Tony's Tweets

[paul_e]

I guess Hutton out, Elmohamady in isn't bad business at all. Younger and better, also covers more positions.

True except we've still got Bree, RDL, Richards, Adomah, Green and Bacuna who play in the positions he is used to so even if Hutton leaves he's not needed.  If he wants a new winger or wing back then he's looking at the wrong side of the pitch.

[AVH87]

I guess Hutton out, Elmohamady in isn't bad business at all. Younger and better, also covers more positions.

True except we've still got Bree, RDL, Richards, Adomah, Green and Bacuna who play in the positions he is used to so even if Hutton leaves he's not needed.  If he wants a new winger or wing back then he's looking at the wrong side of the pitch.

All of Green's starts came on the LW last season. Richards I still hold some hope we can shift.

So I'd see it as:

RBs: RDL, Bree
RMs: Adomah, Bacuna with Elmahamady covering both positions, and actually above Bacuna in the pecking order.

[paul_e]

I guess Hutton out, Elmohamady in isn't bad business at all. Younger and better, also covers more positions.

True except we've still got Bree, RDL, Richards, Adomah, Green and Bacuna who play in the positions he is used to so even if Hutton leaves he's not needed.  If he wants a new winger or wing back then he's looking at the wrong side of the pitch.

All of Green's starts came on the LW last season. Richards I still hold some hope we can shift.

So I'd see it as:

RBs: RDL, Bree
RMs: Adomah, Bacuna with Elmahamady covering both positions, and actually above Bacuna in the pecking order.

Bold bit, yes they did, because we don't have a left winger and he's ok on that side.  That's largely my point.

To add to your list:

LBs: Taylor
LMs: Green (sort of), Grealish (sort of)

On that basis should we be signing a RB/RM or a left sided player?

[tomd2103]

I guess Hutton out, Elmohamady in isn't bad business at all. Younger and better, also covers more positions.

True except we've still got Bree, RDL, Richards, Adomah, Green and Bacuna who play in the positions he is used to so even if Hutton leaves he's not needed.  If he wants a new winger or wing back then he's looking at the wrong side of the pitch.

All of Green's starts came on the LW last season. Richards I still hold some hope we can shift.

So I'd see it as:

RBs: RDL, Bree
RMs: Adomah, Bacuna with Elmahamady covering both positions, and actually above Bacuna in the pecking order.

Bold bit, yes they did, because we don't have a left winger and he's ok on that side.  That's largely my point.

To add to your list:

LBs: Taylor
LMs: Green (sort of), Grealish (sort of)

On that basis should we be signing a RB/RM or a left sided player?

I would like to see us sign an out-and-out left sided player, just to give us balance, though in the modern game it is common to see wide players playing on the 'opposite' side. 

[eamonn]

You mean like how Youngy and Stewy used to swap around for shits'n'giggles ?

[tomd2103]

You mean like how Youngy and Stewy used to swap around for shits'n'giggles ?

Good example right there.  Predominantly right footed player who played predominantly on the left side. 

[paul_e]

You mean like how Youngy and Stewy used to swap around for shits'n'giggles ?

Good example right there.  Predominantly right footed player who played predominantly on the left side. 

Indeed, and Green might become the same but we'd still be relying on an 18/19 year old as our only left winger whilst having a 29 year old right winger (regardless of who starts) sat on the bench.  Green is a very promising player and I want to see him play but if we only sign 1 winger and they can only play on 1 side then it has to be the left that we look to strengthen.  Personally I'd rather see us looking for someone quick and skillful who is happy on either side.  Elmo just isn't the type of player we need and doesn't give us cover where we really need it.

[tomd2103]

You mean like how Youngy and Stewy used to swap around for shits'n'giggles ?

Good example right there.  Predominantly right footed player who played predominantly on the left side. 

