Everything from Wilson/Cross and logic seems to be that Wenger likes Schneiderlin but doesn't wanna pay a ton for him.
Yes, he's an upgrade from Coq, but I'm not really sold on Schneiderlin being anything more than a squad player / added insurance at DM. He's not going to get us top of the table... we need a striker
Sorta agree Jorts, I think he's a little better than that. Don't have to hold our breath every time Coq gets his face smashed in & Schneiderlin is a good enough passer/box-to-box player that you can play them together in big matches. ....................Cech............ Bellerin... Gabriel... Kos...Nacho ...... Schneiderlin....Coq ....Ramsey.....Mesut......Santi ................... Alexis
We aren't getting a world class striker so think the biggest flaw right now is our DM depth. Jack or Ramsey could probably play it at home vs shit opponents but they can't play it in tough games so that leaves us with 1 capable DM. Coquelin was really good last year and can see Wenger questioning if Schneiderlin is better, a lot of the French journos already think Coquelin is better. I don't know what's gonna happen but no more Flamini or Arteta please.
Bellerin & Nacho on the overlap. But if it's pace with no finishing you want - Ox, Feo & Wellbeck are standing by. Then in January we get Reus.
To say that Ox and walcott cant finish is silly. Sure walcott has some bad misses, but he scores goals. Ox can finish. even if the couldnt they still pose a threat and can open up a defense. Ramsey, Santi and Mesut is like playing 3 CAMs.
I was going to post this but got sidetracked last night. We played way too narrow this past season with just Ramsey out wide. Adding Santi on the opposite side would just compound the problem.
There isn't a formation that can accomodate all of our attacking MFers in the middle of the pitch. One of Coq or whatever DM we purchase would make way for Santi/Ramsey/Jack in the middle of the pitch, with Alexi/Theo/Ox out wide
I think you forgot all the chances Feo missed before his hat trick. He's not & never has been a great finisher. Ox hasn't learned to finish yet but looks like he will. The lack of width is a legit criticism but Ramsey is going to have to learn to play there some or sit on the bench.
Theo's finishing got way better before the injury. Think he's the 2nd best finisher we have and trust him a lot more than Giroud in big games. Ox is like a young Theo, looks so good but his end product blows.
If you compare output for their first 4 years with the club Walcott scored more goals than Ox has to that point (18 vs. 12 in 136 matches vs. 112). There is probably a better way to compare the two based on conversion percentage or something, but I think you're talking out of both sides of your mouth if you think Walcott is really bad and Ox is going to be great. The only major difference between Ox now and Theo 5 years ago is that Ox is much better with the ball at his feet.
50 goals out of 36,150 chances is a great conversion %. I am never going to agree with Theo being a good finisher (other than his one monster season, exception that proves the rule, etc). I do admit he got better (from putrid to avg) before the injury. For the record, I hope he proves me wrong because we need every goal he can provide.
i never said he was good. but he's good enough to not be put on the bench because it. the Theo hate is laughable. good luck opening op a side like Chelsea with Ramsey, Santi and Mesut.
I don't think it's laughable; sell him and buy a better version of Theo. Short of that happening (because it seems very unlikely), yeah let him and Ox fight it out. I sure as heck don't want Ramsey, Santi and Mesut with two (1.5) DM against Chelsea.
I think you forget he was coming back from major ACL injury... things like timing & getting acclimated to new squad members / style of play take time to develop again
buy someone better? sure i'm all for improving, but thats easier said than done. and im not debating that. i'm debating that line up and i'm saying it wont work because we need speed. speed is something theo has.
I agree, I don't like that lineup versus top teams. I also agree that its easier said than done and looks unlikely that we'll get a Reus or that caliber of player. So between Walcott and Ox, may the best man win.
Would be interested seeing a front 4 of Theo-Ox-Alexis-Ozil. Alexis and Ozil are auto starters, Cazorla/Ramsey/Coquelin are gonna start a lot of games. Surival of the fittest with the rest. Don't think we have an ideal lineup, too many players that are close in talent.
Yep. Prior to the last match of the EPL season he hadn't started in over 2 months. Most of his matches after he came back he was getting 20 mins or less as a sub.
Yeah, thanks. Ideally we need a Theo type and he brings a lot of value to the table. However finishing is not his strong suit, never has been. Not sure what you don't get about about someone who has that point of view. When he had his knee operated on he didn't suddenly get a 15 point boost in that department. Now before you consider me a hate monger let me tell you why I like Theo. British premium, get him the fuck out of here. Spoiler , but seriously my favorite part of his game is his ability to make runs behind defenders in tight spaces.
Are we going to spend a page trashing Walcott for not being able to finish and then mention Welbeck without talking about his lack of finishing ability?
I mean, I haven't said anything about Theo, I don't want him gone and think he's made great strides regarding his finishing. I just think if Welbeck was given as many chances in the middle as Giroud he could end up being better.
I feel Welbeck is a hybrid of Giroud & Theo... unfortunately for Welbeck, they are both individually better at what they do well
i never said finishing was his strong suit but a lot of you is acting like he cant hit a ball and thats fucking stupid. and nobody here said he got better after getting injured but some of you sure forgot how good he can be.
I'm sure he will shatter European records this year. Can't wait, I'll tell everyone I know that I heard it from you first. I just couldn't remember how good Theo was until right now. I will work on getting the rest of the "lot" in order boss. Opinions are dangerous things to have on message boards and I don't want them spreading around here like Hope's labia.
Against a side like Chelsea, I'm more concerned about not getting opened up than how we're going to unlock their defense. That's the type of side that you CAN'T play Theo against unless you are chasing a goal late. He provides no defensive cover and Bellerin/Debuchy will have to face a lot of 2 on 1s with Hazard & Co.- recipe for disaster. Theo might have some value against Chelsea in the last 20-25 minutes after those two CB cunts have spent the game beating up on Giroud, Alexis or Welbeck. If only we could transplant Poldi's left foot onto Theo we might really have something.
I respect your opinion and I am admittedly exaggerating Theo's weaknesses to make my points, but i've been watching him since he came to the club and I think 2012-2013 was the exception, not all of the other years. Again, I hope to be proved wrong.