The College Dropout

I'd love a real wide player. One that doesn't mind staying wide to whip in a cross. Providing real width.

Bent and Gyan had a decent partnership. Gyan was good for everything except scoring (although his record there was decent), Bent's the other way around. Was a decent partnership. Realistically Villa may need to let him go on a free. If I was a newcomer to the division, i'd break the bank for Bent.

Second best manager in the league - at least. STILL the best coach in the league.

Haha agreed. He hasn't played enough nor is he mature enough to make that distinction. If he could make a Walcott like improvement in finishing he'd be a top, top player imo.

absolutely fantastic when at arsenal, moved up and didn't make it. be very intersting if he has any desire when,if he moves on. He's not a bottler like. I like the way he insists on taking the 5th penalty for Spain in shoot-outs.

Not true. They are all about Real Madrid but not necessarily the way the people at Real Madrid want. They cause a lot of unwanted damage to the club.

Passing and moving. Moving the ball quickly. So simple but it's what we need. Someone stamp that on Tiote's head, the one, two touch thing. Then pass and move on Jonas head.

Yeah seems the better option for us. As I said earlier not overly bothered by the fact he turned us down in January, the biggest question mark is what he has been accused of and will that come back to bite us on the ass? We need a genuine pacy option, and a bigger striker just as much. Very small team we have.

Would take Niang and one of the others, nee problem.

Was ondering why Rafa didn't strengthen their weak areas.

Nobody is a flop at 18 man.

IMO Arsene Wenger is still AT LEAST the second best manager in the league. As long as he's around, he'll drag an Arsenal team to 4th at least. Spurs had a better side than Arsenal last season, had the better star player for the first time since...... still finished behind Arsenal. The Arsene Wenger system will give Arsenal 4th at least.

Damn. Reast in Peace

The London factor is bigger than most realise.

Cisse - Germany Anita - Holland Have we signed any other first teamers in recent seasons from other countries than France & England except those two?

Arsenal pay better wages and are regularly in the Champions League. L'pool don't and are not. It's been...4, maybe 5 seasons since L'pool finished above Arsenal. Arsenal is a jump but not massively. Same as Newcastle to L'pool is a jump but not massively.

I can see Aulas POV - clubs have bid 10m for him this summer and he doesn't want to give into "player power". Even if Gomis leaves in January for £3m he has shown to everyone, if nobody meets our evaluation you can rot in the reserves for 4 months. I am the boss, and I decide who leaves and for what price. Him accepting a lower offer is a sign of weakness. It's like Cabaye refusing to go to Anzhi or something for 25m and wanting to go to PSG for Man Utd for 20m. Even if Cabaye ended up leaving for £10m the following summer i'd respect the move. Levy would do the same.

As lon as Wenger is Arsenal manager, I don't see Spurs finishing above them.

If this was a month earlier, with Benteke's situation up in the air, Higuain not sold off and generally some mroe time to do some player hunting - they would be stupid not to sell. Now... the league just around the corner.. they don't have the time to adjust their budgets and targets.

Do we need Cabaye to be a Gattuso like shuttler though? those 3 in midfield are setup different than the usual 4-3-1-2 is and thus need different things. I think he does have the legs to do it btw, the main problem with Cabaye isn't his lack of work rate which is great its how deep how is. I wouldn't mind him in that role if he's doing it higher up the pitch, Anita is perfectly suited to the player at the base of the diamond and Sissoko in theory at least should suit the role you mentioned to a tee. Also the Tiote and Cabaye partnership simply doesn't work as they seemingly have no understanding in possession.... defensively they understand each other but in possession its a disaster. Something needs to change for sure. The phrase "legs" has nothing to do with work rate really. We mean speed, stamina, fitness. He's not naturally blessed in this department and it reminds me of Xabi Alonso. Ideally, you want someone doing Alonso's running or your team gets 80% possession. Tiote-Cabaye midfield is a solid combination, gives the defence protection, both put a foot in, Tiote runs, Cabaye does the passing.

Although the game is moving toward 2 shuttlers, Rafa's L'pool showed you can have a holder, a passer and a shuttler.

They've got a good team and spine. Lloris, Vertonghnen, Paulinho, Sandro, Bale.

The team is built around Bale but it is a good team. Without him, others would step up. There's no coincidence that when Bale's form went into over drive Defoe stopped scoring.

Or Vuckic? IMO he's more of a supporting forward than an AM. More about goals than creating from what i've seen. But aye, they can play in that same position but the roles are different.

S'hampton, Crystal Palace even Middlesbrough. Great academy's by English standards. Wham had a Golden Generation but have produced little since.