Linson
Well-Known Member
Now we're in November, we're a mere 8 weeks away from the January transfer window, which I think will be the most important January in recent memory, if not ever.
For the first time in a long time we've dropped out of the top four and I hate to say it, we deserved to drop. We, as fans, have been the victims of chronic under-funding / semi-neglect of the squad.
We potentially have some of the largest problems we've ever faced at the club, as it stands we have the potential to be losing many players:
Özil - ?signing new contract
Sanchez - Man City
Debuchy - unhappy with lack of opportunities
Giroud ?Everton
Walcott ?Everton
Ospina - unhappy with lack of opportunities
Mertesacker - retiring
Mustafi - ?Lazio
We also have players who are chronically under-performing / perma-injured and potentially can't be trusted in the long term:
Elneny
Coquelin
Cazorla
Koscielny
When taking this into account, our first 11 / squad suddenly looks bereft of experience and talent. We already lack proper depth in several areas. To bring players in in the summer window will mean a significant turnover of players that will take too long to be competitive come August. The second issue with waiting until the summer is when all those players leave, clubs will know we're desperate / we potentially won't have the attraction of champions league.
I think we should be aggressively pro-active in the January transfer window, identify high profile, available targets early on and move swiftly. I don't want this to turn into a wishlist thread but we know players like Draxler, Aubameyang and VVD are potentially available.
Thoughts?
For the first time in a long time we've dropped out of the top four and I hate to say it, we deserved to drop. We, as fans, have been the victims of chronic under-funding / semi-neglect of the squad.
We potentially have some of the largest problems we've ever faced at the club, as it stands we have the potential to be losing many players:
Özil - ?signing new contract
Sanchez - Man City
Debuchy - unhappy with lack of opportunities
Giroud ?Everton
Walcott ?Everton
Ospina - unhappy with lack of opportunities
Mertesacker - retiring
Mustafi - ?Lazio
We also have players who are chronically under-performing / perma-injured and potentially can't be trusted in the long term:
Elneny
Coquelin
Cazorla
Koscielny
When taking this into account, our first 11 / squad suddenly looks bereft of experience and talent. We already lack proper depth in several areas. To bring players in in the summer window will mean a significant turnover of players that will take too long to be competitive come August. The second issue with waiting until the summer is when all those players leave, clubs will know we're desperate / we potentially won't have the attraction of champions league.
I think we should be aggressively pro-active in the January transfer window, identify high profile, available targets early on and move swiftly. I don't want this to turn into a wishlist thread but we know players like Draxler, Aubameyang and VVD are potentially available.
Thoughts?