What do you realistically expect us to achieve next year and who do you expect to be shown the exit door among our first team players. With regard to the deadwood i would expect djorou, benayoun, chamakh, park and provided this time round he can't sustain his fitness diaby to be shown the door whilst (i realize controversially in the case of rvp) event that they don't sign a contract extension i would also sell walcott and rvp (though they obviously don't constitute deadwood). I realize people perceive us to be over reliant on rvp but i disagree. I feel there are suitable replacements out there who can take over and the influx of cash would enable us to bolster other areas of concern giving us squad depth. Walcott's contract situation is more straight forward but i'm actually more confident he'll sign up. About next season i expect us to challenge for top four again and maybe an extended run in one of the cups.
Chamakh, Park, Squillaci, Bendtner, Almunia, Arshavin, Vela, Denilson can all go definitely. That should free up a little space.
I'd keep almunia, he's decent back up. Sell arshavin,denilson,chamakh,park,squillachi,bendtner,vela. Keep RVP and Walcott and buy Vertonghen, Goetze and Podolski. Promote steve bould to assistant manager and work harder on defensive coaching. I think we could be title challengers with that set up.
CB, Djourou has just signed a new contract so he's going nowhere! Almunia is out of contract so I'd be stunned if he stayed. Squiallchi, Arshavin, Bendtner, Denilson and Vela I can all see leaving which would free up mega-bucks. Also, whilst I don't think he's had a fair crack I'd not be upset should Park leave either. Saying that I've a sneaky suspicion he'll hang around and rack up some Asian market shirt sales + lucrative tour! I honestly think Chamakh might stay too. I don't think he's the best player in the world but he's not terrible, just lacking in confidence. The obvious problem for him is that RVP has been in such stonking form that it's hard for him to get game time. When he does he needs to grab it in both hands but, annoyingly, apepars to be one of those players who needs a run of games. Still, even just getting rid of the 6 I listed about would mean about £250k a week in wages saved! Crazy money, and money that can be used to offering new contracts to RVP, Theo and hopefully Podolski.
With Barcelona's loss at the weekend it is certain that they will spend in the summer to ensure Madrid do not dominate for the coming years. RVP will be top of their wish list and will be leaving this summer. Chamakh and Podolski will hardly lead us to being Championship contenders...
Djourou's contract was triggered by stipulations in his previous contract - it was an automatic reward, not one from the club. So he could still leave. I'd be surprised tho, he's very good as a 4th choice CB. Almunia HAS to go - he's on 1st Choice GK wages and he doesn't even make the bench!!
with all this talk of selling Chamakh, Park, Bendtner and Arshavin, we're going to need to spend quite a bit on squad players. To win the league in our formation and challenge on as many fronts as possible, we need at least 3 strikers, with a couple more who can play on the wing as well, and probably 5/6 wingers. plus a bunch of midfielders as we will get unlucky with injuries
thats unrealistic tbh i can see us getting no more than four first team players. I don't really think we need winger though we could do with one am and maybe one more striker and like PISKIE said would love vertonghen (gotze tooo but hes just signed a new contract). for striker matias suarez would be my choice as he can play across the front three.
GK: Chesney / Fabs?? LB: Santos / Gibbs RB: Sagna / Captain "Garms" CB: Kos, Verm, Merts, Djourou, Miguel, Bartley DM: Song / DENCH / Coq PM: Arteta / Wilshere / Lansbury?? AM: Rosicky / Ramsey / Diaby?? W: Theo / Oxo / Gervinho / Ryo (I like that all the wingers end in "O," makes em sound faster) St: RvP / ??? / Campbell / Afobe A few question marks there over players who might not be around next season, but otherwise I think that's where the squad will start. MF looks a little light, and a striker is essential. Otherwise, it's not too bad, but could do with a couple of decent players coming in to strengthen it.
think we need more wingers, or at least strikers who can play there (like podoslki). remember, we are in four competitions and will get multiple injuries. squad depth this season has been lacking, the reason we didn't do well. we need better squad players, not better first team players. although i would like a youngster with a similar style to Rosicky's run about and make things happen, rather than ramsey.
I expect us to win the league with respect to achievement a few of the players on our wage bill are getting paid by us but not playing so lets sell them and bring in replacements, I don't think it will cost as much as some think to get a decent squad of players, we don't need superstars and we could do it over 2 seasons.
I expect us to win: The league The Champions League The FA cup The league cup. Get rid of the deadwood. Buy Pod, Vert, Messi and Ronaldo.
If I were Fabianski I'd want out too considering Chezzers is now no.1 choice for both us and Poland. He's going to want to get regular football but isn't good enough to replace to do it here. In that case we'd need a reliable back-up keeper. Over two seasons I'd like to see: Lose: Fabianski, Almunia, Denilson, Vela, Bendtner, Park, Chamakh, Arshavin at the very least. Bring in: Backup keeper, Baines, Attacking Midfielder, Podolski, Striker, Vertonghen. ----------------Szczesny---------------- --Sagna--Koscielny---Vermaelen--Baines-- ------------Arteta----Wilshere----------- -----Walcott-------AM------Podolski----- -----------------RVP-------------------- Subs: Keeper, Vertonghen, Mert, Song, AOC, Santos, Gervinho... Or something.
The team as it stands is not good enough. We really need strengthening a some changes in our management to challenge. We've seen glimpses of what we can do but the confidence is not there. Also bear in mind that RVP has represented 50% of our team...
No strength in midfield there, plus Song is one of our best and most consistent players. We need him in midfield. Arteta will either be benched, or Wilshere will play in a more advanced role, as he used to do in youth and reserves. and the last few weeks have shown us that we don't need a LB, as both Gibbs and Santos are very good imo
what everyone seems to forget is we play very attacking football, none of these suggested teams has midfield cover to protect the defence. We need a brickwall DM or 2 decent CMs who can defend.
