Pepe as a 9

comment by 5-2 (U10698)
posted 18 minutes ago
Those saying he wouldn't be good for sure, how do you know that if we haven't tried that? How do you know his link up play isn't good? People were saying same for Henry and look how that ended up. We should try.
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It might be worth a try if we have no options but there's just not much in Pepe's game to suggest he'd do anything but fail in that position

comment by Two Balls, One Saka (U19684)
posted 10 hours, 32 minutes ago
Can't see it working. Pepe is mildly good at one thing, faking to go down the wing then cutting inside for a shot or pass. He's never demonstrated he's got the tools to play centrally, hold the ball up or bring others into play.

If anything moving one of Odegaard or ESR would potentially work although they're both probably too lightweight for the job.

Also Castor, please forget about crosses from Tierney when thinking about a striker. That's just a symptom of when the side has absolutely zero attacking direction and the opposition lets us do it in order to gain possession back. Under a counter attack situation it would be different but we're talking about the multiple times when we pass aimlessly around the box before lofting a hopeful ball. No striker in the world is getting any joy out of that.
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How can you forget about crosses? That has been Arteta play since joining.

When we are facing the low block at home to a team like Burnley, the Tierney crosses will always be in full effect

No chance.Arteta doesn't like Pepe. Pepe gets sent off at Leeds and only plays when there is no choice.Also critisized by Arteta. Xhaka is a repeat offender and is a valued member of the team.

Eddie Nketiah will be ahead of Pepe because Pepe can actually score goals.Arteta doesnt like that.

comment by Castor Troy (U8700)
posted 23 minutes ago
comment by Two Balls, One Saka (U19684)
posted 10 hours, 32 minutes ago
Can't see it working. Pepe is mildly good at one thing, faking to go down the wing then cutting inside for a shot or pass. He's never demonstrated he's got the tools to play centrally, hold the ball up or bring others into play.

If anything moving one of Odegaard or ESR would potentially work although they're both probably too lightweight for the job.

Also Castor, please forget about crosses from Tierney when thinking about a striker. That's just a symptom of when the side has absolutely zero attacking direction and the opposition lets us do it in order to gain possession back. Under a counter attack situation it would be different but we're talking about the multiple times when we pass aimlessly around the box before lofting a hopeful ball. No striker in the world is getting any joy out of that.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
How can you forget about crosses? That has been Arteta play since joining.

When we are facing the low block at home to a team like Burnley, the Tierney crosses will always be in full effect
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Those crosses are not a form of attack, they're when the players have no idea what to do because the opposition are defending narrow and deep and our build up was too slow. No striker is converting terrible chances like that

comment by Two Balls, One Saka (U19684)
posted 35 minutes ago
comment by Castor Troy (U8700)
posted 23 minutes ago
comment by Two Balls, One Saka (U19684)
posted 10 hours, 32 minutes ago
Can't see it working. Pepe is mildly good at one thing, faking to go down the wing then cutting inside for a shot or pass. He's never demonstrated he's got the tools to play centrally, hold the ball up or bring others into play.

If anything moving one of Odegaard or ESR would potentially work although they're both probably too lightweight for the job.

Also Castor, please forget about crosses from Tierney when thinking about a striker. That's just a symptom of when the side has absolutely zero attacking direction and the opposition lets us do it in order to gain possession back. Under a counter attack situation it would be different but we're talking about the multiple times when we pass aimlessly around the box before lofting a hopeful ball. No striker in the world is getting any joy out of that.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
How can you forget about crosses? That has been Arteta play since joining.

When we are facing the low block at home to a team like Burnley, the Tierney crosses will always be in full effect
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Those crosses are not a form of attack, they're when the players have no idea what to do because the opposition are defending narrow and deep and our build up was too slow. No striker is converting terrible chances like that
----------------------------------------------------------------------
So you think teams are not going to put 10 men behind the ball and play narrow when the season restarts?

comment by Castor Troy (U8700)
posted 9 minutes ago
comment by Two Balls, One Saka (U19684)
posted 35 minutes ago
comment by Castor Troy (U8700)
posted 23 minutes ago
comment by Two Balls, One Saka (U19684)
posted 10 hours, 32 minutes ago
Can't see it working. Pepe is mildly good at one thing, faking to go down the wing then cutting inside for a shot or pass. He's never demonstrated he's got the tools to play centrally, hold the ball up or bring others into play.

If anything moving one of Odegaard or ESR would potentially work although they're both probably too lightweight for the job.

Also Castor, please forget about crosses from Tierney when thinking about a striker. That's just a symptom of when the side has absolutely zero attacking direction and the opposition lets us do it in order to gain possession back. Under a counter attack situation it would be different but we're talking about the multiple times when we pass aimlessly around the box before lofting a hopeful ball. No striker in the world is getting any joy out of that.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
How can you forget about crosses? That has been Arteta play since joining.

When we are facing the low block at home to a team like Burnley, the Tierney crosses will always be in full effect
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Those crosses are not a form of attack, they're when the players have no idea what to do because the opposition are defending narrow and deep and our build up was too slow. No striker is converting terrible chances like that
----------------------------------------------------------------------
So you think teams are not going to put 10 men behind the ball and play narrow when the season restarts?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
They are and the slow passing + eventual cross tactic to an isolated striker will still not work...

It's one of, it not Arteta's biggest failing - the inability to create a side that can attack when the opposition aren't playing into his hands.

It's not isolated to Arteta though, we saw this under Wenger and Emery at times when the players were completely out of ideas or low on confidence

You can probably pick a team of players that have had a problem with Arteta

He played as a 9 for half a season in France when Bielsa was at Lille. He wasn't very good. He then got moved to the wing and got a lot better. He also says he's not comfortable in the middle.

Martinelli probably has more potential there.

comment by 5-2 (U10698)
posted 20 hours, 52 minutes ago
comment by (U3265)
posted 2 hours, 44 minutes ago
comment by The Logical One™ (destroying trolls as they desperately cry out for help and validation 😅) (U20872)
posted 21 minutes ago
Good idea, he has a lethal left peg plus he has a few tricks up his sleeve, get him closer to the goal and he could be a nightmare for defenders.
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He will have to improve his right foot dramatically though as good defenders just force him on to his right and hes a waste of time on that side.
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And Auba had a left foot?
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At least Auba would try his left , Pepe just will not use his right, he always goes to his left which makes him easy to defend against. Its worth a try playing Pepe in the middle but I not sure it will work

comment by (U3265)
posted 2 hours, 17 minutes ago
comment by 5-2 (U10698)
posted 20 hours, 52 minutes ago
comment by (U3265)
posted 2 hours, 44 minutes ago
comment by The Logical One™ (destroying trolls as they desperately cry out for help and validation 😅) (U20872)
posted 21 minutes ago
Good idea, he has a lethal left peg plus he has a few tricks up his sleeve, get him closer to the goal and he could be a nightmare for defenders.
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He will have to improve his right foot dramatically though as good defenders just force him on to his right and hes a waste of time on that side.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
And Auba had a left foot?
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At least Auba would try his left , Pepe just will not use his right, he always goes to his left which makes him easy to defend against. Its worth a try playing Pepe in the middle but I not sure it will work
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Not a defence of Pepe but players can get away with being incredibly one footed on the wing. Antonio Valencia was so one footed it was hilarious yet defenders still somehow fell for it

Like you said for strikers not ao much