summer '22 transfer craziness and stupidity

[I am invisible]

If Zinchenko's back - do we shift him into MF?

He kind of already plays there, tbh. That Partey role isn’t a lone midfield role anymore - it’s pretty much a midfield 3 when we’re in possession, with Zinchenko and White / Tomi bracketing the man in the middle. I wouldn’t feel quite as nervous about slipping Sambi in for Partey with those guys either side of him - with Tierney / Nuno and Cedric as your FBs, absolutely not, but Zinny and White / Tomi? It could give him the support he needs.

Or we could always revert a double-pivot again - we still have lots of combos for that. Would still feel better if we can find a ready-made replacement, but we’re a long way from out of options.

[mandela8]

They play 2 CMs and have 6 players.

Partey, Elnonentity, Lokonga

Xhaka, Zinchenko, Viera

There's a quality question here but not a numbers question.

A wide player must be the priority. Otherwise there will be low output Saka and Martinelli and injury prone ESR for 2 positions. Jesus will be out wide soon with Nketiah through the middle.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Vieira isn’t a central midfielder and neither is Zinchenko. Xhaka isn’t a holding midfielder, neither is Lokonga

We have zero, zero holding midfielders available for next few weeks

And that’s even before you get to the complete dirge of creativity in central midfield

I repeat only someone who has dodgier stuff on their laptop than Paul Francis Gadd could believe any position is more important than central midfield

[I am invisible]

Who would have thought Partey would get injured....I mean it's not like it's ever happened before! I've been banging on about Central Midfield all summer, we lack quality and decent depth in that area...here we are 4 games in scrambling around Europe now looking for solutions now that we have 2 Central Midfielders out injured.

Central Midfield should have been the priority position this summer!!!

Yeah I still think there’s plenty of options we can explore before we panic. Has it even been confirmed that TP is out long-term yet or are we just fearing the worst (genuine question - I’ve been out all day with the kids and haven’t checked the updates)?

This was always a much trickier signing for me than I think most people were giving it credit for, and it’s one that I haven’t really seen any decent links to so far (maybe that kid at Brighton, but that’s about it). If we’re looking for backup for Partey then that could be a tough sell for anyone other than another Elneny who’s happy to sit on the bench (and that’s not really the sort of player that solves any problem for me). If we’re looking at a young player with potential, well we already have Sambi. And if we’re looking for someone strong enough to actually challenge Partey and maybe even take his place then that’s even harder to find and it will come at cost.

Tielemans was never going to be a long-term fix for Partey being out for an extended period - he’s more of a Xhaka replacement, and I think that’s how most people were viewing him if we’re being honest. Sure, he gives us another option to play a double-pivot if Partey is out, but we already have several combos for that and it’s not something I think we’d want to revert to for more than a couple of games.

[mandela8]

Yeah I still think there’s plenty of options we can explore before we panic. Has it even been confirmed that TP is out long-term yet or are we just fearing the worst (genuine question - I’ve been out all day with the kids and haven’t checked the updates)?

This was always a much trickier signing for me than I think most people were giving it credit for, and it’s one that I haven’t really seen any decent links to so far (maybe that kid at Brighton, but that’s about it). If we’re looking for backup for Partey then that could be a tough sell for anyone other than another Elneny who’s happy to sit on the bench (and that’s not really the sort of player that solves any problem for me). If we’re looking at a young player with potential, well we already have Sambi. And if we’re looking for someone strong enough to actually challenge Partey and maybe even take his place then that’s even harder to find and it will come at cost.

Tielemans was never going to be a long-term fix for Partey being out for an extended period - he’s more of a Xhaka replacement, and I think that’s how most people were viewing him if we’re being honest. Sure, he gives us another option to play a double-pivot if Partey is out, but we already have several combos for that and it’s not something I think we’d want to revert to for more than a couple of games.

Exactly why I don't think these injuries change anything.

The Sky Sport insight patrol on here have just latched on to Tielemans not really understanding what they're talking about. A common problem for people who kick a ball like a toddler. And also molest toddlers.

No backup for Partey has never been discussed, so why the panic now he's injured for a couple of weeks?

The argument for CM was, and should be, improving on Xhaka. But that's not more important than a wide player who provides a threat, which is a glaring void in the team. And Arteta has clearly stated than Zinchenko and Viera can, and will, play that CM role sometimes.

