First of all interesting list, and I know you're stating your opinion but I'll have to comment your reasoning for one of them. So according to you a mediocre[1] player "working hard" despite fans voicing their opinions on internet forums, is a quality worthy of commendation? What's this criticism you speak of that Ramsey might be exposed to? Fans haven't jeered him, don't recall many articles in mainstream media dedicated to his poor performances. Are you suggesting that players read criticism voiced in these forums, and what distinguishes Ramsey from the rest is he doesn't avenge it with bad work-rate? What a hero. [1] based on the form shown this year he wouldn't be a starter for most mid-table EPL teams.
I didn't consider him for a while either, and hope he becomes more than average very soon. But based on performances this season, over many (many) games, he's been evidently mediocre or worse.
Respectfully, I disagree. I think he's makes some mistakes in games, generally that is getting caught in possession and it's an area that he needs to improve on, but if you watch him in the flesh (not just what the TV cameras are pointing at) then you'll see that he works really hard for the team, always makes himself available for an out for other players, and links up the line across the midfield pretty well. He is a skilfull player, and whilst his form hasn't really shone, he has the natural ingredients to become a really top player. Like I said, he has some areas to improve on. I think most Gooners do agree though, that they really want to see Ramsey fulfil the promise that his first season showed. Personally, I think he's going to make it at Arsenal. There's a part of me that wants to see people who have called him **** eat their own words. But more than that I just want to see Ramsey succeed
I don't think we can really call Song or Ramsey under-rated, because its only Arsenal fans that really think they are bad. When I talk to my mates (Man Utd, Chelsea fans) who do know about football, Song is one of the players that they want more than even Van Persie. Not really quite sure what this is, but I think it is more a reflection of how lacking in wider football knowledge a lot of the younger Arsenal fans are, and how different our style of play is, to the "normal" english style. When you watch a youtube interview video with Brian Clough and hear him say that Wenger is a genius, then you perhaps realise how foolish it is for an average man in the street to start debating his tactics. Most fans are simply not going to have the grounding in the game to even have a conversation about the merits, or pitfalls, of the way Arsenal play. Once you accept that we are probably not capable, or qualified to have an opinion on tactics, trying to rate players based on a completely wrong impression of what they are trying to do, is futile. All we end up judging these players on, is their entertainment value, and the teams results, rather than any realistic evaluation of their performance. If the result goes against us, the hunt for a scapegoat begins, but I doubt if very often the lynch mob hangs the right culprit. Watch this Wenger fans - it will cheer you up! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzYPN3igOX4&feature=related
I agree about Song, he's someone we will miss when he's not there. It's one of the reasons I have mixed feelings about the potential move for M'Vila. If we do get him and Song becomes a bench warmer we will miss out I think. I don't agree with people who criticize him for being too attack-oriented. I just see that as a 'bonus' to him. He still interrupts plays and provides cover just fine.
If we got Vertonghen, he can play as a LB, CB and DM. I think he'd be a better buy than M'Vila personally
I have the same feeling about Vertonghen playing DM, as I did about Vermaelen playing left back. Both played in the position but didn't attract any attention, until they were playing CB. They may be able to play there but I think you are realistically looking at at least a year of training, until they will be in any way capable of challenging Song for his position in the team. I just can't see it, except in an emergency. Vertonghen hasn't played a single game in midfield for Ajax this season, I just can't see them passing on playing an Arsenal quality DM in midfield, if they had him. They have 4 other cbs on their squad and haven't tried Vertonghen at DM even once. I think these days the multi-position player is really in decline. A specialist is always going to be better than a utility type player, or one playing out of position.
I agree with that to a point, but in all honesty Vermaelen is not a LB and doesn't like playing there at all. He'll do a job if he's asked, but he is an out and out CB. Where having a player like Vertonghen would benefit us would be that he can play across the back and in DM, so he would offer us versatility, both to cover injuries, fatigue etc and during games when we want to play more defensively, we could sacrifice an attacking MF for a CB and push Vertonghen forward to DM as an example.
Good video - we were on top of the world at that time. Still the greatest achievement in the history of English football in my opinion, even better than the unbeaten season. The way we lost the unbeaten run in that 50th game was also very poignant - everything that is good and everything that is bad about Englaish football coming together at the same time. What players we had then. Bergkamp, Henry, Vieira, Pires... wow.
Nathan Dyer at Swansea (great counter attacking runs, with a decent poacher in front of him would get a lot of assists) Danny Simpson at Newcastle (ever present & so many goalmouth clearances that go unnoticed) John Arne Riise at Fulham (well known, and in his twilight years - but still a top player)
