Someone was saying on twitter that supposedly one of his biggest assets is taking instructions... I guess it's all very well having a game plan but if you then run all over the pitch and pointing, shouting and acting the c*nt then you're not that useful. Naming no names there.. I must admit I was pretty worried when he started that he was very rash but, thankfully, he seems to have calmed down. Dunno if it was a case of proving his worth coming across as over-eager. Since then though no grumbles from me. I agree with others about extending his contract and getting a ready made DM in. He's young and will still get games as it's not like we've a viable backup.
And I suppose at least when Coq picks up a yellow, its for an actual foul that stops a player and makes the opposition think twice. One of my biggest annoyances with Arteta is the fact he does silly little fouls or needless ones which pick up bookings but have little effect on the opposition.
Yup - it's not a good position to be in, relying on two DMs who pick up needless yellows like candy, when you need a smart, cynical DM who will slow/stop the attacks without getting pinged (or pinged as much)
DM is always a position that runs the risk of picking up a yellow card (Vieira's early career was littered with red and yellow cards) and you don't mind them 'taking one for the team' when the need arises. But I agree Flamini dives in unnecessarily at times, I think in part because he wants to put his mark on the opposition player and in part because he isn't quick enough. Just as a side note, I thought we had the perfect DM in Lassana Diarra a few years ago but he decided to **** off when he could have had a long Arsenal career ahead of him. The reason I mention him is because he was more in the mould of the modern DM who is small, quick and nimble, rather than a unit who kicks lumps out of players.
I totally agree, I was really annoyed when Lassana decided he didn't want to wait a season to become our 1st choice - he could have been a mainstay in our side, and could have given us a very solid platform to build the rest of the team from. Instead he ****ed off and the rest is history!
He's only 29 and a free agent...could be a classic Wenger (re)signing in the mould of Flamini's return...
He's nowhere near the player he was when he left - not what we need in any shape or form! Although saying that I never thought Flamini would be as good as he was last season, or Coq this last 5 games...
I think the old Makelele/Diarra/Gatusso/Mascherano style midfielders worked better when teams were playing the old 451. Modern DM's tend to be a bit more mobile.
My initial thoughts about Coqeulin were that he is the answer to all our defensive midfield problems. He has been inspirational in the last two games but I'm not sure he has that world class presence like say Yaya Toure (who was missing) which would have shown us more about the type of player he has become but he is still developing whereas Toure is clearly at his peak. Coqeulin fits in really well to our current system which is very attack minded and its clear he has been given instructions to stay disciplined in his defensive duties, which is serving the rest of the team well at present. Wenger has brought him in at the right time but whether or not this is a flash in the pan or the beginning of something special only time will tell!? Time I don't believe we have currently so an established name should be on Wengers purchase list. Is this likely to happen during this window? Not a hells chance.
The thing I really noticed about Coq against Man C was his ability to organise the rest of the midfield defensively. He made a number of interceptions and when he moved out of position he ordered other players to fill the gap. He did well and although he has a long way to go to prove he is our long term solution, but has certainly showed signs that he does have the potential to do it.
