Fran has scored his first goal for the club, looks to be happy to stay if reports are true. I like the look of him although i know that his best position is in the central areas of the field, not on the wings (like last night).

There has been other threads regarding the available positions e.g Ramsey, what about Merida? Does the same apply for him, he's not as high in the pecking order as Ramsey and although i rate the kid, dont think he had his best game lastnight, i've seen him play better.

What i am wondering is if Wenger sees a future for him here. Reason is becasue Wenger wanted to send him out on loan, now if he's really in his last year, why would you want to send him out on loan before sorting out his future unless you were 50:50 whether you wanted to keep him or not?

I think Wenger wasnt worried if he lost Merida.

I don't think he does.

And I doubt he'll properly 'make it' anywhere else. Another Reyes, to be brutally honest. I hope he does do well and he's clearly talented but I can't see him living up to the hype over here or La Liga, at least.

Now where have I read that before... :haha:

Yeah I don't think he's going to stick around here, there's just too much competition for this kind of player.

Ahead of him in midfield are-

Cesc
Denilson
Nasri
Diaby
Ramsey
Wilshere
Rosicky
Eboue
Arshavin
Walcott

Dont think we'l be seeing him any time soon.

Depends on what we expect from him or any player for that matter. He's been at the club a long time, for me the more time you have under Bould, before you get under Wenger, the better and he's still really young.

Comparisons to Cesc are gonna shadow him, due to the club and the age he came, but very little players get into a top club and play at 16yrs old. I actually think t can have a negative effect at times, especially if your not winning things. Cesc has played 200 games for the club, he must feel like it time he started winning things yet the guy is still very young and has years left in him.

Merida is a different player and i'm not sure how much hype he's had about him, it's not like he hasnt fullfilled it as his career hasnt even begun yet. I think your being a bit harsh.

:unsure: I'm slow today, enlighten me.

http://z13.invisionfree.com/goonersweb/ind...dpost&p=7381953

Cesc is ahead, he's the captain.

Diaby and Denilson are ahead for now, but if he shows he has what it takes i dont see any reason why he cant push those two out.

Nasri is ahead.

Ramsey is slightly ahead in the pecking.

Wilshere isnt ahead, i'd actually say they are neck and neck in the pecking and if Merida signs an extanesion he'll be ahead based on wages. Wilshere will be a starter, but Wenger is gonna take his time with Jack, i'd expected to see a lot more of him than i havem, but Wenger knows the english press and wants to take it slow.

Rosicky is usually injured

Walcott is usually injured

Arshavin will be gone in 2-3 years, also doesnt look fully fit at the moment and rotation is healthy

Eboue's a RB.

So for me, Cesc, Nasri, Rosicky, Walcott, Arshavin. These players can all start games. There is space on the bench for Merida and Ramsey if we get rid of Diaby and Denilson.

Fabianski
Eboue
Song
Ramsey
Merida
Bendtner
Eduardo

Thats a bench i could see hapeening.

Oh!!

:oldboy: Begrstar :)

TBH i forgot about Vela. There are a lot of players now coming through where i feel, they should get the push ahead of some of some of the pretenders that have gain first team status.

Diaby, Denilson and Eboue should not be first team.

Eboue should be backup RB.

Diaby should be sold in the summer as it just hasnt worked out and Denilson needs to have crisis talks with Wenger as the proffessor is ruining his career prospects for Brazil. :lol:

Who knows how long Rosicky, Arshavin and Cesc will be here, that is also something for the players coming up to think about. Places open up. Flamini is an example of what happens at Arsenal, one minute there are too many in your position, the next there aren't enough.

thats just plain old lazy :lol::haha:

Think Wenger sees him eventually as a support striker/play maker rather than a midfielder.

Wenger probably just wants to see how he develops this year before deciding

He'll have to do more to be fair.

This was his only first team outing where he's shown real class imo. Emirates cup performances were good but overhyped based on a couple of good passes. Ramsey's comfortably outshone him in his time here over a number of games. Wilshere too.

The talent's there though.

At the moment he dosen`t.

He`s got so many players ahead of him that he`ll struggle to get games. But in the long-term it`s possible he could be a regular for us.

Don't think that's fair Ramsey has had loads of game time in comparison, Merida has featured a handful of times in 1st team games (3-4 games some just as late sub).

As for Wilshere he's not really outshone him as he hasn't played many 1st team games either...just a few CC games and he hasn't been impressive in all of them.

Merida seems to be able to shoot, can dribble and pass he's developed really well. I think he's should get a chance because he's shone at the U20 championships and against Liverpool he was terrific..you can only perform in the games you play at the end of the day.

Diaby is beginning to run out of chances IMO and Denilson is nowhere because the guys mentioned are on another planet to him talent wise.

Ramsey is a big talent but both Merida and Ramsey outshone him last night which says a lot about their ability.

I think it's probably best to discount the cameos for now, they've both had the odd 10 minutes off the bench in PL and CL which you can't draw much from.

