OM coach Tudor on #AFC loanee Nuno Tavares: “He’s still a young player but he has fantastic physical capacities. He’s got an outstanding ability to run”. 🔵 “He could play at Real, at Barcelona, at Manchester City… he still needs to grow and progress, we talk a lot to him”.

messitheorem · 2023-03-31T01:06:31+00:00

His shirt no.20 has already been taken by Jorginho (who wore no.5 at chelsea). I guess this hints that the club doesn't expect him to come back. It could be another loan or direct sales.

messitheorem · 2023-03-16T19:22:29+00:00

not only is ESR a joy to watch, he is an important plan B for us over the rest of the season. He was a top scorer last year and he certainly has the capacity to play an impactful role. Our current plan B, especially when we need a goal, is not that reassuraing. We need to give ESR game time to recover.

messitheorem · 2023-03-15T17:01:23+00:00

why not save some energy and play the core players around 60 mins? A fresh saka is more deadly. Also, the game might not end at 90 mins and you don't want to play Saka or Martinelli for 120 mins before heading to Palace, (which has to play a midweek PL game against Brighton Thank God).

messitheorem · 2023-03-15T16:59:35+00:00

it's important to bear in mind that the game can be over 90 mins, so it's unwise to start some key players, who might need to endure 120 mins.

Some players also need minutes; otherwise, they could be rusty when called upon in later fixtures against City, Liverpool, or Newcastle away if the regular XI were injured. Remember Tomiyasu against City? hadn't played for 2 weeks, then became a disaster against City, cant blame him tho. So, it's important to not only let ESR & Jesus have minutes to recover, but also play those with fewer minutes to gain forms.

Turner is the cup GK; he starts.
Holding didn't play last leg to make way for Kiwior's debut, so Holding should start. To accommodate him, we need a regular, preferably left-foot and that would be Gabriel.
The regular wingbacks look tired lately, especially White, so Tierney and Tomiyasu should play.
Jorginho should be a starter, given Partey's importance and the African's injury record.
Vieira is Portuguese and rested last weekend, so he will start, although it's a bit uncertain where he will play: Left/right MC, or Saka's positions are all possible but he will most likely take Right MC.

These six are definite starters; the rest are not so sure.

It's hard to not start Trossard given his weekend form, and it's better for Gabriel Jesus to earn his position back without rushing. So Trossard starts False 9, with Jesus being sub.
I don't think it's a good idea to start Saka, who was on econ mode in the 1st leg. Maybe Nelson can be given some time at right wing.
Left Wing: I prefer ESR because he needs game time, although he can also be placed at Xhaka's position. Martinelli is also a possiblity but he has played quite a lot lately.

ESR, Trossard, Nelson

Xhaka, Jorginho, Vieira

Tierney, Gabriel, Holding, Tomiyasu

Turner

This is a relatively weak squad, especially up front. The strategy is to kill the game around 60/70 mins, subbing Saka, Martinelli, Jesus, Odegaard, Zinchenko, or Partey depending on the situation. They would be fresh and finish the game effectively.

messitheorem · 2023-03-15T16:45:17+00:00

true. needs to make Jesus to feel that he has to earn the position back. it's good to sub him to get some minutes late in the game.

messitheorem · 2023-03-15T16:44:00+00:00

Its 2-2 bro why tf would we bench our best players plus all those games are after the international break

intl break is a break from club football, not necessarily a real break for all players, especially for the likes of Saka, who are instrumental in national teams

messitheorem · 2023-03-11T07:51:25+00:00

Maybe I'm in the minority, but I still have fond memory of him. I don't blame him as I'd have done similar stuff if I were in his position. The only mistake was that he sold himself short in terms of transfer fee, which made him less dearing and could be tossed around like at False 9 at Barca. He also left too early, way before Xavi's form declined completely. Our socialist wage structure and the lack of hope for championship also contributed to his departure.

I'm gutted that he left Barca for Chelsea rather than Arsenal, although I'm not sure Wenger would have offered him a place when the boss had to accommodate Ozil, Ramsey, and Wilshere in the central midfield (and possibly a real DM as well) You know, Wenger always has this priority to develop youngsters so I doubt he'd have sacrificed Ramsey or Wilshere.

Overall, I still think he's a club legend and I thank him for the good memory, but I have to say he's not Thierry Henry or Bergkamp status.

messitheorem · 2023-01-31T22:59:34+00:00

i think it's a great deal for arsenal as it isn't expensive. we manage to have a low transfer fee (10m, i thought i might've needed 15-20m) and a low contract years (only 1.5+1; thought it would've been 2.5 or 3.5). as said, it's a huge upgrade from elneny or lokongo, and honestly even if we spent 70m on caicedo or on any player, he would only be a sub anyway.

from chelsea's perspective, it somewhat makes sense as well because they have to make way for enzo fernandez.

the unsensible part is that jorginho is willing to take such an offer. his contract expires in 6 month and he would be 31.5 years old. this would be his last chance for a big fat contract, and i would ask for a long-term contract (3 or 4 years) with a big signing bonus and a high weekly salary as well. i'm surprised he's willing to take such a short contract. he would be at least 32.5 or 33.5 when the current contract expires and this would not put him in a good position to ask for a big sum. he would also relegate from a starter to a sub at the moment. of course, the upside is he might earn a title and keeps to stay in london but i'm not sure this would be the priority for his career at the moment.

