- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
re: Arsenal 2012/2013 Season Long Thread
Posted on 8/31/12 at 2:59 pm to DB10_AFC
Posted on 8/31/12 at 2:59 pm to DB10_AFC
Yeah, I can't see us making top 3 this season. Still think we finish ahead of Spurs though. We'd have to play starters and play very well to beat one of Chelsea/City/United for FA or Carling.
1
Posted on 8/31/12 at 3:02 pm to ATLienTiger
Yup our whole season will be about can we finish 4th? If we make it a priority then we could have a decent shot at the League Cup. It would take a lot of luck for us to have a shot at the FA Cup. The league and UCL, forget it.
Posted on 8/31/12 at 4:25 pm to DB10_AFC
Our healthy first 11 is as good as any team's in the PL. Chelsea, Man U, and Man City have better depth, but we are due for some luck with regards to injuries. Wenger also can seemingly coach players into creating lots of chances season after season. The difference between most seasons is our chance conversion rate, which has to improve from last season.
What needs to happen is for Jenkinson and Gibbs to play well and remain uninjured. Jenkinson still needs to add something offensively, but defensively he shows great recovery speed and his positioning is getting better. Gibbs is going to be a world-class LB if he can stay healthy. He can cover the left unbelievably well, and his stamina is amazing.
AOC needs to have a breakout season, and Gervinho needs to show that he's worth the money we spent on him. Giroud and Podolski will eventually start scoring, while Cazorla will definitely have double digit assists this season.
We do need more productivity out of the second CM position. I don't think Diaby and Ramsey are the answer, and I'm skeptical of Wilshere's ability to make the spot his seeing he hasn't played a competitive game in 14 months. Rosicky might be an option, but we might have to move to the 4-1-4-1. Getting a Cabaye might have been useful, but for all their profligacy on the ball, Diaby and Ramsey run all day, where Cabaye is more static.
We need to start playing better, but I don't see too many players in the market who we could afford who would actually make us better. Getting Podolski, Giroud, and Cazorla for around £40 million was a brilliant move, though, and the end of the season will show that.
What needs to happen is for Jenkinson and Gibbs to play well and remain uninjured. Jenkinson still needs to add something offensively, but defensively he shows great recovery speed and his positioning is getting better. Gibbs is going to be a world-class LB if he can stay healthy. He can cover the left unbelievably well, and his stamina is amazing.
AOC needs to have a breakout season, and Gervinho needs to show that he's worth the money we spent on him. Giroud and Podolski will eventually start scoring, while Cazorla will definitely have double digit assists this season.
We do need more productivity out of the second CM position. I don't think Diaby and Ramsey are the answer, and I'm skeptical of Wilshere's ability to make the spot his seeing he hasn't played a competitive game in 14 months. Rosicky might be an option, but we might have to move to the 4-1-4-1. Getting a Cabaye might have been useful, but for all their profligacy on the ball, Diaby and Ramsey run all day, where Cabaye is more static.
We need to start playing better, but I don't see too many players in the market who we could afford who would actually make us better. Getting Podolski, Giroud, and Cazorla for around £40 million was a brilliant move, though, and the end of the season will show that.
Posted on 8/31/12 at 4:31 pm to crazy4lsu
Our first 11 is almost never healthy. That is why we should have added a few players. We need a starting midfielder. We should have gone out and bought a quality one. Ramsey may never be good enough to be a starter for Arsenal. Diaby is limited and injury prone. Jack can't be counted on this year consistently after the injury. There was a reason we went after Sahin and Essien on loan.
Posted on 8/31/12 at 4:38 pm to DB10_AFC
Perhaps, and on paper that is the only position where we really should have added someone. But Wenger would never spend more than £10 million on a player, and it's unlikely he would have spent any considering Diaby and Ramsey are two of the players he believes in the most.
Essien wasn't ever going to make us better though. Sahin was a miss, but I think we'll be fine without him. While we need more productivity in this position (mostly we need Diaby and Ramsey to stop losing the ball so much), we've created plenty of chances in the first two games. Our finishing has been woeful, which is a sign of a lack of confidence with the team as a whole, and a sign the new signings haven't fit in completely yet. Wenger has to hope that his patience pays off, and one of the Ramsey-Diaby combo starts playing well. I still think Diaby is more months away, and Ramsey just needs a little more confidence.
Essien wasn't ever going to make us better though. Sahin was a miss, but I think we'll be fine without him. While we need more productivity in this position (mostly we need Diaby and Ramsey to stop losing the ball so much), we've created plenty of chances in the first two games. Our finishing has been woeful, which is a sign of a lack of confidence with the team as a whole, and a sign the new signings haven't fit in completely yet. Wenger has to hope that his patience pays off, and one of the Ramsey-Diaby combo starts playing well. I still think Diaby is more months away, and Ramsey just needs a little more confidence.
Posted on 8/31/12 at 4:41 pm to crazy4lsu
Yea that position is my only real gripe with the squad. I never wanted Essien as he is done. Sahin would have been nice. Maybe he should just throw Coquelin in and see what happens. He could take the chance and shine.
