Curious to your opinions for next year.

[ATLGunner]

This is my first time posting here, so I am curious of the board's opinion.
What do you foresee as the look of the team next year?
Does JAR stay?
Does Paddy stay?
Does RVP start?
Do we bring in anyone else? Trezeguet, etc.?
What would your lineup be for the first EPL game? CL?
Im sure all of this has been expressed in previous threads, but I am very interested in the opinions of those more insightful then I.

[Val1]

Welcome, atlgunner.

I'm not thinking there will be whole lot of changes. I only see Edu definitely leaving. I have no idea what'll happen with Cole. I'm more than happy with Clichy, but he's injury prone and he's not given any indication so far that he could play 50+ games as Cole's replacement, so I think Wenger'll keep Cole. With Bentley coming back, and Quincy and Lupoli pushing to be on the first team bench, I think Aliadiere may leave, which I'm ready to be unhappy about.

In terms of bringing players in, I don't expect a lot of changes. Wenger will have to bring in a left back if Cole leaves, and I can see him trying to bring in a right back as well. (Last year we were close to signing Trabelsi to replace Lauren.) We need a better keeper, but I don't know who that would be, so I think Lehmann will stay put. I'm pretty sure Almunia is history.

Vieira? Well, if he makes any sound about going to Real Madrid, I will personally come to London and move his shite for him. I want Vieira to want to stay with the Arse, but if he wants to leave, let him go.

All year I've wondered what would be the plan to find Freddie's successor, and now I'm thinking it might be Cesc. I don't think the loss of width will be that significant because I'm a better target man than anyone we've got . I don't think Reyes will go anywhere yet. Wenger's number 1 job is to get Reyes and Henry playing on the same page. Which is why I want Bergkamp to go. If DB stays around, Henry's learning curve to playing with someone else will just take another year. I want that to start now.

I think Sol moves back to starter at the beginning of the season, though Senderos will probably play out the season. So, our starting lineup next year:

.......................Lehmann

LB to be.......Kolo.........Sol.........Cole
named later
............Gilberto..................Vieira
....Cesc.........................................Reyes
.........van Persie..................Henry

Bench: Keeper to be named later.
Senderos
Flamini
Ljungberg
Pires
Bergkamp

[billyho96]

Reyes and Edu will go, Owen will come. Arsene will get a keeper and defender that we have not heard much of, but that doesn't mean they can't play. Interesting to see what will happen with Frey if Parma are relegated, also the Toldo saga will get some play.

Lehmann has been very good lately. I think the Almunia experiment cost use maybe 5 points. We've given up one league goal since Gilberto came back. Cesc and Flamini are good but lack the size and guil of Gilberto. Sendaros has been a revalation and and his wage is not that off an more established CB.

Reyes will be interesting, he can score and he is maturing. He can carry the load when Henry rests, who else can do that? Madrid have Solano, Raul, Ronaldo, and Owen up front for now. Unless they are gonna play Reyes on the wing if they part with Beckham and Figo.

If we are gonna splash out big for one guy, I'd like to see Gerrard given a run. Chelsea have been linked but he can only play in the center of the park, and he's just not as good as Lampard right now, so why would he go there. Makelele is probably Chelsea's most important field player and Gerrard isn't taking his spot. If Vieria does go to Madrid, Gerrard is the only sensible replacement.

Lehmann
Lauren-Sendaros-Campbell-Cole
Freddie-Gilberto-Vieria-Pires
Henry-Reyes (Owen)

Bench will have Lauren and probably Cygan for cover. The midfield will have Flamini and another addition.
For the attack Quincy (who I'd like to see more of), Cesc, and RVP will give punch and Bergy will still be available for local matches.

This side if healthy are good enough to challenge Chelsea. No matter who they buy they can only put 11 on the pitch

Cech
Gallas-Carvalho-Terry-Bridge
Robben-Lampard-Makelele-Duff
Eidur-Drogba

They will likely being in an attacker. The talk is of Adriano but Inter are wealthy too and are not likely to part with their best player.

ManU will still be saddled with an aging midfield, Giggs, Scholes, Keane and the Nevilles are all into their 30s and RVN has lost something to his game though I can't figure what. They need another CB and Keeper, worse than we do, if that's possible. The aging midfield all are such sentimental favorites, I can't see them getting better before they get worse.

We are in good shape.

[ATLGunner]

Good input, appreciate it. While we can predict Arsenal's lineup, we cant do that with Chelsea really. It would have been easier to predict the supertrifecta yesterday.

