That's the bottomline. Of the top 3 this season, we seem the most dependent on a core group of players. We've been more fortunate with injuries than usual this season, so we've been able to field a core group of 8 or 9 starters in pretty much every PL game. Beyond that core group, you just can't trust anyone else to come in and deliver the same level of expected performances. City can rest Foden and bring in the likes of Grealish and Alvarez and Doku and deliver the same level of performance. De Bruyne was injured and Foden and Bernardo Silva capably covered for him for months. We take off what looks like a fatiguing Odegaard and we're bringing in ESR.
Martinelli has been in poor form this season and it was necessary to drop him, but no one can replace what he offers - the penetrating runs he makes which gives us an out ball. Trossard can't replace it. Jesus has been horrific in front of goal and we have to play Havertz there with all his limitations. Or play Nketiah - a Championship level striker.
Worsening it is Arteta doesn't seem to be able to manage out-of-favor or fringe players the way Klopp seems to, so they show no confidence at all when called upon (best demonstrated by Ramsdale's cameos this season). Our subs bench just don't seem to make any critical impact to our team. I dont know that we have the money for it, but we still need a lot of investment to improve the quality and depth of this team, if we're to match our ambitions.
Not Enough Depth
posted on 14/4/24
comment by Admiral Ozil is my new favourite Star Wars cha... (U10178)
posted 6 seconds ago
If we've got players in the squad that aren't rated why are they here. Nelson, Smith-Rowe Nketiah,Elneny, Veira they are clogging up the squad they need to go and players that have a realistic chance of playing need to come in. I'd say if we've got players who have been here longer than 18 months and realistically don't have a chance of starting have no business being here.
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They are "rated" by Arteta though. He just thinks the first XI can play 60 games a season and the fringe players can come in and do a job for the odd game here and there. Doesn't really matter who the squad players are, they will stagnate - so why bother selling Nelson and paying more for a replacement bench warmer?
posted on 14/4/24
I don’t buy the depth. The personnel put there should’ve done the job. Zinchenko and Jesus in particular have become liabilities.
posted on 14/4/24
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 18 minutes ago
Can you argue about depth when Arteta is adamant players can play 60 games a season?
There have been opportunities to rest Saka, Saliba, Rice, Odegaard that have not been taken.
He gave extensions to the likes of Nelson and refused to sell the likes of ESR but then barely plays them. If he wanted to rotate he could, if he wanted "better quality depth" he would have sold Nelson, Nketiah etc when their price was high. And as for giving youth players a chance...
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Perhaps he's very hesitant to rotate precisely because he doesn't trust the quality of the players he has on the bench. Trossard has been the best performing sub and gets a lot of minutes - and even got promoted to start. Maybe if there were more squad players of Trossard's quality, he'd be more willing to rotate. It's hard to believe that Arteta doesn't know the value of keeping his best players fresh through the season and he's deliberately choosing to run them into the ground.
posted on 14/4/24
comment by Chris H (U15205)
posted 34 minutes ago
Today I thought was nothing to do with depth, albeit I'd have started ESR, Tomi and maybe even Partey..
The lineup just felt lazy and convenient. Jesus cannot play through the middle, and Havertz cannot play in midfield. Kai getting in good positions and fluffing his lines doesnt help anyone.
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When I saw the line-up, I thought he was being ambitious and trying to "go for it". Would probably have been better playing Jorginho to get better control of midfield and playing only one of Havertz/Jesus upfront.
posted on 14/4/24
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 4 seconds ago
comment by Admiral Ozil is my new favourite Star Wars cha... (U10178)
posted 6 seconds ago
If we've got players in the squad that aren't rated why are they here. Nelson, Smith-Rowe Nketiah,Elneny, Veira they are clogging up the squad they need to go and players that have a realistic chance of playing need to come in. I'd say if we've got players who have been here longer than 18 months and realistically don't have a chance of starting have no business being here.
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They are "rated" by Arteta though. He just thinks the first XI can play 60 games a season and the fringe players can come in and do a job for the odd game here and there. Doesn't really matter who the squad players are, they will stagnate - so why bother selling Nelson and paying more for a replacement bench warmer?
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I'd argue against that if they were rated they would see more minutes if I can see that Saka disappears in second half's then surely Arteta should be able to see this. For example if we had a player like Pedro Neto(first name that came to me doesnt necessarily have to be him) he would surely see more minutes than Nelson does.
posted on 14/4/24
600m plus spent and we still only have a first 11 that's decent...
posted on 14/4/24
comment by Admiral Ozil is my new favourite Star Wars character (U10178)
posted 10 minutes ago
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 4 seconds ago
comment by Admiral Ozil is my new favourite Star Wars cha... (U10178)
posted 6 seconds ago
If we've got players in the squad that aren't rated why are they here. Nelson, Smith-Rowe Nketiah,Elneny, Veira they are clogging up the squad they need to go and players that have a realistic chance of playing need to come in. I'd say if we've got players who have been here longer than 18 months and realistically don't have a chance of starting have no business being here.
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They are "rated" by Arteta though. He just thinks the first XI can play 60 games a season and the fringe players can come in and do a job for the odd game here and there. Doesn't really matter who the squad players are, they will stagnate - so why bother selling Nelson and paying more for a replacement bench warmer?
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I'd argue against that if they were rated they would see more minutes if I can see that Saka disappears in second half's then surely Arteta should be able to see this. For example if we had a player like Pedro Neto(first name that came to me doesnt necessarily have to be him) he would surely see more minutes than Nelson does.
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Glad someone else has noticed the fact that saka goes anonymous in 2nd half of games
posted on 14/4/24
I'd argue against that if they were rated they would see more minutes
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Rated enough to get new contracts on the back of being largely unused back-ups. It is clearly what Arteta wants, a first XI who will play every game they are fit for.
posted on 14/4/24
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 1 minute ago
I'd argue against that if they were rated they would see more minutes
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Rated enough to get new contracts on the back of being largely unused back-ups. It is clearly what Arteta wants, a first XI who will play every game they are fit for.
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If Arteta can't understand its a squad game then he needs to replaced simple as we won't win anything with that attitude.
posted on 15/4/24
comment by 50 No longer trusting the process (U1147)
posted 10 hours, 25 minutes ago
I don’t buy the depth. The personnel put there should’ve done the job. Zinchenko and Jesus in particular have become liabilities.
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Agree 50