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Race for the Top 4 - 2017/18

DanielCHillier

Well-Known Member
Feb 26, 2014
2,034
4,029
Depth is a really boring term. The goons have lots of depth in their squad and it’s all equally rubbish. As has been said numerous times in the last few windows the only thing we lack is genuine unpredictability upfront in the Hazard, Jesus, Sane, Mane mould.
We'll probably get Zaha when Palace go down.
 

EQP

EQP
Sep 1, 2013
7,958
29,657
We probably will but I’m not sure he is at the Mane / Sane level yet.

Poch will probably develop him into a even more dynamic player, if we do decide to try and sign him. We'd probably have to sell GKN and Janssen to make room for Zaha.
 

dontcallme

SC Supporter
Mar 18, 2005
33,986
81,912
Depth is a really boring term. The goons have lots of depth in their squad and it’s all equally rubbish. As has been said numerous times in the last few windows the only thing we lack is genuine unpredictability upfront in the Hazard, Jesus, Sane, Mane mould.

Depth is a dull term.

Some players play very well when playing every week but struggle as a sub and bit part player.

Players with excellent conditioning can make excellent subs. Look at how well Defoe has done over his career as a sub compared to Bony. At Swansea Bony had a better goalscoring record than Defoe and also offered more than goals.

But look at his performances once not playing every week.

I believe Llorente will do well as a sub and now we are going to 3 at the back we have the likes of Son on the bench more. So we have better options coming off the bench than we previously had.
 

SUIYHA

Well-Known Member
Jan 15, 2017
1,723
8,579
Depth is a really boring term. The goons have lots of depth in their squad and it’s all equally rubbish. As has been said numerous times in the last few windows the only thing we lack is genuine unpredictability upfront in the Hazard, Jesus, Sane, Mane mould.

I agree. A Man Utd supporting mate of mine has been adamant that they've had the best squad depth in the league for the past three seasons. They've come 4th, 5th and 6th.

Unless you are ridiculously unlucky with injuries it's better to have a world class starting XI and an average backup XI than 22 "good" players.
 

Everlasting Seconds

Well-Known Member
Jan 9, 2014
14,914
26,616
There is depth in total numbers of players, and then there is depth in numbers of players one would actually want to start. We have a small total number, but we are bit by bit increasing the pool of players that can be called upon with confidence. For instance, we had a horrible depth to CB last season, despite having plenty of senior CBs in the squad, something that was corrected over the summer.
 

nicdic

Official SC Padre
Admin
May 8, 2005
41,857
25,919
Given the injuries we've had over the past seasons to key players, it's clear depth isn't an issue. People just want all the players.
 

coys200

Well-Known Member
May 22, 2017
8,436
17,403
Just as a side note Arsenal are bang in trouble going forward.They have crazy amount of players at end of contract or in last year.Something like 15 I think and a lot of aging players.If Sanchez ozil leave.koscielny 33 next year,mertesacker retiring.Cazorla 32 And looks done anyway injury wise.cech will be 36.Wilshere injury plagued.Thats 7 what would be 1st xi players to replace next year,without getting a penny for any of them.Thats £300m(being conservative) Just to stand still.Thsts without the players in last year as well.Basically they are utterly fucked without crazy investment.
 

Adam456

Well-Known Member
Jul 1, 2005
4,453
3,117
Just as a side note Arsenal are bang in trouble going forward.They have crazy amount of players at end of contract or in last year.Something like 15 I think and a lot of aging players.If Sanchez ozil leave.koscielny 33 next year,mertesacker retiring.Cazorla 32 And looks done anyway injury wise.cech will be 36.Wilshere injury plagued.Thats 7 what would be 1st xi players to replace next year,without getting a penny for any of them.Thats £300m(being conservative) Just to stand still.Thsts without the players in last year as well.Basically they are utterly fucked without crazy investment.
Let's hope so

.....but trying to speak objectively, what they need is to go back to basics. Bring youth through. Sign players for reasonable numbers who want to play for the club and aren't just chasing money or instant medals. Sign a Viera-type or 2. And get a specialist defensive coach in.

