Our attack is bland at best.
2 out of 3 frontline positions are just not the required quality.
I still like Martinelli but his contributions have become fleeting at best for a good while now.
I'd say you never know what you're going to get from Trossard but I feel that would be an injustice because when we are struggling and really need him to do something he's usually the worst player on the pitch and overall it seems to me this season we're getting more bad than good from him.
Havertz, we have-hurts now and have no doubt upset the sanctity of the actual best players who are earning less than him and there are probably 8-10 higher quality players than him in the starting XI depending on whether you rank him 3rd worst, 2nd worst, or worst. An astronomical wage to make a squad rotation/backup option our highest earner.
Also having a tight-nit team and then disturbing that by making that joke of a loan signing, what were they smoking at the Emirates?
A massive slice of crumble required now from Liverpool and also for us to grind out wins relentlessly. Seems extremely unlikely and even unlikelier if we don't get Gabriel back immediately.
Edit: Just realised I subconsciously decided to post this without even a few words for Jesus, mind-lapsing him like that probably says it all. There were moments in past seasons where he made worthy contributions and initially his work-rate was somewhat infectious but sadly the injuries have finished him and there were always question marks about him anyway in terms of his output. Time for him to level down to a lesser club.
Apart from Saka...
posted on 9/12/24
https://www.ja606.co.uk/articles/viewArticle/463510
I wrote this article after our first few games of the season.
I thought sterling would help, but he seemingly isn't trusted by the manager to change games for us.
At least nelson is getting game time 🤷🏽
posted on 10/12/24
Arteta spent £32m on Merino and he does not trust him against Fulham. What was the point?
posted on 10/12/24
comment by Jenius99 (U4918)
posted 7 hours, 29 minutes ago
Arteta spent £32m on Merino and he does not trust him against Fulham. What was the point?
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Yep and moving our best players out of their best positions...
I think we would have been stronger against Fulham had Timber remained at RB where he was linking up really well with Saka instead of being switched to LB.
Partey then gets shifted to RB which has never worked well, we always look dire when he's there and we weakened the midfield putting a slow Jorginho up against a hard working physical midfield in a tough London derby away from home...
Why not just leave Timber at RB in his best position, leave Partey at DM/CM in his best position and play Lewis-Skelly at LB who has looked pretty good there in other games this season.
posted on 10/12/24
Both Merino and MLS have fitness issues, and that probably played a big part in the decisions not to use them in the starting XI - although MLS is also a kid with very limited experience, and even moreso as a full back even in youth football.
posted on 10/12/24
I can't help but feel that these decisions are just pure stubbornness from Arteta, he seems desperate to make his ideas that have been proven to be bad - work, even just that one time so he can feel vindicated such as Partey at RB... Even though it's to our detriment and even if it had worked against Fulham, which it didn't, it wouldn't have changed the fact that it's a rubbish idea disrupting multiple players out of their best positions and starting Jorginho.
This continual desire to pay for dipping into Chelsea's bins strikes a similar note of stubborn-stupidity to me: "We'll keep repeating the same mistake so when one signing finally works out we can say, told you so and that will make up for the 9/10 signings that were awful".
We'd rather keep digging the tunnel in the wrong direction though the Earth's core to come out right through the other side of the crust and find the light a century too late instead of stopping and turning round for the sake of pride, vanity and arrogance.
posted on 10/12/24
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 9 minutes ago
Both Merino and MLS have fitness issues, and that probably played a big part in the decisions not to use them in the starting XI - although MLS is also a kid with very limited experience, and even moreso as a full back even in youth football.
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Ok, have not been keeping up with fitness news much lately, I was just assuming Myles was available.
posted on 10/12/24
I think when 5 first team defenders are injured you have to give the manager a bit of licence in finding a solution.
posted on 10/12/24
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 38 seconds ago
I think when 5 first team defenders are injured you have to give the manager a bit of licence in finding a solution.
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It's a fair point.
Personally though, rather than making 3 changes and moving players out of their best positions I'd have rather seen one of the two LBs that were on the bench starting at LB and Timber / Partey remaining where they have been playing well.
Oh well, at least the spudz are imploding: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cwy3de1qyw4o
posted on 10/12/24
He didn't mention Arsenal so Spurs fans will give him bonus points.
posted on 10/12/24
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 17 minutes ago
He didn't mention Arsenal so Spurs fans will give him bonus points.
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I think a lot of Spurs fan will agree and applaud him. Levy may not be quite as warm though