namely: where the hell is he going to play?
Firstly, lets get these, faintly ridiculous, videolinks out the way that seem to have been linked around the web:
here
here
The problem with these clips, is that they obviously, in a massively subjective manner, portray our new Bohemian [ eh!] in the best light possible. yet compare these links to this one:
here
Hleb looks like a goalscoring dynamo in this vid...
My point is: I am concerned that Rosicky won't get that many goals. These vids probably contain almost all the goals he's ever scored in major competitions: don't take them as representative of his overall scoring prowess. And one of our significant problems from last year was a lack of goals from midfield. Rosicky wants to be played in the centre - like Hlebby. malhereusement, Wenger will undoubtedly not play him there, like he didn't play Hleb in his favoured position, and he'll try and push Tomas into a new place.
But where! there are three possibilites as far as i can see
1) left-wing. Obvious. Fighting with Reyes for the position. Bobby could be on his bike. Neither reyes or Ros get goals but both are assist-meisters. Plus, rosicky is a fighter like Freddie. Imagine the technichal ability of Jose, with the bottle of Freddie = Tomas = new left-winger. Yet it took Alex almost all season to adapt to this position fully. No more transition! Please!
2) Fab's place. Not going to happen. Wenger hasn't bought Tomas to be a squad player.
3) Bergkamp role. A possibility. We would have to start playing 4-4-1-1- rather than a more avowed 442. yet, where does this leave Adebayor, and RVP? Is RVP being sacrificed for a lack of team play? Is he our Van Nistelrooy: all goals and nothing else? Rosicky only scored 5 goals in the Bundesliger last year; he scored 7 in 12 for the Czechs in qualifying. If he can up his scoring rate, a permanent 4411 system is a distinct possibility. And he will, because he will this arsenal team will offer him more opportunities for goals. But I would say that Adey will be Henry's standard strike partner. Even if Rossy gets the no.10 shirt.
Don't get me wrong: Tomas is fast, incisive and a battler. He's proven international standard. He's a superb purchase, at a knock down price. If we can get him up to 10ish goals a year - we'll cruise next year.
What the signing does show is a distinctive change of tact from Arsene. This is proven quality he's buying. This diamond has very few edges to smooth. Arsene, far more than he's letting on, wants that CL trophy - as Arsenal, WTF pointed out- which is why he's buying proven quality. This certainly won't be the last signing of the season, and i should imagine Arsene will try and get another before the world cup so as to save on money. Instead of buying a kid to build up, he wants players who'll get him what he wants soon.
Elsewhere, Torres is the big name we've all been linked with; but how about David Villa - highest Spanish goalscorer in La Liga this season. Also, after snatching Rosicky from under thier noses, will atletico want to do business with us?
Either way - we need a midfielder to add steel to our midfielder. Please, no boring, 'we need a Vieira replacement' suggestions. He is irreplacable. But, we do need a big, strong, tackling, defensive midfielder. Please write in suggestions. For me - yaya, Zokora, and the Diarra who plays for Lyon.
Overall though, what a great way to respond to last Wednesday. Instead of moping about, we've signed the best player in the world on a new long-term contract, and got a player of proven quality in. Class. Hopefully first of many. Also, interestingly, He'll be up against Essien when the Czechs play ghana in the WC. Interesting.
As long as Rosicky doesn't replace Hleb - who i really rate - this is a good day for the club - and i hope Arsene does really sait in this situation!
Gb.
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33 comments:
Think like Wenger! He is there to challenge Gilberto, with some Freddie cover thrown in.
No - I think its an interesting opinion.
I think you're right about this fad - but I do think we need someone with a little more bite in midfield. Although, as i forgot to mention, Rosicky is a real tough-tackling fella.
Either way, I'll be very intrigued to see where he plays, and I don't think Arsenal should pay more than £20m for Torres if we were to buy him.
I do agree somewhat with the above comment , Patrick and Gilberto were used when we could'nt get much out of our wingers (Fred and Bob) it was more or less two seperate midfield units , this season has seen a more technical and stonger midfield unit with just Gilberto sitting behind the 3, Patrick was all about impact and drive but now Wenger believes the ball can be moved quicker with better technical players, the away losses last year were not so much being out battled but the whole team in a rut of form.if they are in form then the ball gets played round these players with such pace that it can't be dealt with.
