Ramsey will be used less because of Cazorla. He covered that position a few games for the lack of a better choice last year.
I'd see that as great business personally. They'd be available for almost nowt too - no breaking into the precious piggy bank. The Bendy loan fee plus possibly the Chamakh fee if he leaves, and Denilson's loan, and the money from Vela going and the wages of the others who have gone combined would likely pay most of Dempsey's cost.
De Jong would have been a great acquisition. I agree when we play a 4231 we don't need a classic makelele type defensive mid. However it would make good tactical sense to have one in our squad. Or a least a player who can play this role. (and no Coquelin is not that player)
Cazorla, Wilshere, Arteta, Diaby, Rosicky, Ramsey - we have plenty of options in the middle and considering the way we play i can't see moutinho making our first 11. Arteta/Cazorla will not be dropped and Diaby/Wilshere both have enough of a physical presence to play alongside Arteta - Moutinho imo doesn't. He's a decent player though. If we can get a hold of top quality defensively minded midfield player i'd be happy that we have all bases covered in the middle of the pitch. Up-front with Park and Bendtner gone we have Chamakh as cover - i'd like to see us bringing in another striker.
Diaby- injury plagued Rosicky- injury plagued Wilshere- coming back from a year lay off. Ramsey- HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, nice one.
Just the signing we needed to kickstart our season! But really good luck to the lad, we're seriously lacking at keeper talent behind Szceszny, so let's hope he's good! Also, any wishes of a Dempsey move are essentially blown away by Liverpool approaching Fulham for him to try and strike a late deal. Looks like I was wrong and we really haven't been trying to sign anyone at all .
Diaby and Rosicky both had a terrible injury which then lead to little niggles and a long rehabilitation. RVP had suffered constant injuries and look what he achieved last season. Both these players are capable of a very high level of football and will be of a benefit to our squad. Vermaelen was out for a season and everyone started calling him injury prone and now he's back and playing well. People wanted Rosicky sold the season before last and if we had who would of played the important role he did towards the end of last season? Wilshere is comming back from a long injury lay off but he is young and will recover well. Ramsey had his leg broken is six different places, it was a particularly nasty break and i'm not suprised it took him a while to find his feet again. Wilshere provided he does not get re-injured and is not rushed back into the team i'm sure will recover some form by mid-season. Ramsey actually had a good run of form for a chunk of last season, and has shown what he is capable of in patches (including doing very well at the olypmics). He was comming back from a very serious injury and was then given the burden of being the creative influence in a team which had just lost Fabregas, Nasri and Wilshere from the first team. He was thrown in at the deep end when he wasn't quite ready for it. Yes he hit a wall towards the end of last season and seemed to just turn to crap, but overall i think he did well under the conditions and deserves credit for what he has managed. Now however he is a squad player rather than first team player and he's a perfectly good back-up.
Not sure how good Essien still is and how much he still has to offer but he would give us the defensive minded midfield player to complete our options. We would then have a good choice of different types of midfield players. Hopefuly Essien is our back-up option should we not manage the signing we are after *fingers crossed*
An another note: Van Der Wiel looking PSG bound so thats one of the few other names we have been linked with today gone.
I was expecting us to try our hand at Cabaye or Tiote today, other than that I can't say I expected any action. Cabaye is the only one of the linked names who could actually work alongside Arteta. Someone like Moutinho just wouldn't cut it without a traditional DM even if we were in for him.
As someone who closely follows the Dutch national team, he is really really poor defensively. Wouldn't be much of a better cover for Sagna than what we already have.
I'd still go for Essien if he's available and fit. Really good DM and could do a good job in a similar way that Benayoun did last season
