An almost accepted opinion that seems to be doing the rounds currently (which the only Arsenal fan in the office shouts very loud to make it extra true) is that, if only Arsenal could keep all of the brilliant players they produce, they would be champions elect.
Now while it is undoubtably true they would be a better side, the only players I can think of that would automatically get into a current starting 11 would be Fabregas (who has only been gone for a few weeks) and Ashley Cole. Strong arguments could be made for Toure (although I think Koscielny looks decent when partnered with Vermaelen) and Adebayor (obviously not at the expense of RVP).
But, the majority of others, at least those I can think of, would be bench warmers, eg: Hleb. This greater strength in depth would allow for more tactical options, although Wenger rarely deviates from his default formation, insisting his team can win playing their own game. The added mental toughness of experienced pro's would possibly help, but if they had spent years at Arsenal failing to win anything (as I believe they would) then they would not be the answer to Arsene's woes. Potentially it could reduce injuries, and would probably improve the team when injuries or suspensions arise, but I honestly do not think it would be enough.
I am ignoring players such as Henry and Pires, who are nowhere near the level the used to be at (although they would undoubtedly add mental toughness / winning attitude), but for my mind Arsene simply hasn't bought or produced enough quality in recent years, regardless of what his staunch defenders will claim.
Jack (Expecting to be corrected/shouted at) Manchester
Preparing A Positive Spin
Arsenal get knocked out of the Champions League tonight. Is it that bad?
The current team, as has been pointed out by everyone is young and inexperienced. Do they really have any hope of winning the Champions League? Nope.
So instead of wasting energy on it, why not focus on something this team can win. The Premier League or FA Cup. Not Europe, forget that sham! Let this young team develop and mature. Imagine if they just focused on the Premier League and won it, what it would do for confidence and belief.
It may also help us avoid the annual collapse and downward spiral around Feb/march time that has become the norm for Arsenal.
So we miss out on £25 to £35 million. Apparently the club have budgeted for that anyway. And we also have the Cesc/Nasri money too.
So 'Big Names' won't want to join us? Well, If they are only coming for Champions League football then I don't want them. We've had too many mercenaries come and go in recent years.
Chris (the day Wilshere joins Man City I will stop following football forever) Rees, AFC
Working Out City's Squad
Not sure if this is deemed relevant enough to make the mailbox today (as it is not about Arsenal, Wenger or Nasri) but I would just like to put something to the floor.
When the 'home-grown' rule came in to play in the Premier League last year where each team has to register 25 players of which a maximum of 17 are not trained in England (excluding U21s), people questioned how Man City and Chelsea would be able to meet this criteria. City's answer was to buy a few half decent English players for a lot of money (Lescott, Milner, Johnson) and Chelsea only registered 21 players (including Ross Turnbull).
A similar rule has been in place in the UEFA Champions League since 2006. The difference being that of these remaining 8 places reserved for home-grown or 'locally trained' players, at least 4 have to be 'club trained' (yes I do play Football Manager but I've also done my homework - see UEFA.com) and to quote article 18.12 of the Regulations of the UEFA Champions League "If a club has fewer than eight locally trained players in its squad, then the maximum number of players on List A is reduced accordingly".
So my point is this, can we predict who will be leaving/staying at Man City this summer by looking at their potential Champions League squad?
As far as I am aware, the only 'club trained' players in their first team are Joe Hart and Micah Richards. Wright-Phillips, Onouha, Boyata and Weiss have been deemed surplus to requirements and appear to be on their way out. A few others including Michael Johnson have been loaned out. The remaining 'locally trained' players could include any four of Barry, Milner, Johnson, Lescott, Bridge, Bellamy as well as back up keeper Stuart Taylor.
So assuming that Mancini can only pick a total of 23 players (not including U21s) due to only having two 'club trained' players in the squad and at least four more spots will be taken up by the above list, he will have to fill the remaining places out of the following to compete in City's first ever outing in the Champions League:
Kompany, Zabeleta, Dzeko, Kolarov, Aguero, Silva, Kolo Toure, Yaya Toure, Tevez, De Jong, Balotelli, Clichy, Savic, Adebayor, Santa Cruz, Pantilimon, Nielsen and lets say Nasri too.
Taking in to account recent transfer gossip regarding some of their players and assuming that the squad will include three keepers I have come up with this:
Goalkeepers:
Hart, Taylor, Nielsen/Pantilimon
Defenders:
Richards, Lescott, Kompany, Clichy, Kolarov, Kolo Toure, Zabeleta, Savic
Midfielders:
Barry, Milner, De Jong, Yaya Toure, Johnson, Silva, Nasri
Forwards:
Dzeko, Aguero, Balotelli, Tevez
This would leave towo places (as Savic is under 21) and could still include two of Wright-Phillips, Onouha, Boyata and Weiss (who I think has already left actually). Given that their owners will be expecting a strong showing in this competition and money is no object, there is no real need to offload as many players as is being reported in the gossip columns. They are now competing on four fronts and will need a big squad, therefore I would be surprised if they do not keep some of these players on the books to provide cover. Adebayor seems to be on to way to Spurs anyway but it would be no major shock if they decided to keep players like Wright-Phillips, Onouha and possibly even Santa Cruz to make up the numbers. Loaning these players out is of no real benefit to City and they would not be paid as much at any other club if they are sold e.g. Wright-Phillips to Bolton.
Anyway, that's that. Feel free to discuss. I better go do some work.
Gary (Arsenal to be knocked out, Wenger to join PSG) Kinsella, Dublin
A Great Pay-Off Line
Frimpong is the silver lining in the Arsenal cloud at the moment. I'm not expecting us to win anything with only seven players or however many we have left, but with Frimpong's take no prisoners attitude on the pitch and in the tweetverse there will at least be some entertainment value along the way as a true Gooner gets on the pitch in between bans.
