If we go by the rules, a Premier League side can register 25 players along with any number of U21 players. 8 out of these 25 players must be home-grown i.e. should have been registered at least for 3 years before turning 21. I am just leaving out these complexities for now to keep things simple. This was our last season’s team that played in Premier League.
GK – Ramsdale, Turner, Karl Hein
RB – Ben White, Tomiyasu
CB – Gabriel, Saliba, Kiwior, Holding
LB – Kieran Tierney, Zinchenko
DM – Partey, Elneny, Jorginho
AM – Vieira, Xhaka
CM – Odegaard, ESR
RW – Bukayo Saka, Nelson
LW – Martinelli, Trossard
CF – Jesus, Nketiah
There is no chance of any changes to our GK position. Ramsdale will be our #1 and Turner will be given game time against weaker opponents and when Ramsdale needs a rest.
For RB, we struggled last season due to Tomiyasu’s injury. We could have been in a much worse condition if we had to play 2 games a week, White did well but any injuries to either one of them can jeopardize our upcoming season. Hence, we are pursuing Jurrien Timber from Ajax. He is a CB, who can play equally well at RB and is probably going to play the inverted right back, similar to what Zinchenko does at the left side.
RB – Ben White, Tomiyasu, Jurrien Timber
Our Centre Back position is going to remain same. Holding signed a contract extension with the club till 2027, so he is not leaving. We are not going to sell anyone else.
LB – Zinchenko is going to be the starter, Tierney will deputize.
DM – talk of the town. We have, an injury prone but magnificent when in form, Thomas Partey, Jorginho and Elneny. We are going to submit the second bid for Declan Rice, and are also interested in 19-year old Roméo Lavia from Southampton. We are serious for both of them, and if they arrive, I could imagine some shifting. Rumours says we are fine to let go of Partey if a substantial bid come. Personally, I feel we shouldn’t and task him to mentor Rice and a young Lavia. Partey is immense, he was probably the best midfielder in Premier League last season and still have 2 years left on his contract. We can utilize one of these years for a transitioning.
My expectation – Partey, Rice, Lavia
Most likely – Rice, Jorginho, Lavia
Xhaka had a great season, his best with us since he joined. He is now off to Leverkusen and we will most likely get Kai Havertz from Chelsea in his place. I have given up on Vieira but not Mikel.
AM – Havertz, Vieira
There is going to be no changes at the top. We have the LW, RW, CF and CM position sorted for some time. Though I would like to see Balogun included in the list.
Here’s the thing. We have two important cups to play for – Premier League and Champions League. Positions like GK and CB can play twice a week if the need be, but other positions will require rotation. We also have to factor in any injuries. If we go into the season with Jesus and Nketiah as our only option at CF, and one of them is out injured, do you expect the other to cover 2 games a week without any drop in performance? I don’t. I know we can play Trossard and Martinelli at CF but you get the gist of it.
With the expected addition of Rice, Lavia and Havertz in midfield and Xhaka leaving, we would have to get rid of 2, Elneny and Jorginho are my choices. We will see though as Partey rumours are pretty strong.
A good thing about Arteta is, that he don’t get versatile player just for the namesake. Ben White has adapted really well at RB, Trossard has played at both LW and as a CF, and there wasn’t any drop in quality. Tomiyasu can play on either side and at CB. Timber will be added to this list. Our defence gets sorted, our wingers are set and fixing midfield is in progress.
Here’s my predication with some caveat –
Caveat being, Partey! We might end up with a midfield of Rice + Jorginho + Lavia/Elneny. We might also see Balogun replacing Eddie at CF.
There could be some more changes in the starting positions. Nelson plays well at LW too, Martinelli is equally good at RW and Jesus can cover too. Personally, this is what I am expecting at the end of this transfer window, without going into the details of whether Havertz is a good signing for us or now. If Mikel wants him, he can get him – I will look forward to the results.
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Right, that’s all for today. What changes do you see (or expect) from the above line up?
Ambarish can you set a default 2 line gap between paragraphs please. Will make easier reading for long posts. 🙂
Some fair points Tony. Hopefully we will get our key targets over the line and we’ll all be happy. Havertz does seem a curveball but I suppose we’ll only really know when we see how he fits in. My optimistic nature feels that it could be a success.
