Summer Transfer Misery and Recriminations.

[Power n Glory]

(Theo) is not a great defender. On the flank, today there is much defensive work asked from the players that you lose a lot of his qualities when you put him there. I believe that he has all the ingredients to be a great striker, because of the quality of his runs. He is an intelligent player, a good finisher. I believe that to use his runs in the final third for us could be very efficient.

This guy is a contrary mofo.... How Wenger like. Now that Theo wants to make his position known as a winger, Wenger is suddenly convinced Theo can be a great striker! Really? I swear Wenger just wants to do the opposite of what people tell him. Why freeze Theo out from playing up front last season when we were struggling? Why keep playing him on the wing?

We're not buying a striker. I see why he's budging on Lacazette. He thinks Theo can do what he does. Well, at least he's considering playing Sanchez as striker. That's really good news because I think, if given time, he could be a real asset playing through the middle. We'll probably see more of Ox, Iwobi and Campbell on the wings too.

[Marc Overmars]

If Alexis up front is going to work he probably has to change up his game a little. As admirable as it is watching him hunt down everyone, if he's too busy trying to win the ball back he won't be in position to score when the ball is moved forward. He can continue closing down from the front but you don't want him dropping back doing the midfielders jobs for them.

[Kano]

If reports are to be believed, Pogba is due to have what would now be his fifth medical at Utd ahead of a £110m move.

Maureen already putting in his get out clause yesterday, saying it will take time to alter the methods used by Van Dull. No Jose, when you spend this much on a player, it's the Prem and or the CL at least. Can't wait for him to fuck it up once again.

[Power n Glory]

If Alexis up front is going to work he probably has to change up his game a little. As admirable as it is watching him hunt down everyone, if he's too busy trying to win the ball back he won't be in position to score when the ball is moved forward. He can continue closing down from the front but you don't want him dropping back doing the midfielders jobs for them.

He'll need time to adjust. Same goes for Walcott if Wenger is going to go down this route. He'll have to resist reverting back to Giroud at the first sign of trouble. The pair will need some game time to work out how to cope in different situations. When to come short and when to stay on the shoulder. How to link up play, what to do when up against stronger opponents.....

The only time we saw Sanchez play up front, he made great runs but nobody got the ball to him and he wasn't really dropping back to receive the ball to link up. With Walcott and his run of games, we had games where he'd show all those elements but never in one game where he looked like a complete striker. But I think it's a case of time, adjustment and confidence. The problem with Giroud is that we know it's not a case of adjustment. When he hits a low point and when he plays against certain opposition, he's out of the game and no amount of games will help him conquer that. With hit a ceiling with his ability. I'd much rather Wenger go all the way with someone new this year.

[mastermind84]

If Alexis up front is going to work he probably has to change up his game a little. As admirable as it is watching him hunt down everyone, if he's too busy trying to win the ball back he won't be in position to score when the ball is moved forward. He can continue closing down from the front but you don't want him dropping back doing the midfielders jobs for them.

Alexis loves the ball too much

But it really should work. We have the guys to get him the ball. He just needs to be patient.

[Niall_Quinn]

The only time we saw Sanchez play up front, he made great runs but nobody got the ball to him and he wasn't really dropping back to receive the ball to link up.

That's right, and that's a problem lurking beyond the most pressing issue of getting a decent striker or converting one. Unless Wenger changes his tippy, tappy demands then even with an accomplished striker or an Alexis doing the role they will struggle. They'll spend the whole time getting involved in that infernal tip, tap routine rather than receiving the ball in decisive areas or going in behind the defence to take a longer pass.

The problems we have with Wenger are multi-layered. Solve one and you hit then next one. Overcome that and he'll do something to take us back to square one - like playing Walnut (at all). No thanks. Theo has had how many chances now? And the fucker still can't drag anything other than pure randomness from his game. That cross against the Norwegians - fucking hell. What goes through a player's mind when they end up booting a ball like that? I'd be personally embarrassed to put in a cross like that and I'm an old fat bastard that can't play. Can we have a player who is so shit so consistently anywhere near the starting line up? If Wenger has Walnut in his plans (and of course he does) then we're fucked until Theo's long term annual injury arrives.

[mastermind84]

He needs to make runs off the shoulder which he has not shown he is willing to do.

[mastermind84]

That's right, and that's a problem lurking beyond the most pressing issue of getting a decent striker or converting one. Unless Wenger changes his tippy, tappy demands then even with an accomplished striker or an Alexis doing the role they will struggle. They'll spend the whole time getting involved in that infernal tip, tap routine rather than receiving the ball in decisive areas or going in behind the defence to take a longer pass.

Alexis doesn't make runs behind the defense.

That's been the case since he was at Udinese. He is an old school #10 in his mindset, but has a center forwards frame and skill set.

We bought Xhaka to play penetrative balls from deep between the seams of a formation. He can do that.

[Niall_Quinn]

Alexis loves the ball too much

But it really should work. We have the guys to get him the ball. He just needs to be patient.

Yes, but Wenger needs to learn that occasionally a risk won't pay off. He has to accept that as a consequence or risk. The midfield isn't allowed to risk losing possession by being a bit more adventurous. It just kills our game and leaves the guy up front feeding off scraps, relatively speaking when you look at the players we have who can make chance after chance. We still don't have a lethal finisher either. I don't know what the hell happens when players arrive here. They forget how to stick the ball in the net and instead find 1,001 ways to almost score without actually doing it. It's like a curse. The way past it is for Wenger to pick a guy and stick with him. He'll do that with Ramsey but you can't help feeling that the minute Alexis missed a few we'll see Bif sauntering back.

[Niall_Quinn]

He needs to make runs off the shoulder which he has not shown he is willing to do.

Which takes us back to needing some activity in this transfer window. But if we can't have that then who would you rather have? Bif, Walnut or Alexis. There can be only one choice from that trio and yet whoever gets the role will struggle because of the game we play. You also mention Xhaka. I bloody hope you are right, but instead I see a reinforcement of our tip, tap routine. More accuracy left, more accuracy right, more accuracy with the aim of retention. Just as he was played by the Swiss. He's a very good player but I fear we bought him to become the most boring player on the planet.