A bit of what we have really

Wenger is basically finished and would never get the time for that 'root and branch' reform so they are destined to stagger on until results are quite simply unbearable. Failing to qualify for CL again would probably be the final straw
 

Gbspurs

Gatekeeper for debates, King of the plonkers
Jan 27, 2011
26,945
61,824
Let's hope so

.....but trying to speak objectively, what they need is to go back to basics. Bring youth through. Sign players for reasonable numbers who want to play for the club and aren't just chasing money or instant medals. Sign a Viera-type or 2. And get a specialist defensive coach in.

A bit of what we have really

Wenger is basically finished and would never get the time for that 'root and branch' reform so they are destined to stagger on until results are quite simply unbearable. Failing to qualify for CL again would probably be the final straw

Wenger has stitched the fans up imo. He wants one last roll of the dice but he is leaving regardless and with him losing most of their players and having to start from scratch. Poor form.
 

Adam456

Well-Known Member
Jul 1, 2005
4,453
3,117
Wenger has stitched the fans up imo. He wants one last roll of the dice but he is leaving regardless and with him losing most of their players and having to start from scratch. Poor form.
Yes nobody could argue that he didn't deserve the benefit of the doubt but the point of no return was probably several years ago when they were annually out of the title race by November and failing to plug holes in defence and DM despite hundreds of million in the bank
 

hellava_tough

Well-Known Member
Apr 21, 2005
9,429
12,382
Re. Arsenal...

They've got issues at board level too and Kroenke is thinking about buying Usmanov's shares:

https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/fo...ut-alisher-usmanov-on-the-board-a3650301.html

Although it doesn't mention it in that article, in the actual 'print' paper on Wednesday the ES stated that Usmanov was seriously considering selling his shares...and buying into Everton as one of his mates is currently the chairman/owner there.

If Kroenke owns Arsenal lock stock and barrel, they'll be a mid-table club in 5 years time, because no way will Kroenke invest £200m+ in the team. Just look at his track record in US sports:

https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...-stan-kroenke-premier-league-los-angeles-rams
 

Tucker

Shitehawk
Jul 15, 2013
31,130
146,016
Given the injuries we've had over the past seasons to key players, it's clear depth isn't an issue. People just want all the players.

It’s easy to panic when we get injuries in key positions and I’m sure most people just worry we’ve got no one of equal value to come in. But injuries and lack of form provide chances for youngsters and squad players to make a mark.

Would Kane have been such a success if Ade and Soldado hadn’t flopped? Would Winks have proven such a talent if we hadn’t got injuries to Dembele? Look at how well Davies is no playing in place of Rose.
 

coys200

Well-Known Member
May 22, 2017
8,436
17,403
It’s quite hard to judge what we need going forward,but it’s not very much.Defence is sorted.CM is pretty confusing,DM we are fine dier/wanyama.Unless you’d like a more creative DM a xabi Alonso type.Personally I’d stick with what we have.Then the creative CM.I think it’s ptetty clear dembele is on the decline.So can Winks/onomah/TOB be the Man.Winks I suppose is most likely.I think we should know re winks by end of season.
So AM it’s probably still the Mane pacey type.But we could well have Lamela and Son and sissoko on bench.If you added the the pacey winger we’d be spoilt for choice.With Nkoudou still really unknown and likes of Edwards coming through and Bennetts.
And then Llorente ,I’m ok with him coming on for 20 mins or some lesser.But if he had to replace Kane for an extended period,I’d be very concerned.
So my summary would be:
CM if winks doesn’t totally convince this season.
Pacey winger-But for me it would be a bit of a luxury.
Llorente upgrade-Again a bit of luxury if we could get one.
For me the difference between us being a title winning team right now is the creative CM.
 