Gun, you make some good points, but when you look at successful teams this year they all have players capable of breaking up play, ie. makelele for chelsea, vieira for juventus, even barcelona resorted to van bommel & edmilson in central midfield at times. I think what most arsenal fans feel is that against certain teams we need someone who can stand up & be counted. We have no chance of domestic success if teams bully us again & whilst its easy to say just play the ball around them sometimes thats just not possible. A team like bolton are extremely comfortable if the ball is up in the air, what can arsenal do if they cannot get the ball on the ground & with our current team we dont have anyone who can do just that & set our football going. In europe its not such a problem as was proved this year!!
we need a strong man in the middle due to the physical nature of the PL. i think Wenger will sign DABO as he is on a free and is a player known to Wenger since he was a teenager. he will give us good support for gilberto.
everyone should remember this is going to be a very long season because of our CL qualification and as most of our squad are at the world cup they will not get much R&R time. we need to have a big squad this year as players will have to be rested if we are to compete for major trophies.
what would happen if gilberto got injured in the first month of the season? diaby will be out for most of next year according to medicle reports.
we have enough crative players we need some grafters who can put the boot in when required.
It looks like Pires will be joining Bergkamp in sliding off the Arsenal squad list. I see Tomas as a bit like both of them, so, having lost two and gained one, I cannot really see the problem in where we play him.
One thing I have learned in the past few seasons is that you are in danger of failing on all fronts, if you try to use a small squad to succeed in all four major competitions. One of the revelations this year was just how well we could perform against Real Madrid, Juventus and Barcelona, following a week or so off to get into shape. Conversely, the only reason we lost to Chelsea in the quarter finals of the CL a few years ago, was purely fatigue, after two tough games against ManU and another against Chelsea.
So, to succeed, it is absolutely vital that we have a decent squad in terms of size and quality. The pundits were saying last Wednesday that, when you compared our bench to Barca's, we were very lightweight. In the end, Rijkaard's substitutions won the CL for him. What I am saying is that we should not look at new arrivals as replacing somebody else but more look at them as sharing the load.
I still think we could add two or three more.
Villa plays for Valencia not Athletico
I believe that Dabo may already be on hiw way to Man City but he is an excellent player , followed him since he went to Inter at a young age, a bit like Davids as a player.
I agree that we do still need a 500lb gorilla in the squad. Somebody who we can take up to Bolton to trample all over those nasty yobs that they have. But I would only use him in circumstances like that.
I agree on Reo-Coker: young, combative and great technical skills - it would be a great addition to the squad. But would Arsene buy him? And would his price be inflated due to nationality?
I wouldn't be surprised if this Gourcuff fella from France jets in as well.
Rosicky is a great signing for the club, and as a lifelong gooner i am excited about next season. Titi staying, rosicky signing cole possibly staying on. Its great news after last wednesday traumatic experience life goes on for the gunners.
My opinions on the current situation of our players is that i would like to see cole stay, pires stay (he still knows where the goal is) campbell stay (who would you prefer as cover campbell or cygan?) i know who i would. the only player i'd like to see gone of course is cygan. He is too lightweight a defender and not someone who i would rely on to cover a injury crisis, though give him credit for stepping into left and making one or two decent (note decent) performances last year. I say rid of cygan give djourou more appearances and use gilbert and hoyte as cover for our full backs. Hoyte who can play centrally would help us alot.
As you pointed out in your article where would he play? thats a good point im sure wenger has thought of this. personally i think he will play him as a winger and if an injury crops up put him alongside fabregas and gilberto. What a midfield and attack it would be if we had this line-up: reyes fabregas rosicky hleb adebayor henry. With freddie, robin and poss walcott? on the bench. Of course this line-up doesnt have the "midfield enforcer" but does have creativity.
All im saying is look at the positives and dont get down beat if we dont sign that midfield general who will kick players up in the air. Next season is shaping up to be a good one and i cant wait, so heads up all gunners fans, and go and enjoy this years world cup im sure where rosicky's best position is will be revealed. Come on you gunners!
I have to echo waynegooner: I'm very excited about next season, in a way I wasn't last year.
I just hope our boiys have the stamina. It's going to be a marathon of a season if all goes to plan.