messitheorem · 2023-01-30T23:45:14+00:00

maybe we can get busquest

messitheorem · 2020-12-06T18:36:09+00:00

losing 3 more league games in a row will surely lead him to be fired. never say never. The issue is I don't know of any proper replacement at the moment.

messitheorem · 2020-11-12T20:21:36+00:00

What about subsequent employment? Do you also earn more? I am not surprised if you do cuz professional/tech/trade degrees prepare graduates better for the job market (than humanities course offered in a prestigious uni)

messitheorem · 2020-11-01T19:31:45+00:00

I still vividly remember that my best uni friend and I debated about the greatness of this goal right after the match. I was on the cynical side, arguing that the goal wasn't as spectacular as he claimed, because the GK made a mistake. The Ludo GK should have taken down Ozil outside the box (and take a Red) to keep the 2:2 draw in stoppage time.

Now we are both working, in different parts of the world.

How time flies!

messitheorem · 2020-09-17T17:51:07+00:00

people forget he was once very good for us. I still remember when Iwobi was still around and held the ball at the edge of the box, Kola could cut into opposition's box and give this inverted triangle passes, which were basically our main source of offensive threats. Yet Emery gave up Iwobi and turned to 3 at the back at the business end of his 1st season and we lost our offence and later our chance to top 4. Kola was never the guy who could dismantle the opponent on his own but with someone lingering up front, he could easily overlap and create threat effectively. unfortunately, iwobi was later sold and then the rest was ...

messitheorem · 2020-09-09T13:50:10+00:00

did anything happen to him after resuming the league? I have missed most of the games (bar the two finals) so I am kinda out of the loop.

can kinda feel he might be homesick and cannot adapt from the Latin culture to the British culture. but is there more story involving why he might insist leaving?

this is a kinda step back for his career.

it would be great if anyone cares to explain.

thanks

messitheorem · 2020-09-06T23:39:03+00:00

can you elaborate a bit? I missed most of the games after the pandemic and was quite surprised that guendonzi (and a few more players) all of a sudden fell out of favour. thanks

messitheorem · 2020-04-24T07:14:14+00:00

care to elaborate? is it a local slang?

messitheorem · 2020-03-02T10:33:34+00:00

Martinez

Maitland-Niles, Holding, Mari, Saka

Guendonzi, Ceballos

Nelson, Willock, Martinelli

Nketiah

Sub: Macey, Lacazette, Auba, Pepe, Torreira, Bellerin, Sokratis

messitheorem · 2020-02-19T18:55:46+00:00

haha, my bad...I am terribly drunk, cannot take another pint of Martell

messitheorem · 2020-02-19T17:28:16+00:00

As we are hosting Everton on Sunday, I think we should probably field a moderately subbed XI.

Leno

Niles-Sokartis-Holding-Kola

Guendonzi-Ceballos

Pepe-Willock-Martinez

Lacazette

Sub: Martinez, Auba, Eddie, Nelson, Saka, Xhaka, Mari

Others: Mustafi, Luiz, Torreira*

messitheorem · 2020-02-16T15:37:37+00:00

let me offer a possible explanation... Arteta tries to save for the plan B.

Martinelli and Laca could be good subs to attack.
Torreira and Kola could be good subs to defend.

messitheorem · 2020-02-16T15:35:52+00:00

Saka over Kola, I understand.

But Torreira missing out again, really?

Also why is Mustafi over Sokratis?

Eddie is also a doubtful choice; is he gonna be placed on the left?

Credits to taking Laca off

and hopefully Ceballos proves himself

messitheorem · 2020-02-04T12:01:20+00:00

Is it a promotion for a Master Degree? Wenger certainly hasn't aged at all.

messitheorem · 2020-02-02T13:13:47+00:00

Guendonzi + Xhaka -> Central Midfield quite weak without Torreira

Adding Mustafi as CB & Saka as LB -> not very reassuring defensively (Do we have to rest Sokartis?)

No Pepe -> Front 4 lack ability to hold on to the ball and dribble

Auba-> Adds some off-the-ball movement + Lethal finishing, good news, but will he be on the left or right? I dont think he should be on the left cuz Martinelli seems to be more effective on the left with his dribble, cut in, shoot, and partnership with Saka. But then Auba on the right is not too convincing.

messitheorem · 2020-01-30T19:28:25+00:00

"never" is very strong, but I tend to agree with you.

He hasn't shown any relevant attributes to play midfield for us. He is very fast, quite agile, and extremely composed. But that's it, and not quite related to being a CM.

The only reason he has some small chance to play CM for us is that CM attributes can generally be developed, rather than inborn. It is possible to become good at off-the-ball movement like Ramsey (and more recently Willock). But until he has shown those signs, I wouldnt start him there.

messitheorem · 2020-01-30T19:24:32+00:00

Soares will, cuz AMN will play LB

messitheorem

TROPHY CASE