mexico1970
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- 30 Jun 2019
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- Manchester City
You’re not pulling the wool over my eyes.Mikel Merino deal done subject to medical. He'll add good options in the middle, is a big lad as well so the likes of the barcodes will have less chance to try and dominate physically.
Merino was the lad who got the last minute winner against Germany in the Euros.
Let me get this right, he's not bang average but he will add steel to your midfield, provide cover for Rice, give you more power at set pieces and make it harder for our midfield to win the ball back against you. So where will he play and who will he replace in your team.He's not 'bang average', he's got the top stats in Europe for duels won and he's a big lad who has just won the Euros. He'd probably get in ahead of Kovacic (or at the least alternate with him) in your side and would walk into the Rags or Dippers midfield.
He'll add steel in midfield and provide cover for Rice. He's definitely needed for Arsenal's squad depth so comparing him with Gundo isn't the right comparison. £35m isn't a marquee signing so it doesn't give Arsenal a title but it gives Arsenal more depth.
Something like Arsenal signing either Pep or Rodri probably gets us the title but I suspect that isn't going to happen! So for now it's about adding an extra 2-5% capability to the team, small margins make the difference in certain games.
Put it this way - we could hardly get out of our half at the Etihad last season. What happened is our defence got it out to our midfield but then Rodri and Co just nailed them and won it back. Someone like Merino makes that harder for City midfielders to do, plus he's an absolute unit and gives us more power at set pieces etc.
He's a defensive midfielder. That's like saying Rodri is shite because he's only scored 21 goals in 174 games for Man City where loads more goals are scored than in other teams!Also the lad that was shite at Newcastle.
6 seasons in Spain.190 games 20 goals.
He'll play at 6. I reckon our midfield will then be him plus Rice and Odegaard ahead of him with Saka on the right and either Martinelli, Trossard or Jesus on the left and Havertz up top. By October I reckon this will be the line upLet me get this right, he's not bang average but he will add steel to your midfield, provide cover for Rice, give you more power at set pieces and make it harder for our midfield to win the ball back against you. So where will he play and who will he replace in your team.

Theyve signed a decent but bang average player for the level they aspire to be at and are acting like he's the missing cog. Adds depth I suppose but he wouldn't even make it as a squad player at the clubs that actually win the big trophies.
Is arsenal signing Merino for £35m improving arsenal more than City resigning Gundogan on a free transfer improves us?
phew, cover for Rice is all I needed to know.He's not 'bang average', he's got the top stats in Europe for duels won and he's a big lad who has just won the Euros. He'd probably get in ahead of Kovacic (or at the least alternate with him) in your side and would walk into the Rags or Dippers midfield.
He'll add steel in midfield and provide cover for Rice. He's definitely needed for Arsenal's squad depth so comparing him with Gundo isn't the right comparison. £35m isn't a marquee signing so it doesn't give Arsenal a title but it gives Arsenal more depth.
Something like Arsenal signing either Pep or Rodri probably gets us the title but I suspect that isn't going to happen! So for now it's about adding an extra 2-5% capability to the team, small margins make the difference in certain games.
Put it this way - we could hardly get out of our half at the Etihad last season. What happened is our defence got it out to our midfield but then Rodri and Co just nailed them and won it back. Someone like Merino makes that harder for City midfielders to do, plus he's an absolute unit and gives us more power at set pieces etc.
that looks like a 2nd placed team or less to me which is goodHe'll play at 6. I reckon our midfield will then be him plus Rice and Odegaard ahead of him with Saka on the right and either Martinelli, Trossard or Jesus on the left and Havertz up top. By October I reckon this will be the line upView attachment 129272
If only there was some way we could find out.....that looks like a 2nd placed team or less to me which is good
So if he and Rice play then he isn’t providing cover for Rice is he?He'll play at 6. I reckon our midfield will then be him plus Rice and Odegaard ahead of him with Saka on the right and either Martinelli, Trossard or Jesus on the left and Havertz up top. By October I reckon this will be the line upView attachment 129272
You take that back, right away. The Matchday thread is not representative of Bluemoon. It's a special space created for City supporters to be honest with like minded people and fans who see the game in an unusual way.If only there was some way we could find out.....
Anyway, loving the early season bullishness. However based on what I've seen from my time on here a large number of you will have a massive flounce on the matchday thread the instant some team burgles a point at the Etihad saying the title has gone and 'this is on Pep' lol.
Are you actually daring to say that as an arsenal fan? Seriously? Let me share a couple of home truths with you we have just won four in a row so if anyone has the right to be bullish its us and you havent won it in 20 years so wind your neck in.If only there was some way we could find out.....
Anyway, loving the early season bullishness. However based on what I've seen from my time on here a large number of you will have a massive flounce on the matchday thread the instant some team burgles a point at the Etihad saying the title has gone and 'this is on Pep' lol.
I think you're misjudging the tone of my reply, easily done with written word as opposed to spoken word. I wasn't criticising your matchday thread I was commenting on the Jekyll and Hyde emotions some of your fanbase have which is in direct contradiction of the evidence and recent history in front of them.Are you actually daring to say that as an arsenal fan? Seriously? Let me share a couple of home truths with you we have just won four in a row so if anyone has the right to be bullish its us and you havent won it in 20 years so wind your neck in.
And before you criticise our matchday thread which admittedly is bonkers your fans are universally acknowledged as being reactionary nutjobs culminating with the shambles that is aftv which is not only an embarrassment to arsenal but to humanity itself.
If that is the case then fair enough, my apologiesI think you're misjudging the tone of my reply, easily done with written word as opposed to spoken word. I wasn't criticising your matchday thread I was commenting on the Jekyll and Hyde emotions some of your fanbase have which is in direct contradiction of the evidence and recent history in front of them.
No worries, emotions can run high at times and they'll only get higher as the season goes on. We're about to enter our hardest part of the season now so I'll probably be pretty quiet for the next few weeks anyway!If that is the case then fair enough, my apologies
Tbf mate your hardest part of the season has at least for the last couple of years been when city decide to put their foot on the gasNo worries, emotions can run high at times and they'll only get higher as the season goes on. We're about to enter our hardest part of the season now so I'll probably be pretty quiet for the next few weeks anyway!
Yeah that's true, the hope remains up until about early April and then Gooners look at each other and say 'surely City aren't going to keep winning ALL their games. Are they? ARE THEY?'Tbf mate your hardest part of the season has at least for the last couple of years been when city decide to put their foot on the gas
And this is what i find infuriating from pundits their main reasoning behind arsenal winning the league is that city cant possibly go again but the question is never asked as to whether arsenal can go againYeah that's true, the hope remains up until about early April and then Gooners look at each other and say 'surely City aren't going to keep winning ALL their games. Are they? ARE THEY?'
Well I think Arsenal can and will go again, but you're correct about pundits having a short memory, as if City will suddenly forget everything they've done to win 4 PLs on the bounce and start to crumble! Isn't gonna happen. City are the team in possession and it will take an almighty effort to overhaul them. I think when Liverpool did it they win pretty much all their matches for the 1st half of the season. Might take something like that.And this is what i find infuriating from pundits their main reasoning behind arsenal winning the league is that city cant possibly go again but the question is never asked as to whether arsenal can go again