Stick a fork in this team. It's done.

[épieur]

We had a great group of players who all grew and peaked together around the same time. Salah, Mane, Firmino, Hendo, Alisson, Matip, Van Dijk, Thiago, Wijnaldum are all between 30 and 32.

As a group, they are done though. A few of them may still have something to offer, but we can't be building the team around them anymore.

The problem is that we've massively bungled the generational shift. Keita, at 27, should have been one to take over. He's leaving this summer as a failure.

We've got TAA, who has lost all semblance of defending nous and looks in dire need of a new role. Nunez, assuming he can start finishing his chances. Diaz perhaps. Though I don't know if he is merely a good player like Jota or could actually turn into a top player. Elliot and Carvalho are still years from being top players, if they get there. Konaté is quality. Perhaps the only one with no question marks. Gomez still hasn't recovered from his long injuries.

Guys like Jota and Gakpo (?) may be good players, but they aren't as good as the ones they are replacing. It concerns me that we seem to be buying settling for buying 'good enough' players, rather than ones we think can be the best.

It's absolutely shameful how we've only bought one midfielder in four years, given our midfield's age and injury profile. Extending Milner another season is in many ways the perfect symptom of the malaise, thinking they've all surely got another year in them before we need to do anything.

I really have no idea what this side looks like in two years. None at all, except that Konaté and TAA will still be regulars.

[LicK]

Yeah. Really needed a new topic for this.

Edited January 14, 2023 by LicK

[Martinus]

 

11 minutes ago, Kid Klopp said:

We had a great group of players who all grew and peaked together around the same time. Salah, Mane, Firmino, Hendo, Alisson, Matip, Van Dijk, Thiago, Wijnaldum are all between 30 and 32.

As a group, they are done though. A few of them may still have something to offer, but we can't be building the team around them anymore.

The problem is that we've massively bungled the generational shift. Keita, at 27, should have been one to take over. He's leaving this summer as a failure.

We've got TAA, who has lost all semblance of defending nous and looks in dire need of a new role. Nunez, assuming he can start finishing his chances. Diaz perhaps. Though I don't know if he is merely a good player like Jota or could actually turn into a top player. Elliot and Carvalho are still years from being top players, if they get there. Konaté is quality. Perhaps the only one with no question marks. Gomez still hasn't recovered from his long injuries.

Guys like Jota and Gakpo (?) may be good players, but they aren't as good as the ones they are replacing. It concerns me that we seem to be buying settling for buying 'good enough' players, rather than ones we think can be the best.

It's absolutely shameful how we've only bought one midfielder in four years, given our midfield's age and injury profile. Extending Milner another season is in many ways the perfect symptom of the malaise, thinking they've all surely got another year in them before we need to do anything.

I really have no idea what this side looks like in two years. None at all, except that Konaté and TAA will still be regulars.

I don't think it's a personnel problem apart from the midfield. 

Edited January 14, 2023 by Martinus

[kop205]

Stick a fork in this thread. It's done.

And while you're at it, stick a fork in the phrase 'stick a fork in it'.

[Cam]

As we know from forum lore... there's worse places to stick a fork. 

[surf]

37 minutes ago, Cam said:

As we know from forum lore... there's worse places to stick a fork. 

Thanks Cam, I needed a laugh.

Edited January 14, 2023 by surf

[Smith]

It’s all true though. Done, finito, finale. 

And in the end, the love you take
Is equal to the love you make.

[Martinus]

Maybe I'm biased but only Arsenal players that are guaranteed to get into a combined strongest eleven is Partey, Martinelli and Odegaard. Note 2 of them are midfielders 

[Dominus Maximus]

4 minutes ago, Martinus said:

Maybe I'm biased but only Arsenal players that are guaranteed to get into a combined strongest eleven is Partey, Martinelli and Odegaard. Note 2 of them are midfielders 

That may be true yet they are miles ahead of so maybe it’s time to reevaluate your comparisons. I’m pretty sure Arsenal fans would say the same about our players. Based on today who of ours could start for them? Ali and …

[Martinus]

23 minutes ago, crouchinho said:

That may be true yet they are miles ahead of so maybe it’s time to reevaluate your comparisons. I’m pretty sure Arsenal fans would say the same about our players. Based on today who of ours could start for them? Ali and …

Would you swap White for Trent? Robertson for Zinchenko? Gabriel for Van Dijk? Saka for Salah? I wouldn't. 

[Dominus Maximus]

10 minutes ago, Martinus said:

Would you swap White for Trent? Robertson for Zinchenko? Gabriel for Van Dijk? Saka for Salah? I wouldn't. 

Yet they are first and we are 9th. 

[Martinus]

3 minutes ago, crouchinho said:

Yet they are first and we are 9th. 

So you would swap them? I don't think the reason they are first and we are 9th has anything to do with the quality of player we each of have apart from the couple I mentioned. 

