky as surely he won't be here for that much longer. Otherwise, I am quite happy. In truth I was fairly happy with our squad last season.

[Nayan]

I think we all hope the Suarez ship has sailed. I certainly couldn't go through another transfer window of it.

I hope he fucks off out of our league. Prick

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Agree with Maccy and LDG. Giroud is undeniably top class with his first-touch play when linking up with the midfield. There is not much difference between him and anyone else at that. He might not at the technical level of a Bergkamp generally but he's just top notch at creative play around the box. It's just something that he happens to get spot on time and time again. And that's huge for the way Wenger's trying to set us up.



But in the big games where you're looking to convert this sort of chance, where you need the first touch to be spot on - only the top class strikers (in the league I'm thinking Van Persie, Suarez, Aguero) are likely to take them. In games where the midfield isn't allowed to waltz up to the edge of the area and you're looking for more clinical finishing, he's not your man to turn 1 point into 3. A Van Persie does that creative stuff and has a much higher strike rate in converting chances like that. But I can't think of another striker of Van Persie's style and quality at the moment.

That doesn't mean we shouldn't buy a striker. If Giroud gets injured, we're screwed at the moment. Wenger knew that as well and was all over the shop. Higuain, Suarez, Ba - all very different type of players. I'm guessing now that Giroud is stepping up and fans don't want to kill Wenger, he'll be more clear about what type of striker he wants. Reckon we'll get one in January - but maybe just a stop gap cover, unless Bendtner proves he can hack it for a few games.

He did get a shot away and it was a good save from Myhill but it's true, the best chance would've been first time. However, you see the goal he scored against Tottenham, coming across the goal and passing it in first time, for one, not many strikers make that run anyway and two, not many can put it in. I'm not going to pretend he is an ultra clinical striker but I think one gif clip is a bit unfair, even if it does actually have validity.

If Giroud did get injured (which is really tiring me out as a slant against us) then somebody else will step up I am sure, it always happens with Wenger teams.

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

I hope he fucks off out of our league. Prick

I'm just counting down the days until he sacrifices a small child to the sun god Ra.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

I wanted Suarez for instance because I could easily see how he and Giroud could play at the same time and I suppose Higuain before that. It would be seen as us having bought a 'centre forward' in some parts of the media but really it wouldn't be, they're both very comfortable pulling out wide and running at defenders for instance.

As for someone that would directly be in Giroud's position I don't have much of an issue with us signing someone as a competent back-up to him but anything more that and I think though it will sway a lot in to thinking, wow unbelievable squad, usually too many quality strikers with so little chances to play them usually doesn't last too long. You see someone like Mandzukic for Bayern Munich and though he is good, he isn't exactly brimming with anything exceptional in his talent but he is perfect for that team, even though there are 'better' strikers out there.

Centre forward is a rarely used phrase from what I have seen regards to football in Europe. If they're talking about that position then tend to say a 'No.9', whereas here it's always centre forward and I don't think think they mean to deviate anything from the big lad that uses his stength and power to get on the end of the big boot upfield.

I don't know, stengthen is an easy term to just mean on 'signing players', based on that alone and assuming it would actually do that for us then I guess a centreback of decent quality that is more than content to be a bench player mainly (if they exist) and in all likelihood a replacement for Rosicky as surely he won't be here for that much longer. Otherwise, I am quite happy. In truth I was fairly happy with our squad last season.

Putting aside the fact I can't stand Suarez for the sake of the argument he is an exceptional player. One of a few who could play right across the upper 3 positions in the 433. I rate him, so much so, I regularly told those on ahfc before we moved over here that they were actually understating the impact he would have if he came here. When he first moved to Liverpool, I said on our board he was fantastic which was usually met with 'but he doesn't score enough' and I would usually respond with 'he will in time'. Now he has and does.

I agree that if a player of Suarez's skill set was available he could actually effectively be threatening Theo's place and/or Cazorla and play wide....unless I've misunderstood the intimations you were making. Incidentally, that would also give us cover for Giroud himself because when he does not play, that Suarez type player then shifts into the middle with Theo going back to the right. This idea also leaves a wide player/midfielder unhappy as well, be it Theodore or anyone else. I think that whoever you bring in, in which ever position, he is going to displace somebody else of ability, if he is of the quality we are talking about with Suarez, so it does raise an issue in any case.

I really only refer to Suarez as a centre forward because it may be his best position to play at Arsenal, but it is not intended to reflect or be ignorant of his versatility.

Mandzukic is an interesting precedent and one in which I was reflecting on recently. I think Bayern get away with that a little because their team is so much stronger than any other in their league (including Dortmund who seem desperate to palm off their best players to them) and they are almost a perfectly balanced team who have shown as much for some time. They were frighteningly good against us last season and absolutely destroyed City recently. They have been a long time in the making as they have lost CL finals before they won it last season and have other disappointments. Our current side have had little of that development in the last few years.

They have had, what we are beginning to have and what you have already pointed out..... Unsuspecting goal scoring midfielders who regularly chip in like Ramsey has started to do with Muller and Kroos and more obvious ones like Robben. Even then, they did have Gomes on their bench to come in for Mandzukic up until recently. Gomes's goal scoring record himself is in line with most of the top forwards in Europe and he was on their bench for some considerable time. I would argue that option made Bayern strong rather than caused a problem. Gomes ended up leaving but at Bayern's convenience, for a considerable fee and as is par for the course at a top club, the best come to the fore, particularly when there is genuine competition. Then you have to factor in the fact that Bayern only really let Gomes go because they have been pretty much promised Lewandowski who ironically poses the same problem to them with Mandzukic as you're suggesting he would to us with Giroud.

I suppose a lot of it will actually comes down to whether you believe the squad is in ideal shape to genuinely challenge for the league and the Champions league or if you think we have a little more work to do, mainly in terms of the first team.

I would like to see the extra top quality here... particularly for when we are playing more of the top sides than we have in the league so far. And I actually have to include Spurs in the category of top sides we've already faced!

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

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