Can't say I've spent several seasons watching him week-in, week-out. I've seen just over a dozen or so games of his for club and country over the past 2 seasons and I'm not convinced about this signing. He times a tackle well and reads interceptions, but he's positionally suspect, not quite robust enough against the stronger forwards, doesn't strike me as the most assured of players at the highest level and his style of defending on the front foot might not work too well partnering Kos. If you saw Germany at the Euros for example, there was a stark difference in how assured and organized they looked when Hummels and Boateng played. Those are 30m+ defenders. I don't believe Mustafi is. Even Howedes was ahead of him.
We've got it wrong quite a lot with defenders under Wenger. In 20 years, Kos and Campbell are his outstanding signings with Kolo and Gallas also acquitting themselves well. There have been a long list of flops and underwhelming players. Even now, we spent close to 30m pounds on Chambers and Gabriel and they barely look worthy to play for Stoke.
Is there anyone who has followed him more closely who is well convinced of this signing.
Mustafi
posted on 25/8/16
"Hearing mixed things about Mustafi, but to be fair couldn't care less how much he cost. I knew we were getting him because Balague said the other day he'd be staying at Valencia."
posted on 25/8/16
Even if new players don't drastically improve the team, they do deepen the squad and provide equal level competition. That's part of the problem we had with Szczesny. We only ever had Almunia (useless), Fabianski (unlucky) and Mannone (never good enough) to challenge him, so the lack of competition had us tolerating a mediocre keeper for years. Cech and Ospina are both very good keepers and keep each other in check.
posted on 25/8/16
"Hearing mixed things about Mustafi, but to be fair couldn't care less how much he cost."
I do, because it consumes part of our transfer funds we could spend elsewhere.
"Been a strange window, these two would bring our spending up to almost £100m, but not convinced we've drastically improved the team"
This is why I believe the cost matters. Cos you get to ask whether £70m is better spent on just Higuain, or better spent on Mustafi and Xhaka.
posted on 25/8/16
I'm not too impressed with what I've seen of him either. He's good, but won't take us to the next level.
Disappointed those rumours about Manolas didn't bear fruit. Would have much preferred him.
posted on 25/8/16
Chris I wouldn't take what GT says seriously, he's genuinely clueless about football and for a supposed German he seems to hate 90% of their players.
posted on 25/8/16
Yeah, Sheriff, but we are at that point in the transfer window where we weren't getting anyone bigger. If it had been earlier, like Xhaka, I'd be questioning paying 35m for a CB who isn't in that top bracket of defenders.
At this point, whether its 25 or 35 makes no real difference.
posted on 25/8/16
Even if new players don't drastically improve the team, they do deepen the squad and provide equal level competition.
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Will it make us better placed than last season in the league. Will it make us challenge the big boys in Europe? If you're spending 100m pounds, you should be significantly strengthening the team and not the squad. There's still no game changer that has really moved the team forward.
posted on 25/8/16
"Even if new players don't drastically improve the team, they do deepen the squad and provide equal level competition. "
Yeah but you have to judge the transfer window as a whole.
If any club spends 100m, bar maybe Barca or RM, you'd expect drastic improvements from that, not filling the squad and providing competition to players already there.
posted on 25/8/16
If it had been earlier, like Xhaka, I'd be questioning paying 35m for a CB who isn't in that top bracket of defenders.
At this point, whether its 25 or 35 makes no real difference.
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#thewengereffect
posted on 25/8/16
comment by RuiCostaJr - Euro 2016 CHAMPIONS!!! (U10462)
posted 7 minutes ago
Even if new players don't drastically improve the team, they do deepen the squad and provide equal level competition. That's part of the problem we had with Szczesny. We only ever had Almunia (useless), Fabianski (unlucky) and Mannone (never good enough) to challenge him, so the lack of competition had us tolerating a mediocre keeper for years. Cech and Ospina are both very good keepers and keep each other in check.
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I get what you're saying, but surely we're past this stage. It's about improving the first team.