Haven't seen a thread dedicated solely to Laurent yet, so here is one. He was clearly our best player yesterday, won absolutely everything in the air and on the ground and played the ball out of defensive really well. Looked very solid and world class yesterday. These performances he has put in against Marseille yesterday and against Barca last year have convinced me that he will one day be one of the best defenders in the world. Last season he set up a very solid partnership with Djourou and this season with Mertesacker. Although he hasn't played much with Vermaelen, I think those two will be our first choice CB pairing, with rotation being needed due to the number of games we play. I look forward to seeing Vermaelen fit again as then we will have a clear leader in defence to command either Koscielny or Mertesacker and they will form a formidable trio of centre backs. I think now our CB order in terms of quality is like this: Vermaelen Koscielny Mertesacker Djourou Miquel Squillaci I honestly think we have found some top class defenders who will continue to improve over the season and help us finish in the top 4. now we just need to improve our attacking and mainly our creativity in the final third. Now, comments about Laurent Koscielny please
Koscielney did play well, I think its fair to say his best games for us have come in Europe. Vermaelen and Koscielney would not work as a combo IMO. They are too small and too simular. The pairing lacks balance. Its either Vermaelen or Koscielney alongside Mertesacker.
Koscielny is top drawer, i realsied that after the barca game where he was on of the reasons that messi failed to imapct as much as he could have
Koscielny has always been class maybe not suited to the hoof style football in england yet, he's intelligent enough to adjust anyone who has a 100% tackling record in any league, for a whole year + a few weeks/months in a new league has some amount of class
Was a beast yesterday. Always been a quality defender on the ground but he was also top class in the air yesterday. Hopefully he will build on it and start to do it week in week out, when he does that he will easily be up there with the best in this league.
I know it's just one game, but his tackling, positioning and reactions were as good as TV at his best.
I think he's showed skill since he first arrived, but his confidence has been shot, playing alongside an equally calamitous defence. He's definitely got enough in his locker to be a top CB imo we've seen flashes of it, last night was a really solid performance, let's hope it sparks his form TV is a better player though I agree.
Kos did deally well but I would not got carried away, that was a poor Marseille team with very little ambition to attack. The lads did well and defended everything pretty well so well done on that. We need to start doing this every week now for some time before we can start calling any of our defenders "top drawer" and the like. Good performance and 3 points against Stoke is a must, it will then be the game against a Chelsea side playing well that determines if we are really making big progress. Things look more solid, I think Santos is starting to fit in nicely.
Oh aye, 3 points against Stoke will be vital, and not just cos they're c**tt*rds, but because they're a useful side and difficult to beat in any situation. I'm more concerned about this game than I am against Chelsea. If we beat Stoke I think it's a clear indication we're getting back on track (obviously not there yet as I'd want/expect to beat them when we're at our normal level). What I can see is us beating Stoke and then losing to a Chelsea side who are playing really well and then the gloom merchants will be out in full force again. Beating Stoke and Chelsea though... that'd make people sit up! *unlikely though! PS. I also like Koscielny. He. Was. Good. Does anyone know if Jenks is injured? If so, who do people expect to see at rightback on Sunday? Prior to Marseille I'd have said Kos but after that performance it seems odd to move him. I'd assume Santos/Per/Kos/Djourou.
LOL - one game and now Kos is top draw, egad ! while I admit he did play magnificently, lets not get carried away ... yet
Pipe down you. I've been laughed at at work for months for saying he's good. Allow me my one moment of smugness!
Im sick off all this kos bumming, he has had 3 good games for us (all in CL by the way) and he is getting compared tot he best in the world, he has been horrid all season, espec againsy blackburn where atleast 2 of the goals were his fault. he is dross
We disagree then. He's by no means perfect but he's been a glimmer of hope in an otherwise shakey ass defence for me recently. Of course he's made mistakes but then so does every player, especially when the teams confidence is down. I honestly think he'll be a big plus point for us when we start to hit our stride. As things stand he'd not be my first choice CB as I'd go Vermaelen and Mertesacker but he's a very useful back up.
do you watch arsenal or just the 'highlights' because where i sit (@emerites stadium) he has played well in two games in the league too