[ibreak4coffee]

1) Arsenal will likely look very similar to this season's edition. I know there is talk of a huge transfer kitty, but the competition will be strong for players that have already been linked with Arsenal, so I imagine only one or two new faces will wear England's nicest jersey ( :) ). I will go on the assumption that Vieria will stay, and I also disagree with posts saying Fabregas should replace Freddie in the starting line-up. He was Arsenal's second most consistent perfomer after Henry when healthy. I'd ideally like to see a new keeper and a new striker... midfield is strong with the likes of Pires, Van Persie, and Fabregas, and Flamini able to come off the bench. Of course, Van Persie could slide up front, and Dennis might stay, but I think we need one more top striker for depth.

My starting line-up at the beginning of the year (or at least the one I'd like to see)

--------New Keeper (or Lehmann)-----------

Lauren-----Senderos-----Campbell-----Cole-

-----------Gilberto----------Vieria----------

---------Ljungberg------------Pires--------

-----New Striker (Van Persie)------Henry----

Bench: Almunia, Fabregas, Flamini, Toure, Van Persie, Bergkamp


2) Transfers: As I said, I'd like to see a new keeper and a new striker... another defensive midfielder or defender would also be welcome. Too early to speculate as to new names, so I'll just name the positions.

3) I cant see Reyes not joining Edu on his way to Spain. I know he's said he'll stay, and Wenger says he's not for sale, but I am sure this will change soon.

[Its only Ray Parlour]

This is what i don't get, that team above is not decreasing in age by any stretch of the imagination. And when are the players that have begun to establish themselves as contributors going to get more than a passing consideration?

Why do you have Bergkamp on the bench over van Persie for next season? It makes no sense.

We all know Bergkamp cannot last a whole season anymore. He is going to 36 next week. Come on man.

[Neo¹]

If we are gonna splash out big for one guy, I'd like to see Gerrard given a run. Chelsea have been linked but he can only play in the center of the park, and he's just not as good as Lampard right now, so why would he go there. Makelele is probably Chelsea's most important field player and Gerrard isn't taking his spot. If Vieria does go to Madrid, Gerrard is the only sensible replacement.

Chelsea play with 3 Midfielders, 2 Wingers, and a Striker

So if Gerrard Came, he would replace Tiago.

Ferarra....Carvaliho....Terry......Bridge

...................Makalele
.........Lampard..........Gerrard

....Duff.........................Robben
..................Drogba



I think that Cesc Is becoming more of an Attacking Midfield player. A player that drifts in from the right wing to play in the attack. I know he has played well this season but I dont want him playing as much games next year, He could get seriously injured.

I hope we bring in a Striker, keeper, and atleast one Attacking Midfielder.

[ibreak4coffee]

This is what i don't get, that team above is not decreasing in age by any stretch of the imagination. And when are the players that have begun to establish themselves as contributors going to get more than a passing consideration?

Why do you have Bergkamp on the bench over van Persie for next season? It makes no sense.

We all know Bergkamp cannot last a whole season anymore. He is going to 36 next week. Come on man.

Oops--- my error. I meant to slide him in as the second option for striker. Of course, this is all speculative. He could the first option to pair with Henry next season. Bergkamp might not even return.

Of course, if you think Arsenal will win the Champions League and the EPL with Fabregas, Flamini, Van Persie, and either Lupoli or Owusu-Abeyie starting 40 games each next season, I'd love to hear you explain how that would happen.

[Neo¹]

I would like to try this new 4-3-3 formation that is so popular nowadays.

lauren..Cambell....Senderos...Cole

..................Vieira
.....Cesc..................Gilberto

.Freddie......Henry........Reyes

[Neo¹]

Of course, if you think Arsenal will win the Champions League and the EPL with Fabregas, Flamini, Van Persie, and either Lupoli or Owusu-Abeyie starting 40 games each next season, I'd love to hear you explain how that would happen.

Remember that Ajax team that won the CL? ;)

[Its only Ray Parlour]

Oops--- my error. I meant to slide him in as the second option for striker. Of course, this is all speculative. He could the first option to pair with Henry next season. Bergkamp might not even return.

Of course, if you think Arsenal will win the Champions League and the EPL with Fabregas, Flamini, Van Persie, and either Lupoli or Owusu-Abeyie starting 40 games each next season, I'd love to hear you explain how that would happen.

Upgrades in positions like GK, RB, RW, and either experienced cover at CB, or a prodigy like Kompany to fight it out with Toure for his spot. Added to a bit more tactical nous from Wenger.

Liverpool aren't exactly perfect and look how far they have gotten, they've only had one fit striker for majority of their CL campaign!