One slight quibble, your namesake at Brighton and his team do have a different policy and profile than Arsenal. They undoubtedly do a fantastic job identifying players but it’s easier for them to operate as a ‘stepping stone’ club; the selling clubs recognise their price range and agents can accept lower wages for their clients knowing that they’ll get exposure in PL and access to a big payday when they sell.
Not to say we couldn’t spend money better, Lakonga, Viera etc but I guess we’re less aware of Brighton’s misses than our own!
I think it’s the sequencing of these potential purchases that worry me. A Havertz type player is clearly not the priority right now. Instead, as we all know, it’s the middle of midfield. So why don’t they look at Havertz AFTER the more important transfer business is conducted and see if he’s still available (comment – he will be at that price because no one else is interested).
I vaguely remember this happening last year, where MF was ignored and the excuse emerged that all the cash had been spent so we were going to roll with Elneny again.
Tony,
To get the two line gap is very easy you just have to put a Period in the line and that will take care of it as you will see in the following case.
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See how this works.
I always appreciate your optimism. Bob.
We’ll know soon enough and hopefully we’ll all be happy. It’s worrying, though.
Killroy
Thanks for the tip. 🙂
KP
There were 2 midfielders we could have done with at the time, Buenda who went to Villa I think, and Bruno Guimares to the Bar Codes. We bought Vieira & Lakonga instead: one still trying to make the grade and the other needs selling.
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We seem to skirt round our real needs or not do our due diligence, such as with Partey breaking down each season. He didn’t supposedly at AM, but his work rate wasn’t required as it was under Mikel. Arteta thought Partey could cover the whole MF himself covering for Xhaka.
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I just can’t get my head round the multitude of TW mistakes A&E are allowed to make. Do the suits not realise how bad out TW optics are with A&E?
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Oh and salparadisenyc is Pedro. However, as smart as Weagle and Marko are they just can’t see Pedro taking the piss out of them with Conetta and Sal backing Conetta up. What an absolute farce to try to manipulatelate the word of Arteta. Simply primary school antics.
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Can Pedro get any lower?
Was a rhetorical question lads, of course he can.
I really hate all the transfer window bullshit and that’s before we add the special dollop of Arsenal screwing around on deals – Wenger’s early days were easy, you’d see a story that a press conference had been called for midday where a player (usually one you hadn’t heard much of) would be announced.
Between the internet and 24 hour news cycle it really gets me down.
KP I know you’ll approve of this song choice where the lyrics apply to the below players:
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?
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https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-12218431/Arsenal-let-striker-Eddie-Nketiah-Folarin-Balogun-leave-summer.html
Marc
I allow myself just an hour a day at the moment looking at the TW via the Internet. Then I keep busy with other things that are far more important than what A&E do. When we move to France I can see myself watching local clubs as KP does.
KSE do not know how to run a successful PL club unless there is no threat of relegation. They play at transfer windows is the best way I can put it.
Tony-agree with both your Bloom and Caicedo sentiments…my post last night was an attempt to put a positive spin on a transfer window which includes both Rice and Havertz, even though if I had my druthers I would go in a different direction…I do get want Bob was suggesting when he spoke of the fundamental differences between us and Brighton, but that doesn’t absolve our not-so-dynamic duo from their plethora of transfer fuck ups
KP-no fucking doubt…there should be no universe where the first transfer this summer isn’t a fucking midfielder…Hammers would be right to dig in even more if we’re nickel and diming them yet we have no problems shelling out an above the number fee for a player with a glaring lack of suitors and who’s on a club in desperate need of trimming their roster…it’s like when your fucking buddy can’t seem to pay you back but he’s posting pics from the strip club in full-bore making it rain mode
meanwhile, back in the real world, we could have got Mac Allistar and Nkunku for less than what Rice will ultimately cost
it will be interesting to see if MA sanctions Xhaka’s exit immediately following Havertz’s medical, as that should tell us a lot about where Kai will primarily be deployed
This article from The Athletic is eye opening regarding transfers and as to why no one can emulate Brighton’s way of recruiting. I can send out an invitation for a year’s subscription for $20 just need to ask Ambarish for my email address.
