Summer 2017 Transfer Speculation (continued)
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Comments
Would have taken Chalobah and Fernado for £5mil but too late now
I don't think we NEED in any position. However, I feel we are light up front, and at DM, but absolutely nowhere else in the squad. I would like to think Rice & Martinez would be able to step into the breach should there ever be that need as the season progresses.
Obviously, if someone comes onto the market that is better than what we already have in our first XI, and we can afford them, then I would expect us to be in for them. However, I really, really don't understand why anyone would want us to chase back up signings after spending all of last year critcising the club for making back up signings.
We need a new starting CM. Someone to come into the side who can be disciplined in that role (with defensive qualities).
We need another starting striker. Somebody to compete with Chicharito and give us options up top. I accept though that you could say "we have Chica, Carroll, Sakho, Antonio, Ayew and Martinez". For me that really reads as "we have Chica and Martinez".
Even if you felt we COULD rely on youth, now both Cullen and Fletcher have gone, we need more options to push the starting XI. It's too comfy for certain players. Noble and Kouyate for example. Nailed on starters for the past 3 years.
I'm happy for Rice to be an emergency DM/CB this season, and Martinez to be a striker option. But they shouldn't be pressured into producing the goods when they aren't ready.
We are OK in goal, OK at full-back and I suppose OK at CB. We have wide players too when all fit (Antonio, Snodgrass, Arnautovic and Ayew), but we seriously lack in CM, AM (so an alternative to Lanzini) and striker (we aren't seriously relying on Sakho and Carroll AGAIN).
We don't have neverending cash. I know. But we've spent around £36m on transfer fees this summer and recouped a lot in sales. I know it's not that easy, but if the Dave's could stretch to a couple more players, that would set us up nicely.
I've always felt you have to reinforce every position each summer to keep things fresh and people on their toes. We've added a keeper, a full-back, a winger and a striker. I'd like a CM. I know signing a CB may be counter-productive as we have four plus Kouyate plus Rice, Burke and Oxford.
Obiang is the main one worth keeping in the XI. The other two struggled badly last season.
Not sure how that justifies a vote of confidence like signing nobody else the summer after.
As a unit, we were so disjointed.
Slav has obviously tried addressing this by signing a better keeper and a leader in Hart and an experienced professional RB in Zabaleta, replacing the experienced professional RB we had last season in Arbeloa. I'm not 100% convinced those two are going to transform our defensive abilities without support in midfield shielding the back four. Obiang is not a DM. I think he's actually a box to box midfielder because he actually has an eye for a pass. Which means we have to convert Noble or Kouyate into a proper DM and so far neither of them have been capable of doing it consistently. So, for me, that means we upgrade on them and let one go unless they want to fight for their place. At the minute the 4th choice CM is Rice. Fernandes, from what I've seen, isn't suited to a CM position in a two, but could maybe do well in a 3 or behind the striker.
Hart/Adrian
Zabaleta/Byram - Reid/Collins - Ogbonna/Fonte - Cresswell/Masuaku
Noble/Rice - Obiang/Kouyate
Antonio/Snodgrass - Lanzini/Fernandes - Arnautovic/Ayew
Chicharito/Sakho/Carroll
P.s. you still haven't fully answered my admittedly heavily hypothetical question. You said keep Obiang, but if one of Noble and Kouyate had to leave in order to bring in another CM, who of the two goes for you in preference?
We also have Lanzini not a great tackler / Arnie who Stoke fans said was never one to track back much and Ayew again not a great tackler.
Antonio is probably the only midfielder we have that actually works the whole wing and at least will help out the RB.
We then have Kouyate and Noble, one who wants to push forward consistently leaving exposed gaps behind and one who likes to give a free kick exactly 25 yards just outside the Penalty box.
Obiang is the only actual decent tackler in our entire midfield.
If you're in all the cups and Europe, players will stick around. Otherwise, they'll want out, and potentially cause a poisonous atmosphere.
We went scattergun last summer and it worked out pretty badly. I'm happy with signing a few first-teamers and not upheaving the whole squad again.
A bit like having Gloria Estefan's song "Oye Mi Canto", translating it into East End vernacular "Oi! My Kante!" Then having to give it back ;whistle
I understand the points he makes about Fonte and Snodgrass but January signings are more volatile in regards to hitting the ground running and with all due respect Arnie, Hernandez, Hart and Zabaleta are just plain and simple higher calibre players to Fonte and Snodgrass
In regards to DM I think when you look at Obiang and Kouyate you think either could be a real DM but 2/3 years after they arrived they are still primarily box-to-box midfielders
Thy are big, imposing and athletic players but I think they lack positional discipline, particularly Kouyate who bombs forward leaving huge gaps
Think Obiang can be that guy as he makes good interceptions and is actually a pretty smart tackler (with the attacker in front of him less so when chasing back) and is the superior passers so hopefully won't be caught out when instigating attacks
But Kouyate needs to be more disciplined and help out as there is too much work (and actual pitch areas) for only Obiang to manage
Noble for me can't do it, he lacks the necessary physical attributes and think he's just too rash a tackler
If Slaven can hone Obiang and Kouyate to being strictly defensive midfielders who 'occasionally' run forward it will solve our problem
This is all theoretical obviously and I feel given the lack of defensive nous the coaching staff seem to have then Kouyate and Obiang will perform the same way and will leave us exposed
If they don't adapt or we don't bring in a DM I honestly think the only way forward is 3 at the back which will limit us offensively but will at least help us stop conceeding so many which was last year's main problem
#justsayin
again on Sky.....Brentford to West Ham