*Official* English Football Season 2013-14

[Cabinet96]

Draxler's having a bit of second-season syndrome at the moment. But word on the street is that Arsenal's German contingent are a big draw for him, so it might yet happen.

He's injured currently isn't he? Not been too bad though has he? Scored some eye catching goals in Europe and even though he's not been as good goals and assists wise in the league he's still been OK. If it meant Schalke were prepared to let him go for under his release cause it'd be probably be a good thing. Just think he'd suit the Prem really well. Technically really good but also fast and strong enough to adopt to England quicker than most playmakers.

Another person I'd be keeping an eye on is Sidney Sam, though he's probably still harbouring hopes of earning a world cup place, so I doubt he'd leave Leverkusen this window.

Edit: Although I think this is all a bit of an overreaction. We've still got three genuine wide men and plenty of midfielders who could play out wide, so we don't really need to bring anyone in. Would just be so gut wrenching if the injury cost us significantly.

 

[Jarquis]

Sidney Sam turned down a renewal at Bayer not long ago, being eyed up as Draxler's replacement by all reports.

 

[Cabinet96]

Weird. Why would you go from Leverkusen to Schalke?

Another shout; Adrian Ramos?

 

[Eds]

Yeah Sidney Sam is almost certainly off to Schalke. For about £2.5m too, ridiculous buy.

Didn't Draxler mention something about being disappointed at playing wide rather than at #10 with the emergence of Max Meyer (as well as obviously KPB)? You'd imagine he'd have even less chance to play there at Arsenal.

 

[Jarquis]

Weird. Why would you go from Leverkusen to Schalke?

Another shout; Adrian Ramos?

Genuinely just a money thing from what I've read. Leverkusen can't meet his wage demands. Has a 2.5m euro buyout clause though. That's dirrrrt cheap.
Not sure I'm sold on Adrian Ramos even if he has been playing well this year.

What do people make of Jackson Martinez?

 

[Cabinet96]

Yeah Sidney Sam is almost certainly off to Schalke. For about £2.5m too, ridiculous buy.

Didn't Draxler mention something about being disappointed at playing wide rather than at #10 with the emergence of Max Meyer (as well as obviously KPB)? You'd imagine he'd have even less chance to play there at Arsenal.

Yeah I mentioned it last time we had this discussion that it was kinda weird. I don't really know how Schalke play their wide men compared to Arsenal, obviously Arsenal are traditionally a bit more narrow than most. Someone like Cazorla technically plays out wide for us, but you'd never call him a winger. It's the sort of role Draxler could occupy, potentially on the opposite flank.

 

[Jarquis]

I reckon we'd just play Draxler up top tbh, or at least Wenger would work towards that end.

 

[sledger]

He had a tour of Arsenal's facilities the other day apparently.

 

[Cabinet96]

He was impressed too. I'm really hopeful we can get him actually. Seems genuinely somewhat keen, never denying the rumours, in fact saying positive things about Arsenal whenever asked.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Genuinely just a money thing from what I've read. Leverkusen can't meet his wage demands. Has a 2.5m euro buyout clause though. That's dirrrrt cheap.
Not sure I'm sold on Adrian Ramos even if he has been playing well this year.

That's just weird. Of the two, Leverkusen is the club with money. The club is dull as dishwater, though.

 

[Uppercut]

I think this match demonstrates why another midfielder won't solve our problems. It's the same as most games this season: our midfield controls most of the game perfectly well, but our only plan in the final third is to hoof crosses into the box. Then we give a goal away embarrassingly failing to defend a basic set piece. What difference would Arturo Vidal or Ander Herrerra make? It solves the problem with the squad on paper but not the problems on the pitch.

 

[Jarquis]

Think if you had Arturo Vidal you might at least consider playing slightly differently. I know it's not exactly his forte but looking to cut teams apart through the middle becomes a slightly more attractive/viable option when you're asking somebody of his class to do it rather than Tom ****ing Cleverly.
I'm increasingly becoming of the opposite opinion to you, yeah you're playing style is **** but it's pretty much the best option you've got. I don't think it's too much of a stretch to say that your best players this season have been strikers/wingers/fullbacks in some sort of order. I'm not saying with better central players Moyes would change tactically, as you've repeatedly said it's not really his way, but there's more chance of him playing another way if the players were up to it.

 

[Tom Halsey]

I think this match demonstrates why another midfielder won't solve our problems. It's the same as most games this season: our midfield controls most of the game perfectly well, but our only plan in the final third is to hoof crosses into the box. Then we give a goal away embarrassingly failing to defend a basic set piece. What difference would Arturo Vidal or Ander Herrerra make? It solves the problem with the squad on paper but not the problems on the pitch.

I half agree (I definitely agree that a midfielder won't solve all our problems) but I don't think we've controlled the game at all.

 

[Uppercut]

@Marcuss What do you think has changed since last season? We played a completely different style and walked the league, and we've only added players for this season.

I don't really buy that "the Ferguson magic" accounts for such a severe swing. But if I had to pick one thing that's really changed it'd be that our defending of set pieces has gone from among the best in the league to probably the worst. The blame there has to go primarily to the coaching staff imo.

 

[Uppercut]

I half agree (I definitely agree that a midfielder won't solve all our problems) but I don't think we've controlled the game at all.

Yeah I guess not, but it was the case when I wrote it.

 

[Tom Halsey]

@Marcuss What do you think has changed since last season? We played a completely different style and walked the league, and we've only added players for this season.

I don't really buy that "the Ferguson magic" accounts for such a severe swing. But if I had to pick one thing that's really changed it'd be that our defending of set pieces has gone from among the best in the league to probably the worst. The blame there has to go primarily to the coaching staff imo.

I dunno, our defending last year (especially of set pieces) was hardly brilliant.

I agree overall though. The whole thing about how Moyes inherited a rubbish squad had not only been repeated so often it's become annoying but is also false. This is the exact same squad (which as you say has only been added to) that actually set several records last year in terms of Premier League form and I think it's fair to say deserved to beat Real Madrid over two legs in the CL. The only change on the playing side between then and now has been the manager and the coaching staff. Doesn't take a genius to reach the conclusion that the problem has been the manager and the coaching staff IMO.

Sure, a slight drop off was to be expected. There was always going to be some level of difficulty with a change of manager after so long and Ferguson was quite good after all. But he wasn't that good. Certainly not as good as the gulf between this season and last season suggests.

 

[Pothas]

Agree, some pundit on 5 live was saying that ANY other coach other than Mourinho would be failing which is just a ridiculous comment.

Marcuss is right regards Vidal though, surley bringing a player that good into your side will improve the team and change the way they play.

 

[Uppercut]

I don't think he'd change our playing style much, because Moyes is a manager wedded to a particular style that he tries to make the players fit whether it suits them or not. But he'd obviously improve us, just as he'd improve any team.

It's nice to fill in gaps in the squad, and we've needed a better CM for as long as anyone can remember. But there are much bigger problems that don't show up on the teamsheet. You just can't normally solve atrocious organisation at set pieces by signing better players.

 

[sledger]

I've said this so many times, but I'll say it again because at the moment it seems apt. Tom Cleverley is absolutely, totally and utterly crap.

 

[NUFAN]

@Marcuss What do you think has changed since last season? We played a completely different style and walked the league, and we've only added players for this season.

I know this question wasn't directed at me, but surely Van Persie's drop in output this season compared to his tremendous performance in Fergie's season is a massive difference. If he plays at the same level as last year, I'm guessing United are in the top 4.