I was talking more the CC and pre-season action where gametime's been fairly equal I think. Wilshere's had the same sort of minutes too.

IMO anyway Merida's done ok up until yesterday but nothing outstanding, Ramsey and Wilshere were excellent vs Wigan and Sheff Utd last year and similarly for Jack in both Emirates Cups so far. Personally yesterday aside i havent seen that from Fran.

And on the subject of Denilson at this stage Ramsey and Merida have a lot of flaws which would be exposed as much as Statinho given a run in the first team. Giving the ball away in key areas for one, certainly Rambo

Until yesterday Ramsey has been average for me, the odd goal but generally looked out of his depth...yesterday he was top notch till he starting giving the ball away at the end.

Wilshere only came on the scene a little last season but I don't thik he played that much either, I think Vela outshone everyone last season. Wilshere has been doing well for the youths though.

Merida has taken longer than expected to develop but he's now showing real positive signs, as I mentioned he was one of the stars of the U20's and on Wednesday thought he was the best player on the pitch...and didn't really give the ball away, right from teh off though he was very keen and full of energy.

Statinho for me is unconvincing, because he doesn't bring much to the table, he's not great going forward and not great defending. With him being injured as well I think it'll be tough for him to get back when he returns.

In the Prem and CL I'd agree Ramsey's looked out of his depth on the rare chance he gets, but you don't think he's looked great in the cups before yesterday? Can only think of one poor game personally away at Cardiff, the rest I reckon he's been great.

Wilshere likewise, did very well when he played imo.

Yesterday was definitely positive for Merida. He's got talent. Like I say though he'll want to be taking advantage of whatever pitch time he gets cos it'll be tough for him.

Denilson definitely has a role when he comes back, my comment was more on the likes of Ramsey and Merida who you said are on another planet to him, I think if they were to replace him in the team we'd get similar criticism and exposure of their weaknesses.

Wenger will not lose sleep if Merida sign for other team but I dont think he wants to rid of him. The boy is as talented as Ramsey or Wilshere. The latter two might be rated higher by the fans and pundits, but in all honesty the three of them are just as good as each other.
My personal view is Wenger wants to mould Merida and Wilshere into attacking CM/support striker/winger role. Ramsey is pretty much certain to play central role, he is to slow to play behind striker or flank IMO.
With regard to competition for places, 1-2 years from now Rosicky and Arshavin will be gone, Eboue wont be playing on the wing anymore, neither should Diaby and Denilson. That leave only Nasri and Walcott as natural attacking midfield/winger. Therefore I think there should be enough room for all three of them IMO :coffee:

he'd fit into valencia's team nicely, possibly as a makeweight in a bid for david villa...

If Song, Diaby, Denilson or Eboue can play 50 odds games each over 2 years, theres no reason why Merida shouldn't aim for that...hes clearly more talented than all of those...of course his position is different to some of them.

But Arsene has his favourites, so Merida might leave because Arsene won't let him play.

Same will happen to Vela.

Shame because I rate both of them.

If I was him I'd ask Arsene Wenger if I'm genuinely going to get game time in competitions other than the CC (and not just 2 minutes at the end of the match), if he said no then i'd leave.

He's young but he should make sure he does get a chance before signing. Athletico isn't a bad club for a move after all.

Merida. :wave:

He supports Atletico as well. But It would a terrible decision for him to move there IMO.

they're in awful shape. I assume that's what you're referring to -- how they might well end up selling all their good players in order to cover the debt.

I assume Fran's smarter than to jump onto a sinking ship.

However, we're smart, too, so we'd use him as a makeweight in a Kun deal. :good:

Atleti apparently went through 9 coaches in a day, after sacking Resino. Merida would be going to the Spurs of Spain. Kun is fantastic but a lazy twat tbh. Simao, Maxi and Camacho instead tbh.

Forlan is better than them all

Brilliant until the french lads start picking on him?

I'd guess if he has a chance here, then it's Rosickys position that may be an option. Trouble is Wenger has assembled a glut of players and trying to bring through more, that all want to play the same role. It's make your mind up time Arsene for a few of them

He has been tapped up and will sign for Atletico Madrid.

Oh well.

Merida. :lol:

Awful player.

Yep.

I can't see where he fits in either. He doesn't have the pace to play on the wing and he's too far behind in the pecking order for CM.

oh give it a rest. hes a low-profile player in his final year. whats he going to do, wait and see?

they must all be well shit then

Not really.

Forlan is brilliant or are you one of the "if crap in England, must be crap all the time" people?

More accurately:
If youre crap in England, I couldnt give a flying shit about how you looked on revista la liga. You know what with us playing most of our football in England and all...

baptista
reyes
kanoute
morientes

fuck it cant be bothered - there re too many

So yes you are one of them.

Fair enough.

Some free advice.

Football does exist outside of England :good:

A winner of 2 European Golden boots is hardly crap