[Dominus Maximus]

6 minutes ago, Martinus said:

So you would swap them? I don't think the reason they are first and we are 9th has anything to do with the quality of player we each of have apart from the couple I mentioned. 

I don’t think it matters much what I would do. 

[Hassony]

57 minutes ago, Martinus said:

Maybe I'm biased but only Arsenal players that are guaranteed to get into a combined strongest eleven is Partey, Martinelli and Odegaard. Note 2 of them are midfielders 

At the moment,  I'd say it's 

Ali

Taa konate virgil robbo 

Arsenal midfield 

Saka Nunez martinelli 

[Flanders]

52 minutes ago, crouchinho said:

That may be true yet they are miles ahead of so maybe it’s time to reevaluate your comparisons. I’m pretty sure Arsenal fans would say the same about our players. Based on today who of ours could start for them? Ali and …

But dont base it on today.

[Dominus Maximus]

5 minutes ago, Flanders said:

But dont base it on today.

Then base it on the season. Still same result. 

[Martinus]

5 minutes ago, Hassony said:

At the moment,  I'd say it's 

Ali

Taa konate virgil robbo 

Arsenal midfield 

Saka Nunez martinelli 

I think that's fair enough. But still you have more of our team. I think Thiago is suffering massively because of those around him but I'm still picking him over Xhaka. Similar story with Salah. Saka has great potential mind. 

[Hassony]

16 minutes ago, Martinus said:

I think that's fair enough. But still you have more of our team. I think Thiago is suffering massively because of those around him but I'm still picking him over Xhaka. Similar story with Salah. Saka has great potential mind. 

The main difference is that Arsenal play like they're being coached better, and of course confidence 

[Martinus]

1 minute ago, Hassony said:

The main difference is that Arsenal play like they're being coached better, and of course confidence 

Confidence is key for me. We know Arteta isn't a better coach than Klopp. Only an Arsenal fan or a lunatic would think otherwise. 

[crisps]

It’s been depressing for years. It’s so boring that anyone who isn’t even a manager can see it. Pretty much the next 3 signings need to be some form of CM, but would anyone be surprised if we sign a cb, rw and st. 

Edited January 14, 2023 by crisps

[Bootle Buck]

 Can't help but think our Manager has put too much faith in this group of players.  They have been amazing but they have been doing this for 4 years, Many of them have hit rock bottom and maybe they have become stale and passed their sell by date. Players we thought were some of the best in the world in their positions have become bang average. its time to break up this team and start over. Not sure Jurgen will have the heart for it but I hope he will. Get rid of the likes of Hendo, Fab, Bobby, Keita, Ox, Matip and Gomez and look to improve on Robbo and Trent.  

[Martinus]

3 hours ago, Bootle Buck said:

 Can't help but think our Manager has put too much faith in this group of players.  They have been amazing but they have been doing this for 4 years, Many of them have hit rock bottom and maybe they have become stale and passed their sell by date. Players we thought were some of the best in the world in their positions have become bang average. its time to break up this team and start over. Not sure Jurgen will have the heart for it but I hope he will. Get rid of the likes of Hendo, Fab, Bobby, Keita, Ox, Matip and Gomez and look to improve on Robbo and Trent.  

You would sell Trent? 

[muleskinner]

3 hours ago, Bootle Buck said:

 Can't help but think our Manager has put too much faith in this group of players.  They have been amazing but they have been doing this for 4 years, Many of them have hit rock bottom and maybe they have become stale and passed their sell by date. Players we thought were some of the best in the world in their positions have become bang average. its time to break up this team and start over. Not sure Jurgen will have the heart for it but I hope he will. Get rid of the likes of Hendo, Fab, Bobby, Keita, Ox, Matip and Gomez and look to improve on Robbo and Trent.  

Sell Trent, right. Brainless.

[Ombudsam]

15 hours ago, Martinus said:

Maybe I'm biased but only Arsenal players that are guaranteed to get into a combined strongest eleven is Partey, Martinelli and Odegaard. Note 2 of them are midfielders 

You’ve been on this for months as the points gap just keeps increasing.

There is literally no difference between this and the Manc fans wanting to do team comparisons last year. We look every bit as ridiculous when we contrive categories in search of relevance. You win or you don’t.

Edited January 15, 2023 by sammy & a

[Martinus]

2 minutes ago, sammy & a said:

You’ve been on this for months as the points gap just keeps increasing.

There is literally no difference between this and the Manc fans wanting to do team comparisons last year. We look every bit as ridiculous when we contrive categories in search of relevance. You win or you don’t.

Point I'm trying to make is I personally don't think the issue is player quality. Apart from the midfield. Don't forget Arsenal have gone from 5th to top in 6 months by adding Zinchenko and Jesus (neither have set the world a light) and introducing Saliba. The main issues imo are fatigue, confidence, the uncertainty surrounding the club being for sale and missing out on the quad last season.