Squad Analysis

[AKBapologist]

Official:
http://www.premierleague.com/page/He...440123,00.html

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Oldfield Spence-Neita, Nigel Paul
Oxlade-Chamberlain, Alexander Mark David
Frimpong, Emmanuel Yan
Ebecilio, Kyle Stephen Joel
Fagan, Zachari Freddy Casey
Aneke, Chukwuemeka Ademola Amachi

Great names.

[Master Splinter]

Djourou-Gbadjere, Johan Danon
Yao, Gervais Kouassi
Gibbs, Kieran James Ricardo
Clarindo Dos Santos, Andre
Song Bilong, Alexandre Dimitr

Wenger's transfer policy finally uncovered.

It was staring us in the face.

[Niall_Quinn]

Chamakh, Shittus Cuntingdon Cringeworthy

[AKBapologist]

A good aritcle about the squad here...
http://www.whoscored.com/Blog/zj0ory...actical-Change

TL:DR

Before...


After...

[AKBapologist]

Dusts off thread...


In preparation for this summers round of second guessing and and reinterpreting wenger double speak, lets have another look at our squad...


Potential Leavers: (probability based on rumours, player comments / destination)
Johan Djourou 50% (Juve) - Hasn't had much game time at the club and sites have linked him to a move away - shame as he loves the club
Alumina 99% (Free) - Currently on loan at west ham, leaves our books on a free this season
Squillaci 50% (???) - Wenger is said to be pretty dissapointed by his performances on and off the pitch. May stay to milk wages however
Arshavin 50% (Zenit St.Petersburg) - Mixed reviews of his return to Zenit and his desire to return to london may have him back for an additional season
Chamakh 60% (PSG) - Likely to be offered a big money move to PSG
Denilson 99% (São Paulo) - Likely to remain on loan until his Arsenal contract runs out
Park 50% (Unknown) - Hasn't got the game time, wenger says to be patient. May go out on loan, or may sit out and milk contract
Bendtner 60% (Sunderland?) - Doesn't like the North East, however has been said to not likely fit into wengers plans
Vela 90% (Real Sociadad?) - Wants to go, and Sociadad want to keep him
Frimpong 50% (???) - Younggunsblog author and writer for the independent&metro mentioned that he's likely to move on
Eastmond 70% (???) - See above
Benayoun 50% (End of Loan) - It's likely wenger will make a judgement call towards the end of the season depending on who else leaves and who stays
Henri Lansbury 50% (???) - With only 16 appearenes for West Ham, its hard to know where his future lies, although he recently extended his contract with Arsenal and my go back on loan

Contract worries:
Van Pierse
Wallcott


So that's 13 players who are doubts for next season. Statistically, I'd say 50-60% of them will go.



This is what our squad looks like once you've accounted for potential leavers.


Homegrown players over the age of 21
Vito Mannone (Goalkeeper)
Alex Song (Defensive Midfielder)
Theo Walcott (Wide Forward)
Kieran Gibbs (Left Back)
Aaron Ramsey (21) (Central Midfielder)
Wojciech Szczesny (21) (Goalkeeper)

Non homegrown players
Abou Diaby (Central Midfielder)
Lukasz Fabianski (Goalkeeper)
Laurent Koscielny (Center Back)
Tomas Rosicky (Central Midfielder)
Bacary Sagna (Right Back)
Robin Van Persie (Center Forward)
Thomas Vermaelen (Center Back)
Per Mertesacker (Center Back)
Gervinho (Wide Striker)
Mikel Arteta (Central Midfielder)
Andre Santos (Left Back)

Under 21's likely to be a big part of next season.
Ryo Miyaichi (19) (Wide Striker)
Francis Coquelin (20) (Defensive Midfielder)
Jack Wilshere (20) (Central Midfielder)
Carl Jenkinson (20) (Right Back)
Ignasi Miquel (19) (Center Back)
Oxlaid Chamberlain. (18)
Benik Afobe (20)
Kyle Bartley (20)



Home Grown Players Total: 6 (At least 8 is required in a 25 man squad)

None-homegrown players: 11 (17 is the limit)

Squad size not including potential leavers 21's: 17













So where are we weak? Where might/should re-enforcements come if we consider all the players who are leaving gone?

Goal Keeper:
Szczesny
Fabianski
Mannone


Center Back:
Vermaelen
Koscielny
Mertesacker
Miquel*



Left Back:
Gibbs
Santos


Right Back:
Sagna
Jenkinson


Center Mid:
Wilshere
Arteta
Diaby
Rosicky



Defensive Mid:
Song
Coquelin


Wide Forward:
Walcott
Ramsey
Oxlaid Chamberlain
Gervinho
Miyaichi*

Center Forward:
Van Persie
Afobe*




We're weak in almost every area of the pitch quality wise, and we'll be even weaker once several of the "likely to leave" candidates decides to depart the club. Ideally, if we're to mount a serious challenge for the PL we'll need:
To keep Walcott and RVP
Get a new Center Back and allow DJ AND Sqid to leave
Get another CDM freeing Song to take up more advanced positions
Get 3 creative players (eg striker, play maker, winger, or 2x strikers, winger or playmaker)

There are lots of conditionals, for instance, if none of the players who were part of the first team this season decide to leave, we could only make a maxium of 2 signings, and so on. But, it's clear that we've got a few targets in mind, whether there continginces for a quite summer, or the rumblings of the approaching whirlwind of changes remains to be seen.

[Jens' Face]

How are we looking vis-a-vis the rules about homegrown players?

[Syn]

JF back from the dead

Dunno. Got about 10+ of them these days because not-English players who are really English (like Chesney and Jenkers) are counted as English English for our purposes. Think we can claim Song as well.

edit: Missed the first post.

[Cripps_orig]

Too complicated to sort out

Thats why im not a manager

[AKBapologist]

How are we looking vis-a-vis the rules about homegrown players?

It's all about maximizing the size of your squad. In terms of homegrown players over the age of 21 still on our books, we've got well over the minium of 8 in a first team of 25.

Whether they'll all be here next season is another question.