I think VDV plays the same position as Beardsley, Sheringham, Alan Sunderland (for the older Gooners) and Rooney when Hernandez/Berbatov plays. That makes him a withdrawn Striker in my book, not an attacking midfield. Not a heap of difference, but still a striker.
Vermaelen isn't an injury prone player and doesn't struggle with injuries like King. Vermaelen has had 1 really bad injury which has kept him out for a season and he is now returning and will play most games for us most probably. That's like saying that because Ramsey had his leg broken and missed a season he is injury prone... There is a clear difference between a player who constantly struggles against injury for fitness and a player who suffers an individual bad injury which takes time to recover from. Given the choice anyone in there right mind would rather have Vermaelen in there squad than King - and imo (we will all disagree i'm sure) - Vermaelen is the better player - although King is very good on the odd occasion that he plays. Give it an other season and everyoen will be adding Koscielny to that list by the way Also as far as strikers go - RVP/Aguero have gotta be the top 2 at the moment.
Krul has the best Saves to shots ratio in the league. Krul has caught more high balls/crosses than any other keeper in the league. Krul has conceded fewer goals than any other keeper in the league. On his Newcastle debut he kept a clean sheet against Parlermo in Uefa Cup (aged 17) winning MOTM. On his Newcastle league debut he kept a clean sheet against West Brom (1:1 but it was Haper who conceded as Ameobi booted him in the face as he went down to collect the ball.) winning MOTM. On his International debut he kept a clean sheet against Brasil, saved a penalty and wait for it...Won MOTM. Also, Cabaye or Tiote, Taylor or Coloccini, Gutierrez and Ba all worthy of a mention in their own respective positions. We may not be fashionable, but we're effective!
Fair enough with Krul....But the others....having a laugh? People say arsenal fans are deluded but thats just ridiculous! yes they are okay/good players who are playing well so far this season but get real mate none of them are the top 5 in the prem!
Wow you really don't have a clue do you? Don't comment on something you have obviously no idea about you helmet. Then again, you have put Vermaelen as the 2nd best CB in the league, Song as the best DM, and left Modric out entirely whilst putting Wilshere as 5th best CM in the league. You're so biased it's actually hilarious
This coming from the guy that sugegsted some outrageous names and then feels the need to call me biased when every name he puts forward is a Newcastle player....good one! Modric isnt there becuase a) i think hes overated b) he doesnt really do anything massively eeffective nor has he this year c) wilshere had a better season last year.
I agree with most peoples lists, so I don't feel the need to make my own. However, I'm highlighting that at LEAST two of our players (Tiote and Krul) fit into the top 5 bracket for their respective positions. There's a reason why Chelsea were tracking Tiote as their replacement for Essien. Modric is a top, top player, so not putting him in the top 5 CM's is almost as bad as putting Fletcher in the top 5 DM's
Yeah, I fail to see how its amusing to you that I feel Cabaye and Tiote or Taylor and Coloccini deserve to be up there. Our CBs are the core of our DF which statistically just so happens to be the best DF in the league at the minute. Our CMs are being picked out week in, week out by pundits as being our star players. You say they wouldn't get into a top 5 side...They're currenlty managing it in a top 3 side. (and before you bring up the 'daloodid jawdie' lines - I'm merely highlighting the point that on current form, our players are definitely deserving of recognition). Finally, Ba has scored 8 in 9 appearances for Newcastle (bearing in mind he was abiding by the laws of Ramadan for the first half of the season) he can't be ignored...But he will be, because he was free and is at Newcastle, instead of costing 13m and going to Arsenal!
I think, like i said, you are getting incredibly carried away with yout start to the season. Levante are top 3 in La Liga, i suppose you would place most of their squad in the top 5 there two? I accepted the point on Krul, Tiote isnt better than any of the DM's i put forward, on the fringes maybe, but he isnt that good..theres probably a reason why Chelsea didnt buy him - i.e not good enough
Your def has yet to play a top team yet. Your midfield, liekwise, is yet to play against a top team in form. Ba, scored **** all in ramadan - fact And i hope your nto sugegsting, to an arsenal fan, about price mattering? pretty sure we know all to well price doesnt make a player Ba has not consistently scored - fact
KEEPERS 1. Reina 2. Hart 3. Cech 4. Given 5. Krul RB 1. Sagna 2. Richards 3. Walker 4. Smalling 5. Johnson LB 1. Cole 2. Evra 3. Enrique 4. Baines 5. Assou-Ekotto CB 1. Vidic 2. King 3=. Kompany 3=. Vermaelen 5. Samba DM 1. De Jong 2. Parker 3. Tiote 4. Lucas 5. Song (special mention to Sandro who will be up there in a few years) CM/ATT MID 1. Silva 2. Modric 3. Van der Vaart 4. Gerrard 5. Holden Wingers/Wide Forwards 1. Nani 2. Bale 3. Mata 4. Young 5. Nasri Striker 1. RVP 2. Aguero 3. Rooney 4. Tevez 5. Torres (horribly off form at the moment though)
Beyond Barca and Real Madrid, the quality of the other La Liga teams rapidly reduces, so no, I'm not that surprised. And why would I be getting carried away? We've faced Arsenal and Spurs without being beaten, and we've beaten Stoke at home, whilst also dishing out defeats for many other teams. It's why we're 3rd. And I'm not placing most of the squad you tit. Just some of the players. The spine of our side. At least two (Krul and Tiote) and potentially more, but they may fit into the top 6/7 as there's so much quality in some positions in this league.
You hit the nail on the head at the end "so much quality in the same positions". - your key players would get into the top 6 teams in the division (city, united, chelsea, arsenal, liverpool). They might well be good, but they arent class, and as you just highlighted, there is so much class that quality becomes the differentiator. Also i have no idea what you were going on sbout the spanish league i dont think you read what i said correctly. When it comes down to it, everyone will have different opinions but from all ive seen and all people that i speak to nobody has put anyone other than krul in their top 5.
@SpursLegend - not sure that Bale is the 2nd best Winger in the league - think there are a few players i'd rather have in my team. Bale is a great player but over-rated. I disagree with other bits as well - but it just irritates me how good everyone thinks Bale is @Chappaz - Newcastle just aren't that good. They have performed well so far this season, so fair play to them - but you'll be back out of the top 5 spots in the league soon enough and your players will not maintain there level of performance to the end of the season.
1) We've played you, Spurs (who'd just won 4 on the bounce - matching a record for **** knows how long) Stoke at home, and an away derby. ALL very losable games. Not our midfields fault we won/drew them! 2) See above answer. 3) Aye, he scored **** all in Ramadan and has STILL SCORED 8 in 9 games, that is better, if you disclude Ramadan (which I can only assume you're trying to do, otherwise what point are you making?) he has scored 8 in 4 league games 4) If 8 goals in the last 4 games isn't consistent then please, tell me what is?
becausse 2 were hatricks - both against average teams Also, we were awful start of the season, blackburn are ****,
To be honest, I'm just playing devils advocate more than anything here...If I had Man City, Manure, Chelsea and Arsenal to cherry pick, I wouldn't have Ba in my starting line up (at least not on paper...Blind loyalty is a ridiculous thing!) BUT I don't buy that 'two were hatricks'/'we were ****' craic - on that basis Rooney is inconstant and should not be considered. He was playing a '****' Arsenal side and Bolton are **** - got 2 hatricks... Whilst our players are flying under the radar, we don't need to worry about them being poached, so whilst I enjoy a good debate - long may it continue!
