New Midfield Needed?

This topic contains 7 replies, has 5 voices, and was last updated by The Oracle The Oracle 6 years, 11 months ago.

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  • #1472906

    steve68
    Participant
    • :

    one of the reasons i think we need two new combative
    midfield players is what happened yesterday.half way
    through that first half i noticed both jamie redknapp
    and alan smith compliment rambo’s energy and workrate.

    in the second half it was so noticeable that rambo nor
    xhaka could match the physical strength and presence
    of wanyama & dier.they were way too powerful for our
    midfield.now i hear some fans say we miss santi?we
    have but we CANNOT have santi in our midfield next
    season.

    chelski,spuds,pool etc have shown the way.two strong,
    powerful midfield players who can do the first and
    most important thing thats required in this prem lge,
    to win the battle in midfield first.i’m not going to
    hammer xhaka because i think every player deserves two
    seasons before being properly judged.either rambo or
    xhaka could work if you had a combative midfield
    player who can do the dirty work.

    players feed off each other,and the biggest disappointment
    for me this season is partnerships not forming and
    working.while i think a top class striker is our main
    priority this summer,but we must go back to old school
    and look for those combative midfield players that give
    your more technical players a chance to express themselves
    in more forward areas,fully knowing that they have that
    insurance behind them.we look scared,timid,passive.
    couldn’t fault rambo for desire and attitute but the truth
    is wanyama had him in his pocket given his size and presence.
    we need to get back to that.

    #1473179

    andy528
    Participant
    • :

    Morning Steve.

    I have said a few times now that the central midfield of our team is a huge problem and one that needs addressing or this team will not improve any time soon. Tim Stillman wrote a great piece a few weeks back about how Wenger just likes to buy players that he likes and then worries about how he fits them into his ‘system’. Xhaka is the perfect example. Wenger follows his progress for years before he signed him. I was a big fan of the signing because whenever I had watched him play for Switzerland, he always ran the show. The difference is, he played next to a very combative player in Gokhan Inler most of the time. A player who sat a bit deeper and did the dirty work.

    I like you, think its too early to judge whether he has been a waste of a signing and I am absolutely sure a different manager would get more from Granit. That is only going to happen if we find the right person to play next to him. That person needs to be athletic, quick and disciplined in terms of his role and responsibilities. In our current squad, we don’t have that person.

    I’ll be honest, I wanted us to sign Wanyama when he was at Celtic. Then when it became apparent he was going to leave Southampton, it seemed a no brainer.
    Our midfield options are very concerning. I don’t think Wilshere has a long term future with us and I don’t think Ramsey is good enough to be starting for a club like ours (in an ideal, non Wenger world!), Elneny is a likeable guy but is never going to pull up any trees. Santi is on borrowed time and Coquelin should be out the door in the summer.

    #1473181
    The Oracle
    The Oracle
    Participant
    • :

    New midfield!!! We pretty much need a new team. I didn’t think I’ve seen as much dross purporting to play for Arsenal in years. lets have a look at who needs to stay, who needs to go and who is worth keeping. Definite Outs: Ospina, Debuchy, Jenkinson, Gabriel, Mertesacker, Montreal, Gibbs, Xhaka, Ozil, Coquelin, Perez, Sanogo, Giroud. Undecided: Cech, Chambers, Holding, Mustafi, Koscielny, Ramsey, Cazorla, Elneney, Walcott, Welbeck. Must Keep: Bellerin, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Iwobi, Sanchez.

    #1473216

    James Marshment
    Keymaster
    • :

    Wise words, Steve68. I completely agree that’s where Arsenal have struggled most this season.

    #1473236

    Gooner54
    Participant
    • :

    Shifty.

    I think I’d move a few around in the categories. Walcott definite out. Xhaka, I’d give a chance with better partner. To walk into this group, would demoralize any player.
    New striker for sure. Ramsey not good enough and can’t play with Xhaka. If I wanted a marathon runner in midfield great, but Ramsey has fallen away badly.
    I would again say, the level of player ability in reading the game, and personal skills is not improving.
    Maybe because of Maslow’s theory, or they are not being developed correctly. The Ox for example. Definite talent, but woeful in defensive nous. Look how he was skinned on the touchline in Spurs game. I’ve seen Bellerin and Walcott, be taken exactly the same. They speed up and then get turned inside by opponent. Basics, the only jockey you see, is on the race course.
    We will never improve as a team, if the players are not developed. Iwobi is a great potential but skills wise, very naive.

    I know the defense suxs as well, and I’m always laying into the manager. Yet in truth, it is his job to manage and direct and oversee these fundamentals. I know you agree, so am not castigating you in anyway. I am frustrated that no remedial action is, or has been forthcoming, from those in the positions to do so.
    A pity as I will never support another team.

    Gooner for life.

    #1473254
    The Oracle
    The Oracle
    Participant
    • :

    Gooner54, Sorry but Xhaka is a major problem and no one is going to play well with him due to him being such a liability. You can’t kick Ramsey out simply because he can’t play with Xhaka, play him correctly as Chris Colman does and you see a different player, just as you can’t really fault The Ox when he isn’t a full back/wing back. It’s not long ago he was excelling in centre midfield. There are a number of players who have been totally messed about, in and out of the side, different positions etc, they are totally confused. As for Theo I have always maintained Wenger doesn’t use him correctly, he never played wide right before he joined us and how many times have I said he needs the ball playing through to him, he can’t dribble but then he never could. Maybe it would be better for him to move on now after so long. As for defending Wenger has never understood it, he thinks Bellerin and The Ox can do the same job, they can’t. Just imagine if Lee Dixon and Nigel Winterburn were at Arsenal now, I don’t Wenger would play them, he doesn’t understand the role of a real fullback and he doesn’t get that the main function of a Central Defender is to defend. The entire squad, tactics, formation are a mess. But in conclusion you will be disappointed if you think Xhaka will improve, it just won’t happen.

    #1474435

    Gooner54
    Participant
    • :

    Thanks for imput.

    I still think Xhaka will come good. but Ramsey no. He has fallen away too much, not just because he plays with Xhaka.
    Walcott same, never improved and hides away, no bottle.
    Maybe I’m wrong and with a better management team, all the players could improve. I don’t dislike anyone in an Arsenal shirt, but get exasperated when they consistently play cr*p.
    Ox to me has fantastic potential, yet seems brittle in the self esteem part of his make up.
    I would be first to admit if I’m wrong and hope so. But, until we see a change in existing set up, we will never know.
    Keep safe. A win Sunday please.

    Gooner for life.

    #1474455
    The Oracle
    The Oracle
    Participant
    • :

    Gooner54, That I suppose is it in a nutshell. Until Wenger Foxtrot Oscars we won’t know. We can argue whether it’s down to Wenger’s tactics, formations, use of players, selection policy or training methods or alternatively you can point to his poor purchases. The truth is each and every player is one or the other or in a lot of cases both. Only time will tell and we may never know with most of them but I am 100% positive that Xhaka will let you down, it’s so obvious to me that he just isn’t good enough, I don’t see any attributes at all. But if Wenger stays how will we ever know. One thing is for certain he has ruined several careers.

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