Certainly can't complain about a lack of bite in the midfield anymore.
Of course when he is sold to Man City in a year or two I'll be sad again.
Tony
Awww, Stewie Has A Friend
To be honest, I've been on board with Stewie Griffin all along. With every passing day it goes from bad to worse for Arsenal - now they don't even want the Champions League?! What good is that 60k seater stadium if you aren't attracting the best players and actually BEATING other great players there? Such a fall from grace under the helm of one man.
The past is the past. The present isn't looking too good. The future looks bleak under the current regime. Blind faith is NEVER good, will you still trust in Wenger if you end up relegated?
Silvio (United fan. Gonna smash you 4-0 at the weekend! Wenger is a spent force.) Dante
Arsenal, The Euopra Cup, And Kalou
Dear MC,
I read, with interest, Phil AFC's e-mail to the mailbox about Arsenal's prospects following being knocked out of the Champions League (pretty much a formality with so many suspensions and injuries - would Wenger's so-far-successfully-appealed suspension carry over to Europa League matches?) - he makes some pretty interesting points. However, the Europa
League is not one that Arsenal can just stroll in and win - I've been looking through the fixtures list for the qualifying rounds for this year's competition and there's some pretty strong clubs involved (Sporting CP, Sevilla, Spurs, Paris St.-Germain, AZ Alkmaar, AS Roma, Rangers, Celtic, Atletico Madrid, Schalke 04, Lazio, PSV Eindhoven, Braga, etc. - I'm pretty sure all of those sides have played Champions League football within the last 5 years), so I'd say it's no foregone conclusion that Arsenal can win the Europa League, especially with the long injury list and lack of established, experienced players in the first team.
Phil AFC also goes on to suggest that "I believe the main advantage of remaining in the top four in the league is preventing Tottenham or Liverpool qualifying for the Champions League so we maintain our financial advantage over them" - this is complete nonsense. Liverpool have a massive financial advantage over Arsenal - his name is John W. Henry. Tottenham, sadly for Arsenal fans, have a chairman in Levy who is willing to spend - this is also an advantage, since Arsenal try actively to not spend, particularly on established players. Arsenal are playing for 5th place this season (against Spurs, Villa, Newcastle, Sunderland, Everton and possibly Bolton and Fulham) and most likely the same for next season as well, until FIFA's FFP comes into play, which has a chance of levelling the playing field.
I think it's more likely that the possible moves for Hazard and M'Vila will only materialise in January, if they happen at all, once Lille and Rennes have been knocked out of European competition. It is also my hope that Arsenal can sign Chris Samba as soon as possible, since they still look very thin in defence, particularly with Koscielny injured. I also ridiculously hope for Arsenal to sign Scott Parker, since they could use an influential midfielder who can lead the team and control the tempo of a match.
I also hope for Salomon Kalou to join - he seems pretty unwanted at Chelsea (seemingly behind Sturridge, Torres, Drogba, Anelka, Malouda and now Mata) and is still a young guy with a few years of Premiership and European experience and I think he'd link up well with Gervinho, since they'll know each other from the Cote D'Ivoire National Team. Why does everyone seem so willing to slag off Kalou? He scored 10 league goals last season and would, most likely, be a great asset to Arsenal if he was signed, mostly because I hope he doesn't end up at Spurs...
Tim Hargreaves, AFC
Enough Of The Hate, Let's Try Some Love
Plenty of hate in this morning's mailbox, with ire being directed at clubs that are disliked for no real reason in particular. Well there is too much hate on the internet says I - if aliens were to use comments left on the internet as an indicator of the views of humanity, they would undoubtedly feed us all to that big arsehole monster from Star Wars.
In an attempt to counter-balance all this negativity, I have composed a list of clubs I like but probably shouldn't, here goes..
Everton - They hate Liverpool, I hate Liverpool. Their manager is angry, scary and Scottish, our manager is angry, scary and Scottish. They're potless and still do quite well for themselves, what's not to like?
Spurs - Tottenham always take points from our rivals and then promptly roll over to have their collective bellies tickled when our mob rock up. Oh, and they play some nice footy.
Norwich - Don't know why, just do.
Stoke - There is a little part of me that really wants to see Leo Messi come to play at the Britannia on a cold winter's day..... and be total shite. Come on, I bet you do too.
Villareal - I am one mean mutha on Fifa with this team.
Share the love man.
Smyth, MUFC
United Should Re-Sign Forlan
Here's a thought.
Why don't United steal in and try and sign Diego Forlan back from Athletico. Everybody keeps saying we need another "creative midfielder". Well, I think Forlan would be a great option.
-Firstly, he clearly has the creative spark and can certainly feed a good pass through.
-Secondly, he scores some absoloute crackers.
-He's played not only in the Premier League before but at United so he knows what its about.
-He'll add experience to a very youthful squad.
-He celebrates every goal.
Now, that's just a thought and I don't want to end up like 'Jack, 17' but I think it's not a bad thought at all.
Gav (Yes, I know that strictly speaking he's not a midfielder) MUFC
...Or Grab Schweinsteiger
Dear Mr Editor,
I have just read with interest in the transfer blog that Arsenal are reportedly considering an offer of £30m for Bastian Schweinsteiger.
If it is in fact the case that he is available and Bayern are willing to let him leave, two questions spring to mind:
Did he start for Bayern in their CL qualifier?
If he is available, will SAF ponder a move.
I have said on a few occasions in the F365 forum that Schweinsteiger is the perfect fit for Manchester United. He would be a much better fit than Sneijder (if that was ever really considered).
From Football365
