I think Wilshere and Ramsey are both top quality players, who will need time to get back to their best after serious injury lay offs. Ramsey did a solid job last season after being thrown in at the deep end when we lost Nasri and Fabregas. I think the criticism of him was way OTT. I don't think we should expect too much from Wilshere this season, he needs to find his fitness first, then his form. Both players have got long Arsenal careers ahead of them
Wilshere has the potential to be top quality, whilst he is excellent, i never thought he was world class. Ramsey is just crap, full stop.
It seems people are stuck in some sort of time warp when it comes to Ramsey and continue to believe he's "just come back" from a bad injury, when it's been nearly two years now! Exactly how long does it take to come back? The leg break happened in February 2010...he was back in full training by October 2010 and has made over 60 appearances for us, loan spells at Nottingham Forest and Cardiff, the Welsh National side as well as Great Britain at the 2012 games. In a couple of weeks it'll be two whole years since he started this longest of long comebacks. Surely there's a moment when you cut your loses?
I'm completely sober, and we're guilty of overrating Wilshere. He's excellent, but not world class. World class implies he could get into nearly any team in the world, he couldn't.
I think it's clear that his confidence was low when he very first came back and it took him a long time to get back to full fitness and form. His physical injuries may have healed, but the psychological ones took longer But the point is that he was out for the best part of a season and then thrown in at the deep end last season. He basically held that midfield together whilst NINE new players were added to the squad. He tired badly towards the end of last season, but that doesn't negate the job that he did for 8 months of that season. I think the criticism of him is over the top.
He was out for the best part of the 2009/2010 season. He played MOST of the 2010/2011 season, albeit not always for us, and then last season, when he was "thrown in at the deep end" which is code for, he had to do his job. It's not like he had more appearances than anyone else. Is there some sort of problem with a footballer playing football that it is now referred to as being "thrown in at the deep end"? The point is it wasn't like he went from injury to the pitch last season with nothing in between. I don't criticise him that much, I simply believe this is as good as he's ever going to be and for me that's not good enough.
He's divisive! I think it's relevant as it gives us an idea about what the expectation is of Jack. Ramsey was out for 8 months before getting back to training. Jack's been out for 14 months! Will it be okay for him to be sub par until September 2014?
He was a bit part player in 10/11 though as he had just returned from a smashed leg and was just trying to get games again. Then he was thrown in at the deep end, because we had just lost Fabregas and Nasri. Ramsey basically carried that midfield in their absence and for me, he did a decent job. I still think there's a lot more to come from Ramsey personally
Jack will have more issues than Ramsey, as there's more pressure on him, largely because he's english, and has also been out far longer than Ramsey was.
I don't think that pressure will be coming from us Arsenal fans though. We're chronically understanding and patient. Theo's been with us for about 6 years and we're still calling him young and some still claim he'll improve.
Kyle - I disagree. Aside from perhaps Messi there have been NO players in recent years that you could describe as already 'World Class' by the age of 18. With youth comes a bit of inconsistency. Wilshere is technically superb, he's feisty and powerful for a player of small stature. He can dribble, can pass long or short and has the ability to dictate the pace of the game. I honestly feel (injuries permitted) he's the best English/British midfielder since Paul Scholes first came along. He's been out for a long time though so I guess we will have to be patient.
It'll be the english media. jack is considered to be the great english hope, if he's rusty, the media will let us know it.
