I found this interesting... http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...-about-jan-vertonghen?search_query=vertonghen
As with all this type of article some ofthe points are valid and others are stretching it to make the number up. 1. Versatility - I think versatility is over-rated these days anyway. Look at us this year, none of our make-shift full-backs were close to being good enough. One position is difficult enough to play these days. 2. Finishing - Let face it who cares. A few goals would be nice, but this guy doesn't have to score goals to be good. 3. Concentration - Oh here we go. Want to criticise a player and don't know how, pick one of those mental attributes. No mental strength, no heart, no concentration; no its bull****! 4. Leadership - Oh here we go, another mental attribute, Leadership. I don't know if we need Vertonghen, or if Wenger is interested in him, but these factors are not going to be a big part of whether Arsenal sign him or not, at least I hope not.
Awfully coincidental that as soon as it appears like you might miss out on him some troll comes out of the woodwork thinking of nonsense ways to criticise him. If he had come out today saying he's hoping for a move to Arsenal what are the chances that slideshow would be using those aspects of his game as strengths rather than weaknesses...?
Well, I felt it was strange that we were interested in him. He is a solid player I am sure, but CB is the one position we have a lot of quality depth at. There are a lot of other positions we need to improve.
I've maintained since the beginning of this season that we need another CB. I think we need four top quality CBs. Two first choice and two for cover. I don;t buy the argument that they would be bench warmers as there are 50+ games in a season and as this season has demonstrated, the combination of competitions, injuries, fatigue, rotation has left us short at the back - and thus another CB would get plenty of games. I have to say though, as a CB, does Vertonghen offer more than Vermaelen or Koscieleny ? He may be a versatile player, but I'd rather see us sign a proven and solid CB than a utility player. Someone like Subotic or Hummels would be my choice, but prizing them away from Dortmund would not be easy.
Well I consider Djourou top quality. The Swiss got to #3 in the world with him playing alongside Senderos. Vastly under-rated.
I think Djourou is a decent enough 4th choice CB. He's pretty good in the air and not bad playing the ball out of defence, but to be honest he makes a lot of mistakes and is too much of a liability at the top level.
I actually think that personnel-wise our defence is one of the strongest in the league. As I've stated on another thread, it's the organisation that worries me. Maybe having Steve Bould as assistant coach and M'Vila in front of the back four would steady the ship...
Vertonghen is a must. How often are we short of personnel at lb and dm? He can cover all positions efficiently and with gibbs injury problems he will have to step in. Provided we finish in third im confident we will get him....and can chip in with goals too!
I thought Vermaelen could cover at left back and DM? That is what we were told when he signed for us.
I don't think we have bought the kind of CB we need in England, a commanding powerful CB with a bit of pace. From what I have seen of this chap (which isn't much) he could be what we need. Koscielny isn't strong enough, Vermaelen isn't commanding enough and Mertesacker is too slow.
Vertonghen is whoring himself to Spurs this morning. Be that because they're the only real offer in for him at the moment or that he'd actually prefer them over us is another matter. Boo-urns to him. I'm with the rest of you chumps now, I WANT HUMMELS or SUBOTIC (whoever the f**k they are...).
Honestly mate, they are both beasts at CB. Both play for Dortmund and I think either would offer more than Vertonghen. That said, if we signed Vertonghen rather than nobody at CB, I'd still be happy.
