24 Mar 2016 15:30:01
Haven't posted for a bit, but something was bugging me today and I thought I'd pose the question to you all too!
If we exclude money (eg 'I'd let Ramsey leave for over £50m) who, in the team would you say should go in the summer?
Including loanees, who would you say is just deadwood?
For me personally, I'd like to see Flamini, Arteta, Rosicky (though it is with regret) , Debuchy, Gibbs, Walcott, Oxlade and Szczesny or Ospina leave.
And that kinda bothered me because that's not a few changes, that's wholesale.
Yes, the first 3 are in their 30's, nearing contract end, yes, I only say debuchy because I'd rather we recalled Jenko and had Bellerin, Jenko and if needed Chambers to play RB, yes, I say one of the two keepers because there's no point paying out 2 keepers who won't play if Cech stays fit (admittedly a gamble at Arsenal)
But the others I don't think are good enough.
Gibbs hasn't progressed enough due to constant injury and probably never will.
Walcott hasn't progressed at all in the past 3 years, he just stagnates till it's almost new deal time.
Oxlade might be 'the one that got away' if we sell him, but he's always injured and when he does play, he's bang average.
Campbell is a better option.
Here's the thing, I personally think that we could with shifting 8 players, but I don't think we need to replace them 8 for 8!
We could easily, easily get by if we just signed a new striker, a centre back, centre mid a left back and right winger.
The current squad after my departure list, plus players signed in the positions I noted would give us m;
2 keepers, one great, one good.
Potentially 3 right backs (I'm not 100% what we call chambers these days)
Potentially 5 centre halves (let's remember Per is getting on and could soon be an injury risk, Kos is 30 and Gabriel loves a foul)
2 left backs
6 centre mids
2-5 right wingers (depending on Ramsey, Alexis, Iwobi all being deployed there at times.
2-3 centre attackers (depending on Cazorla and Iwobi being played there)
1-4 left wingers (depending on Welbeck, Cazorla and Iwobi being there
2-4 strikers (depending on Afobe being kept in the first team and Giroud staying.
Now that's all if's buts and maybe's, it could all be moot.
Regardless, that squad would have good depth in it and if we're signing better players, like a new striker that benches Giroud, a centre back that keeps Per out, or a centre mid that's taking Coq's place, that can only be improvement!
As said, it's all if's and but's.
And I've, as usual gone the long way around to making my point.
I just wondered what people's view was?!
24 Mar 2016 16:14:50
Your right in not replacing 8 for 8 because three of them haven't been there any way. I agree with the more controversial in Gibbs ballsnot and ox I would be tempted to listen to good offers for Ramsey as well.
24 Mar 2016 17:32:53
I'm pretty sure Arsene won't be carrying out this overhaul and I'm and I'm equally sure he will be our manager next season so IMO it's a non starter.
As long as Arsene see's out his contract Gibbs Walcott Ramsey and Ox will be Arsenal players next season, plus Szczesney as Ospina is although not a title winning keeper IMO but still far to good to be a number two at his age.
I'm not saying I diagree with your thoughts D just that they are extremely unlikely to happen under Arsene mate.
24 Mar 2016 18:21:14
The overhaul needed isn't a one summer job.
Jenko has been recalled. he's at home resting an acl. Long road ahead for him.
Wenger kept players for too long. Big shame.
25 Mar 2016 00:39:55
For me, we need to move on Szcz, Ospina, Per, Debuchy, Arteta, Flamini, Rosicky (sadly. ) , Walcott, Campbell (maybe. ) , Sanogo. That would trim the major deadwood in our squad and free up a hefty chunk of wages.
And then we urgently need to bring in a central defender, central midfielder, right sided attacker and a striker all of whom need to top, top players. We'd need a back up goalkeeper should Szcz and Ospina both move on. That would give us an excellent chance of the title next year.
The big question is, will Wenger do such an overhaul and would you trust him to do it? I do not and this is the first time I actually believe he won't be there to oversee it.