Which makes it extremely unlikely that we will be able to keep Ødegaard. It may have come to the attention of a few of you that I'm a big fan of the Norwegian, and it is no small disappointment that we won't be able to keep him. We cannot, however, allow ourselves to be strung along all summer just in case the new Real Madrid manager decides to sell him. Doing so would see other targets, such as Buendia, move to our rivals.
In the absence of Ødegaard, we need to target a slightly different profile of player. I'm aware my high opinion of him isn't shared by one and all here, but he is the kind of intelligent creative midfielder that is more of a central midfielder than an attacking midfielder. He is, stylistically, much closer to Cesc Fabregas than to Mesut Özil, Buendia or Rosicky. We have that kind of creative player in Emile Smith Rowe, who is fantastic. Thus, I worry that targeting Buendia may prove a mistake, despite his talent.
I'd consider reviving our interest in Aouar, who may come at a more reasonable price, as the intelligent midfield link between defence and attack, and partnering him with Bissouma and Partey. That would see a lovely balance of creative and destructive elements within the team, but could leave us short with the first injury or ACON to come along.
We need bodies in midfield. Our youth system has the likes of Azeez, Cirjan, Marcelo Flores, Cottrell and Patino, all of whom are comfortably talented enough to one day be first team players. One day. Azeez is the closest to being ready, but it's certainly too early to burden him. We'd be barking mad to sell Joe Willock given the expected departures of Torreira, Guendouzi and Xhaka. In truth, we'll probably have to settle on hoping our midfielders stay fit as we have other areas of priority, especially right back and attack.
TL;DR: move on from Ødegaard quickly, buy Bissouma and Aouar and do not target Buendia unless Kroenke is doing a madness.
Zidane Has Quit
posted on 28/5/21
My suggested XI would have had a midfield base of Bissouma and Partey who are both perfectly capable of progressing into space. I was imagining a lopsided midfield 4 in a 4-3-3 (where one creative (ESR) plays on the "wing".
Bissouma and Partey are both exceptional at powerful, bursting dribbles after winning the ball. Aouar is a wonderful technical dribbler capable of stretching markers, picking passes and retaining possession. They complement one another.
As for Willock, in response to both We Got Our Arsenal Back and Jenius, you're right that, if he starts games, he should play as more of an 8. I see his style, if not level (lol), as being similar to Ramsey. Ramsey was only effective at CAM off the bench as games were stretched. Both players are goalscorers from that position.
posted on 28/5/21
Is this the Ramsey playing for Juve on £250k a week?
posted on 29/5/21
Did you see where I, knowing you'd take the interpretation you want to, said they were stylistically similar but not in terms of ability?
posted on 29/5/21
No I just frown on some supporters, not always you, assume that English players are not as technically competent as their foreign counterparts. Just smells of racism.
posted on 29/5/21
This month I said that Aaron Ramsey, pre-Shawcross, was as talented as Cesc Fabregas. I'm not the right person to make that point to. Also, he's Welsh.
posted on 29/5/21
Its still the United Kingdom.
posted on 1/6/21
https://twitter.com/Worville/status/1399405988017487876/photo/1
Girøulski what do you make of this? Kinda lays bare how average Odegaard has been.
posted on 2/6/21
If you're saying Ødegaard hasn't been at his best for us, you're right. He hadn't played for half a year and then got injured just as he was picking up steam.
However, I can see his talent and ability. Both times he was able to get a run of games together he began to show how good he is. I'll defer to that over stats about his play whilst carrying an injury.
posted on 2/6/21
I was just looking at the lack of progressive passing which, lets face it, should the most important ability in any creative attacking midfield player. I just wonder if thats just a lack of strength or if it was down to tactics.
posted on 2/6/21
If you watched the last game of the season, that was where we got to see his creative ability firing on all cylinders. I believe that, if we could keep him, we'd see that a lot more often.