Arsenal are in trouble as Vermaelen is injured (for several weeks) and that is what makes 3 dangerous. I injury and no one on the bench. Chelsea have Ivanovic and City have Richards, both arguably better Centre backs?
So one injury and you're down to zero CBs on the bench?! One more injury/sending off/ban and you're down to playing midfielders there? I dunno what Chelsea etc are doing but I don't think we should copy it. Anyway - isn't Fryers our new 4th choice CB? (Or maybe 5th behind Capoue if it came to it?)
I'd say they're right backs who can play centre back, as Capoue is a DM who can play centre back. EDIT: And yes we also have Fryers and youth players who can fill in. In most positions on the pitch you only have to have two injuries before a reserve/youth player gets their chance - it would be the same with our current CB situation.
True, that's why I said arguably. I personally think both are better as centre backs, but that's not an argument for here. We could focus on Arsenal's 2 fit centre halves, that's quite amusing
Holtby is not good enough yet . Sig is slow and ponderous and at best a mid table player. Both are not what you call creative . This will be our major weakness over the season. This has to be addressed if Bale is leaving or we will huff and puff and blow few houses down. Erick or the Bosnian in the middle , with the Argie on the wing , then we really mean business. This should mean a team ready for a top 3/4 position. With Bale then even a challenge for the title. Nice to dream a little.
Why do people think Erikson or Pjanic will be better than Holtby or Sigurdsson? Holtby and Sigurdsson were the main playmakers for their sides when we signed them (Swans and Schalke) and were considered "creative". People want to give Carroll a chance but seem to be happy to say these 2 wont develop this year. Both are still young and a massive part of being a creative midfielder is knowing the runs the players around you are going to make, something that will only come with playing with your teammates for a season or 2.
LOL, everyone's ganging up on me now, and I don't stand a chance if Papa Spurf's involved! Sidney, I know where you're coming from completely, and I've said my bit. I'm gonna go and sweat this fever out.
Why do people think players are better than other players? From watching them usually! I don't know much about Eriksen tbh so i'll leave him out. While nothing is guaranteed, and its not a certainty they will adapt you can tell a good player from a less good player if you watch them. From what i've seen of Lamela i would put him above all our creative mids bar Bale in ability. Thats not saying Sig/Holtby are bad players, they're not, but Lamela is better imo. Pjancic isn't as good as Lamela, but still better than our creative options bar Bale. Lamela is above where Bale was at the same age (21). Thats not saying he will have the same improvement over the next 3 years that Bale did, but if he improves AT ALL he will be some player.
from what I've seen of Lamela (Youtube), he looks like he just runs at people, like a winger/forward who cuts in. - what else does he do? That's not creativity IMO.
Gotta agree with Roo here, I think he's a great player but as a winger. I was under the impression he plays either wing rather than creative?
yeah, fair one Spurm. We've given Bale that tag, but very loosely. - Simply because he's able to counter attack with flair and has saved our bacon. When I refer to creativity, I mean someone with vision, awareness, someone with ideas, and a killer pass. Tom Carroll is the closest we have to that IMO, and he could be going on loan/ isn't ready for that pressure yet. Sig has good technique and accurate passing/crossing. But I'd argue that his awareness and vision are up to par for the role. Tom carroll has moved into into space as he has the natural ability to foresee what his next option is. Gylfi isn't like that IMO. he often receives the ball under pressure and doesn't have the time to execute creative ideas, even if he has them.
I've not seen enough of Tom to make a judgement on how good he is or will be, but i would like to see him more and i'd like him to go on loan to a prem team where he'll play. Usually my number 1 criteria for deciding who is a good player or not is finding space. It sounds so simple but its so difficult. All the best players can do it with little effort despite how much they are marked. The best for it recently at Spurs were Modders/Berba/Teddy. If Carroll has that seemingly inate ability to find space then he'll be a v. good player. You're right in that Sig does seem to get it in a crowd or end up being rushed, similar to Holtby. That doesn't make them a bad player, but without that you do make life difficult for yourself. I was also encouraged by Soldado's space finding ability vs Espanyol too. The one that breaks the rule, who i found very difficult to watch early doors is Dembele. Never has space, never seems to have time, always seems rushed and on the verge of losing the ball, hardly ever loses it. Enigma
If we can sign the litle croat and Lamela we should - Willian too. If the oppertunity to strengthen is there we have to take it. Better that then lose Bale (this season or next) and then have to find someone, as everyone will know we are desperate, and there may be no one available. These players may take months to settle, in which case we use Townsend, Lennon, Gylfi etc. Then when the new players are ready to be blooded... League cup, Fa, Europa etc then they can be. I'd rather we be overstocked this year with current players and new, and then be able to whittle down the squad....then either have all new (better) players or stick with current players just for the sake of it. Look how many players Chelsea and City went through to have a full squad of CL quality players. There is an art to it yes, but like it or not if Benny, Lennon, Gylfi, dempsey etc are deemed not good enough by AVB then they should be replaced.
Moorpheus slacking with the front page update... Hudd, Jake, Etienne need to go up. Scotty P too soon hopefully. Just seen this on Twitter: Transfers so far (Out) Caulker £9m Dempsey £6m Huddlestone £5.25m Livermore (Loan) Dos Santos £3.5m Parker £3.5m (Not yet) Total £27.25 Not bad going for 'dead wood'.
I 'be no objection to being overstocked with players, provided they're the right sort of quality players. We've been overstocked in the past, but mostly with overpriced dross. At least it LOOKS Like we're thinking a little more about who we buy.
