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Riyad Mahrez

At this point two years ago there was no evidence that Dier's role would be changed either. All I'm saying is that, based on the Dier example, don't pigeonhole players.

Ok shall we also say that Kane might turn into a keeper (he played there before!)? Or CCV into a CF? How about Janssen filing in at RB? There's zero evidence that Poch might be thinking of changing GKN into either a wingback or a more central player
 
Ok shall we also say that Kane might turn into a keeper (he played there before!)? Or CCV into a CF? How about Janssen filing in at RB? There's zero evidence that Poch might be thinking of changing GKN into either a wingback or a more central player
Now you're trying to be a smart ass. There's a difference between converting a GK to a striker compared to converting a winger to a wing back.
 
Keep Sissoko and sign two more attacking midfielders? We won't even find a place for Sissoko on our bench.

Not necessarily. He could be dropped back to central midfield, no? And, even if he is dropped from the bench, that doesn't really concern me as much as outright dumping a player after his first season does.
 
Not necessarily. He could be dropped back to central midfield, no? And, even if he is dropped from the bench, that doesn't really concern me as much as outright dumping a player after his first season does.

Sissoko isn't a CM - his basic balls skills (control, passing etc) are nowhere near good enough
 
Not necessarily. He could be dropped back to central midfield, no? And, even if he is dropped from the bench, that doesn't really concern me as much as outright dumping a player after his first season does.
I really see no reason to think that he could be dropped to central midfield. Unless you're talking about being dropped from the team there as well. Would be behind Wanyama, Dier, Dembele and Winks at least. Possibly Onomah too.

We've given up on several players after a year. It seems like a better option than keeping them around without really knowing how to give them game time.
 
I really see no reason to think that he could be dropped to central midfield. Unless you're talking about being dropped from the team there as well. Would be behind Wanyama, Dier, Dembele and Winks at least. Possibly Onomah too.

We've given up on several players after a year. It seems like a better option than keeping them around without really knowing how to give them game time.

Well, keeping a player around doesn't mean you have to give them game-time - I'm not suggesting that a new signing be *completely* shielded from any bad form over the first year, only that he gets another chance in his second year to make amends. Where his starting position is in that second year is of less concern, in that regard.

Mind, this is my personal view on how we should treat our signings - Poch may think differently, and there's no doubt that Sissoko's wages will probably weigh heavily on Levy's mind as well.
 
An interesting update on Mahrez - Di Marzio's reporting that he's agreed terms with Roma, and that he's apparently willing to accept the same base salary after tax that he has at Leicester (100k a week, more or less).

*However*, other sources earlier this summer reported that he wanted a move to London in particular, with other clubs being options only if this wasn't possible.

If both are true, I can't see why we aren't at least throwing an enquiry Leicester's way - they'd want more than they would from Roma in terms of a transfer fee, but we could possibly still get it down to 37.5 - 40m with a bit of haggling (considerably more than what Roma are apparently offering). We have the Walker money burning a hole in our pocket anyway, not like the outlay's unaffordable. And if Mahrez is willing to stick to the same wages he has at Leicester, he should fit into our wage structure at the upper end - I can't see why he wouldn't, given that we're roughly the same size and stature as Roma are and he apparently wants a move to London over other alternatives if possible.

He'd be a better option than Barkley.
 
An interesting update on Mahrez - Di Marzio's reporting that he's agreed terms with Roma, and that he's apparently willing to accept the same base salary after tax that he has at Leicester (100k a week, more or less).

*However*, other sources earlier this summer reported that he wanted a move to London in particular, with other clubs being options only if this wasn't possible.

If both are true, I can't see why we aren't at least throwing an enquiry Leicester's way - they'd want more than they would from Roma in terms of a transfer fee, but we could possibly still get it down to 37.5 - 40m with a bit of haggling (considerably more than what Roma are apparently offering). We have the Walker money burning a hole in our pocket anyway, not like the outlay's unaffordable. And if Mahrez is willing to stick to the same wages he has at Leicester, he should fit into our wage structure at the upper end - I can't see why he wouldn't, given that we're roughly the same size and stature as Roma are and he apparently wants a move to London over other alternatives if possible.

