10 Jan 2020 11:12:55
Morning Eds,
Appreciate this is very much another youth prospect but I have seen a lot of reports about Arsenal being confident on securing a deal for 17 year old Yan Couto? Another highly rated young Brazilian?
Many thanks,

{Ed002's Note - I know nothing of it but obviously he can't move yet iof he is 17.}


1.) 10 Jan 2020
10 Jan 2020 11:33:28
Yeah I understand that, thank you.


2.) 11 Jan 2020
11 Jan 2020 08:20:48
I know there was big talk of a buy and loan back, but am i right in saying that still can’t happen ed? But a deal can be agreed in principle for him to join after his 18th.

Like to get peoples opinion on Grealish? I think he should be the type of player to look at in the summer, could learn a lot off Ozil if he is still here next season or simply replace him straight into the team. Great leader at Villa but leading a freshly promoted team to leading a team that should be competing at the top is completely different.

{Ed002's Note - Arsenal cannot buy him and loan him back. They could reach an agreement for a transfer in the future.}


3.) 11 Jan 2020
11 Jan 2020 13:23:59
Thought so ed, thanks.


4.) 12 Jan 2020
12 Jan 2020 20:35:29
I am also a fan of Grealish JG93, and would love him to replace Özil next season. He might not have Özils ability, but he is much more direct in getting the ball forward, and I think he contributes much more all over the pitch, and would benefit from being the AM in a 3 rather than the no 10, as he naturally tracks back and can tackle.

{Ed047's Note - I watched Grealish tonight and pretty much the first real time I have.

I appreciate not a great game to see him in but not for me, seemed lazy too, just watched players play around him and didn’t little in the way of tracking back.

Carried the ball for to long too, a bit like Wilshere.


5.) 13 Jan 2020
13 Jan 2020 14:08:01
I think to be fair Ed, the last couple of games i have seen AV play, he has been very poor, but then again, so has the entire team. He does carry the ball like Wilshire, but perhaps without the falling over and getting injured part! Having watched him in earlier games though, i have been impressed. Any good play that AV manage, has come from him. I guess carrying 10 other players each game will have its affect in the end!

{Ed047's Note - it’s always a difficult one Epping and my opinion is mostly based on limited sight of him playing but he always seemed he flattered to deceive.

Sometimes these type of players flourish and others like Zaha flounder when they make the step up.

Just think we need more steel. Have you seen much of Dacoure at Watford, he keeps getting rave reviews.


6.) 13 Jan 2020
13 Jan 2020 21:43:42
Doucoure is good but just as Grealish would struggle, so would he I think. He is a very reactive player, reminds me a lot of Spurs Sissoko.

That said, I used to think the same of Wijnaldum, and look at him now. I have begun to appreciate that Arteta, just like Pep and Klopp, may know the type of players he can work with better than we do.


7.) 14 Jan 2020
14 Jan 2020 12:25:43
What i have seen of him ED i have to agree, he does look good. He also is of the height and size of a player i think we really need, who would as you say add some steel. Get him to play alongside someone like a Geoffrey Kondogbia and we would start to form a pretty decent spine.

{Ed047's Note - Wires now put me off him by saying he’s like Sissoko who I don’t rate at all.

Are you of the opinion we should replace Torreira?


8.) 14 Jan 2020
14 Jan 2020 15:41:31
I wouldn’t want Torreria replacaing Ed, he’s still a young un, with Arteta if he is as good as they say on an individual level, he could create a real player there.

{Ed047's Note - no me neither J, Arteta is using him as he should be used and I’m more than happy with that.

I don’t like to be down on Xhaka but he really is the one who needs to be replaced/upgraded.


9.) 14 Jan 2020
14 Jan 2020 16:33:31
No, i think Torreira should stay Ed, and i like that since Arteta took over Torreira has come back into the team. It hopefully shows that Arteta, unlike previous managers, realises how important it is having a busy player in midfield who can tackle and protect the back 4 (Ala Fernandihio at Man City)

However I am also old fashioned, and think that you always need some players who are both good and physically big, which you just don't get with Torreira. Terrier yes, but wolf, no! He makes me laugh when he comes out holding the hand of a mascot, you sometimes have to look twice to realise which one is the child!

I would love us two have two decent players competing for each of the two central midfield positions. For me a Torreira/ Kongdobia would compete to cover one position, and a Guendouzi, and sadly currently Xhaka, compete to cover the other.

{Ed047's Note - totally agree Epping, I really like Torriera and would have loved to see Cazorla next to him, think they would have been great together.

I’m the same with the mascot, some I’ve seen would dwarf him! 🤣

We just need to make that midfield better, I’m interested to see how Ceballos performs under Arteta whose obviously giving him plenty of time to get fit.


10.) 14 Jan 2020
14 Jan 2020 18:06:52
Yeah, Ceballos started so positively, and like the team, faded badly. But what we saw initially shows he has the talent, and he seems to find both space and time on the ball, signs of a decent player (even dare i say Cazorla like? ) . However, I must confess Ed, I am completely out the loop with him, has he been injured, out of favour or a combination of the 2?

{Ed047's Note - he’s been out injured mate, started back in full training the last week or so.

He should get minutes soon so a new slate under Arteta, he’ll just be catching up with the new fitness requirements.


11.) 14 Jan 2020
14 Jan 2020 21:54:13
That sounds promising Ed. So you you see Ceballos as a central midfielder, or is he more in competition with Ozil for the number 10/ attacking midfielder role?

{Ed047's Note - well from what Arteta’s has said, he wants him playing in an advanced role, so direct competition for Ozil.

That’s where I imagined he’d fit in mate, higher up the pitch. He’s been out since Nov 6th with a hamstring so playing catch up on fitness.

He did look good early on so let’s hope Arteta gets him playing well and maybe assisting and scoring a few.

Arteta says he likes him too so depending on how he does may determine whether we offer for him at the end of his loan.