For me the DM signing is far more critical than striker.
If our top two DM's are injured, we're down to Flamini, Wilshere out of position, or Chambers.
If our top two strikers are injured, we're down to Welbeck, Sanchez out of position, or Akpom.
I reckon the DM situation is the worst of the two!
If our top two CBs are injured we're down to Chambers. If our top two RBs are injured we're down to Chambers. If our top two LBs are injured we're down to ???.
For me the DM signing is far more critical than striker.
If our top two DM's are injured, we're down to Flamini, Wilshere out of position, or Chambers.
If our top two strikers are injured, we're down to Welbeck, Sanchez out of position, or Akpom.
I reckon the DM situation is the worst of the two!
If our top two CBs are injured we're down to Chambers. If our top two RBs are injured we're down to Chambers. If our top two LBs are injured we're down to ???.
Flamini :P
Bringing back Kenny Sansom?
For me the DM signing is far more critical than striker.
If our top two DM's are injured, we're down to Flamini, Wilshere out of position, or Chambers.
If our top two strikers are injured, we're down to Welbeck, Sanchez out of position, or Akpom.
I reckon the DM situation is the worst of the two!
If our top two CBs are injured we're down to Chambers. If our top two RBs are injured we're down to Chambers. If our top two LBs are injured we're down to ???.
Flamini :P
Haha - I was going to put that then thought surely there's a better option somewhere...maybe even Chambers again!
If our top two keepers are injured we are down to... Chamberlain
Don't you mean Gibbs?
Can we just take a moment to acknowledge Arsenal's Hector Bellerin picture in his footer? No fuc*s were given. Take a bow son.
Wenger's crossbar challenge effort + a ridiculous display of skill from Koscielny...
Both look like fakes to me.
Both look like fakes to me.
Pretty well faked...
Yep wish him well, although he's going home there is likely to be less pressure re injury record in France than going to WBA.
Both look like fakes to me.
Pretty well faked...
Ha, I take it back.
Looked like one of those All Black training ad's of yester-year where they faked the camera work.
Both look like fakes to me.
If Benzema doesn't turn out to be legit I still reckon Charlie Austin would be a good nudge. At 26, and 6'2 he'd be a great addition to the strike force. He's managed 18 goals in 35 games for QPR in the prem, and 58 goals in 113 games for Burnley & QPR in the championship. That's a consistently decent goals:games ratio since 2011. Is he high profile enough? Nope. Is there a massive risk with this? Not really, given QPR's been relegated he won't becoming with Benzema type price tags.
Edit: updating stats to be more accurate.
As a replacement for Welbeck/Sanogo sure, but we need an upgrade to Giroud.
I think we should only get a striker if he is in the top bracket i.e. Benzema, Cavani etc etc
If we can't get any of those, then I'd stick with what we've got and try again next time. Don't think we need to go to the next tier or two down when we already have Giroud, Welbeck and Walcott on the books.
I think we should only get a striker if he is in the top bracket i.e. Benzema, Cavani etc etc
If we can't get any of those, then I'd stick with what we've got and try again next time. Don't think we need to go to the next tier or two down when we already have Giroud, Welbeck and Walcott on the books.
But look at those stats? Benzema last 3 seasons has scored 66 goals in 148 appearances, while Cavani has scored 94 goals in 139 appearances, while Austin has scored 66 in 113. He's up there with those blokes. Also based on the above I don't think Benzema is an improvement on Giroud, he's scoring a consistent 20 goals a season. Then there's Cavani, man he's insnane.
Benzema and Cavani both play second fiddle to the main man, Benzema in particular. Perhaps he might thrive without Ronaldo. Though I'm not all that comfortable with comparing goals scored against Championship defences with goals scored in top European Leagues and Champions League. Cavani's numbers are impressive although I've never thought much of him when I've seen him, but admittedly that's been limited to probably a handful of international or CL games.
I'd certainly be comfortable replacing Welbeck with someone like Austin but we don't need additional signings at that level.
Far sooner see Akpom and Gnarby playing than signing Austin.
I think we should only get a striker if he is in the top bracket i.e. Benzema, Cavani etc etc
If we can't get any of those, then I'd stick with what we've got and try again next time. Don't think we need to go to the next tier or two down when we already have Giroud, Welbeck and Walcott on the books.
But look at those stats? Benzema last 3 seasons has scored 66 goals in 148 appearances, while Cavani has scored 94 goals in 139 appearances, while Austin has scored 66 in 113. He's up there with those blokes. Also based on the above I don't think Benzema is an improvement on Giroud, he's scoring a consistent 20 goals a season. Then there's Cavani, man he's insnane.
That is Liverpool mentality.
Charlie Austin? Give me strength.
I don't see why Austin would be a bad signing. 18 goals for a sharke QPR team is a good return.
Brilliant news.
We don't need austin. He would be a more if the same signing( if not less). If we are going to outlay the cash to buy someone (and apparently we have a gazillion pounds to spend) then we should be aiming for world class
Re-signing Theo is our striker signing me thinks. Cazorla signing extension is good news given the weird atletico rumours going round the last year or two.
DM please.
Sergio Bus will do.
140,000 per week for Theo. Pressure will be on for him to deliver consistently. Isaac Hayden has gone to Hull on season long loan. Also rumour that Chuba Akpom could join him. Jon Toral to Birmingham City on loan.
That's our 4th or 5th choice at both DM and striker sent out on loan.
Could mean something. Could mean nothing.
That wage for Theo is frankly ridiculous. He hasn't delivered for the last 18 months or so - to be fair, he has been injured - but If I am sick and away from work I don't expect a pay raise when I come back.
I suspect the lack of strikers on the market has played a part.
Santi resigning is great, though I do believe he will go to Atletico next season anyway; we'll just be able to bargain for more $$
I think Cech will play.
Cech
Bellerin- Kos BFG- Gibbs
Le Coq- Santi
Ox - Ozil - Ramsey
Giroud
Looking forward to it.
bendtner did well to win the super cup for Wolfsburg today. Never really liked him personally, but glad hes going well. hope he has a good season
I think Cech will play.
Cech
Bellerin- Kos BFG- Gibbs
Le Coq- Santi
Ox - Ozil - Ramsey
Giroud
Looking forward to it.
I think Theo for the Ox and Nacho for Gibbs.
I hope we pump them tomorrow!
we did, 1-0 :)
Rode our luck a bit but also could of had a couple more ourselves.
Who's next...
Loved that. We're in really good form going into the season, let's do this.
Right then. It's business time.
Great to finally beat Mourinho. It may "only " be the Community Shield but it's something else we've retained and it keeps this new winning mentality going at the club. It can't do any harm for the players to get used to climbing the steps at Wembley, many of whom have done that 4 times in the last 18 months now.
It was a pretty comfortable game actually. They may have had more possession but didn't really threaten much and we looked more likely to score. Great goal from Ox who I hope pushes on and does more of that this season. How commanding was Cech too? Love it.
