OT: Futbol chit chat

[Yoshi]

Napoli probably didn't want to have to face him in Serie A for the next 3 years. Though, depending on which players they purchase, they may have to face him in Champion's League. Arsenal has virtually assured themselves of a Top 4 finish, if this goes through. They were likely without it, but now they can really compete in the FA Cup without losing too much fitness in league. As a Liverpool fan, I'm bummed, but Arsenal is/was/will be very fun to watch.

Honestly Heath, I don't think this signing guarantees Arsenal a CL appearance next season - this team has too many glaring holes in addition to the fact that this team is struggling with an identity because the team doesn't know if their star players will be playing somewhere else the following season - one summer they lose Cesc and Nasri, another summer they lose Van Persie and Song, and who's next this coming summer? I read talks about Walcott potentially signing, but who knows? Additionally, this team has major issues in set pieces and they could always improve defensively, which is where their issues lie.

I've followed Arsenal for over a decade, and Wenger is going to have to make more key signings in other spots (CBT, DM) other than Cavani to make this team better and compete for the prem title as well as the CL. It's nice that Wenger has an eye for young, cheap talent, but eventually, these players will get ambitious and want to leave as so many others have done in the past.

To be frank, I want Arsenal to finish outside of the top 4 qualifying spots for the 2013-2014 CL so that the board and the fans will questions this team's direction even more. Arsenal and its fans have a lot of pride, and shouldn't be a feeder club to teams such as Man U or Man City.

 

[Yoshi]

My views exactly:





Why Cavani alone couldn’t save Arsenal’s season……
Posted on December 14, 2012 by admin

Why I won’t be happy even if Arsenal buys Cavani by Twig

For many fans, splashing big in January on players like Cavani, Falcao or Gotze is the tonic that Arsenal just needs to challenge the Manchester clubs. However, looking at proceedings at London Colney in recent years, I firmly believe that our problems are deeper than expensive signings. Here are some reasons why feel even buying Cavani wouldn’t bring us out of our current rot.

1. Playing players out of position
Bendtner ‘enjoyed’ long spells playing out of position on the right wing. Podolski who must have relished stepping into RVP’s shoes, inexplicably found himself on the left wing, while watching Wenger experiment with Gervinho as a Centre Forward. Ramsey, a central midfielder, has been deputizing for Walcott on the right wing all season.

2. Lack of rotation
Last season, Wilshere suffered a stress fracture after playing too many games. This season, Cazorla and Arteta have practically started every game. It is not very clear who their replacements in the team are. Usually, when Wenger finds a starting eleven that somehow works, only an injury will make him to shuffle things a bit. (Just look at the way Mourinho rotates Benzema and Higuain).

3. A defective wage structure
Looking at Arsenal’s wage structure, it is hard to see which players are the key players. Sebastien Squillaci earns the same wage as Bacary Sagna; Theo Walcott earns the same as Andre Santos. After a while a player will begin to feel unappreciated. There are too many deadwoods on the Arsenal payroll. And many of them have no hope of making the first team.

4. Putting up with mediocre performances
Ramsey has played poorly this season and ever since his return from injury. Looking at how Sagna returned from his leg break as if nothing happened, one wonders if Ramsey was overrated right from the beginning. Podolski keeps getting substituted, yet he’s assured of a starting place next week. And what has Gervinho really done since coming from Lille?

5. Not rewarding effort
Arshavin has been frozen out of the first team, despite some encouraging displays this season. There’s no word on why he didn’t feature against Olympiakos or why he didn’t even make the bench against Bradford. Earlier in the season, Ramsey was preferred over Walcott on the right wing. Eisfeld has been the standout player of the reserves, yet he doesn’t have even 5 minutes of Premier League football.

6. Lack of tactical variation
Arsenal has been playing a 4-2-3-1 (or 4-3-3) formation for a very long while now. This has made us very predictable. What is most surprising is that Arsenal line up the same way against Barcelona as they do against Stoke. Players are just told to play the Arsenal way, which often means a pass too many. Do the coaches watch our opponent’s videos? Meanwhile, substitutions almost invariably come in the 70th minute, even when things are going very badly. Arsenal fans don’t mind at all if Cazorla is hauled off on the 44th minute if he’s somehow not putting in a shift.