How Brighton’s transfers have become the envy of the Premier League
https://theathletic.com/4237821/2023/04/21/brighton-scouting-premier-league-tony-bloom/
I read somewhere that the type of ads appearing on your phone are related to your Internet activity. Well everytime I come on to LIR I get pictures of ladies in their underwear modelling for Very. Seriously looks like I’m watching porn. The wife is starting to get sus. Is it just me or are the rest of you experiencing this?? What have I been doing with my phone……
Anyway,Kai Havertz…….is shit. There. I’ve said it. Have to laugh at the technical argument,he’s a professional footballer for Christ’s sake,of course he’s technically good. Does he make us better? Nope. ( unless you use the straw man argument that he’s replacing Xhaka and therefore improves us. Sid replacing Xhaka improves us).
Otherwise,how are you all? Finished work yesterday,a long lazy summer beckons. Going to watch the ashes religiously. The first test was fantastic,sorry about the result Bob and anyone else in the barmy army. My gut is that Australia needed the win more than England who,despite losing,were the more impressive team. Addictive stuff.
The transfer window is ridiculous. Nothing makes sense. Chelsea are able to sell damaged goods for peak prices while we can’t sell. Period. Arteta is going to be the most backed Arsenal manager,financially speaking,in living memory and that’s including inflation etc. He has had the freedom to do as he pleases with both incomings and outgoings. Next season is Dick Turpin time. Stand and deliver.
Tony/ KP/TRVL,
I think it was you guys talking about Guy Ritchies ‘ the Covenant’. I really enjoyed it also. Was beginning to give up on him,he directed a terrible version of Robin Hood recently. But this was most refreshing. There is another very similar film out which you might enjoy starring Gerard Butler called ‘Kandahar’. If ‘the Covenant’ gets an 8 then this is a 6 and a half,pushing 7. Enjoyable for those who don’t mind suspending reality. An old lecturer of mine would have referred to it as ‘chewing gum for the eyes’.
KP,
I see you’ve taken to phone hacking now,nice one. Keep them coming, humour will be required in large doses over the coming months I suspect. Mayo are one game away from premature exiting again. Away to neighbours Galway on Saturday,it’s looking bleak. On the bright side the Tartan army are flying,qualification looks highly likely now. Whereas the green army is shuddering to a halt once more. Ridiculously difficult group,but I fear for Kenny now. You wouldn’t know anyone in Cardiff with Mick Mccarthy’s number would you?
And before you say it, Cardiff had Mick Mccarthy’s number a long time ago!
Almunia
If you use a wifi, chances are that anyone else is searching / shopping for it. Or even, Google discovers location and if it identifies it’s the same house, it will show ads to other persons. Creepy but that’s how worse it has got.
To get rid of it, search for some expensive watches on Google and Amazon (and other shopping website you use) for a day or two.. these ads will be replaced… atleast that’s what I do when I get frustrated.
I gave up watching certain sites on the phone. Forward the link from the phone to my email on the PC, the Firefox browser has uBlock Origin and AdBlock installed and see zero ads not even in column ads or within Reddit on my favorite Rugby Union subreddit. I learned to do all my online browsing on the PC and if need to be use the Firefox Private Window that has disabled any tracking.
It has gotten worse with Facebook and Meta. Your ISP can still track you, Europe has stricter data protection laws so I guess it’s less annoying there.
Almunia – on the funny side, you can blame it on the website 😂
Almunia-I’ll definitely check it out whenever it drops on the old firestick…the movie-making business has functionally flatlined since covid, so it would be nice to see if some of the more prominent contemporary directors, like himself, Nolan, Wes and Paul Thomas Anderson can resurrect the industry…I’m likewise hearing some good buzz about Oppenheimer, although Wes’s Asteroid City has received some mixed reviews…the latter has always been a polarizing figure, but not for me, as I will always have time for whatever he has on offer
as for your Havertz take, there’s no doubt in my mind that we should have prioritized other positional players first, especially considering the financials…the whole thing is giving me Wenger-like flashbacks…I guess the only tangible difference is that MA doesn’t have the same financial constraints…even so, he better get the rest of this window spot on, as no one will want to hear any bullshit talk about how we didn’t have the necessary funds to properly redress our midfield
as for the player himself, I’ve already expressed my obvious concerns about his poor form last season, but I so want to believe that we won’t be so stupid as to trot him out in same positions that didn’t click whatsoever at Chelsea…with this in mind, it does concern me quite a bit that some pundits are suggesting that MA favours this player because of his positional flexibility…now if the sole purpose of this acquisition is for him to replace Xhaka in the 8 hole, I’m not quite as distraught, as he’s undoubtedly an upgrade, especially if he can rediscover his Bayer form in more advanced spaces…still so miffed that we will be paying more for him tham they paid for Nkunku, who I think has far more on offer
Killroy-I always run Adblock, then simply give one-time exceptions whenever necessary…it takes a few extra seconds when using newsnow or the like but it’s fucking brilliant and well worth the effort
here’s a potential nightmare scenario, we continue to piss around and one of the deeper-pocketed Manchester clubs steps in at the 11th hour and swoops Rice away, then we still sell off Partey, retain Jorginho and bring in a far less polished and vastly cheaper DM option…this is a very real possibility and if that were to take place all bets are off…now if we get gazumped again but find a way to secure Caicedo, I’d be all for that…I just don’t want to think about a scenario where we allowed Partey to move on, didn’t acquire a world class DM, then had to witness Jorginho becoming our deep-lying Xhaka 2.0
“retain Jorginho and bring in a far less polished and vastly cheaper DM option”
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Jorginho will be hailed as a new signing, and the vastly cheaper DM option will be a signing for the future and LG will hail it as the generational’s deep inside into footballing nous.
