Upgrading Soares, back up for Partey, and either a big man striker to mix things up or another wide man - but I’m fluid on the latter given Reiss found some form today.
Reiss Nelson contribution maybe the highlight of the season so far. If we can have squad players come in and produce like that when key players are out or need a rest we’re in a very healthy position.
I think we're fine to let Soares go after this season and not replace him. With Zinchenko, Tierney, Tomiyasu and White we have four quality fullbacks, all of whom can play other positions as well. Midfield is the no.1 priority for me, then a right winger. Nelson had a good game this morn but I'm not sold on him myself, and I thought he was more comfortable as a left winger from memory? With Smith-Rowe coming back and Vieira looking good as back-up to Odegaard, we're well covered in the other forward spots. Third priority could potentially be a 2nd CM purchase, as we are really light in there, and then possibly a striker if Nketiah doesn't want to hang around to be a bench player.
My only concern with this is whether or not Holding also sticks around. If he doesn't then White will need to play CB a bit more. I don't want Holding to go, but there is no way he'll be a starter in this team and at his age I'm sure he's itching to play week in week out.paulm
brumbys
Upgrading Soares, back up for Partey, and either a big man striker to mix things up or another wide man - but I’m fluid on the latter given Reiss found some form today.kwlap
I wonder what will happen in the jan window coz I feel we are about 3 players short atm. Obviously the middle of the park needs reinforcement, plus they often talked about RW position (gakpo would be amazing for us btw). Can’t place the last player but maybe a defender who gives us something different than what we have atm. Like a proper WB or something.
I think we're fine to let Soares go after this season and not replace him. With Zinchenko, Tierney, Tomiyasu and White we have four quality fullbacks, all of whom can play other positions as well. Midfield is the no.1 priority for me, then a right winger. Nelson had a good game this morn but I'm not sold on him myself, and I thought he was more comfortable as a left winger from memory? With Smith-Rowe coming back and Vieira looking good as back-up to Odegaard, we're well covered in the other forward spots. Third priority could potentially be a 2nd CM purchase, as we are really light in there, and then possibly a striker if Nketiah doesn't want to hang around to be a bench player.
My only concern with this is whether or not Holding also sticks around. If he doesn't then White will need to play CB a bit more. I don't want Holding to go, but there is no way he'll be a starter in this team and at his age I'm sure he's itching to play week in week out.paulm
brumbys
Upgrading Soares, back up for Partey, and either a big man striker to mix things up or another wide man - but I’m fluid on the latter given Reiss found some form today.kwlap
I wonder what will happen in the jan window coz I feel we are about 3 players short atm. Obviously the middle of the park needs reinforcement, plus they often talked about RW position (gakpo would be amazing for us btw). Can’t place the last player but maybe a defender who gives us something different than what we have atm. Like a proper WB or something.
I think we're fine to let Soares go after this season and not replace him. With Zinchenko, Tierney, Tomiyasu and White we have four quality fullbacks, all of whom can play other positions as well. Midfield is the no.1 priority for me, then a right winger. Nelson had a good game this morn but I'm not sold on him myself, and I thought he was more comfortable as a left winger from memory? With Smith-Rowe coming back and Vieira looking good as back-up to Odegaard, we're well covered in the other forward spots. Third priority could potentially be a 2nd CM purchase, as we are really light in there, and then possibly a striker if Nketiah doesn't want to hang around to be a bench player.
I got the feeling in the amazon documentary that Holding was pretty happy as a squad player, and just liked being in and around the place. If that's true then that would be perfect for us, I love having him if he is ok to stay in that role. If not, then we would need to go to market for a back-up CB for next season. It will be tough to get a bonafide starter or an experienced international or something like that, when we have 3 young world class CBs in White, Gabriel and Saliba. Another Holding type player would be perfect, perhaps someone who's been trotting around at lower prem clubs and doing well, but not on the international team radar, and relishing a go at a big club.
I kind of like the idea of a time bound thread - helps to go back and look at different seasons more easily :)
Excited for tonight - really hope we put multiple past them with a healthy rotation. I'd anticipate a similar 4-5 first teamers to start, and the rest on the bench. Early goals are key to enable those who start an early finish.
Great to see Zinchenko and Elneny back in the squad. I like trying Nketiah and Jesus together in the starting eleven, it's a good solution given how light we are on the wings, with ESR injured and not having a natural back-up to Saka. Jesus/Nketiah seemed to gel nicely in preseason, hopefully they can grow together now, and it's good to give Nketiah more minutes.
What a shot from Tierney! Fantastic, stoked for the lad, he's been so unlucky this season having to sit behind Zinchenko and now Tomiyasu, loving the passion in the celebration there too
Its great seeing a second string line up playing so fluidly like this. Such a good sign that guys like Tierney, Vieira and Nelson are looking so sharp when they come into the lineup, despite not starting EPL games. The culture and attitude in our squad must be absolutely top notch right now.
not a bad first half, Zurich started brightly and really pressed. But I think after the goal they went into damage control. 62% posession, 3 attempts on target comapred to 0 from Zurich
shouldnt have to go down to earn a foul, I know that not going down makes the contact look less damaging, but there shouldnt be any contact without a foul being called.
really scrappy game, Zurich players faining injury everytime the get touched, ginners subs really putting in the tackles now though, little frustrated maybe.
Round of 16 both legs are on when I'll be in London. Will have an effect on the Saturday games likely being moved to Sunday. Might give me the chance to attend the home leg. Still, at least we don't have a play-off game.
DM me if you want some company fella!Gooner 4 Life
Round of 16 both legs are on when I'll be in London. Will have an effect on the Saturday games likely being moved to Sunday. Might give me the chance to attend the home leg. Still, at least we don't have a play-off game.
I know we are the form team, but I cannot feel confident about the game this weekend. There is something about going to the Bridge that gives me the yips.
I was rooting for Fulham to hold them to the draw, with that win City are a point clear, so we need a draw to go equal on points but will stay second with GD, need the win to get back on top.
Front to back we were excellent today. Chelsea looked like they didn’t want to be there, they seem to have no identity or structure to their play. My only complaint was we didn’t put more past them.
I know some people are making a point of Jesus lack of goals at the moment but he does so much more for the team that he just cannot be dropped. Reminds me a bit of what David Ball does for the Nix. I'm sure the goals will come soon.