Transfer window
Arsenal vs. the rest…..
The window has now shut, and this is a summation of how we did relative to our rivals.
CHELSEA
Positives
Shut out Costa, who clearly didn’t want to play for them again
Morata
Bakayoko
Negatives
Confusion with the board and Conte on signings
Not enough possibly compared to other top six, and as the champions
RATING
AVERAGE
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Positives
Didn’t need to buy as much due to a settled first eleven
Aurier
Llorente
Sanchez (not THAT Sanchez, though if he ever went there, it’s hell to pay…)
Negatives
Potential lack of funds for their new ground
More settled team means less scope to strengthen
Not strengthened in key areas. Maybe they needed another forward, instead of two defenders. Possible top-heavy squad.
RATING
AVERAGE
MAN CITY
Mendy
Keeping Aguero
Spending over £200m
Negatives
Not selling Sterling (overrated imho…)
RATING
EXCELLENT
LIVERPOOL
Positives
Ox (one club’s gain is another’s pain…)
Salah
Keeping Coutinho
Attempted bid for Lemar
Getting Keita (albeit next year)
Negatives
Not getting van Dijk
RATING
VERY GOOD
MANCHESTER UNITED
Positives
Lukaku
Return of Ibra
Lindeloff
Matic
Negatives
No Bale
No Ronaldo? (a stretch but then it’s true he never would have left Los Blancos this summer)
RATING
EXCELLENT
EVERTON
Positives
Rooney back home
Klassen
Pickford
£150m in spending
Negatives
Losing Lukaku
No top striker incoming
RATING
EXCELLENT
AND NOW FOR US:
Positives:
Lacazette and “the tank” Seo
Loss of dead wood/fringe players (Gibbs, Gabriel, etc.)
Sanchez staying (by default, and not design)
Ozil staying
Negatives
No Lemar
Poor bids
No Ox
Not going in hard enough for specific players
Wenger LYING to fans about Ox leaving, and Sanchez not going (well a half-lie, so to speak)
RATING
BELOW AVERAGE
We’ve not seen the “catalyst for change” that we were promised.
And we have dithered, bumbled, and not fulfilled our chief objectives.
Yes, we got a left-back and a striker. But then we didn’t get a CM, a centre-back, and only sold half of our dead wood (Theo is still here, for instance).
It’s been another window of half-actions, and inanity, as always….
So who will finish where?
You may not like this, but then it’s my honest and genuine view:
1ST MAN UNITED – Yes, Jose will outdo us all in my mind to win another title
2 – MAN CITY – The world’s greatest living manager will do well to finish second
3RD LIVERPOOL – Now they’ve bought the Ox from us, they are beefed up (sorry…) to get top four
4TH – TOSS UP BETWEEN US, CHELSEA AND SPURS. Chelsea has made some decent signings, but not enough in all areas. Spurs have added depth in defence and attack, though it remains to be seen if Llorente can be an able supplement for Kane.
Though it is possible we could get 6th place. Yes, I said it. But then I doubt many, following the Stoke/Liverpool defeats, would disagree. I think we will finish above Everton, but I don’t see us challenging for top four unless we seriously revise our tactics, methods, mentality, and approach.
With our legendary, and currently FAILING, manager in charge, I think our chances bar a minor miracle for regaining Champions League are slimmer.
It seems gloomy, granted. Though it’s very apt considering how much of a shambles we are at the moment.
To end on a positive note, the only way is up. Wenger could surprise us, who knows? Anything can happen in life. Maybe he’s finishes third, and we win two cups. It may seem unlikely, but it could happen and is not impossible.
Seems top four, the FA Cup and/or Europa League is all we can hope for, akin to all of the previous five or so seasons.