Monaco

comment by Fergies A Jolly Good Fellow (U17074)
posted 7 minutes ago
comment by Elvis (U7425)
posted 37 seconds ago
comment by Fergies A Jolly Good Fellow (U17074)
posted 4 minutes ago
I think he's just making excuses Elvis. Given that they were the only team in the top 5 European leagues not to buy an outfield player, he may feel he has to say something. Especially when he's frequently delving into the French market.
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Hopefully Martial continues the way he has started. If he does then Wenger's lack of action to pursue Martial could prove to be a big mistake. He more than any other manager in the PL should have been aware of Martial and his links to Monaco should have put him in a good position to make the deal happen.
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My thoughts entirely. Considering that their stadium has been paid for and the fact that big deals for Ozil and Sanchez have already been sanctioned in recent summers, I don't see any reason why he didn't make a move. I think he's definitely missed a trick here.
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It is difficult to say on the few games that I have seen of Martial, as I knew nothing about him before he signed. However, Wenger has said that he is a talented player and LVG said that he is the best striker/forward of his age. LVG is pretty straight talking so I have to take that statement at face value and that he truly believes that. It is backed up by the fact we spent so much on the lad. It is still early days, but so far everything points to Wenger dropping the ball.

Martial looks better than any of us thought he'd be. If Rooney doesn't get better soon I hope Martial becomes the preferred choice at 9 and we sort out the 10 position once and for all.

comment by Knobb (U20351)
posted 2 minutes ago
Martial looks better than any of us thought he'd be. If Rooney doesn't get better soon I hope Martial becomes the preferred choice at 9 and we sort out the 10 position once and for all.
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The thing is, Martial is better suited to the no.9 role than Rooney. He offers pace and movement, is calm in front of goal and also looks like he can link the play pretty well. He has also shown that he is capable of holding up the ball and giving the other players time to join the attack. Again I am basing this on the limited time I have seen him, but he does appear to have everything you want from a modern no.9 and it is great to finally have a striker again with genuine pace. Hopefully he can also offer something in the air - not really had chance to see that facet of his game yet.

I was happy enough at the start of the season to see Rooney play as a no.9, but Martial has already shown that he is a better option up there and we look more fluid in attack with him in the team. That leaves us with the headache of how to give Rooney and Herrera the amount of playing time they will want, but Martial has to be a regular starter for me now.

Agreed Elvis. Would like to see Mata be given more chances at 10 this season. He's not always great there these days but he hasn't been given a run in that position for ages. Either him or Herrera would be good.

Wouldnt an easier solution for the buying clubs (Real and United) be to headhunt those Monaco scouts and save themselves so much money?
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Strewth.

comment by Knobb (U20351)
posted 1 minute ago
Agreed Elvis. Would like to see Mata be given more chances at 10 this season. He's not always great there these days but he hasn't been given a run in that position for ages. Either him or Herrera would be good.
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Yeh I'd also like to see more of Mata there. I know not all of our fans agree that he makes a good no.10, but I like him in there provided he is given a bit of a run rather than 1 game then shunted back out to the wing. The problem is then what to do with Rooney. With the wages he is on I just don't see him being dropped.

However, and I'd like to see how this front 4 got on for a few games:

.............Martial
Depay...Mata...Young

Yeah, that would be good.

Monaco scouts can only take credit for Martial... The rest of their top signings were down to Jorge Mendes chasing money from a wealthy new owner

Exactly Shugs. Mendes is the real 'scout' at Monaco. The club appears to be more of a 'front' than a place where undiscovered gems go

I think its because my own name is spelt with a 'h' when in normal usage its not! Correcting that now! <facepalm>