I know Toure is our best defender, but he could be the Viera-ish player we've been looking for all along. He's fast, tackles no holds barred, has a good shot, and is a marshall on the field. If we can sign Curtis Davies from the Albion, then partner him with Senderos/Campbell, i think that could just do the trick.
Id also like Andy Johnson & a GK.
http://www.arsenal-world.co.uk/news/loadnews.asp?cid=TMNW&id=283624
Please no. There's a reason he was sold to Villareal. He's not good enough for the Premiership! Although if we could pick him up. cheaply for turning Bobby's head toward Villa, may not be so bad.
Category 1. Midfield enforcers (in no particular order) Vieira, Graveson, Gattuso, (Keane 1995-2000) yaya toure, diarra, zakora, bouba diop, abou diaby, sissoko.
Big, tall, powerful, drive the team forward, more of an attacking threat that a defensive shield (this does not completely apply to all but to most of the above players in some way)
Category 2. Defensive shields: Gilberto, Makalele, Edmilson, emerson, (Keane 2000-2006) Senna.
These are harder players to get, mainly cause there arent many top class players in the world who perfect that position (e.g. United thinking Kleberson would be that player for them)
Tactically disiplined, good tacklers, good in the air, good outlet passer, able to focus for 90 minutes.
Category 3. Attacking midfielders: Cesc, Carrick, lampard, Gerrard, Kaka, Deco, Xavi, Zidane, Rosicky, Ballack, Scholes.
Great technically, defend but not their strong suit, great passers, and should have an eye for goal. These are the players that win you CL.
We Have Diaby, from cat1. need one more, Yaya.
We have Gilberto in Cat2. Need one more, Cheapest could be Senna.
We have enough in Cat3. Cesc, Rosicky, and Hleb Can play there.
This is only talking about Midfield, We need 1 more good central defender, maybe a very good striker (though i'm not convinced we do) and someone to replace almunia, he gives me more scares that Cygan at centerback.
from them clips it looks like rosicky does score more goals then helb and he looks like hes got a much better strike then him to its almost stevey like
The stast on his goals are odd:
He scored 5 goals in the Bundesligue last year, less than Bobby.
But, he scored 7 in 12 games for the Czechs in qualifying. Odd. Or, perhaps, as Myles on ANR suggested - with better players he scores more.
I hope he at least tries to shoot more. Big prob last year: no-one even attempting shots, and us consequently playing pinball on the edge of the box.
Re: goals - go to the Arsenal world link above. Wind-up? Or are we are on the brink of getting Forlan? Opinions on him if we were to get him. I'm opposed.
Forlan? Ohmygod no.
We definitely need a keeper. Almunia just isn't good enough, and Jens is suspended for one or more of the early Champions League games. Again. Presumably we'll be looking at someone young to take over as number one in a couple of years. I really like Isakson, though if he has a good World Cup his price may be too high.
Where will Rosicky play? A Czech journalist and friend on the radio yesterday said he had asked him just that. Apparently Rosicky is very excited about Wenger's ideas but isn't going to betray them to anyone. Good.
Do we need a midfield bruiser? 'Fraid so. I don't like that sort of player but Gilberto can't play every game and he isn't always that effective in the Premiership anyway. Hokey-Cokey would be nice, but Zakora would be more economical. Yaya (who I don't much rate) is being difficult and prima-donna-ish, I've heard, so Wenger is unlikely to still be considering him
Wish we could have the Brazilian Seal for the times when Freddie has a headache, swollen ankle, etc. When I first heard of him a couple of years ago, I wanted us to sign him just to see the look on Fergie's face. For anyone who's not come across this phenomenon: he has a funny-shaped forehead which enables him to flick the ball onto his nose and run with it, which obviously leaves defenders in a bit of a fix. He has other qualities too, and it looks as though they've now been brought to Fergie's attention. The rumours are he's going to ManU, for some astounding amount.
Where will Ash go? Real and its monkey-grunters seems the most likely, poor Ash. I'll be gutted to lose him and he'll be gutted to leave, but all the signs are Wenger and DD are going to be ruthless.
And poor Paddy, talking of people who've buggered us around -gas in the air-conditioning can't have been nice.