Indeed, and Green might become the same but we'd still be relying on an 18/19 year old as our only left winger whilst having a 29 year old right winger (regardless of who starts) sat on the bench.  Green is a very promising player and I want to see him play but if we only sign 1 winger and they can only play on 1 side then it has to be the left that we look to strengthen.  Personally I'd rather see us looking for someone quick and skillful who is happy on either side.  Elmo just isn't the type of player we need and doesn't give us cover where we really need it.

I agree with that to be honest Paul and think we could do with a naturally left sided player to give us a bit of balance.  Adomah, a new signing and Green would give us some options with Grealish and Kodjia as other possibilities.   

[peter w]

Kodjia likes to drift left and cut in. That was his most dangerous aspect. Buying a left sided plahyer makes no sense if he's going to crowd Kodjia's room. With henry, because of his preference to start wide left and cut in Arsenal's other attacking options were focused on the right hand side, therefore it makes sense to look for a right sided player for team balance rather than a left sided player because we don't have as many of them. This would also show Bruce is thinking.

[paul_e]

Kodjia likes to drift left and cut in. That was his most dangerous aspect. Buying a left sided plahyer makes no sense if he's going to crowd Kodjia's room. With henry, because of his preference to start wide left and cut in Arsenal's other attacking options were focused on the right hand side, therefore it makes sense to look for a right sided player for team balance rather than a left sided player because we don't have as many of them. This would also show Bruce is thinking.

For that Arsenal side the best season (03-04) they had was with Henry and Bergkamp up front and Pires on the left and it was the right winger (Ljungberg generally) who more often drifted inside.  It worked because it meant Pires kept the right back honest and the central defenders couldn't drift too far apart because of the threat of Bergkamp.  With Ljungberg included they had 3 players who were 'between the lines' which made them much harder to mark.

We don't have players of the same quality but the same principles apply, if Kodjia has it on the left and the nearest players are Hogan and Adomah on the right side of the box then you can just mark the space instead which allows the defence to squeeze the ball.  Get a player or 2 near to him and suddenly those defenders have another thing to worry about.

[TheTimVilla]

You mean like how Youngy and Stewy used to swap around for shits'n'giggles ?

Good example right there.  Predominantly right footed player who played predominantly on the left side. 

Or O Leary playing Barry on the right and Hendrie on the left.

[peter w]

Kodjia likes to drift left and cut in. That was his most dangerous aspect. Buying a left sided plahyer makes no sense if he's going to crowd Kodjia's room. With henry, because of his preference to start wide left and cut in Arsenal's other attacking options were focused on the right hand side, therefore it makes sense to look for a right sided player for team balance rather than a left sided player because we don't have as many of them. This would also show Bruce is thinking.

For that Arsenal side the best season (03-04) they had was with Henry and Bergkamp up front and Pires on the left and it was the right winger (Ljungberg generally) who more often drifted inside.  It worked because it meant Pires kept the right back honest and the central defenders couldn't drift too far apart because of the threat of Bergkamp.  With Ljungberg included they had 3 players who were 'between the lines' which made them much harder to mark.

We don't have players of the same quality but the same principles apply, if Kodjia has it on the left and the nearest players are Hogan and Adomah on the right side of the box then you can just mark the space instead which allows the defence to squeeze the ball.  Get a player or 2 near to him and suddenly those defenders have another thing to worry about.

Pires was a midfielder not a winger so that wouldn't work. Pires also cut inside often - mainly because he was right-footed but not being a winger or having any pace he couldn't get behind a defence through speed alone. Plus, that was Henry's area. Again, with us, we are very unbalanced because of Kodjia so it is difficult to see him, Grealish, Green & Hogan playing in the same team.

[jwarry]

[jwarry]

Sorry that was crap, not very good sat the uploading lark.  Struggling to make sense if this one tho!

[ozzjim]

I still think Bree could end up as part of the 3 in a 3 5 2 or as a holding midfielder.  De Leat still has a way to go after the injury. Bacuna is a central midfielder in truth.  Richards is erm... trying to enter some kind of body building competition.