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Wenger - "....we have a good squad...."

Discussion in 'Arsenal' started by ajameshowe, Jan 16, 2013.

  1. ajameshowe

    ajameshowe Member

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    Wenger's recent comments regarding fans wanting a "Messi" type player frustrated some of us

    These latest comments that it's "difficult" to add to our squad because it's already so good is even harder to take.

    Just this past Sunday Wenger chose to play Diaby from the start against Man City and player who has missed the past 3 months of action and we have a fully fit Ramsey and Coquelin.

    Now neither of these players fill me with the greatest of confidence but that's the point of "good" squad players they are ready to step in a perform to the required level should players be injured or need a rest.

    * Kos has filled in a CB in a few key games and been a massive liability
    * Santos has come in at LB and been somewhat of a horror show
    * Gervinho early season promise has turned into the one of the laughing stock of the league

    Others in the squad haven't even been trusted to either come on and save a game...how often did he throw on Arshavin for the final 10 mins?? And Chamakh and Squillaci are soo awful they rarely even made the bench

    We've run out of the superstars like RVP, Cesc, etc who can pull the team through to 4th single handedly and the true quality of this squad has been horribly exposed this season!
     
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  2. arsenal475

    arsenal475 Member

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    Some of the issues we can't sort right now though;

    Coquelin'll be off in the Summer, that's pretty clear. I expect if our interest in Fellaini is real then signing him solves quite a few issues. Santos, Fabianski and Mannone will be off in June so we'll need a new LB and one or two new goalkeepers. Djourou and Chamakh will probably leave permanently meaning we'll need a new CB (Mbiwa would be a good option here), Chamakh and Park leaving means a new striker will likely come in if we don't buy one this month (Villa interest might rear it's head again come Summer).

    Sagna will be off to, Bellerin likely to be promoted from the U-21's. I'd like Mbiwa to come in as he can play at CB as 3rd/4th choice and as a back-up to Carl at RB, overall he'd play a lot of games.

    Denilson, Squillaci and Arshavin will all definitely be off the wage bill as their contracts are ending (Fabianski's contract is up too).

    I think we'll try and patch up a few issues up this month and then do a rebuild in the summer.
     
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  3. TheOXOCube:5pur2

    TheOXOCube:5pur2 Pride of North London

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    Why? He's quality and one for the future. On loan, maybe. Sale, no.
     
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  4. Treat Williams

    Treat Williams Well-Known Member

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    To be fair to Wenger, he said this as well:

    I don't think he'll come out and say the team is lacking in many departments because of having an eye on morale. Maintaining a happy dressing room and giving the general public accurate information is a delicate balancing act.
     
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  5. arsenal475

    arsenal475 Member

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    He's said a few times he'll leave if he doesn't play a lot of games this season. Phillipe Auclair said Coquelin has attitude issues, hence why he's not been played much. Can't see him staying unless Wenger plays him a lot more between now and the end of the season, and with a DM a priority in this window it looks unlikely he'll get much game time at all.
     
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  6. The Bonstar Wandit

    The Bonstar Wandit Well-Known Member

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    Because Wenger prefers an injury-prone Diaby fresh back with a few days training after 3 months out to him. I'm surprised he hasn't gone already in this window to be honest.
     
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  7. ToledoTrumpton

    ToledoTrumpton Well-Known Member

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    I think beating Wenger over the head with Squillaci and Chamakh is slightly unfair. Squillaci was signed because we needed a 6th CB due to a pretty sad injury list. Chamack was on a free and he took a gamble. Park was, in all likelihood influenced by marketing.

    I think Gervinho and Koscielney were actually worse signings than any of the above. I think, looking at the start of this season, that he was trying to make Gervinho the next Henry, and I think Koscielney was an attempt to revoloutionize the CB position. Neither, has really worked out that way.

    I understand why he bought Park, Chamakh and Squillaci; I dont have a clue what he saw in Gervinho, and I think Koscielney is too small and light to play at CB in the PL. I think I know why he thought that he would be good, because you can see the games where he is putting him in, instead of Per, but the evidence seems to show that big, slow and smart, is still better than small and fast, even against small fast forwards.

    In my opinion, despite Djourou's bad press, he has, over the years, done better than Kos at CB.
     
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  8. Treat Williams

    Treat Williams Well-Known Member

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    Gervinho had an excellent season (based on stats, I grant you) for a title-winning side before he moved. He was also one of the best players at the 2012 ACON. He's definitely got ability.
     
