*Official* English Football Season 2013-14

[Jarquis]

We got rid of a lot of deadwood last summer but there's still a fair share and there's problems that need to be addressed like:
- Backup GK
- RB/Sagna
- CB/Vermaelen
- 4th CB
- Arteta/Flamini's position
- 1st choice striker
- Bendtner and Chu Young's squad spots

 

[Cabinet96]

Defensive cover and an a good forward are about it for me. Who would you suggest could do Arteta's job but better?

Far bigger concern for me is teaching the team to not self collectively **** themselves when sides press up the field. Nearly all of pre season should be about making us less vulnerable to the press.

 

[Jarquis]

There are stacks of players who could do Arteta's job but better but the issue is that they'd cost a bomb. Flamini's been ok cover this year but neither are going to launch us on to the next level and I don't want to be in February next year with those two as a midfield partnership because Ramsey and Wilshere are out injured. Basically I want Källström/Diaby's spot to go to a quality starter.
Arteta was great against West Ham but is increasingly being shown up in the big games and neither are at an age where they're going to improve. Casemiro, L.Bender and Schneiderlin are but three we're rumoured to be looking at.

I'm assuming that both GK and RB come under your 'defensive cover' unless you want Martinez on the bench and Jenkinson starting ahead of Bellerin.

 

[Cabinet96]

Arteta needs someone with legs playing alongside him, so will always struggle a bit when Flamini is with him. Not sure he's had a bad game with Ramsey next to him tbf. He's also had a few injuries this season. Last year people were up in arms that Sanga wasn't good enough and now it's a major issue that he's leaving.

 

[Jarquis]

I've loved Sagna since forever.. last season he did have 2 leg breaks tbf.

The issue is, we haven't won the league this year after challenging for ages. Other teams will improve and us sitting still and saying "well hopefully we'll have better luck with injuries next year" is tantamount to thumbing our own arsehole. We've got cash, use some of it. Sign one of the three I mentioned, improve the squad depth. Arteta is only going to get worse and it's getting to the stage while, yeah he's a good squad player, he shouldn't be starting week in week out for a team who should be pushing for the title and semis of the CL. It's ruthless but needs to be done. We were prepared to shift Santi out of the central role and drop Podolski/Rosicky down a slot in the pecking order for Özil and the same needs to happen elsewhere i.e. Giroud being made second choice as opposed to the only choice.

 

[Uppercut]

Arteta needs someone with legs playing alongside him, so will always struggle a bit when Flamini is with him. Not sure he's had a bad game with Ramsey next to him tbf. He's also had a few injuries this season. Last year people were up in arms that Sanga wasn't good enough and now it's a major issue that he's leaving.

Arteta's the perfect holding midfielder for games vs. most Prem teams.

I don't have a lot of faith in Wenger to leave him out of the games that don't suit him, though. I'm a long-term fan but he's really struggled in the big games this season. What we found out when Moyes replaced Ferguson is that if your manager doesn't know what tool to use for which jobs, you need very adaptable tools. I don't think Arteta fits the bill there.

 

[Days of Grace]

Think I'm more wary of Palace away than Chelsea at home tbh.

Focus on Norwich first, mate.

 

[Cabinet96]

Thing is, Arteta was actually pretty great in the early season big games; Liverpool, Napoli, Dortmund etc. You kind of get hung out to dry as a holding midfielder when you play the big sides and you're full backs bomb forward and the offensive midfielders get caught out in possession time and time again. Whoscored reckons 5 of the 11 goals we conceded to Liverpool and Chelsea were from midfielders giving the ball away and the opposition going onto score, none of whom were called Arteta.

I admit he's probably not good enough when sides really press Arsenal, especially if Ramsey isn't playing, but how many technically great ball winners who have a great positioning sense are there that suit us? I'd love to have Busquets or Modric but it isn't happening. Schneiderlin would definitely be a good pick up though, I agree. Really sucks that Chelsea got Matic tbh. Was, along with striker, the one hole in their squad they're arguably got the best defensive midfielder in the country now.

 

[Nate]

Focus on Norwich first, mate.

Wise words. Comments just coming after seeing the Everton/Palace match. Pulis really has been incredible for them.

 

[Days of Grace]

Since the new year.

Liverpool 15 41
Chelsea 15 35
Man City 14 30
Everton 15 29
Spurs 15 26
Arsenal 15 25
Crystal Palace 15 24
Man U 14 23
Stoke 15 22
West Ham 15 22
Southampton 15 21
West Brom 14 15
Aston Villa 14 14
Fulham 15 14
Newcastle 15 13
Hull 14 13
Norwich 15 13
Swansea 15 12
Sunderland 14 12
Cardiff 15 11

 

[sledger]

Alex Song was such a good player for Arsenal. Shame he had to go. Would have him back in a heartbeat were it not for the concerns about his general dickheadedness.

 

[grecian]

I think I may have to get a season ticket for Middlesboro, because of this tour de force of acting.

To think he once played for Real Madrid.....

 

[sledger]

Haha, that's actually quite good, I think. But only because it's so crap, obvs.

 

[Ikki]

Halsey's gonna hate this:

Zidane: Gerrard and Scholes best midfielders of the past 20 years

‘He has had a great career winning many things - but it would be a big shame for him if he was never to win the league with Liverpool,’ said the former France star.

‘For everything that he has given - he deserves a league title.’

He went on: ‘I don't think that is any secret that Real Madrid and Chelsea had big interest in him and that is just the teams the media knew about.

‘He could have played for any team in Europe - but he turned them down. That sort of loyalty should be rewarded with a title.’

‘England have probably produced the two best midfield players of the last 20 years in Steven Gerrard and Paul Scholes,’ he said.

‘There was a point when Gerrard was the best midfield player in the world. It is unusual to get complete midfield players who can do everything, but that is what he was.

‘His legs are not going to be what they were five or six years ago - but his presence and leadership are invaluable for Liverpool.’

 

[MW1304]

A reading from the gospel according to Zidane. Glory to you O Lord.

 

[grecian]

Well it is quite amusing considering all the Manu fans who have blathered on about those quotes from various players about the hacking ginger traitorous ****.

 

[sledger]

Halsey's gonna hate this:

Zidane: Gerrard and Scholes best midfielders of the past 20 years

Well, if Zidane said it then it must be true.

 

[Eds]

Haha yeah, testimonials from ex-greats are the most overrated thing ever. Why would footballing ability make your opinion any more valid?

Reminds me of when people say Owen can't judge players now because he wasn't very good at football. So wrong on so, so many levels.

 

[NUFAN]

Not at all. I admire Roy Keane; I admire Tony Blair; I admire Margaret Thatcher, but I do not like any of them.

What do you admire about them? Qualities that you like, I would imagine.

 

[NUFAN]

Since the new year.

Liverpool 15 41
Chelsea 15 35
Man City 14 30
Everton 15 29
Spurs 15 26

A little surprising so see Spurs so high. Always makes me feel slightly gutted when I see Bale perform so well. If we had of kept him and not bothered with Soldado, Lamela or Chiriches we'd have a big chance of playing Champions League next year. Rodgers manager of the year for mine, Pulis second.