Alexis Sanchez

[aguero93:20]

You gave a very good examples, but look at Bayern Squad now, they have very strong bench with Douglas Costa, Renato Sanchez and many other stars.

Is this the same Douglas Costa that's been complaining to the media about a lack of game time and is rumoured to be moving on in the summer?
They're getting away with it with Kimmich, Coman and Sanches for the moment as they're all projects - young unestablished players with a lot to prove. That will get more difficult with Sanches as he gets older - Kimmich has a clear path with Lahm and Alonso retiring and Ribery/Robben don't have long left so Coman should get his chance.

 

[Serg10Aguero]

Real Madrid have an issue like this in midfield. Modric, Kroos, Isco, James, Casemiro, Kovacic to play 3 spots. Now Isco wants to leave, James isn't happy either.

 

[cibaman]

If we have stronger options - and I hope, however it pans out, we have - Pep will rotate more. We should be trying to build a squad that can make history and do the quadruple.

He'd also rotate more with a front 5 which includes Sanchez, Aguero, Sterling, Sane & Jesus because he's got positional fexibility with Sanchez and Jesus. He's got so many permutations to play with, a carousel of options.

 

[Cheadle_hulmeBlue]

Got to anticipate 60 games so across the front 3 180 games, if the all rotate regularly 5 players would play 36, if we only have 4 that's 45 . The only time it would be an issue is if players miss out on finals. We really need to be able to rotate or cover injury, suspension loss of form without a big drop off in quality.

but we wont rotate regularly, even if do it only usually for cup games. our best players will play every game. i dont think it makes sense to buy sanchez or to just rotate the team every game.

 

[OB1]

Is this the same Douglas Costa that's been complaining to the media about a lack of game time and is rumoured to be moving on in the summer?
They're getting away with it with Kimmich, Coman and Sanches for the moment as they're all projects - young unestablished players with a lot to prove. That will get more difficult with Sanches as he gets older - Kimmich has a clear path with Lahm and Alonso retiring and Ribery/Robben don't have long left so Coman should get his chance.

And we have some very young kids in Sane and Jesus and could have two older players in Aguero and Sanchez that are not strangers to the treatment table.

It would be untenable to keep Sane, Jesus, Sterling, Aguero and Sanchez happy over the longer-term but it might be for a season. As
I said earlier in the day, buy Sanchez and see how Aguero reacts. Aguero might well ask to leave but the fishing is good in Cheshire, he might be prepared to give it a season.

Yes it's unlikely that we will have those five in our squad for next season but I'd love to see us give it a go. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

 

[Serg10Aguero]

Rotate as much as he likes, 6 players who all expect to start the majority of games doesn't fit into 3 positions. At 50 games a season they'd get about 25 starts each, not even close to what they want.

This sort of thinking must be rooted in football manager or FIFA because it's certainly not rooted in reality.

In fact, name me another team in the world who manages a similar situation and I'll agree i'm wrong. Closest you can get is probably Bayern, who have 4 wingers for 2 positions, mitigated by the fact that 2 of them are injured at least 60% of the time (Robben has missed 70 games in the last 3 seasons, Ribery 76) and one is 20 years old so accepts being on the bench for the very short period in a season when both Ribery and Robben are fit.

Chelsea have a similar situation, they have Hazard, Costa, Batshuayi, Willian, Pedro to play in 3 positions. They only had 3 competitions this year

 

[OB1]

but we wont rotate regularly, even if do it only usually for cup games. our best players will play every game. i dont think it makes sense to buy sanchez or to just rotate the team every game.

I just don't agree on the rotation thing. And let me acknowledge again I fully understand the difficulties of keeping everyone happy in a very strong squad. However, if you want to take the club and club football to the next level, having a squad who are able to adapt to frequent rotation and tactical adjustments without dropping the team's quality from game to game is surely the ultimate goal (dream). The way English football is set up makes it really hard to succeed on mutliple fronts. No team has done the quadruple for good reason but why the hell not try and be different?

 

[aguero93:20]

And we have some very young kids in Sane and Jesus and could have two older players in Aguero and Sanchez that are not strangers to the treatment table.

It would be untenable to keep Sane, Jesus, Sterling, Aguero and Sanchez happy over the longer-term but it might be for a season. As
I said earlier in the day, buy Sanchez and see how Aguero reacts. Aguero might well ask to leave but the fishing is good in Cheshire, he might be prepared to give it a season.

Yes it's unlikely that we will have those five in our squad for next season but I'd love to see us give it a go. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Fuck that, we have bigger problems than depth up front, especially once Jesus is fit. I wouldn't mind signing Sanchez, but if it was up to me I'd tell them to fuck right off if they think they're getting a huge fee. 4 players for 3 positions with 1 or 2 players at the level of Roberts, Nacho, Unal (work permit permitting) around the squad is the perfect mix. We could just as easily have 46 games next season with some bad performances and bad luck as have 60+.

 

[IWasHere]

Is this the same Douglas Costa that's been complaining to the media about a lack of game time and is rumoured to be moving on in the summer?
They're getting away with it with Kimmich, Coman and Sanches for the moment as they're all projects - young unestablished players with a lot to prove. That will get more difficult with Sanches as he gets older - Kimmich has a clear path with Lahm and Alonso retiring and Ribery/Robben don't have long left so Coman should get his chance.

Agree.

Even kimmich has been complaining about lack of game time.

