15 Nov 2015 12:37:45
Afternoon Guys,
I was wondering how everyone would feel about a January move for Arjen Robben?
I know that he has had his injury problems. But at 31 he is still as fast as he was at 23 and is a superb goal scorer coming from the right hand side which is where we are most lacking. He isn't getting a lot of game time at Bayern due to the form of Costa and knows and trusts LVG.
In terms of a short term signing for a year or two would it be worth it? If the fee is right of course.
15 Nov 2015 12:52:01
I'd be very happy if he came, he's one of the best wingers in the world and as a left footed right winger he seems to be just the kind of player lvg wants. If he stayed injury free he would make a massive difference for us.
{Ed004's Note - I saw the links aswell. I would consider it but I would want the fee to be lower than 15 million surely. Can't help but think a signing like that could change our team significantly in January. It would 100% free up Martial and Memphis more as we would have a far more direct right side and easily worth 10+ points. He is the type of player that wins you games by himself. If you managed his game time effectively he could alternate with Mata so we would have two fresh world class players. Although is he too old and injury prone to go after? Will he start throwing tantrums over next few years as he is gradually replaced etc?}
15 Nov 2015 13:00:26
I'd love it, exactly what we need.
However Lingard and Mata will struggle for game time and that would upset some people.
15 Nov 2015 13:05:40
he hasn't been getting much game time because he was injured, when fit he plays.
15 Nov 2015 13:15:27
Dunno beast with martial and Rooney fighting for one spot you'd have depay robben lingard fighting for the wide spots with Mata either in the hole or on the right.
15 Nov 2015 13:17:39
Agree ed, he's one of few players in the world that can change a game for you, I think we could manage his game time and injuries well, remember there were plenty of doubts about bastian and his fitness but he's been fine, although we may struggle with carrick being injured now.
Problem is like you said he's getting on now and as soon as his legs go I think he'll struggle, no idea what his attitude is like as well in terms of how he would react if he wasn't getting game time but lvg knows him very well I'm sure, so if he does go for him then I'd trust his judgement.
{Ed004's Note - Still annoyed with Roy for playing him for so long in a pointless friendly. Pretty sure he was the oldest player on the pitch as well}
15 Nov 2015 14:14:58
The thing is it was never a game for carrick as well, we were against possibly the best possession side in the world, so we would be restricted to counter attacking football. Carrick is much more effective when we have a lot of the ball. You can see why so many managers don't want their players to be called up.
15 Nov 2015 14:31:00
I think also Robben would also be of great benefit for Memphis' development. He would really bring him on. For something like £12-15 million which I think it would be, it would be superb and could really make a big impact on the season.
15 Nov 2015 16:34:43
And Hodgson only plays Carrick in friendlies, it's a crime that when we have talented English footballers they are never used correctly, Carrick, scholes, Bruce, pallister, le tissier, hoddle,
16 Nov 2015 17:47:19
Eric that's the story of English football. When the talented players have been there, they've failed to build a team around them. Scholes usage was criminal.
And lingard getting an England cap sums up the set up the past few years also the quality of English players is not what it used to be and that's down to the amount of foreign players in the league.