Leif

Makelele was deployed in a 4-3-3 system with 2 players essentially protecting him at a time where his role was entirely unique to the league. Having a smaller player, Makelele, one with the best brain when it comes to his position, in that role is no biggie. Mak is the greatest to grace the league in his position unless you visit an Arsenal forum, his mind was just so far ahead of everyone elses. It's hard to compare a genius of their role with an up and comer like Ake who hasn't even played the same role at all. It would be like holding Izzy Brown to Zidane's light because he played in the hole that 1 time, and then assuming he'll make it because he's taller lol. There was no writing off at midfield by anyone. Only in a 2 man midfield. 3 man midfields with Ake in them ahead of Matic i'm all for.

Regardless of the broken hearts via Jose's lies, I think he's too frail to play in the 2 man midfield we typically deploy. His frailness seems to lend him agility though so i'd happily have him in a 3 man midfield with more running and passing responsibilities compared to the more disciplined physical role taken up by Matic. If anything he would have been an interesting alternative to Fabregas in games where we're pressing for the entire 90mins, because he'd press better than half our midfielders do currently and also pass better than them too (Ramires, Mikel, possibly Matic?) There's no gaping hole in our squad to be filled by him, not with our current system; it's a case of trying to fit a talented triangle player into a square hole. He would do well at Arsenal, or perhaps a team in Germany that's on the ball lots, but not many sides are crying for a player like Ake, because you need a particular playstyle to get the best out of him. Someone like Loftus-Cheek can fit into multiple systems and is thus obviously the safer choice for a manager, and in this day and age it makes no sense to keep 2 youngsters both competing just for a minute on the field, especially when 1 is more versatile than the other, so loaning the less adaptable player is the right choice though it should have been done earlier. (I think Ake would be really good at Atletico Madrid, for various factors including a less physically demanding league, but that's just a fantasy for me to try out on Fifa later.) I'm probably wrong, but was he deployed in a 3 man midfield when Benitez was here? Or was he used in a 2 man midfield? If he was and he bossed in that position i'll eat my words.

jesus christ where was this steroid-filled milk when i was in my growth stage?

An opinion repeated 10+ times isn't an opinion, it's a view you're trying to force on people. @ Cho

he deserves a run of a few games - but he won't be great during them, i'm sure. he's a player much like Javier Hernandez in that they're best kept in a cage until frustrated and then unleashed when they must prove a point in a clutch situation. try and actually use him as a first choice option and we'll back to Diego in no time. psychology. or something. fun.

no i hate heart celebrations

how on earth can't we have the best of both worlds??? Azpi on the right and Luis on the left??? You know, the positions they're supposed to be in? Fuck Ivanovic

ok positivity police

the amateurish mistake of not starting Zouma or the amateurish mistake of dropping Azpilicueta?

ok barbara

i hate my life. i just want to see RLC play competitively for us before i die, please

i wish we could play a pint of milk instead of Cahill

that must be the first graph ever to show Shot Accuracy but not Shot Conversion. I'd be interested to see a comparison of that.

well there's lots of numbers and comparisons so it has to be true

well. that felt really awkward to read. i think i chose to call someone a Troll on here once who obviously wasn't in the end and i felt like a pleb. Supporter is cute in a Lil B type of way

He's made for Arsenal.

'competing' for a first team place next season. competing like... Cuadrado? like Ake? like Luis? no thanks, loan him out

I know where i'd rather be if i were him. The place where i'm appreciated, like all humans. I don't see him in our kit again unless for a pre-season friendly.

we made from his sale what we spend on 2-3 youth players from Nordic countries every few seasons to never be heard of again. perspective.

we refuse.

no it wasn't

@supporter, Mata ? I like the idea of Kondogbia, either as a squad player or even alternative to Pogba if necessary. I'd really like to pick some midfielders from Lyon's side though, Fofana being top choice. I think in a season or 2 he'll just explode and be on everyone's radar.

50m doesn't sound so crazy if we get 20m+ for Oscar, which we absolutely would. actually it is still crazy, but totally doable.

Benzema & Pepe being the main 2 springing to mind, should remind people that it's nothing new, players playing despite awful form. It is what it is with Mourinho and so fucking sadly it won't change