The Squad planning thread

[bluemc]

Gusto was on our list last summer I remember

Graeme Bailey and Teamtalk being the sources tell me this is one to file under "not happening".

 

[bell_mcfc]

Makes perfect sense. The full back is a right back.

 

[David Silva]

Another swing and a miss for Graeme Bailey.

Pretty sure we will get a RB not a LB.

 

[Gabriel]

A person with knowledge of Enzo Maresca’s outlook says ‘we’re running out of players to link with Manchester City…’

 

[Dubciteh]

Considering we have 3 left backs 4 if you include Ake i never got this link. Last position we need to fill.

 

[blueparrot]

Arteta went to Arsenal and implemented everything he learnt from his time with us and advised them of how we doing things etc imo and is now tweaking it with his more physical approach

We do our bit right we make up the difference to arsenal, without checking would say we’ve already been better than them since January including beating them twice.

 

[Gabriel]

Arsenal remind me of the dippers
They talk a lot as if they are the biggest and best in the world
Liverpool won the league for the first time in 20 odd years and then we won the next 4

I see a big drop coming for them.
They needed everyone else to be shit or rebuilding and still only just won it by throwing everything they have at it

Had the easiest champions league route and still fell short

That took a lot out of them and they can’t play like that forever

Under Arteta, I suspect they can and they will. However, 14 League games were won by the odd goal, and the likelihood of that repeating is slim, particularly if the authorities clamp down on the set piece free for alls.

As I said elsewhere, this season might prove Arteta’s high-water mark. The fans and, importantly, his bosses will now demand more, and I suspect some have just been keeping a lid on their frustrations over his limitations. A bad start next season and the knives will be out. It wouldn’t surprise me one bit to see him managing in Italy in the not so distant future, somewhere his footballing philosophy would be more suited.

 

[christened at st marks]

Rodri seems to be playing us,1st get fit, then at the end of the season, now after the world cup, we need a replacement in, so we take control back.
Nico G, Reijndeers, Kova and Lewis seem to be moving on, we need 2 top players 1st team quality in CM

 

[blueparrot]

Rodri seems to be playing us,1st get fit, then at the end of the season, now after the world cup, we need a replacement in, so we take control back.
Nico G, Reijndeers, Kova and Lewis seem to be moving on, we need 2 top players 1st team quality in CM

Or the stories are bollocks and we don’t need 2

 

[richards30]

Or the stories are bollocks and we don’t need 2

Well he could say that? Not that difficult is it to say i want to stay, i`m happy and look forward to pushing the club on in a new era? Or, if he wants to go back to Spain, then say it and we would all turn around and say fair enough, what a player etc and then move him on, get a replacement in and look forward?

 

[Georgian]

Under Arteta, I suspect they can and they will. However, 14 League games were won by the odd goal, and the likelihood of that repeating is slim, particularly if the authorities clamp down on the set piece free for alls.

As I said elsewhere, this season might prove Arteta’s high-water mark. The fans and, importantly, his bosses will now demand more, and I suspect some have just been keeping a lid on their frustrations over his limitations. A bad start next season and the knives will be out. It wouldn’t surprise me one bit to see him managing in Italy in the not so distant future, somewhere his footballing philosophy would be more suited.

Funny thing is that, for years, I was expecting some high-ranking Italian manager to come up with the football philosophy Arteta introduced last couple of years.

Since Pep revolutionised football, Italian managers like Allegri or Conte or older ones, became like Dinosaurs. Or Simeone for example.

This heavy, non-aesthetic, result-oriented philosophy of football, but also filled with the modern elements or standards, that were created by Pep or introduced by Pep.

Somehow, none of Italian managers could do this. combine Pep's ideas and core elements of Italian football.

But when you look at current Arsenal, that's the Italian team.

 

[richards30]

If Rodri did indeed leave, who would you take to replace him?

 

[blueparrot]

Well he could say that? Not that difficult is it to say i want to stay, i`m happy and look forward to pushing the club on in a new era? Or, if he wants to go back to Spain, then say it and we would all turn around and say fair enough, what a player etc and then move him on, get a replacement in and look forward?

Those that need to know probably know.

 

[Georgian]

If Rodri did indeed leave, who would you take to replace him?

I would keep Nico Gonzalez and consider his first half of the season as a "successful interview".

There is no another Rodri, you should create new Rodri by giving someone chance to improve year-by-year (like we didi with Rodri as well) and after 2-3 years, you may get that kind of player.

When I watch this video, I am convinced that this player has ability to do that.

 

[blueparrot]

I would keep Nico Gonzalez and consider his first half of the season as a "successful interview".

There is no another Rodri, you should create new Rodri by giving someone chance to improve year-by-year (like we didi with Rodri as well) and after 2-3 years, you may get that kind of player.

When I watch this video, I am convinced that this player has ability to do that.

Yes whether Rodri stays a year or goes,think Gonzalez should stay . Maybe as a Pep 6 he wouldn’t quite have made it but alongside Anderson as a Maresca double pivot he could well replace Rodri. Hopefully Rodri sees out next year and Gonzalez gets enough minutes to save us money next summer.

 

[robbieh]

I would keep Nico Gonzalez and consider his first half of the season as a "successful interview".

There is no another Rodri, you should create new Rodri by giving someone chance to improve year-by-year (like we didi with Rodri as well) and after 2-3 years, you may get that kind of player.

When I watch this video, I am convinced that this player has ability to do that.

I would hope Maresca gives him a chance to stake his claim.

 

[blueparrot]

I would hope Maresca gives him a chance to stake his claim.

Sure he will, I hope Gonzalez gives Maresca the chance to give him a chance to stake his claim.

 

[Tugay One Cup]

Pretty sure these links with Chelsea players are a way of their agents putting pressure on Chelsea to open negotiations with foreign clubs.

 

[Gabriel]

Pretty sure these links with Chelsea players are a way of their agents putting pressure on Chelsea to open negotiations with foreign clubs.

Cucurella is on his 7th manager since joining in 2022.

 

[Matt.D]

I would keep Nico Gonzalez and consider his first half of the season as a "successful interview".

There is no another Rodri, you should create new Rodri by giving someone chance to improve year-by-year (like we didi with Rodri as well) and after 2-3 years, you may get that kind of player.

When I watch this video, I am convinced that this player has ability to do that.

Nico G is crap. Not good on the ball, can’t break the lines with passing or driving with the ball, not good under pressure. Not quick, not mobile. Maybe he goes on to have a decent career in a slower league playing as an 8.

Pep knew this. He will be off this summer.