24 Dec 2018 16:33:59
The injury list is crazy
Henrikh Mkhitaryan
Right foot. Fractured metatarsal. Expected to return to full training in six weeks.
Nacho Monreal
Tight right hamstring. Being assessed ahead of Brighton and Hove Albion (a) on Wednesday, December 26.
Shkodran Mustafi
Right hamstring. Expected to return to full training this week.
Hector Bellerin
Left calf. Expected to return to full training in two weeks.
Emile Smith Rowe
Right hip. Expected to return to full training in December.
Dinos Mavropanos
Groin injury. Expected to return to full training in December.
Rob Holding
Left knee. Recovering after surgery.
Danny Welbeck
Right ankle. Recovering after surgery.
We need reinforcements - seems a crazy time to sell Ozil.
Need to add creativity as well as two central defenders.
24 Dec 2018 17:07:42
I don't think they will sell ozil without a replacement whatever.
The dilemma is, for all the other needed places, do you get a stop gap because you can't get your desired target because it is notoriously hard getting quality in jan. Or do you wait until the summer and get the person you want. i'm not sure you can always have it both ways. I do think they will make an effort to reinforce but it will/ should only be a player for the long term. Stop gapping is very short term and impacts the wage bill, for first choice players, for later.
24 Dec 2018 17:41:34
I think if there is a way to get Mesut off the wage bill the club will take personally.
It's not working out for us or him for whatever reason so I think both player and club will jump at the chance if someone offers a solution that's acceptable.
24 Dec 2018 18:32:46
Steve - I would love to see some long term signings eg 25 year olds who can grow with the team and already have some international pedigree. We have too many old heads who need replacing in next 2 years . Cech, Nacho, Kos, Papa, Lichtsteiner - then those not good enough and also those who want to leave.
24 Dec 2018 19:48:58
It's going to be a slow but hopefully sure fix SY mate, we can't put right years of poor choices and decisions in a couple of windows but we can enjoy watching the steady progress the team shows along the way.
I reckon in 2 years 2020 2021 season we will be right in the thick of the title race again.
24 Dec 2018 21:31:30
True but only if we sign top 25 year olds now.
24 Dec 2018 22:34:14
I think in 2 to 3 years time there will be top 20 to 25 year olds we've not yet heard of SY mate and we need to make sure we get more than our fair share of them.
Think to the summer of 2015 and who'd heard of Torreira Mbappe Kante to mention just 3 players who are now household names and top top players, that's where we've got to be better than our opponents if we're going to be the best again mate because out bidding our way isn't an option for us.