Good analysis there guys. Particularly like the point about midfield enforcers and defensive shields. Lauren is a player who could play as a defensive shield but like Makelele he is not good in the air. He uses the ball better than Gilberto who I think is one of the best midfield sheilds in world football today and he proved it in this years CL. Gilberto is also quicker than most defensive shields which is an advantage and he is good in the air its just his passing that is abit lacking. I'd like to see a good understudy joining Mascherano maybe or De Rossi. Zakora and not ZOKORA is a fine player if abit over-hyped
About Rosicky he might be small but he can defend and so can Fabregas and Hleb. Fabregas will improve physically and he showed against Barca that he cant be easilly shrugged of the ball. Hleb is a battler too so I have no problem with Gilberto Hleb Fabregas and Rosicky.
Rosicky can score goals in a good team. Dortmund struggled this season but he scored 15 in 53 for the Czech Republic and he will score goals for us. For £6m he is a great signing
Either of these 3: Kevin Nolan, Tim Borowski, Daniele De Rossi....goals they can score.....tonnes of...from central midfield...big lads the bunch of 'em...
Enough!!! You guys are posting as if you are experts in either talent evaluation or footballing strategy. Don't you think AW has actually thought about those issues before. He took a supposed "transition team" to the finals of the Champions League and came this close to winning the whole thing. When we had the big bruising midfielder, where did it get us? How many of you had even heard of Cesc or Eboue or even Henry before AW got them. So please, CHILL and let the man coach. He obviously knows a thing or two about talent.
Do we need to sign a midfield hardman?? IMHO Flamini is a well suited to filling in if Gilberto is missing.
Don't think Song is good enough for us (have we signed him or is he still on loan)
And I believe AW rates Muamba from the reserves.
Didn't I read somewhere that Wenger was trying to buy an Argentinian midfielder in January but he got injured and the deal was called off?
Arsenal had been lacking in depth last season. the first 11 looks fabulous if everyone is fit and you wonder where the guys fit in. this was not the case and this is not going to be the case. Rocisky adds that depth on the wings and creative central midfield. What if Cesc goes injured? who will play in that position. Diaby, gilberto and Flamini do not look good as a pair.
Waiting for another defender to be signed.
He's what we need in the 4-5-1 for the coming CL...Freddie couldn't shoot outside the box and with rosicky dribbling, it can tear off the opponent's midfield and creat some space for Cesc and Titi....
Now we need a goalkeeper, thats all....we saw that in the final, Almunia was so nervous and the back four never passed back to him...that show the lack of confidence the team gave him....
you have obviously never seen rosicky play... he is no scoring machine but then again nobody is, he is a playmaker that will get you around 10 goals each season, he is like what many are saying the key to out 4-5-1 formation in europe.
I'd like a keeper, a striker and a left-sided centreback. Otherwise, when Senderos is injured, who have we got? Only Cygan - every year we think he'll be leaving, every year we are wrong - or there's Hoyte, I suppose, playing out of position. But as Wenger never spends money on defenders, the best I can hope is that he'll invest in a defensive midfielder who can double as a centreback (as Gilberto can in a crisis). Can't think of anyone in the reserves for that role. Muamba looks skilful, but he's not a potential central defender and still too uncertain and frail.
Don't think we can count on Freddie much early next season. Migraines, the ongoing foot problems, fluid being drained from his ankle, etc. He's always been injury-prone anyway, so the World Cup on top of his existing problems doesn't bode well. When, roughly, is our first Champions League game - anyone know?
let's trust le prof cos ARSENE KNOWS!!!
Farewell, Pires, and thanks. For me he was our most elegant, intelligent and, above all, unselfish player. Remember him passing up the chance of scoring so as to give the hapless Jeffers a chance. We're going to miss him so much. He seemed always to score against Spurs, and always in the FA Cup; until this last season he was the top midfield scorer in the league year after year. The best-looking, sexiest player as well. A big loss all round. All the best, Bobby, at Villarreal.
I'm baffled by the people who think we shouldn't discuss transfers on the grounds that we know less than Wenger, and no one cares what we think in any case. True, but then what can we discuss - knitting patterns? the weather? And given your point of view why do you bother to look at this kind of site?
Wenger does indeed know, but we can at least guess!!
Hmm I love the idea behind this website, very unique.
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Hi! Just want to say what a nice site. Bye, see you soon.
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