7. No passion from the board to the coaches
We have an owner that rarely attends games. We always hear the same excuse of fatigue (from Champions league exertions), lack of ‘sharpness’ or ‘accuracy’ any time the team fails to do well. We have a club that considers fourth place to be a trophy. Arsene can’t continue to defend players when they play poorly. Presently, there’s no positive vibration coming out from the club. Any team, from anywhere on the table, now fancies its chances against Arsenal. Even if they’ll be playing at the Emirates.

 

[Heathbar012]

Honestly Heath, I don't think this signing guarantees Arsenal a CL appearance next season - this team has too many glaring holes in addition to the fact that this team is struggling with an identity because the team doesn't know if their star players will be playing somewhere else the following season - one summer they lose Cesc and Nasri, another summer they lose Van Persie and Song, and who's next this coming summer? I read talks about Walcott potentially signing, but who knows? Additionally, this team has major issues in set pieces and they could always improve defensively, which is where their issues lie.

I've followed Arsenal for over a decade, and Wenger is going to have to make more key signings in other spots (CBT, DM) other than Cavani to make this team better and compete for the prem title as well as the CL. It's nice that Wenger has an eye for young, cheap talent, but eventually, these players will get ambitious and want to leave as so many others have done in the past.

To be frank, I want Arsenal to finish outside of the top 4 qualifying spots for the 2013-2014 CL so that the board and the fans will questions this team's direction even more. Arsenal and its fans have a lot of pride, and shouldn't be a feeder club to teams such as Man U or Man City.

You know better than I do because I've only watched them against Liverpool and Newcastle, and I have been impressed with Arteta's ability to play back and Cazorla and Podolski's play up-front. It always remains to be seen how Walcott will respond to more money (I think that deal gets done). Vermaelen is definitely working with his toughest challenge at the back, so the striker rumors are confusing. However, with a game in hand, Everton, Tottenham and Chelsea looking very vulnerable (though, Chelsea will likely snatch Fellaini and Falcao with bottomless pockets) and the rumors of deeper talent, the Gunners look good to me. Of course, I'm just a delusional Reds fan. Maybe, I was thinking that if Cavani went to Liverpool (which is impossible given the budget), they would get a Top 4 finish, and the thinking just bled over.

P.S. If the next young guy to get sold is Ox, can you send him to Merseyside?

 

[CalamityX11]

TBH, didn't think Cavani and Arsenal were a good match. It's a different brand of football but I guess its the norm as he follows Forlan and Suarez... however Forlan may actually be the reverse.

 

[Heathbar012]

My views exactly:





Why Cavani alone couldn’t save Arsenal’s season……
Posted on December 14, 2012 by admin

Why I won’t be happy even if Arsenal buys Cavani by Twig

For many fans, splashing big in January on players like Cavani, Falcao or Gotze is the tonic that Arsenal just needs to challenge the Manchester clubs. However, looking at proceedings at London Colney in recent years, I firmly believe that our problems are deeper than expensive signings. Here are some reasons why feel even buying Cavani wouldn’t bring us out of our current rot.

1. Playing players out of position
Bendtner ‘enjoyed’ long spells playing out of position on the right wing. Podolski who must have relished stepping into RVP’s shoes, inexplicably found himself on the left wing, while watching Wenger experiment with Gervinho as a Centre Forward. Ramsey, a central midfielder, has been deputizing for Walcott on the right wing all season.

2. Lack of rotation
Last season, Wilshere suffered a stress fracture after playing too many games. This season, Cazorla and Arteta have practically started every game. It is not very clear who their replacements in the team are. Usually, when Wenger finds a starting eleven that somehow works, only an injury will make him to shuffle things a bit. (Just look at the way Mourinho rotates Benzema and Higuain).

3. A defective wage structure
Looking at Arsenal’s wage structure, it is hard to see which players are the key players. Sebastien Squillaci earns the same wage as Bacary Sagna; Theo Walcott earns the same as Andre Santos. After a while a player will begin to feel unappreciated. There are too many deadwoods on the Arsenal payroll. And many of them have no hope of making the first team.

