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A thread on why I wouldn’t lose any sleep if 80% of this squad left. I’ll be going through the players in our team and where I stand with each of them.
Just a reminder that my standards are to win a TITLE, so enjoy!
The truth stings!
Just a reminder that my standards are to win a TITLE, so enjoy!
The truth stings!
Leno - a good shot stopper, has made crucial saves this season but ultimately, a large amount of other aspects in his game aren’t good enough. Decision making for set pieces; commanding the box, I’m also questioning his technical ability on the ball (crucial in the modern game).
Nowadays, just being a good shot stopper isn’t enough, in fact, most goalkeepers in the league are on a similar level when it comes to shot stopping, thus we’d be no worse with Heaton, Patricio, Schmeichel or Dubravka
But if we want to elevate anywhere near a title challenge we need more from Leno, not to mention him having the most goalkeeping errors leading to goal in the league since he signed. I genuinely wouldn’t lose any sleep if we sold him. As a backup is perfect.
Hector Bellerin - I see nothing more than a pace merchant, but he hasn’t even got blistering pace anymore. Can’t defend, can’t cross, physically weak, nervous on the ball, gets into good attacking positions but ultimately flatters to deceive.
People hype up Bellerin like he’s top 5 right backs in the league, he’s not even top 10 (I personally wouldn’t put him in the top 15) I still tremble at the thought of us rejecting £50m from Barca for him.
I’m not even going to bother going into detail on our centre backs. Just sell the entire lot and I literally mean the entire lot.
Saliba seems to be very qualitative but if you think that he will be anywhere near as good as fans are hyping him up to be... prepare yourselves!
Saliba seems to be very qualitative but if you think that he will be anywhere near as good as fans are hyping him up to be... prepare yourselves!
Tierney - shown defensive competence and ability to whip in a good cross. I’d like him to show more confidence on the ball. The fact is, we’re not helping Saka’s development as a LW by compensating for an injury prone Tierney of which there are many better lb’s for similar price.
Torreira - Let’s say it how it is... if you’re a small CDM and you’re not on the level of Kante, Makelele, Gattuso or Veratti, I’m sorry, you’re not good enough!
Torreira is a good ball winner, but I don’t see him as the out and out CDM we need.
Torreira is a good ball winner, but I don’t see him as the out and out CDM we need.
Torreira seems more like a deep lying playmaker, he’s positionally all over the place, physically insignificant, and not disciplined enough. Like I said, my standards are to win a title, Torreira is not even top 5 cdm’s in the league.
Not good enough.
Not good enough.
Mesut Ozil - FINISHED
Xhaka - Good enough.
Xhaka - Good enough.
Guendouzi - still has potential but imo is currently living off his passion. Very limited player who doesn’t really specialise in anything apart from energy.
A lot of praise for Guendouzi is based on the fact that he’s young and that he came from the french league two rather than his football attributes (of which are very limited). Doesn’t even get considered for at least 8 teams in the Premier League.
Joe Willock - I had hopes for this guy; I thought he could be a goalscoring box to box, maybe under better coaching and a more productive squad. But he genuinely doesn’t start for Brighton.
I want to win a title, not to fulfill some hidden ulterior urge to see young kids play.
I want to win a title, not to fulfill some hidden ulterior urge to see young kids play.
Ceballos - looks alot better cos his competition is the likes of Torreira, Guendouzi and Willock. But ultimately, I don’t even see Ceballos as a consistent top 4 midfielder let alone a title challenger. We need more than someone spinning around just to release a decent pass.
Pepe - first season in the prem. has shown us his ability, but his biggest problem is his decision making. He passes when he should run and runs when he should pass, showing many ligue 1 traits and unnecessary freestyling.
Pepe’s good performances are mainly him popping up with a goal and assist, but his overall productivity and contribution to a 90 minute game is not good enough. He can still be a threat under better coaching, but I need to see a LOT more from him, and soon. Personally i like him.
Saka - Baller. I think he’s our best youngster. Intelligent, reads the game well, plays with his head up and makes good use of his attributes. Him & Reiss have similar attributes like pace and skill but Saka has the IQ, Nelson is lacking in this department.
Nelson is not good enough at all. Had numerous chances to prove himself and he’s shown that he’s not at the level required. Get rid of him.
Martinelli - Pleased with what I’ve seen from Martinelli in his first season. Instinctive finisher, direct runner and unquestioned work rate. At the moment I don’t think he has the all round game to be a consistent starting left winger for us.
I prefer to see Martinelli develop as a striker, as he already has natural goalscoring instincts. When he adds more to his link up and hold up play etc, he’ll become a more complete player.
Nketiah - I want to win a title, do I see Nketiah ever becoming a starter or even a rotational player in a title winning team? No. We’re shifting Martinelli to the left and right to compensate for a failed championship striker and Lacazette (we’ll get onto him).
Not good enough.
Not good enough.
Aubameyang - What can I say? What a guy! What a striker 
I’ve been critical of Auba since last season: I was annoyed at his work rate; his ineffectiveness when he doesn’t score and the amount of sitters he missed last season.
I’ve been critical of Auba since last season: I was annoyed at his work rate; his ineffectiveness when he doesn’t score and the amount of sitters he missed last season.
BUT, this season, Auba has stepped up and has been more clinical (which sounds crazy considering he scored 30 goals last season
) we just can’t deny that Auba is an ELITE goalscorer with world class positioning and he’s constantly got us out of so many embarrassing situations.
) we just can’t deny that Auba is an ELITE goalscorer with world class positioning and he’s constantly got us out of so many embarrassing situations.
Auba starts for a title winning team, Auba starts for a team that wants to compete to for the ucl. Once again, we haven’t taken advantage of another top talent we have. If Auba has any ambition about him, he’ll leave this summer.
Lacazette - I’ve backed Laca this season, but the penny has dropped. He’s not even doing the things fans use as an excuse for him not scoring: not passing well; not holding up the ball well; not dribbling well and has scored 34 in 34 months with 7 away league goals in 3 seasons.
I feel like Lacazette is slowly falling into the Ozil category where fans are starting to say stuff like “we know what laca can do, we just need him to deliver it”
Sorry, not good enough, and let’s say it how it is - Giroud has contributed more...
Sorry, not good enough, and let’s say it how it is - Giroud has contributed more...
To conclude, Auba, Xhaka, Pepe, Saka and Martinelli are definitely good enough: Auba and Xhaka for first XI; Martinelli, Pepe and Saka as rotational players for now.
Tierney needs to prove he can handle a full season but I do like his mindset; you can tell he’s got a winning culture in him.
Leno could elevate to an elite goalkeeper one day under better coaching considering he’s still very young for a keeper, but why wait?
Leno could elevate to an elite goalkeeper one day under better coaching considering he’s still very young for a keeper, but why wait?
You see, my standards are to be the Bayern Munich, Juventus, Barca/Madrid of England, which we were told when we moved to the Emirates, not a club that glorifies top 4, and therefore I’m only really interested in keeping the players that can possibly elevate us to a title.
Our season will end with us finishing 6th-12th with proven bottlers, so why not generate money through selling them, and recruit more effecient signings to raise the standards an significantly improve us?
My tolerance for the daily crap that occurs at this club is at an all time low, so if someone told me that we can drain the entire club from top to bottom and start and reset, I wouldn’t really be having any nightmares either.
So there you go
End of thread - The truth stings
So there you go
End of thread - The truth stings