hellava_tough

Well-Known Member
Apr 21, 2005
9,429
12,382
It’s quite hard to judge what we need going forward,but it’s not very much.Defence is sorted.CM is pretty confusing,DM we are fine dier/wanyama.Unless you’d like a more creative DM a xabi Alonso type.Personally I’d stick with what we have.Then the creative CM.I think it’s ptetty clear dembele is on the decline.So can Winks/onomah/TOB be the Man.Winks I suppose is most likely.I think we should know re winks by end of season.
So AM it’s probably still the Mane pacey type.But we could well have Lamela and Son and sissoko on bench.If you added the the pacey winger we’d be spoilt for choice.With Nkoudou still really unknown and likes of Edwards coming through and Bennetts.
And then Llorente ,I’m ok with him coming on for 20 mins or some lesser.But if he had to replace Kane for an extended period,I’d be very concerned.
So my summary would be:
CM if winks doesn’t totally convince this season.
Pacey winger-But for me it would be a bit of a luxury.
Llorente upgrade-Again a bit of luxury if we could get one.
For me the difference between us being a title winning team right now is the creative CM.

And Alli equalling or surpassing his form of last year
 

StartingPrice

Chief Sardonicus Hyperlip
Feb 13, 2004
32,568
10,280
Given the injuries we've had over the past seasons to key players, it's clear depth isn't an issue. People just want all the players.

I think it is easier to say it than define it. If you take the Huddersfield game, we were playing a team who, although newly promoted, have looked fairly comfortable so far. But we beat them four nil, at a canter, really, while being barely troubled in defence. Included on our bench: Vorm, who many think could be first choice at most any team outside the top six, Son, Llorente and Sissoko (well, he did cost £30 million before £30 million was £60 million - sorry, I did go there). In the meantime, we had injuries to Wanyama and Dembélé, who many consider to have been last season's best midfield pairing in the entire BPL, Rose, who most consider to be the best LB in the league and who City/United would pay a fortune to get their hands on, and Erik Lamela, who is a former child prodigy and I, and many others, believe is a perfect fit for this team. On top of which, Aurier was suspended.

I think that means we have a fair amount of strength in depth, personally. On top of which, we have some top young talent and a manager who ain't afraid to use it. I think it is an issue if you want it to be.
 

guiltyparty

Well-Known Member
Sep 21, 2005
9,023
13,524
Utd have had a much easier start

West Ham (15th)
Swansea (18th)
Leicester (17th)
Stoke (13th)
Everton (16th)
Southampton (12th)
Palace (20th)

Haven't played a team currently in top half

Ours...

Newcastle (9th)
Chelsea (4th)
Burnley (6th)
Everton (16th)
Swansea (18th)
West Ham (15th)
Huddersfield (11th)

I would say ours is very similar to City's...

Brighton (14th)
Everton (16th)
Bournemouth (19th)
Liverpool (7th)
Watford (8th)
Palace (20th)
Chelsea (4th)

Whereas Chelsea have clearly had the hardest start...

Burnley (6th)
Tottenham (3rd)
Everton (16th)
Leicester (17th)
Arsenal (5th)
Stoke (13th)
Man city (1st)

F365 just did a piece on this http://www.football365.com/news/which-team-has-had-the-easiest-run-of-fixtures

The ‘who’s had the hardest start’ table:

1) Everton 6.9 (16th)
2) Crystal Palace 8.1 (20th)
3) Stoke City 8.3 (13th)
4) Chelsea 8.7 (4th)
5) Leicester City 8.9 (17th)
6) West Ham 9.3 (15th)
7) Liverpool 9.4 (7th)
8) Brighton 9.9 (14th)
9) Swansea City 9.9 (18th)
10) Bournemouth 10.1 (19th)
11) Burnley 10.1 (6th)
12) Tottenham 11.3 (3rd)
13) West Brom 11.4 (10th)
14) Newcastle United 11.6 (9th)
15) Watford 11.6 (8th)
16) Huddersfield 11.7 (11th)
17) Arsenal 12.0 (5th)
18) Southampton 12.4 (12th)
19) Manchester City 12.6 (1st)
20) Manchester United 15.9 (2nd)
 
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