4. Putting up with mediocre performances
Ramsey has played poorly this season and ever since his return from injury. Looking at how Sagna returned from his leg break as if nothing happened, one wonders if Ramsey was overrated right from the beginning. Podolski keeps getting substituted, yet he’s assured of a starting place next week. And what has Gervinho really done since coming from Lille?

5. Not rewarding effort
Arshavin has been frozen out of the first team, despite some encouraging displays this season. There’s no word on why he didn’t feature against Olympiakos or why he didn’t even make the bench against Bradford. Earlier in the season, Ramsey was preferred over Walcott on the right wing. Eisfeld has been the standout player of the reserves, yet he doesn’t have even 5 minutes of Premier League football.

6. Lack of tactical variation
Arsenal has been playing a 4-2-3-1 (or 4-3-3) formation for a very long while now. This has made us very predictable. What is most surprising is that Arsenal line up the same way against Barcelona as they do against Stoke. Players are just told to play the Arsenal way, which often means a pass too many. Do the coaches watch our opponent’s videos? Meanwhile, substitutions almost invariably come in the 70th minute, even when things are going very badly. Arsenal fans don’t mind at all if Cazorla is hauled off on the 44th minute if he’s somehow not putting in a shift.

7. No passion from the board to the coaches
We have an owner that rarely attends games. We always hear the same excuse of fatigue (from Champions league exertions), lack of ‘sharpness’ or ‘accuracy’ any time the team fails to do well. We have a club that considers fourth place to be a trophy. Arsene can’t continue to defend players when they play poorly. Presently, there’s no positive vibration coming out from the club. Any team, from anywhere on the table, now fancies its chances against Arsenal. Even if they’ll be playing at the Emirates.

I get it, now, but I think 4th place can be better than a trophy with the amount of money there is to be made with a run in the CL. Everything else makes sense to me. I didn't know Wenger wasn't rotating all of those great, young players, and the lack of tactical variation surprises me. Is he burned out?

 

[Heathbar012]

TBH, didn't think Cavani and Arsenal were a good match. It's a different brand of football but I guess its the norm as he follows Forlan and Suarez... however Forlan may actually be the reverse.

Definitely by World Cup.

 

[trancemeister]

I've followed Arsenal for over a decade, and Wenger is going to have to make more key signings in other spots (CBT, DM) other than Cavani to make this team better and compete for the prem title as well as the CL. It's nice that Wenger has an eye for young, cheap talent, but eventually, these players will get ambitious and want to leave as so many others have done in the past.

I could not have said it any better! Wenger seems to be a great scout for younger players. He has always developed an incredible farm system and has a great eye for talent. Unfortunately, as Yoshi pointed out, those youngsters grow up and either want to explore other teams/leagues, or just become too expensive to keep. Which brings me to the other issue - the transfer budget. I understand that Arsenal might not have the deep pockets that the oil tycoons afford Chelsea and Man City. At the same time, they have been far too stingy in their financial operations.

The latest rumors point to the loosening their purse strings a little though I'll believe it when I see. If in fact they did do it, I would rather them pursue 3-4 medium priced talents rather than blowing their load on one Cavani. There are just too many glaring holes that will not get fixed with one high priced purchase.

 

[trancemeister]

Theo just signed a new contract! This is great news!!

Theo Walcott signs new long-term contract | News Archive | News | Arsenal.com

 

[Yoshi]

Theo just signed a new contract! This is great news!!

Theo Walcott signs new long-term contract | News Archive | News | Arsenal.com

Great news, but man they just don't have enough quality to topple the best of the Prem.

I'm telling you trance, I actually hope they don't qualify for the CL so that changes can be made.

 

[Yoshi]

Ozil joins Arsenal...

BBC Sport - Mesut Ozil: Arsenal sign Real Madrid midfielder for £42.4m

Wow, finally the money made as profit from Ashburton Grove is being used for once...

 

[CalamityX11]

BBC Sport - Mesut Ozil: Arsenal sign Real Madrid midfielder for £42.4m

Wow, finally the money made as profit from Ashburton Grove is being used for once...

this blows for me.... I really like Ozil, quality player. Thought he was important for Real Madrid.... sucks to see him gone... good luck to him, always a fan!

Stupid Bale...