[HCZ_Reborn]

A lack of nuance here from the type of person who regards Thomas Hamilton as their role model

Only a complete boy bothering degenerate fails to understand that for a central midfield to work it requires strength and the ability to win the ball back and to make the transition from defence to attack

It’s bad enough we don’t have the latter, now we have neither the latter or the former.

Yet someone who was clearly before escaping to America a scoutmaster caught out for showering with the boys…makes an offhand remark about Tieleman because they are so drunk and silly and preoccupied with underage males and the safe containing their burner drive full of child pornographic imagery. Without actually understanding that Tielemans was a requirement (a must) before the injury to Partey and Elneny and now we are in a position where we have neither a holding midfielder or someone who can be trusted in the transition phase against teams that can actually play football.

Again as if it needs saying again, only someone with the criminal priors of Stuart Hall can fail to recognise the absolute necessity of a central midfielder

[I am invisible]

Exactly why I don't think these injuries change anything.

The Sky Sport insight patrol on here have just latched on to Tielemans not really understanding what they're talking about. A common problem for people who kick a ball like a toddler. And also molest toddlers.

No backup for Partey has never been discussed, so why the panic now he's injured for a couple of weeks?

The argument for CM was, and should be, improving on Xhaka. But that's not more important than a wide player who provides a threat, which is a glaring void in the team. And Arteta has clearly stated than Zinchenko and Viera can, and will, play that CM role sometimes.

Yeah, the whole game has been turned on its head these last few years - forwards do most of the aggressive pressing and terrier work now, not the “DM”, and defenders and goalkeepers are the ones being hunted and pressed into mistakes. Everyone’s skill sets have crossed over with forwards needing to be able to track and tackle like a DM and defensive players needing composure, balance and control in tight spaces and strong passing skills (very close to what we used to look for in attacking midfielders).

Oddly enough, I don’t think Tielemens would be a terrible fit for the Partey role in terms of skills. People look at TP and where he plays and assume he’s a midfield destroyer, but that’s not really what he does for us or what makes him special. His superpowers are being able to take the ball under pressure, evade the press / turn his marker and either carry the ball out of defence or distribute quickly and decisively (he’s actually fairly average at ball-winning imo - decent, but not elite). Tielemens actually ticks quite a few of those boxes - my issue with him if we’re talking specifically about Partey cover is that he’d probably have to play in a two, and if we’re talking about a midfield two then does he really add a new option?

[mandela8]

Yeah, the whole game has been turned on its head these last few years - forwards do most of the aggressive pressing and terrier work now, not the “DM”, and defenders and goalkeepers are the ones being hunted and pressed into mistakes. Everyone’s skill sets have crossed over with forwards needing to be able to track and tackle like a DM and defensive players needing composure, balance and control in tight spaces and strong passing skills (very close to what we used to look for in attacking midfielders).

Oddly enough, I don’t think Tielemens would be a terrible fit for the Partey role in terms of skills. People look at TP and where he plays and assume he’s a midfield destroyer, but that’s not really what he does for us or what makes him special. His superpowers are being able to take the ball under pressure, evade the press / turn his marker and either carry the ball out of defence or distribute quickly and decisively (he’s actually fairly average at ball-winning imo - decent, but not elite). Tielemens actually ticks quite a few of those boxes - my issue with him if we’re talking specifically about Partey cover is that he’d probably have to play in a two, and if we’re talking about a midfield two then does he really add a new option?

Aye, agree with all that. I'd also add that Partey is the only midfielder who tries to play the ball through the lines too. He's just different quality to everyone else there.

I'd have no issue with Tielemans. I think he makes the squad better and, if a direct swap for Xhaka, the team better. But it's simply not as urgent a need as a wide player who can score/create.

[mandela8]

Arteta's comments on Zinchenko...

Arteta considers him an option in midfield.

Asked about the summer signing’s versatility, he said: “He’s one of the options [in midfield], we can use him as an attacking midfielder, a holding midfielder.

“Of course, he’s an option, he’s played there, I think he’s really good, really comfortable playing there as well, so, it’s great to have players that can give us that versatility.”

[selassie]

Are they scrambling though???

Last minute loan offer to PSG for Paredes. They accepted but the player wants to go to Juve. Juve are haggling as per normal, skint c*nts!

I guess my point is I think we should have been pro-active when it comes to Central Midfield, we are a a much weaker team without Partey.