With Sagna out with a broken leg, we need some cover at RB. I like Jenkinson, but I think we need some more quality in there. Also thinking long term, Sagna will be thirty in February and we need to start planning for the future RB berth. With our quality signings so far this transfer window, adding a RB would be the icing on the cake. I've heard Van de Weil's name mentioned a few times, but personally I think we could do better. Any suggestions ?
Mathieu Debuchy. The French RB from Euro 2012. Lille have rejected a few bids from Newcastle and holding out for somewhere near £10 Mil for him, I think.
As discussed in a previous thread, getting an out and out Right Back wouldn't be ideal and one I'd be sure Arsene wouldn't go for. We need someone who can play Center and Right back effectively. Kos can to some extent but hes a guaranteed starter as center back for me.
I strongly disagree on the priority to be honest. I'm fairly confident that the LB spot will be our weakest area. Neither Gibbs nor Santos are top PL team quality, not even close. They are both extremely weak defensively. I think Sagna will definitely get more games this season so that will not be the issue.
I would like a quality CB who can cover RB too. to be honest though i would be happy with... koscielney---mertesacker----vermaelen---santos until Sagna comes back.
I also disagree as we have coquelin for both lb and rb. I feel Sahin is genuinely the missing piece of the puzzle as we require a player akin in style to xabi alonso and Sahin is exactly that. If we get him I feel our shopping ought to be done.
Can't agree with you about Santos and Gibbs. I think Santos did well last season and personally I think he's a very decent LB. Sagna will be back and he's still one of the best RBs in the Prem, but I see it as an area that might cause us some difficulty unless we add some strength there. I'm inclined to agree that a player who can play across the back would be a better addition though. Kos can play RB, but his best position is at CB as is Vermaelen's who should never play LB !
There were reports that we are interested in Gregory van der Wiel (his contract runs out next year) and that might show that we're looking for a right back. van der Wiel could be used to take less weight off Sagna's shoulders and could be a longterm replacement. But I believe that we should cover RB with Coquelin or Djourou until Sagna returns instead of splashing a lot of money for a position for which we have a top class player.
I agree with that but I think the long term replacement for Sagna is an issue we need to be addressing now. I just wonder about his long term fitness after two leg breaks in one season, hopefully he can come back as strong as ever, but I'd hate it to be a position we struggle in. Jenkinson is okay there, Djourou struggles for me at RB, Coquelin looks like he's got the potential to make it his own and we've got players who can cover there, but last season showed that pulling our CBs out onto the flanks has it's own problems. I still think we're one top player short at the back, maybe it isn't an out and out RB, but I'd be over the moon if we managed to bag another top talent this window, especially a defender/DM.
Jenkinson, Coquelin, Yennaris, Koscielny are all capable at RB. Djourou was a failure, but that's no surprise as he's not mobile enough for the position. RB is one place I would be VERY surprised if Wenger improved on. Sagna will play another 2 / 3 seasons and Jenkinson will be gradually eased in to replace him. In 3 seasons time he'll be totally ready to take over as 1st choice, with Sagna as backup for another one or two unless he decides to finish his career elsewhere.
We could do with someone who can play every position at the back, the best candidate IMO is Benedikt Howedes, though whether Schalke would be willing to sell him is another matter.
I personally thought Santos did quite well last season. After a difficult start he got used to the PL and was part of the team that went unbeaten for 10 Games (I think). We kinda fell apart when he got injured. Yes he does get caught out but he offers so much more going forward by scoring vital goals and putting good balls into the box. I personally think the priority should be some like Sahin or Maybe M'Vila and if we sell Fabianski then a backup GK will be nice. Dont know why Wenger hasnt tried to sign Gordon.
I think we did well buying Santos, but really defensively both our LBs are among the weakest out of the top table teams. They are good going forward but expect to ship goals weekly due to their poor defense and positioning. Shown it last season and this preseason. People use one wonder block by gibbs as an example he's not bad defensively... can't think of any cb in top half of pl that is worse defensively. Sent from a mobile device.
Tee hee, that wouldn't wind up the Spuds at all. I'd love us to get a new RB. I rate Sagna highly but he's out with a broken leg and in my opinion we have no decent cover. Jenkinson isn't up to scratch and whilst I appreciate some rate him I don't think he'll ever be good enough. So, taking him out of the equation all we're doing is playing people out of their positions and that's not good enough for our club. Yenneris - Don't understant the love for him here and don't think he's good enough. Coquelin - Very promising midfielder but average at RB and I worry that we'll hamper his growth if we don't focus on one position for him. Djourou - Do me a favour. I still get terror sweats from flashbacks to his performances here. Koscielny - Best of an average lot but wasted there when you consider how good a CB he is. As Piskie had said I'd rather get an out and out RB who can cover well whilst Sagna is injured and gradually work his way into the squad as Sagna gets older.
Oh and I agree with Gent re LBs. Been saying it for about 2 seasons now though so I won't bore everyone again. PS I should point out that I am enthusiastic about the season to start!
Sagna's injury problems are a little troubling, and I really don't want to see Jenko starting at RB, but surely Van Der Wiel won't want to be a backup once Sagna returns?