Posted on 8/31/12 at 4:46 pm to DB10_AFC
I'm actually in favor of that. I really don't like Diaby, and I think Ramsey should be given as long as Rosicky got to reach his top form (hopefully this season), so we should try Coquelin there. He's pretty mobile, can pass, and tackle. We might as well give him a shot.
Posted on 8/31/12 at 4:53 pm to crazy4lsu
Not getting Arshavin off the books aside, we should have gotten Dempsey anyway. Try to unload Arshavin in the winter or something. shite.
Also, I'm seriously concerned that we are one injury away (maybe less) from Spurs finishing higher than us in the table.
Also, I'm seriously concerned that we are one injury away (maybe less) from Spurs finishing higher than us in the table.
Posted on 8/31/12 at 5:01 pm to cwil177
I don't think Spurs are going to be that good. Losing Modric and Van der Vaart are gigantic blows to their ability to create. I mean more massive than us losing RvP and Song. We've created plenty of chances in our first two games. Our finishing has been poor, but we've been able to breakdown entrenched sides. Spurs will take a while to adjust to AVB's pressing game, and even then, their attacking play is very disjointed.
Posted on 8/31/12 at 5:02 pm to crazy4lsu
quote:
I don't think Spurs are going to be that good. Losing Modric and Van der Vaart are gigantic blows to their ability to create.
+1
I was very high on them coming into the season. Knew they would lose Modric but figured they would replace him with Moutinho. Never thought they would get rid of VDV. That 4h spot is Arsenal's to lose now because I don't see Spurs pushing too hard for it.
Posted on 8/31/12 at 5:02 pm to crazy4lsu
Also, Arshavin is perfectly suited to the role that Cazorla is now playing. People forget that he was one of the best players in the world in 2008. He was never a wide player though, and he was wrecked physically after we forced him to play as a striker. But I think he can still contribute. He still has world class technique, and his eye for the final ball is as good as any player in the PL.
Posted on 8/31/12 at 5:04 pm to crazy4lsu
Our top XI isn't as good as City or United's, but our D probably puts us at least level with anyone else. I'm still very concerned with our attack. It could take awhile for them to get going. And honestly, we created some chances versus Sunderland, but less against Stoke. And I don't think any were really clear cut.
So while our XI is very good, it's unrealistic to think we stay healthy. We will miss the Champions League if Giroud goes down for any period of time. Just not a great summer after a really solid start.
So while our XI is very good, it's unrealistic to think we stay healthy. We will miss the Champions League if Giroud goes down for any period of time. Just not a great summer after a really solid start.
Posted on 8/31/12 at 5:07 pm to crazy4lsu
But he has never played that role for us, much to the chagrin of many. stubborn Wenger won't change his mind on that.
Posted on 8/31/12 at 5:08 pm to Friend of OBUDan
I dunno Dempsey, Gylfi and Dembele are nice additions...
Hopefully, they will have trouble adjusting to AVBs rigid system and he is still dumb enough to not adjust...
Hopefully, they will have trouble adjusting to AVBs rigid system and he is still dumb enough to not adjust...
Posted on 8/31/12 at 5:08 pm to crazy4lsu
Arshavin will contribute nothing defensively and has no work rate. And he can be a creative force but just as easily he can be a turnover machine who passes are loose.
Posted on 8/31/12 at 5:11 pm to DB10_AFC
quote:
Arshavin will contribute nothing defensively and has no work rate. And he can be a creative force but just as easily he can be a turnover machine who passes are loose.
Fair points, but playing him in Cazorla's position mitigates that a fair bit. He can be loose with his passing, but I still like him with the ball at his feet.
Posted on 8/31/12 at 5:11 pm to Friend of OBUDan
Playing one of the best players in the world in 2008 out of position just doesn't seem right to me. He's been very poorly utilized by the gunners.
Posted on 8/31/12 at 5:13 pm to crazy4lsu
quote:
Fair points, but playing him in Cazorla's position mitigates that a fair bit.
yes... but now we have Cazorla there lol
Posted on 8/31/12 at 5:16 pm to Friend of OBUDan
quote:
Our top XI isn't as good as City or United's
I don't know about that. It's pretty close in my estimation. A healthy Wilshere is key for us though.
quote:
So while our XI is very good, it's unrealistic to think we stay healthy. We will miss the Champions League if Giroud goes down for any period of time. Just not a great summer after a really solid start.
I suppose that's why we kept Chamakh. It was a zero sum summer in my opinion. We had the chance to be really good but we made some gambles.
Posted on 8/31/12 at 5:18 pm to crazy4lsu
quote:
We had the chance to be really good but we made some gambles.
We need more goal scorers. For me, Dempsey would have been the difference between being meh about this summer and being, on the whole, decently satisfied.
I don't have faith in Chamakh to carry the load when Giroud goes down.
Page 79 of 223
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News