 

[Hart of the Matter]

Sanchez can play deeper than front 3 and is potential cover for kDB and/or Silva which means we have 7 world class players to cover 5 spots. Seems sensible and desirable to me.

 

[aguero93:20]

Sanchez can play deeper than front 3 and is potential cover for kDB and/or Silva which means we have 7 world class players to cover 5 spots. Seems sensible and desirable to me.

He can play as a second striker, there's a big difference between that and the role that Silva and KDB are being asked to play.

 

[Hart of the Matter]

He can play as a second striker, there's a big difference between that and the role that Silva and KDB are being asked to play.

You seem to be all over this one mate. Not sure why you are so heated about it. He has played a deeper creative role for country and club in the past and done well. Provides further options that's all.

 

[domalino]

Chelsea have a similar situation, they have Hazard, Costa, Batshuayi, Willian, Pedro to play in 3 positions. They only had 3 competitions this year

I have to think you're joking now.

Batshuayi is supposed to be on the verge of quitting because of no play time.

They have 3 players (William, Hazard, Pedro) for 2 positions. That's normal.

It's a country mile away from 6 into 3.

 

[Proy]

Well it's certainly the end for Aguero if this comes off. It's never going to be Jesus.

Nacho as well, I can't imagine he'll be too impressed with another season of failing to make the match day squad.

6 into 3 just doesn't go.

I also don't think there is any doubt that Sanchez will fit seamlessly into the system. Aguero may well be scoring goals but I don't think he's anywhere near fluid enough in that 3 for pep.

 

[Proy]

Real Madrid have an issue like this in midfield. Modric, Kroos, Isco, James, Casemiro, Kovacic to play 3 spots. Now Isco wants to leave, James isn't happy either.

That's because Madrid are almost a real life FIFA and living proof that it just doesn't work.

One, if not two, of those will leave in the summer.

Edit: I'd take Luka or Kroos in a fucking heartbeat.

 

[Edwin Edwin]

Only other attackers,not a CF,on or better than his level are not attainable or we'd have to smash the transfer record..Only a handful of players in Hazard,Dybala,Grizi,Neymar & Messi fall in that bracket..Dybala's the dream but he's extending his contract soon and 100% Juve will demand a world record fee if they ever sell him,far more than what they let Pogba leave for,so i'd happily take Alexis instead for half of Dybala's price.

 

[_OVO_]

Only other attackers,not a CF,on or better than his level are not attainable or we'd have to smash the transfer record..Only a handful of players in Hazard,Dybala,Grizi,Neymar & Messi fall in that bracket..Dybala's the dream but he's extending his contract soon and 100% Juve will demand a world record fee if they ever sell him,far more than what they let Pogba leave for,so i'd happily take Alexis instead for half of Dybala's price.

I have seen Juve play numerous times and Dybala is a really good player but I would pick Alexis over him any day of the week. Dybala is more of a second striker and we don't have a place for a player like that in our system unless he plays on the wings or as a free 8 which may not be the best way to utilize his talents. Also, he is not a goal scorer, and the only thing our attacking front lacks is converting chances

 

[aguero93:20]

You seem to be all over this one mate. Not sure why you are so heated about it. He has played a deeper creative role for country and club in the past and done well. Provides further options that's all.

I just think its a bit ridiculous that the same posters who've been constantly giving out fuck about the full backs not being replaced and the squad being allowed to grow old want to spend £50m + £300k a week on a soon to be 29 year old playing in a position that we don't really need to strengthen.

 

[Dax777]

Is this the same Douglas Costa that's been complaining to the media about a lack of game time and is rumoured to be moving on in the summer?
They're getting away with it with Kimmich, Coman and Sanches for the moment as they're all projects - young unestablished players with a lot to prove. That will get more difficult with Sanches as he gets older - Kimmich has a clear path with Lahm and Alonso retiring and Ribery/Robben don't have long left so Coman should get his chance.

Even Coman wants out. The kid came in against arsenal scored 2 goals, didn't smile or celebrate. Didn't even want to acknowledge that he had done something. Just had that "resting notch side eye" face for the 20 or so minutes he was on.

Robben and Robbery have been fairly healthy this season, which makes it unpleasant for 2 younger guys, Coman and Costa.

The way I see it, you need 4 players for the 3 forward positions: Right now its Aguero, Sane, Sterling and Gabriel. If you get Sanchez someone has to leave. And its probably Aguero who would.

Same in midfield: 4 players for the 3 positions pl

That's because Madrid are almost a real life FIFA and living proof that it just doesn't work.

One, if not two, of those will leave in the summer.

Edit: I'd take Luka or Kroos in a fucking heartbeat.

Leo is maybe. Luka? No. He is getting to that age where injuries last longer and affects form longer. Best CM in the world, but he gave his best years to Spurs and Madrid. No need bringing him in here for a swangsong. I'd rather go get someone tounger. Leandro Paredes perhaps!

 

[cadds92]

Under Mancini and Pellegrini in both title winning seasons we had 4 strikers for 2 positions so I don't see why we can't have 6 battling it out for 3.

Pep wants quality and reliability, he doesn't want to look on the bench for a replacement for one of the wingers say for example and only see someone like Navas as an option. He wants to turn to the bench knowing full well he has world class on the bench.

In regards to the £50m fee. The only way of getting Sanchez out of Arsenal is paying such a fee despite only having one year left.