07 Oct 2018 18:17:03
Their are at least four main attributes to have in a professional footballer, Pace/ Speed, Technical ability, Football related intelligence and Passion/ Desire. It would be great if all our players would have all four but only the very best fall into that category. Messi for example.
You don't have to have all four to be a great footballer, for example Siggy doesn't have pace but he has the other attributes. On the other hand Walcott has pace but some times like this Saturday I wonder if he has any brains. Schneiderlin on the other hand seems to be lacking all four attributes, always passing side-ways or backwards. Nothing wrong with that tactic, Barcelona does it all the time, however when they attack they do it with pace/ speed.
Over the foreseeable past we have lacked pace, and those with pace have either not been used or have been youngsters learning there trade. What we have now, thanks to Silva and Brands is a forward line with pace to spare. In Richarlison and Bernard we have players who have to varying degrees of all four attributes. These two supplemented by Walcott and Lookman have the pace and ability to open up any defense.
The defense also needed improving with younger and faster players with technical ability and in Digne we have found a very good addition. My hope is that Mina will also add pace as well as aerial ability to the side. In the mid-field in Gomes we hopefully have the mid-field general we have been lacking since Arteta left.
Silva does make mistakes, the Southampton game a prime example, but overall I think the additions we have made this Summer have definitely improved the squad. I'm looking forward to the rest of the season.

1.) 07 Oct 2018
07 Oct 2018 18:41:00
I hope he proves me wrong but I don't think Mina is known for his pace to be honest. I think what I really want from him is someone who can lead the backline, and his aerial ability at both ends of the pitch.

2.) 07 Oct 2018
07 Oct 2018 20:17:36
Agreed Tommy but at 6ft 5in or whatever he is his legs should be long enough to allow him to cover the ground quickly.

3.) 08 Oct 2018
08 Oct 2018 10:01:50
Decent post Big smile, but "foreseeable past"?

4.) 08 Oct 2018
08 Oct 2018 10:49:36
Yes a bit daft that one, I am 78 mate so prone to a few comments like that.