Morning all
Almunia
So refreshing to wake up with coffee and your indomitable humor even if just a lilt of correct cynicism that makes me and I imagine many others smile. I’m just waiting for Kandahar in BluRay. I concede to TRVL that Snatch was amusing, but Richies after that has believed too much in his own hype. Good to see him returning to better story telling.
The last Gerald Butler movie I watched was just gratuitous action fodder. I think his best movies are his voice overs for the How To tame Your Dragon movies. I’m guessing Kandahar is more realistic if a trues story where the script has to be relevant to the story.
So, Havertz at £65m+ with £210K a week for a long term contract.
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Why not a 1-year contract with an option for £30m with 4 more years to be taken by us if the move pays off at a further £35M?
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He’s a gamble purchase, so make the deal less of a gamble financially for us and be able to buy a back up.
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If Havertz really wants to play for us and drag his name from the toilet, the Chavs have denigrated him to, enough to lose £20+M on his original Chav’s buying price, then he should jump at the deal, as it’s a win, win for him, too, if he really doesn’t suit the PL speed and crunching tackles that keep Italian players from coming here.
Bob
I hope you’re right about Havertz
TRVL
You and I are oldish and very old grizzlies when it comes to negotiating in the corporate world. We both would want to put Sullivan’s smarmy neck in a rear naked choke for say…….. oh I don’t know, how does 5 minutes sound? That would be enough to assuage my suppressed anger. He’d be fcuked if we didn’t suppress it. 🙂
Seriously, I met David Sullivan escorting one very young and busty and single Karen Brady at a Fleet St party. He introduced Karen as the brains of his (porn) business and I guess he took Karen to West Ham with him and The Gold brothers. I’ve said before she’s a fearsome negotiator and the only thing that interests David is money; they complete each other business wise, as we can see by our uneventful and lackluster Edu and co.
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Seriously, just go and buy Caicedo and tell West Ham to fcuk off. Rice is no more than a £70m player at best. WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!
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We’d screw Father Todd and Mrs Brady in one go. Give Tony Bloom what he wants for Caicedo, as we’ve already agreed terms and go balls deep in a relationship with Mr. Bloom by showing him the respect he deserves, as well as getting first refusal on the next conveyor belt of unpolished gems Tony’s algorithms are unearthing.
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The rest of the footballing world would take us more seriously if we actually had tactical negotiating plan, but as it is our tactical negotiating nous is as good at Arteta’s game tactics: good at getting low hanging fruit, but losing out in the end for top targets unless we pay almost double what they’re worth.
LIR
I don’t see Rice and or Havertz driving us to a title, do you? Top 4 at best and we’ll have spent over £180m? Buying them?
I don’t think Havertz has realised Arteta will want at least 50+ games and 20 goals & 10 assists out of him next season without breaking down. Rice he’ll want the full monty of the season’s games to be taken in Rice’s long stride. That and another 10 goals and assists.
I mean for a combined £180+m, what else would we expect?
Tony-big fan of your switcheroo Caicedo strategy…talk about killing two birds with one stone, as this would leave the Hammers at the mercy of some much more transfer savvy participants and have Chelsea seething…most importantly it would afford us the luxury of having this truly versatile player…time to hit the hay with sweet dreams of an Ecuadorian summer swirling in my head
TRVL
Sweet dreams
New post!