Have to disagree, we've got a better defense and midfield. Agree with you though that they will finish above us. Drawing matches because you can't score goals is a recipe for disaster.
In what way is their defence better? It's the same one that shipped 8 against United last season and if you saw Szczesny at the Euros you'd have seen his errors at the end of last season weren't one offs, our Brad is definitely better. We definitely need some new strikers though.
Fair comments, our mid may well be better, though let's wait and see how losing Luka affects that. Completely disagree about the GK, would have their keeper over Brad all day long. Defence, mmm, again let's see- I think Vermalen is better than any of our defenders, let's see how the two back 4s gel. Regardless, I stick by my assertion that unless we buy soon Arsenal will finish above us, and that'll be the same as for every year under the 'glorious' ENIC. Here's the current Prem odds BTW Arsenal typically 14/1 - us 33/1 - seems about right to me http://www.oddschecker.com/football/english/premier-league/winner Though TBH, we might as well both be 100/1 because neither team will win it. Of more realistic interest is top 4 finish http://www.oddschecker.com/football/english/premier-league/top-4-finish Again Arsenal are well in front of us in the betting, and rightly so.
Adebayor, Kolo Toure, Clichy and Nasri to city Van Persie to United Miyaichi to Bolton and Wigan Rochdale, Bury and Stockport are waiting...
Vermalen is an average defender but a goal scoring defender, and goal scoring defenders get praise even when they are dodgy at the back. It will be some feat if AVB manages to finish above wenger in his first season with us, even if we sign some real quality but if both teams respond well then it will be close.
Why would you want Szczesny? He made several high profile errors last season and I really can't think what Friedel's done wrong, he was very solid last season. If we signed Julio Cesar we'll be even better placed with two very strong, experienced keepers. Defensively we're fairly even in the first choice back 4s but they lack any quality in depth. Jenkinson and Mertesacker wouldn't even get into our squad and neither of their left backs would get into our team ahead of Benny. Midfield is a bit up in the air at the moment with both clubs having players targetted by the big Spanish clubs. It's hard to argue that we're better up top but again it's unfinished business there for both sides, we'll see who's there on 1st September. With the current squads I'd expect them to finish above us too but that's because of the weakness in lack of strikers and the need for another winger too. I don't think we're behind them all over the pitch like you though.
I have to disagree on that one Boss, Arsenal looked so much at the back when Vermalen returned. Out of all the defenders on our clubs' books, Vermalen would be the first choice for me. I will be astounded, amazed and gobsmacked if we finish above Arsenal this season, unless we buy in two strikers and a GK, and of course they turn into good buys.
Why would I want Sczeny, because I think he's a better keeper than Brad, it's that simple. Brad is 41, and is simply not athletic enough to be a top keeper any more. As for 'all over the pitch', I accepted there was an argument that we had a better mid, didn't you read my post? ATM, I do think Arsenal are probably better than us in every department, but I do accept there's an argument that our back 4 and mid are better, so am happy to see how those two departments work out. I have no doubt at all they have the better GK and strikers, which for me are our two main weaknesses.
Chesney would be a better bet because he will get better. For this season, I would say Brad is a better keeper. However it can't be the case for much longer.
Jenkinson & Traore were in the 8-2 defence. Maybe you need to study a little bit more before making stupid comments based on fantasy and wishful thinking
Forgot Traore played, the rest are all still there though aren't they? My point still stands about your depth in defence. Jenkinson-Djourou-Mertesacker-Santos is a pretty shocking second choice back 4, not one of them has proven themselves in the Premier League whereas Naughton-Caulker-Gallas/Dawson-Rose/Fryers only leaves us slightly weak at left back although Naughton can cover there too.
Naughton did well on loan as did Caulker. Fryer and Rose were the weakness at left back that I was talking about
Our squad does look weaker than Arsenal's at the moment, with the imminent departure of Modric, but that doesn't really mean a huge amount, our squad at the beginning of last season looked much stronger than theirs and they still finished above us, because of the performances of one player.
And of one manager between over the course of six weeks... Comparing squads is where is gets asinine - there's some areas where we're stronger than Arsenal, some where they're stronger, and some that's grey areas we won't know about until the season starts or when the summer transfer window closes...but at least we never signed Squillaci!
To win what? The Prem? Arsenal's chances of winning the Prem are exactly the same as Spurs. Ain't gonna happen.
Caulker's proved himself a capable Premier League centre-half, albeit only for a season. Looked very good at the Olympics, too. Rose and Fryers are unproven, but Naughton looked good in either full-back role for Norwich last season. He should be fine as cover for Walker, who seems to be carrying an injury, unfortunately. As a contrast, all of Arsenal's left-back options are injury prone and defensively questionable, Sagna's out for the start of the season and Jenkinson's unproven, at best. Djourou's rubbish when he's available and that's not very often, whilst Squillaci's just not Premier League standard, as I'm sure you'll admit. Koscielny surprised everyone by becoming your best centre-back, but Vermaelen's performances were less impressive, strangely. Mertesacker's mobility and strength are questionable, but he's a very decent third choice. Sczczcezcezcezeny's a good keeper already and an impressive prospect, but he makes the odd clanger. With the right coaching, he should be able to iron that out of his game. If not, then he'll be a bit David James.
Ryanair or easyjet? Seriously though, if he does go there, Marseilles is definitely NOT somewhere he wants to upset anyone: parts of that city make Mosside look as dangerous as Tunbridge Wells!