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  9. afcftw

    afcftw Well-Known Member

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    @Toledo - There is no way in hell that you can say Koscielny is worse than Djourou. Seriously, what utter nonsense.

    Koscielny has been our most consistent defender since he joined us and contributed more than Verm has in that time. If he was playing week in, week out he would perform better. Since he is stepping in occasionaly, he has made the odd error.

    He has been a quality signing. At times our best defender and has scored some important goals.

    I've said it before and i'll say it again - Verm/Mert/Kosc are all TOP quality CB's. Our defensive issues stem from our style of play and defending as a team and it's been thsi way over the last couple of seasons.

    Trying to use Koscielny as an example of a poor signing is just plain wrong.
     
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  10. ToledoTrumpton

    ToledoTrumpton Well-Known Member

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    Yeah Gervinho has ability, I'm not one of those people who are going to call a player rubbish or useless. I just don't know why Wenger thought Gervinho would fit in. He seems to take an age to control a ball and his passing seems weak, which, in our team, is going to be a real problem.

    I am sure he is a good player, just not really suited to us.
     
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  11. afcftw

    afcftw Well-Known Member

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    I think it's clear we lack a little quality in depth - we could do with a versatile defender, a DM and a striker for a start.

    But to me it is crystal clear that Wenger sees this as well. He clearly knows that we need to strengthen and he will try to do so - all of his recent comments suggest this is true. But he can hardly come out and say "The players are **** and im gonna replace the bloody lot of them!".

    I think some fans forget that wenger has a full squad of players that he has to manage and that it is his job to get the best otu of them. I'd rather he was nice about them in public and kept them playing as well as they can, than slate them and watch them lose all confidence.

    As an example - look at Ramsey - Wenger always backs him up and he has been playing really well recently - if Wenger came out and said he sucks, he will not be putting in the same shift.

    I think it's a naive approach to think Wenger doesn't see weaknesses in the squad if everyone else can. I do wish fans would jsut get off his back. He literally gets stick no matter what he says or does!

    Yes we have a few signings who didn't quite make it - but that happens, thats perfectly normal. Squillaci/Chamakh/Arshavin/Gervinho etc where all good quality players who had done well before joining us - and most of the deadwood will eb gone soon due to contracts running up etc....

    I just don't think there is the need to moan like some do!
     
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  12. ToledoTrumpton

    ToledoTrumpton Well-Known Member

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    "Our defensive issues stem from our style of play and defending as a team" - C'mon that is just a general and vague concept type thing that is so non-specific it could mean anything. If you believe that, then ALL the players are rubbish, because they don't know what they are doing!

    These guys are professionals, you can't pin that on Wenger or Bould or Rice just by saying that crap. If they can't defend as a team by now, none of them should be playing.

    In my opinion Kos was bought to try and fit last season's style, playing a more man-to-man defense. Now we have gone back to the more traditional defense, he is struggling.
     
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  13. afcftw

    afcftw Well-Known Member

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    I haven't tryed to blame Wenger or Bould... Not sure where you are getting that idea from.

    It isn't a vague, non-specific concept type thing.

    We concede goals 1) because of the style of football we play. We play with a high line, try to keep posession and play very attack oriented football. This naturally makes the defensive side more difficult to deal with as at the back the defense will find themselves under counter-attack as opposed to 2 banks of 4. And 2) as a TEAM we don't defend well enough. Far too often the attacking and midfield players do not give the correct cover to the back-line. But it's the back-line that get the stick for it.

    It's not about "Oh if they can't defend as a team by now they shouldn't be playing" - all it takes is to not do what your supposed to for a moment and a chance is created. Podolski has been at fault for at least a few goals this season. Oxocube at the start of the season was very poor defensively as well leaving the defense a difficult job. But that doesn't mean they are nto quality players.

    Playing the way we do it is difficult to defend as a team because you are not sitting back defending for much of the game. It is these little lapses in concentration which have cost us dearly over the last few seasons - by players all over the pitch.

    This can't somehow be blamed on Kosc!
     
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  14. ToledoTrumpton

    ToledoTrumpton Well-Known Member

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    I think you are a little out of date but, in some ways I agree with you. We have the best away defense in the league. At home we get caught on the counterattack, but that isn't a high line thing or unusual, it is just that we get caught on the counterattack.

    I think Wenger likes to play Kos because he thinks that Kos is faster and more nimble, and should be better at defending counterattacks. He isn't. He seems to get muscled off the ball more often than Per is beaten for pace, AND he isn't as good in the air as Djourou, who also seems to be better at not getting the wrong side of his man.
     
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