wangus12 said:

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I'm not sold on Hakimi. I think he is similar to Bellerin in that his strength is in attacking, not defending.

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You could be right. However, he is much better at his strength then Bellerin and he has much more speed to track back. Also, with proper DM cover a more offensive FB is much less a big deal.

Hope he is 100% next season because I would like to see him get some rotation at both LW & ST.

Same. It sucks that he has lost nearly a year due to the knee and now being down the pecking order. I'd argue he was ahead of Saka in terms of performances last year, but the injury halted that. Could be they are trying to nail down his position in terms of training. Still aggravates me that he doesn't get minutes off the bench. I know Willian has had a good run the last few weeks, but I still want Gabby to get his minutes

There are some suggestions in the comments that we will sell Laca this summer and rather than spending on a new ST we will roll with a rotation of PEA, Martinelli & Eddie/Balogun/academy grad. If they are giving him some reps at ST in training now, I could definitely see that as an option. Allows us to use the Laca cash on other needs.

I could see a lineup next season of...

-------------------- PEA -----------------------
-- ESR ------- Odegaard -------- Saka --
--------- New CM* ---- Partey ---------------
Tierney -- Gabby -- New CB* -- Bellerin**
-------------------- Leno -----------------------

Bench
ST - Martinelli
AM - Pepe, Willian
CM - Xhaka
CB - Holding
FB - Cedric
GK - New GK

* or Holding
** or Hakimi

New Guys
CM - few options currently rumored. Most persistent is Yves Bissouma. I like him. Bring something a little different to the MF. But to me he is more of a El Neny replacement with much higher upside. If we get him I hope it is a cheap(ish) deal so we have funds for a starting quality guy that can displace Xhaka before Xmas. Most recent link I heard and really like is Denis Zakaria. He is 24, contract expires 2022, his manager is leaving for Dortmund and we have a Swiss connection for familiarity and recruitment. He is more of defensive 8 or a 6 with strong passing. I've even seen some numbers that suggest he is a better passer than Xhaka. If we are dead set on selling Duezy, what about a swap? We get a guy with a good attitude that fits our needs. They get a young replacement that would be coming of a good rookie season in Germany.
CB - latest rumors are Evan N'Dicka & Ibrahima Konate. I don't see N'Dicka happening unless it is as a replacement for Mari as he is left footed and Arteta seems to greatly prefer our starting CBs be differently footed. Konate is very interesting but I think that purchase likely means the Saliba ship has completely sailed. Ideally I would like to see Saliba & Mavropanos (both of which are looking very good on loan) get a shot. Would not be at all upset with a rotation of Gabby, Holding, Mari, Saliba & Mavro (in no particular order). It would be a bit young and EPL inexperienced but with HUGE upside.
GK - no clue
LB - I think we end up with a cheap, young HG option but I have seen rumors of signing Jordan Amavi on a free this summer.

I'd probably be ok with that. You have ESR, Saka and Pepe all capable of playing from the wings (add in Willian as well) so you can keep Auba central. The one big issue is none of those players have the hold up capability that Laca has. Really feel like that helps us open up the offense when ESR, Saka and Odegaard have that linchpin that they can play 1-2s with

I think for goalie, they'll bring Matt Ryan in on a free from Brighton. Serviceable back up, but not someone who is gonna push Leno which we may want

Agree with you on the hold up play. It's my one hesitation with PEA up top. While I don't think it happens, I wouldn't be opposed to selling PEA and keeping Laca for another year while we groom Martinelli. Outside of that, I think Martinelli has the potential to develop that skill and if we do end up buying a replacement I really want to find a young OG with better dribbling.

You are probably right. Not my first choice but it will work.

I think I yelled something pretty similar during the match in front my my girls and got a bad look from the Mrs

I agree with rolling with PEA-Martinelli-Balogon/Nketiah at Striker. Also agree that Martinelli can develop holdup play skill, and maybe do a little more of a false 9 setup, kind of like Firmino, replacing Lacas current role.

As far as CBs, I think going with Gabbi, Mari as your left footed options, and then for the future, you have Saliba and Mavropanos on the right side, you have a good setup, you just need someone to provide senior leadership. Maybe that's Holding? I still think Luiz could do it one more year although I know no one wants to hear that. I have heard rumors that Arteta will indeed offer him one more year. I think RB and midfield (left footed 6) is where we really need to invest this summer.

I've always been a huge Martinelli homer (at least since his first appearance in the Europa League last year) and I think the way that Arteta likes to progress on the wings and send crosses in is particularly suited for Martinelli. He is great in the air, and that video just shows how well he can shoot off of crosses.

Hakimi's agent has come out and says his client is settled in Milan and has no desire to leave.

Well that sucks.

I do want an offensive RB with some size to him. I think our CB pairing will be elite in a year or two.

Ghost of Andrew Eaton said:

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Right. Overall, only one team in the league is doing that. The rest are a mess and we should easily be in the top six. That being said, it took the team and Arteta a while to figure it out but since Boxing Day we've been pretty damn good.

If you look at the rest of our schedule, who do you think is an automatic loss? In my opinion, nobody.

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I wanna change my stance, Chelsea should be heavily favored.

Ghost of Andrew Eaton said:

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I wanna change my stance, Chelsea should be heavily favored.

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Meh.

Looks like a 4-3-3 to me...

------------------ PEA -------------------
ESR ------------------------------ Pepe
-------- Xhaka --------- Dani ----------
---------------- El Neny -----------------
Tierney -- Gabby -- Luiz -- Bellerin

No Willian or Saka today

really hoping Nelson (for Pepe) and Martinelli (for PEA) are able to get on the field for atleast 20 min.

That guarantees that we'll be down 2 goals and have to bring on all defense and Partey to hold of the Greeks instead of Reiss and Gabby

Unlucky for Pepe.I like his speed and energy/effort.

Huge from Leno. Inexcusable for route 1 to beat the back line like that

Auba be would on Messi/Ronaldo levels in terms of goal production if he'd hit all the easier chances he gets

45 more minutes

Meh, we don't really want to be here. Just see it out and get to the next round

And just like that down 1-nil

I'd like to see a little more effort to keep the ball off goal.

Ceballos turnovers have led to the last 4 goals against us in Europe. Stop playing him. I'd rather keep Willock than sign Ceballos

Strangely Attractive said:

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Ghost of Andrew Eaton said:

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I wanna change my stance, Chelsea should be heavily favored.

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Meh.

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They're rolling and that has all started with Tommy T.

I love that even when we try to play Auba up top he drifts over to the left and stays there. Then we have nobody up top to get on a cross.

wangus12 said:

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I love that even when we try to play Auba up top he drifts over to the left and stays there. Then we have nobody up top to get on a cross.

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This is one of my big hang ups moving him to ST. I just really don't like him on the wing either because he typically doesn't get up and down the field like your typical winger.. Would much see ESR, Saka, Pepe out wide. Doesn't seem likely but I can't help but wonder if he should be sold this summer and replaced with a more traditional ST.

Auba?!?!?!? WTH?!?! Weak!!!

OneBlitzer said:

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Auba?!?!?!? WTH?!?! Weak!!!

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That was garbage. He has shown zero interest in being here tonight.

I'm ready for them to take away the armband