He'd be a better option than Barkley.

No he wouldnt. We don't have cover for Eriksen. We do have pace and trickery already in NKD. We should give him a chance rather than spunk shed loads of money on a one season wonder who is prone to sulks.
 
An interesting update on Mahrez - Di Marzio's reporting that he's agreed terms with Roma, and that he's apparently willing to accept the same base salary after tax that he has at Leicester (100k a week, more or less).

*However*, other sources earlier this summer reported that he wanted a move to London in particular, with other clubs being options only if this wasn't possible.

If both are true, I can't see why we aren't at least throwing an enquiry Leicester's way - they'd want more than they would from Roma in terms of a transfer fee, but we could possibly still get it down to 37.5 - 40m with a bit of haggling (considerably more than what Roma are apparently offering). We have the Walker money burning a hole in our pocket anyway, not like the outlay's unaffordable. And if Mahrez is willing to stick to the same wages he has at Leicester, he should fit into our wage structure at the upper end - I can't see why he wouldn't, given that we're roughly the same size and stature as Roma are and he apparently wants a move to London over other alternatives if possible.

He'd be a better option than Barkley.


Most likely they quoted us an insane fee.
 
No he wouldnt. We don't have cover for Eriksen. We do have pace and trickery already in NKD. We should give him a chance rather than spunk shed loads of money on a one season wonder who is prone to sulks.

Lamela can do the Eriksen role. We need the pace and trickery option much more.
 

Most likely they quoted us an insane fee.

They've been publicly sticking to 50m, but apparently (again, all as per Di Marzio, so salt needed - but he's usually okay on Serie A stuff) they're okay with a lower fee from Roma, and I imagine that they'd be open to a lower fee from us as well. Not *as low* as they'd go for Roma, but still lower than 50m - which no one will likely pay.

Maybe it's a slow burner or something. The trouble with that is that Arsenal losing Sanchez will make it likely that he goes to the Emirates - so if anything, we might need to preempt that if we're serious about getting him.

No he wouldnt. We don't have cover for Eriksen. We do have pace and trickery already in NKD. We should give him a chance rather than spunk shed loads of money on a one season wonder who is prone to sulks.

Erm..Barkley's better than people make him out to be, but he's no Eriksen replacement. Not by a long shot. More like an attacking midfield Dembele, if anything.

Mahrez would actually be closer to the ideal than Barkley would, if that's what you're looking for - quick, creative, decent size and speed, outrageously skillful, and can drift across the midfield. And while his work-rate is never going to be Eriksen-level (there are almost no AMs who work as hard as Eriksen does, imo), he pulls his weight in defense - wouldn't have survived in a defensive team if that weren't the case.
 
They've been publicly sticking to 50m, but apparently (again, all as per Di Marzio, so salt needed - but he's usually okay on Serie A stuff) they're okay with a lower fee from Roma, and I imagine that they'd be open to a lower fee from us as well. Not *as low* as they'd go for Roma, but still lower than 50m - which no one will likely pay.

Maybe it's a slow burner or something. The trouble with that is that Arsenal losing Sanchez will make it likely that he goes to the Emirates - so if anything, we might need to preempt that if we're serious about getting him.

Erm..Barkley's better than people make him out to be, but he's no Eriksen replacement. Not by a long shot. More like an attacking midfield Dembele, if anything.

Mahrez would actually be closer to the ideal than Barkley would, if that's what you're looking for - quick, creative, decent size and speed, outrageously skillful, and can drift across the midfield. And while his work-rate is never going to be Eriksen-level (there are almost no AMs who work as hard as Eriksen does, imo), he pulls his weight in defense - wouldn't have survived in a defensive team if that weren't the case.

I don't see the problem with Arsenal spending loads on another overrated player.
 
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