I think the answer to this is a resounding yes ! It would provide more options and greater resilience. Selling RVP now and buying an additional striker therefore is a good option. We would no longer have the "single point of failure" of relying on RVP to win us games. This brings us back to having to share the load which is vital but this also fixes a conundrum as well, who to play alongside RVP and the need to play 4-3-3 all the time, we would be able to change things up significantly. Roll on the next season please, I'm ready for it
I couldn't agree more. We'll be more balanced and have more than ONE system! As you say though we'll need to get someone else in. On another note, Cym you don't have to use "Young" before people's names. We know you're older than all of us anyway. Should save your aging fingers a few seconds a day!
We still don't know whats happening at present, but yes i would agree, its imperative we buy a new striker should RVP leave. We simply cannot underestimate what would happen if RVP leaves. To secure a Champions league spot, we need to have 2 good strikers for the CF position. I don't think the Pod was brought into as a CF but as a left sided striker/winger. We shouldn't lump all our eggs into Giroud's basket. Our only way to keep competitive is to keep on scoring, and should Giroud struggle, we would have a backup striker. This wouldn't reduce our attacking capabilites by shifting the Pod to the centre.
If RVP leaves we will not be buying a new striker, what it means is the likes of Chamakh and Park will most likely remain at the club now, for cover, whereas if RVP was kept, both of them would, or at least one of them, would have been sold. You really think Wenger is going to buy 3 strikers, especially right after he's just bought France's top league scorer? Sorry folks, Chamakh and Park will be our number 3, and 4 strikers. .
If you can sell your best players and still get into the Champions League, then why should the board fork out 100 million just to win an FA Cup? They're just after the money, not winning trophies.
If RVP does leave and we keep Walcott, I'd love to see him play down the middle. Please, please, please!
Only if we change the way we play. He would only be good in a fast counter-attacking situation or 4-4-2. He wouldn't be good in our current system through the middle. However, playing Giroud in the middle giving knock-downs to Walcott, for him to sprint after. This would be make better use of Walcott. The last time he was affective through the centre was in a 4-4-2 formation, playing just behind/beside Bendtner.
3 'decent' strikers grabbing around 15 goals each is better than just one striker who gets 30 goals if he stays injury-free and in form.
This is my thinking. Even 3 strikers getting 10 goals each (which is playing it safe) is better for us, other teams have to think about more than one danger man.
For the Pod and Giroud to get around 15 goals each, they would have to hit the ground running. Our other problem is in creation. Will our midfield be able to create that much? I'd like to see Arteta in a more attacking capacity, though this would be unwise with Song's foraging runs....
That was the very special RVP. There were occasions when he created something out of nothing. Not saying our midfield won't create, but there will be moments when the owness will be on the Pod or Giroud to create something themselves. I hope the pressure won't get to them too much. The Pod has played at the highest level but Giroud needs some bedding in time. If RVP goes, he won't get any of that. It will be a baptism of fire....
To my mind we have already replaced RVP. The next player we get in needs to be a top class central midfielder who is capable of scoring and creating goals. I also think we are getting a little carried away with how good RVP was last year. We set the whole team up for his style of play, of course he did well. I think we can do better without him.
