and is apparently playing very well for them in todays game. Should we do something simular with Vermaelen or Kos? Quite a few people on this forum have stated that we need some more steel in midfield, unfortunately bar Frimpong, we don't seem to have that defensive type midfielder available. Should we move someone like Vermaelen or Kos into a DM type position? They both seem to be able to retain possession quite well and would have the ability to keep it moving in midfield. Add to the fact, Vermaelen in particular, has a very good shot and head on them. It would also give us that much needed extra layer of protection in front of the back 4. So should we try something like this?
I always notice how good Koscielny looks on the ball for a cb, not a chance Wenger would ever try it though
Both players - Kos and Vermaelen are comfortable on the ball. Apart from Mertz, who is an old fashioned CB, all the players we have are technically good on the ball. Those are the kind of players Wenger buys. It would make sense.
I don't think he would be as efficient in PL matches. Yes it's the world club cup but that team they beat is cack...and the trophy is a bit of a gimmick.
I suppose the team they were playing was poor, but lets see if Benitez plays him as a DM in the league. I reckon it is a position that would suit him very well. Skillful on the ball and a good defender.
I would say no to Kos or Vermaelen playing DM. People have this defense thing so firmly embedded. Our problem at the moment is not defense, it is attack! We only scored one goal against a second division side; we are struggling to move a ball through the midfield quickly against pressing sides; we fail to breakdown 4-4 defenses. Statistically, we have the third best defense in the league, behind Stoke and Man City. Stop obsessing with defense! That was last year.
I disagree. I think our problem is two fold. Firstly that there is nobody really linking the defence and midfield and secondly that when we lose the ball, teams play through us far too easily. This puts us on the back foot and we have to start again from the back. Also if you notice, what is tending to happen is that when we try to play the ball out of defence, our players are bunched up in the final third, you'll often see the CBs or Fullbacks ushering for the MF to fall back so that they can make a pass. What tends to happen is that there's no forward pass to make, so we end up playing it back to Szczesny who tries to push the DF forward to meet with the MF and he opts to kick long, his kicking is not the best and we often end up losing the ball as a result and because we're light in front of the back four, when we do lose the ball, we're immediately on the back foot again. What I think we really need is a DM, who can link up the Defence with the midfield, shield the back four and press and break up play when we don't have the ball. If we don't buy one, then I'd be a big advocate of playing Koscielny or Vermaelen in a four or five man midfield at DM
For the reasons outlined above, I think this is why we're struggling in attack; because we're far too often on the back foot, chasing back to help out the defence and because our MF and forwards are all bunched up in the final third. I think we need a DM to link the play together, allow the midfielders time on the ball and enable the fullbacks to get forward. At the moment we seem to have a defence and and attack, with very little linking play in the middle.
I kind of see it the other way round. We concede too many because we have NO cutting edge up front and end up pushing higher and higher up the pitch. Take our last game for example we had 34 shots on goal, only 6 where on target.
I'll agree with that. I think we are missing RVP's assists more than his goals. He scored almost a goal/game in the premier league last year, but also assisted in 1/2 goal/game. We may have replaced his goal scoring by commitee, but those players are not creating enough additional goals for each other, to replace his assists. Another 6 or 7 goals at this stage would have helped immensely. My own view is that Gervinho, Podolski and Giroud are all scorers not creators, and the pressure of creating has moved deeper to Cazorla, Wilshere, Arteta, Ramsey, Ox, and Rosicky. We are perceiving this as a lack of penetration, but we simply don't have a very creative player in the front line. Ramsey is the one who is pushed forward and he is probably the worst of all the midfielders at creating, that is why I think he is getting the most stick. Walcott being injured, and disputing his contract, hasn't helped either, and Ox losing a little form similarly. As soon as I see a front 3 comprised solely of Podolski, Gervinho, Giroud, Ramsey, Chamackh, I start to worry. As I've said before, it isn't ideal , but I would rather push Wilshere, Rosicky and/or Cazorla forward, than go with 3 out and out goalscorers. I don't think we can afford to have no one in the front 3 who is primarily a creator.
Anybody would think I said I want to smash your mums back doors in you sensitive bellend. It's my opinion, it wasn't an insult. Stop crying Ossie Ardiles.
Yeah exactly, A REAL top striker does'nt just give you goals they also make space and create openings with their movement. Van Persie was particularly good at this. Thats why its soo important we add some quality this January.IMO
The big problem is RVP was a special player and to get one of those type of players, the board and manager will have to change recent policy and spend big to get that. But i still think that our main problem is and has always been the defensive nature of our team. We simply don't do the simple things correctly at times - closing down, maintaining concentration, clearing the ball, players out of position etc. I stand by the fact that our team is good enough, they just need tightening up in certain areas that i've mentioned. Also a DM would be a good way to go, to provide us with that extra layer of protection, especially when the oppositon is on the counter.
I have been saying this for a while how often does one of our FB's overhit a cross into the box and as the camera follows the ball the other bloody fb is trying to keep it in play. Why are both of them up the pitch and invariably with our play arteta is also drawn forward in the attack and lo and behold we have 2 at the back and that is why we get run through especially on a counter.
