Parker hasn't shown a range of passing but you don't need to have that especially as a DM. I rate Fletcher of Man U massively, he keeps the ball ticking over, he is like the glue of the team, Parker is the same, he gets the ball, twists, turns and gives the ball to someone else while having good pace and bite when he tackles. Xavi's range of passing is not great but you see my point, he is like the glue, always looking to get the ball then knock it off to someone else. Inler's range of passing pisses all over Song's and he has a long range shot. Song isn't fit to lace his boots. I could find 5 "Songs" at Hackney Marshes on a Sunday I tell you.
Xavi's range of passing is not great but you see my point, he is like the glue, always looking to get the ball then knock it off to someone else You believe Inler to have a greater range of passing than Xavi? Totally disagree with your law of averages assessment of Song's ability. Granted he's not graceful or as aesthetically pleasing as some, but, Song @ DM is a good fit. I'll return to my original point, we need to get away from the mentality of either or, all top teams boast 2 or more capable options. Our squad lacks quality in depth at this point. If we have the mass clear out many are calling for, we won't actually improve our options as the gulf in Class between the First Team & Reserves deepens. We are yet to see the benefit of having sold Gael Clichy, I also would've preferred to have seen Eboue take to the field instead of Arshavin Vs United. Certainly in the case of Eboue he wasn't a World Beater, but, like Clichy, was a Veteran of some 4,5 Seasons at Arsenal. Cesc, Nasri, Clichy, Eboue that's a fair amount of experience & quality to lose in one go. In their place we sign or promote virtual novices. Arteta, on first appearance seems to buck this trend, having clocked up games in the hundreds at Everton, however, How many of those games was he faced with 2 backs of 4 for upwards of 80 minutes? Better yet, How much International or CL experience can he call on as help to unlocking the meanest defences? As creative as he looked at Everton, he looks short of the same quality for us. This has happened more or less every Season where it turns out that RVP is our longest serving player. Compare that to Barcelona, United & Chelsea & continuity seems to have it's advantages. SAF had the likes of O'shea & Brown filling in here & there for years. Successful Clubs add ( to their squads ) before taking away.....we don't & wonder why we are Jekyll & Hyde?
I have seen Xavi make long cross field passes so I know he has that in his locker, but his game doesn't require that, no I am not saying Inler has a better range of passing than Xavi. I also agree with you that we should have more options for a position rather than just one. I am not saying we should get rid of Song, but I can't ever see us becoming a force again with Song anchoring midfield, but I would be happy to see him as the backup DM. I made the point in another thread asking why we couldn't have both Fabregas AND Modric, Wenger admitted that he knew Modric would be a great player and had the chance to buy him, but we already had Cesc. Why couldn't we have both ?! There are quite a few players we could get rid of in our squad and dont forget, the replacements we buy will either be squad players or they will demote current first team players to squad players, either way the clear out should increase our quality in depth not erode it as you claim.
